Space: the Final Frontier

I've been reading and watching the sci-fi genre lately. It's one I enjoy and can't make fun of people who are junkies because I used to collect the figurines and sets from both Star Trek and Star Wars. (Although I still don't find Lt. Worf hot, sister two. *ehem* Sorry.)

I'm three-fourths of the way through the series Firefly. I really like it so far (thank you brother-in-law). Who knew a western sci-fi with asian undertones and themes could be so enthralling?! Well, my friends, it is! I have yet to decide if I have a favorite character or not; they all have charming and annoying traits that makes me like them almost equally. Well, no, that's not entirely true. I have to say the doctor tends to drive me crazy (take a chill pill, dude) and his sister too, when she's not having her brilliant fits of complete morbidity that are actually funny due to the other characters' reactions. I have a feeling that once I've finished watching all the episodes, I'm going to be very sad there aren't more as the show was canceled. (At least I think that's what I remember hearing.)

Last week I finished reading a book by John Saul titled Creature. It was kind of disturbing. And yet I couldn't stop reading. And I didn't necessarily like the end. I felt hopeless when I finished reading it. I also felt frustrated for certain characters in the book. I guess I understand why the writer did what he did, but still. It was somewhat futuristic, but not really, and dealt with science, exercise physiology and human illnesses that can cause lasting long-term affects in the negative way... and I would go into more detail, but since it would give things away, I won't should you ever read this book. I know that's not a lot of information to go on, but I don't know how to describe this book without giving away too much.

I've started reading Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card (thank you, sister one!). I've read two of his other books, Empire and Ender's Game, and found I enjoyed both (which apparently surprised sister three). This book picks up where Ender's Game left off, so I've had fun reacquainting myself with the various characters again, both old and new. This book is totally a sci-fi; all about space travel, alien races and planets, and living on planets other than earth. It's a fun, easy read; the kind where after a very long day you can shut the world out and drown out life for a while reading about someone else's misadventures on alien planets full of poisonous dustworms and crop killing mold!

Weekend in Radava

This weekend I was able to go to Radava, a small village about 20-25 kilometers from Nove Zamky in southern Slovakia, for the Slovak-wide Baptist Union pastor/missionaries meeting. I really enjoyed being able to go. Being able to see fellow pastors and missionaries, talk to them, pray together, laugh together, drink wine together...*ehem* gotta love European Baptists, and catch up with what's going on with them, their families and ministries is very relaxing, comforting and encouraging... mainly because you learn you're not the only one who's struggling/frustrated with this, that or the other. I especially loved Sunday being able to share the Lord's Supper together. Since we don't have a regular pastor in Z (each week a different pastor or elder comes from one of the churches in central Slovakia to preach) we don't regularly share in the Lord's Supper as a church and I find when I am able to participate in it I have really missed it- not just because it's something a church should do regularly, but because of what it signifies and what it means for those who are God's children.

Other than the Lord's Supper, the other high light of the weekend was being able to spend time with one of my favorite families in all of Slovakia. All but one of them was able to attend and it was encouraging talking to the wife, enlightening talking to the husband and just plain fun talking to the son, who I feel is very much my brother and therefore we are equally sarcastic to each other about everything. (This particular family has welcomed me into their home as though I'm one of their own and made me feel so comfortable, I have come to regard them as though they are my own family. I'm so thankful for people like them who have given me some sense of normalcy and encouragement through some of my more difficult times in Slovakia over the last few months.)

Anyway, I wish The Boy could have been there with me as I think he would've enjoyed the topics discussed, especially the Psychology of Worship, and it would've been great for fellow pastors and missionaries to meet him as well since some of them know him only by name as we're co-leading the church in Z together. Unfortunately, work, a youth program, helping play for a wedding and leading worship at church prevented him from coming. Maybe next year.

I'm glad I was able to relax a little over the weekend but now the real world is calling me back to attention. I start leading an English club tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday) in BB, and will be doing so once a week at least until December. Slovpump, the factory in the village where I teach English,  has added a second day of classes, so I now teach Mondays and Thursdays. Wednesdays we have bible study, Friday is the youth program and at some point we'll start Kid's Klub on Saturday (maybe this week?) with church on Sunday. Life certainly isn't boring or slow around here.

*New* Flat

I have finally been able to do a little cleaning and unpacking in my *new* abode (new to me, not a newly built flat). It's still not as clean as I'd like it to be, but it's a work in progress. It's also not as picked up as I'd like it to be, but that too is a work in progress as I can't afford furniture and European flats don't have closets or shelves in them. In fact, the flats are generally nothing but bare walls, floor and ceiling, usually with a tub and a toilet and not much else. In most cases, you have to furnish your own refrigerator and, sometimes, stove, sink, cabinets, and counters as well. Fortunately, all of that was already in the flat when I moved in (mainly because it's owned by someone who had furnished it long before I ever moved in as at least five different people/families have lived in this particular flat over the years). Everything in the flat other than my clothes and other miscellaneous personal belongings- i.e. books, "techy toys," stuffed hippo (yes, I still have him after all these years!), a lamp, sleeping bag, measuring cups and spoons, towels- belongs to the missionary family with whom I worked last year. I'm grateful for their generosity in lending me a bed with sheets, some dishes/pots and pans, cutlery, and a couple other things needed for general living survival.

This is where I slumber at night; it also doubles as a "closet"

The important things in life: books and DVDs

The living room, also known as the Wilderness as it's barren at the moment

But, God's word is always with me in the Wilderness! (One of the guys who lived here before me was an artist and painted/stenciled the wall)

The kitchen, which the table also doubles as a "shelf"

Other side of the kitchen (no, I didn't pick out the pink, flowery wall papery-looking stuff on the wall; I may be wearing dresses and skirts now, but I still have my limits!)

Entryway; you'd think by looking at it that ten people lived here, but no; those are all my shoes (what is it with women and shoes????)

Shower room. Coincidentally it's orange; the artist guy who lived here before painted it and started to hang mirrors all over the place and either ran out of time or money, I'm not sure which, and never finished.

I kind of like the mirrors but kind of don't; they're like your best friend and worst enemy all at the same time!

Throne room

Front door and buzzer (to open up the main doors at the entrance of the apartment building)

Apparently I live in armored car. Seriously, what's with the whole Conspiracy Theory thing? I'm waiting to accidently hit the "incinerate the whole apartment" panic button I didn't know was installed!

Left side view from my bedroom window 

Right side view from my bedroom window

I now live right across the street from The Boy. (His family's flat is the one outlined in red). Bonus!!!!

Frugal Foodie

For all of you out there who are in the business of eating well and saving money, I came across this blog site that piqued my interest. While I can't eat most of what this lady makes and bakes, I do like the idea of eating well balanced meals at manageable costs. She also also has a free ecookbook available full of healthy fall-themed recipes aimed for school-age children compiled from various and sundry bloggers. Check it out if you're curious or have the time, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

And the Final Verdict Is...

I CAN STAY IN THE COUNTRY!!!!!!! The foreign police have accept my letter of complaint and decided that while I made big no-no in their eyes, it was an honest mistake and therefore have chosen to forgive and forget. Or at least forgive.

I received the phone call Thursday afternoon letting me know that I was cleared to stay, my visa was still valid until next July (when it expires), and the matter would not be sent on to the F.P. in Bratislava. All I had to do was come into the foreign police station and sign a waiver of consent to the conditions/decisions so that's what I did Friday morning. God was very gracious in the fact that I was able to deal with very kind, reasonable people, which can make all the difference in a situation like this.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers through this ordeal. I greatly appreciate them!

Changes in the Wind

Changes are in the wind, my friends. Fall seemed to have arrived a week and a half ago when the weather turned, the rain began to fall and a cold wind stirred up out of no where. All over night, it seemed to me. One day I was running around in shorts and a t-shirt sweating, and the next I was racing for my jeans and hoodie as fast as my freezing body could move. And that was all back in August! (This is definitely not Texas, my friends.)

With fall comes many "new's." New school year (for those in school). New ministry opportunities at church. A new church building. A new flat. A new title. A new job. A new problem with the foreign police.

I'm still awaiting word on the visa issue with the foreign police. Basically what happened was while I followed the law for the work office, I didn't follow the law for the foreign police, who have their own law regarding foreigners and work visas. So they told me to write a formal letter of "complaint" to argue my case. As soon as they receive my letter it cancels their revoking of the my visa as well as the need for me to leave the country. I sent my letter of complain by certified mail on Monday, so they should be receiving it soon, if not already. Once they receive it they will decide if this letter is sufficient evidence for my honest mistake or not (since I wasn't trying to break the law; I just didn't know the law). If it's accepted, no problems. If it's not accepted, they will send the case on to Bratislava (the capitol of Slovakia) to be dealt with by the foreign police there.

I started teaching English at a local factory in Zavadka. It's where I taught last year as well and they were willing to hire me back once they found out I was staying in the country. There's a possibility of leading English clubs at a school in Bystrica twice a week, but I won't be able to do it unless the pay is more or they're at least willing to reimburse me for traveling. (When I sat down and did the math, I would be spending more money on traveling in one week than I would be getting paid to teach.) We'll see what happens  as I explained this situation to the school. But at least I have started teaching and some other possible leads which is more than I had two weeks ago.

As for the new status, I'm not a missionary anymore. I'm still ministering and working with the church, but from the standpoint of raising support and being paid through an organization, I'm not considered a missionary. It's definitely going to be an adjustment learning to work and minister, but with the help of God's grace I will be able to do it.

Our church is moving into a new place. We're renting a floor above the plavaren (swimming pool) that has a large meeting room, two toilet rooms and a smaller storage room, which I hope to use for both storage and children's church. I just received the keys this morning from the mayor of the village, so I hope we're able to move in everything we're taking with us by Saturday as our first meeting there will be Sunday. If you think about it, you can be thinking of us as we adjust to the new changes.

I moved into my new flat yesterday. Okay, new to me anyway. To tell you it's bare would be an understatement. There's nothing in it except a fridge and kitchen table with a couple chairs and all my personal belongings (i.e. clothes), of course. One of these days I hope to be able to put at least a bed in it, but until then I'll make do with what I don't have.