I wanted to share my most recent update newsletter if you haven't seen it yet. By the way, thank you to everyone who sent a card or package to me over Christmas- it was appreciated more than you know!
Greetings From Trnava!
Greetings From Trnava!
I'm excited to share with you what has been going on since my last update! Join me in praising God as I'm happy report that He has given me an extended and wonderful season of peace and health! We serve a great Lord and He has so richly blessed me since I've been here.
I'd love to share with you a few of the many exciting things that happened over the past month and a half, and hope to give you insight about what's going on here in the future. I apologize for the length of time since my last newsletter!
Currency Change
On January 1st, Slovakia underwent a currency change, switching from the Slovak crown to the beautiful new “Euro”. Slovaks had been anticipating this change since 2004 when they joined the European union, but it has still been a massive undertaking. For months leading up to the switch, stores, restaurants and any thing with a price had both the amount in crowns as well as Euros so that customers could get used to understanding the conversion rate. One particularly frustrating part of this change is that any amount under 5 Euros ($6.50 USD) is all in coins!
The Holiday Season
We've been blessed with a beautiful layer of fluffy snow for the past few weeks. Children (and myself) have used this to our advantage by sledding, making snow angels, snowballs and of course taking photographs.
Because most of the students were away from the university for the holidays, The Building was closed from mid December to mid January. Much of the staff was also gone for different reasons, leaving me a long stretch of relaxation and preparing for this coming semester's work.
Christmas was a nice time for me here, despite not being home with family. I was temporarily adopted by Kris Lundgaard's family for a few days over the holiday. We opened gifts on Christmas Eve here, which is the Slovak tradition because their Christmas is on the 24th, while video conferencing with families back home. For New Years I traveled to Cambridge, England for a few days to visit a friend.
Reopening The Building
Every Friday night we open our facilities to host themed evenings such as “Coffee House”, Ping Pong Tournament, Game night, Interactive Movie Night, Culture Night, and our most popular gathering, The Intro, which is a conversation-based evening hosted completely in Slovak. Every Friday the staff takes turns in leading the nights' games and activities and last Friday was my first night to lead. We warmly welcomed over 35 kids for our Dance Dance Revolution night! We had a wonderful time together, socializing, playing games, eating, and meeting new friends.
Christmas was a nice time for me here, despite not being home with family. I was temporarily adopted by Kris Lundgaard's family for a few days over the holiday. We opened gifts on Christmas Eve here, which is the Slovak tradition because their Christmas is on the 24th, while video conferencing with families back home. For New Years I traveled to Cambridge, England for a few days to visit a friend.
Reopening The Building
Every Friday night we open our facilities to host themed evenings such as “Coffee House”, Ping Pong Tournament, Game night, Interactive Movie Night, Culture Night, and our most popular gathering, The Intro, which is a conversation-based evening hosted completely in Slovak. Every Friday the staff takes turns in leading the nights' games and activities and last Friday was my first night to lead. We warmly welcomed over 35 kids for our Dance Dance Revolution night! We had a wonderful time together, socializing, playing games, eating, and meeting new friends.
Upcoming Semester Activities This semester will be a very busy time for the staff and me. As you may know, we offer English classes, bible studies, discussion groups and much more. My roommate, Anya, and I will be leading an advanced English class as well as a class called English Through Art. We'll be using our skills in the subject to teach drawing skills, art terms, and more importantly engaging in conversation over a mutual interest! I am still planning to offer a guitar class and am considering a sort of "Jam Club", for anyone with instruments to come and play music together.
A few days a week I will be assisting in teaching English classes at a high school which is next door to my apartment building. Getting into the schools to meet the kids where they are and inviting them to The Building has always been a key effort in our ways of building relationships with them.
I have posted many photos and videos on Facebook, and all of my photos on this public gallery:
A few days a week I will be assisting in teaching English classes at a high school which is next door to my apartment building. Getting into the schools to meet the kids where they are and inviting them to The Building has always been a key effort in our ways of building relationships with them.
I have posted many photos and videos on Facebook, and all of my photos on this public gallery:
Prayer List
* That I would not lose focus of my purpose and effectiveness this upcoming semester as I face routine busyness.
* For the safety and health of myself and the team. Praise God, I have not become ill yet!
* For DIRECTION as The Building and its' staff plan for the future of the ministry in great detail over the next few months. Please pray specifically for the team leader, John Lesondak, as he leads us through some very important changes.
* That my introductions to so many young people would turn into real loving friendships with them.
* For our pastor, Juraj (pronounced Your-eye), that God would continue to use him to speak with such fervor to the congregation and the youth.
* For Janna Scheflan, the Fredere family, and other new additions to our staff who are arriving in February.
* For the language study of everyone on the team- that our minds and tongues would be filled and for our own personal diligence in learning.
* That attendance at The Building would continue to grow!
* For Slovakia and her people- that a revolution in Christ would cause its' people to arise and walk in Jesus Christ!
* For the safety and health of myself and the team. Praise God, I have not become ill yet!
* For DIRECTION as The Building and its' staff plan for the future of the ministry in great detail over the next few months. Please pray specifically for the team leader, John Lesondak, as he leads us through some very important changes.
* That my introductions to so many young people would turn into real loving friendships with them.
* For our pastor, Juraj (pronounced Your-eye), that God would continue to use him to speak with such fervor to the congregation and the youth.
* For Janna Scheflan, the Fredere family, and other new additions to our staff who are arriving in February.
* For the language study of everyone on the team- that our minds and tongues would be filled and for our own personal diligence in learning.
* That attendance at The Building would continue to grow!
* For Slovakia and her people- that a revolution in Christ would cause its' people to arise and walk in Jesus Christ!
Thank you for all of your prayer and encouragement! It means so very much to me to have you be a part of what is going on here in Trnava. I've so appreciated all of the letters, pictures and packages sent to me so far. I look forward to telling you stories throughout the year. If you'd like to read more, I encourage you to visit my blog (www.andetrumanslovakia.blogspot.com). I will strive to update this much more regularly than I have been. Please do take care! May you be richly blessed in Christ!
Ande
Ande
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