KECY English Camp 2013

The first nine days of July I was both involved with English and finishing my working responsibilities at Narnia. While I missed the first three days or so of camp, it still went really well and I'm thankful to have been a part of it even if for a short time.

The interns performing to The Spice Girls' "Wannabe" during Kecy Has Talent night

Camp student body was small this year with there being only six who ended up coming, but with 9 Slovak team members and 12 American team members from Ohio plus 2 American interns from Josiah Venture, we had a full house and plenty of fun. 

Camp Picture

With having a small number of students, it really gave us opportunity to be flexible in our schedule and with the content of the camp. For instance, one afternoon we opted to go down into the village and minister to the Roma community instead of having the afternoon sports time.

And a closer picture of all of us!

The Lord continually had his hand on the camp and in our lives; I was humbled so many times by the sheer faith and faithfulness of the people there and felt I learned so much from them. I'm thankful He brought the people who made up our camp teams and student body because it was a joy and privilege to meet them and serve with and to them. I'm so thankful to have been a part of the team and camp, and that I was able begin the count down to the "end" in Slovakia doing what I feel called to do there, which is minister.

Hanging out on the square, eating ice cream after camp

Camp registration

Playing "Ninja" with students

Blue Team!

Red Team!

White Team!

Green Team, who named themselves Zeleny Giants! (Zeleny is the Slovak word for green)

Taking a break from hiking during the all-day activity

How many campers can one American (who's actually Serbian) hold?

Four of our six students!

Jany (pronounced Ya-nee) displaying a wonderful sense of humour!

Current State of Affairs...

Much has happened in the month of July and I've been wanting to blog about it but haven't yet... but will soon... at some point in time... when I find time...

Currently, my life looks like this:

 

Sorting. Packing. Trying to figure out what all can go with me (that I haven't already given away) and what must stay (that I haven't already given away). 

Trying to figure out if I should just bite the bullet and invest in a new suitcase since the ones I have are too small and almost mangled beyond use (thanks to seven years of traveling back and forth and merciless airline luggage handlers). 

And in other current state of affairs, I have officially surrendered my rights to all legal Slovak privileges I had as I forfeited my visa, driver's license, health insurance and bank account yesterday to all respective parties and agencies. 

Now back to the regular scheduled programming of packing.

Special Gift

I received a gift from a dear friend and mentor this past week. It wasn't just any old gift. It was a family heirloom that my friend inherited from her mother-in-law, who would be turning 100 years old this year were she still on this earth.

My dear friend has no idea if her mother-in-law made this particular piece, or if she inherited it herself, or how long it's been in the family, or what the general history behind it is, but my friend gave it to me as a gesture of how much I had meant to her over the time of knowing each other, especially the last two years.

I was honored to receive such a gift! I couldn't believe she was entrusting me with something that she was specifically given by her mother-in-law and that was so old. (In all honesty, I almost wanted to hand it back to her for fear of destroying it once in my possession!) It truly was a humbling experience as she handed it to me and said so many kind words and held me in her arms for a while. This is a gift I do not receive lightly. This is a very special gift given in such kindness that I will treasure it.

As I mentioned, I have no idea how old it is, but it's definitely worn. You can't really tell from the pictures, or maybe you can, but the cloth is no longer white or cream (whichever was its original colour), but a faded brown. But the colour in the stitching is still as bright as day and as beautiful as ever. This might end up being framed when I return to the States in order to preserve it as it continues to age.

Thank you, kind, kind friend, for this beautiful gift. It will always remind me of your kind heart and faithful service to those around you.

Corrie Lise

Happy 9th Birthday to my niece, Corrie Lise!!!!!!

I was in Siberia, Russia, when she was born and have subsequently missed most of her birthdays while living in Slovakia, but when I am in Texas and able to spend time with her, I usually find myself laughing when she opens her mouth to say something as it's usually hilarious.

So happiest of birthdays to my crazy, funny, beautiful, girly, full-of-energy Corrie! I love you and look forward to seeing you again very soon!!!

Last Youth Group

At the end of June, my church here in Bystrica held their last youth meeting for the school year. (As I've mentioned before, school doesn't let out here until the last Friday of June.)

It was a nice ending to a great year as we sang worship together, shared testimonies and those of us who are leaving the youth group shared what why we're leaving, where we're going, etc.

Albert, who's actually Russian, and Jaro, who helps lead worship

 

Me, Daša and Ľudka, who are two of my closest friends

And then I was surprised by the leaders who presented me with a little gift and thank you for my service to the youth over the last year.

The t-shirt reads: "Emily, we like you!" and has people's signatures on it.

 

While I wasn't officially part of the leadership team, they considered me an external member since I sometimes helped with group games/activities and made sure we celebrated birthdays each month.

 Official Leadership Team: Sergej, who's Ukrainian, Daša a Ľudka

It felt special to be thanked and loved by the people who I feel honored and privileged to serve alongside.

Front row: Jaro, Lukáš, Ľudka, me, Vierka and Dávid

Back row: Graham, Martin, Samo and Michal

 

I'm going to miss this youth group very much. It's been wonderful to watch such a diverse group come together to glorify God with their gifts and talents. While I'm not going to be amongst them next year, I'm excited for their future and to hear how the Lord will work and lead them.

Martin, Ľudka, me, Tomáš and Katka

Stars

This past week I was helping with my church's English camp, which was held in Zavadka nad Hronom where I used to live. Sunday night, after midnight sometime, I wandered outside to sit in the cool mountain air and chat with an American team member and a Slovak team member. Well, they were chatting, I came late and sat and listened.

At one point in time, I looked up and saw the most amazing sight. Stars. Vast and innumerous. Bright and twinkling. Not a cloud in sight, just stars, stars, stars.

Even in my two years of living in this village, I don't remember seeing such a clear, star studded night. In all honesty, I don't think I've ever seen such a clear night and so many stars before in my 31 years of life. When I looked up, it took my breath away as they stretched farther than I could see. I quietly stared, soaking in the sight, basking in the beauty of God's creation.

Living in this country, surrounded by hills, mountains, seasons, stars and beauty, it has really taught me about the majesty of God. I always sang and learned about it growing up, but it wasn't until I moved here that it made more sense to me.

Slovakia is a beautiful country and I have yet to meet a person who has been here deny that. As I close out my few remaining days here, I don't want to take it granted. I want to soak it in, appreciate every steeple rising above the tree lines in the villages. Take pause to admire the architecture that's older than the country I grew up in. Allow my eyes to wander and stare at the hills and mountains as I walk from place to place. To appreciate and be thankful for the majesty of God.

Slovakia, I am going to miss you so, so much. And not just the country, but the people. The Slovaks have a special place in my heart; they have welcomed me, loved me, treated me as their own regardless of the fact that I wasn't born here and my language skills are still rather lacking. I will miss being told I'm more Slovak than American in many ways. I will miss the fellowship and community I have here with my brothers and sisters who speak a different language but worship the same triune God!

Heaven is going to be a wonderful place as all different tribes, tongues and nations come together and there's no longer divisions, racism and hatred. It will be majestic and wonderful, just like the stars God gifted us with during camp.

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all." 1 Chronicles 29:11

June

Where has this month gone?! It seems like the month has ended faster than I can blink! And of course, June hasn't been without its share of goings-on.

The second Sunday of June 2nd grade performed their second and final musical of the school year. (And of course, I have no pictures because I'm lame like that.)

The third Sunday of June the first grade performed their second and final musical of the school year. (And again, no pictures. See reason stated above.)

In between those two events, I spoke at a Women's Conference in Slovakia. My seminar was titled "Being Single is not a Disease!" with the main premise focusing on living and enjoying your life while single instead of miserably moping around pining away for what you don't have. Of course, I said it nicer than that, but that was the idea. (And yet again, there are no pictures.)

Somewhere around the middle of the month, the American intern for our English camp came for a six day Host City visit to help us (the Slovak team) promote English camp in the youth group and local schools around town.

And of course, today ended my two years at Narnia. School is finally over! (No more lesson planning, no more classroom time, no more teaching!) It was a day of rejoicing (because school is finally over!), but also of sadness as I said goodbye to students and colleagues. It will not be hard to leave the job, but it's hard to leave these students who have managed to find their way into my heart!

Fourth Grade

I found myself being hugged and returning hug after hug after hug today. I've nearly burst into tears several times over the course of the last few days as parents thank me and wish me all the best for whatever the future holds next for me. And as I stare into the sad puppy dog eyes of a child who looks directly at me and asks, "Why are you going back? Why aren't you staying?" I can't help but think, "At the moment, I can't think for the life of me why I am leaving you!"

First Grade!

I even had one child look at me and say, "You are bad, Miss Emily, because you go home!" I think I just hugged her for a while because a) I totally loved that she used her English and b) because I didn't know what to say to her.

 
Today, I was showered with chocolates, flowers and small gifts and pictures from students. The girls clung to me with amazing strength; the boys awkwardly said thanks.  And through it all, I found myself realizing I'm privileged to be able to call them my students. It's been a privilege to teach them. It's been an experience I will not soon forget.

Second Grade!

Teaching is a calling, a gifting. I know I do not have the gifting or calling. I love my students, but teaching itself, in all honesty, sucks out my soul and drains me of energy and joy, but though it's come at a very hard price, I am thankful I've gone through these experiences because the lessons I've learned through all this are invaluable. The Lord has humbled me, stretched me and showed me many things in my life through all this and I am thankful for it upon reflection.

Third Grade!

I have no idea what's next now that my teaching days are over. But it's with a step of faith that I end my time in Slovakia and move back to Texas while praying about what's next. Am I open to returning to Slovakia as a missionary? Yes! Am I open to returning to Europe in general as a missionary? Of course! While I don't necessarily want to spend the rest of my life in Texas, I am trying to be open and okay with that as well if that's what the Lord ends up calling me to do.

The Amazing and Talented Monika's and Me

I have one month left in Slovakia, which I am sure will go faster than I want it to, and it's already filling up with a flurry of activities and things to do. But I am thankful for the next month to enjoy the country that in my heart has become home and the people who have become family before saying "See you when I see you!" and boarding a plane for the transatlantic trip back to the US.

Musical Tour

Back at the end of May, Narnia took the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade musicals on tour in eastern Slovakia. So five teachers and twenty-nine students braved the cold and rain (despite what you see in some of the pictures where it's sunny) and traveled east for three days.

The trip went well and felt like a mini-vacation. It's much easier to be given charge of a group and told to keep an eye on them than being given an entire class (or four, in my case) and given the charge of educating them! My group consisted of my girls from 4th grade, who I really love, and they like me, so it worked well.

While on tour we visited Spišsky Hrad, which I was told is the second largest castle in eastern Europe.

The first largest in also in Slovakia, somewhere near Zvolen, which isn't far from Banská Bystrica.
I'm guessing this also includes central Europe as Slovakia is in central Europe, not eastern Europe. But never mind.

This particular castle is one of several castles in Slovakia where the film "Dragon Heart" was filmed. Terrible film, but beautiful locations!

 I commented to one of the teachers that I thought the table arrangement of the picture above was funny because I was pretty sure they didn't have modern pots that said "honey" on them with a wooden honey stick (whatever they are called) back in the 1600's, and she laughed and commented that she was pretty sure fresh flowers couldn't have survived so many centuries either! We enjoyed that moment together.

We stayed at Cirkev Bratská in Hermanovce, which is where the third grade class performed their musical, Punchinello.

The 4th and 5th graders performed The Little Prince in Michalovce at another Cirkev Bratská (the Brethren church that is similar to the Evangelical Free Church in the States).

In the evenings we had a program for the students - group activities, games, singing, etc.

One of the days we went to a hotel owned by a family in Cirkev Bratská and swam, played ping pong, ran around the gym and ate lunch.

The last day we visted Aqua City Poprad and spent the day swimming and sliding down the huge slides. I think this was the students' favorite day and activity.

I also think the teachers liked it because most of the students slept on the bus on the way home.