I haven’t given you a real blogging update in awhile. I think that is because I’ve realized the value of making videos, you watch them, you like them. Give the people what they want! There is still a part of me that cries out to write! So here we go.

We have about 2 more weeks of ministry left. This is sad to me because things are really starting to pick up. Tomorrow night two girls are coming over to watch a movie and on Thursday afternoon after high school lets out we’re having girls over to watch Step Up which was really big here when it came out. Apparently these girls love hip hop, so watch out, I might be choregraphing some dances for them to learn, it may take me back to my college days. Hog callin’ and Stunt. Oh boy.

I challenged a girl here to discipleship in Presov. I think this will be really a great relationship to build with her, and I’m praying that God will use her on her campus to reach those around her for Christ. Yesterday was a really encouraging day because while in Presov, Matt and Aaron were together doing solarium and Carlyn and Shannon were going into the dorm to see if they could meet with a girl. Since I was by myself during this time, I decided to see if I could meet some girls on my own. I walked up to these two girls, and just asked them if they spoke english, after about 2 minutes, they said to me “don’t you want a chair?” and so I pulled up a chair and proceeded to talk with them for the next 30 minutes.

A lot of cool stuff is happening. Just this morning we were talking as a team about what we’re learning about God’s character and without a doubt I’m learning a ton about His faithfulness. I think this is helpful to know that even though I’ll go through times of difficulty, it’s all for a reason, to learn why I’ve been through that is more for character development than it is for anything else. This reminds me of Philippians 1:6, that being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I find myself being very thankful right now for where I am, for what God has taught me, what He is teaching me, and trusting that He will lead me to the next thing that He has for me.

I will probably need to blog soon about all of the things that have happened to me, less I forget, and I really don’t want to do that. But, wow, it’s really crazy and fun. I’m only reminded of how different my life is here when I talk to my American readers. Let’s just say it’s become a running joke with my team that I’m not sure when I’ll get to go to Hungary again, since for awhile I was going once a week. I know in a few years I’ll look back on this post and laugh, or maybe be amazed. Either way, life here is different but it somehow becomes really normal. Already I’ve gotten quite used to the colder weather. It’s -4 celcius and it feels normal to me.

Before I close out this post, just know that I am thankful for each of you who read this blog, watch my videos, and comment on them. It makes me feel so loved! It also makes me realize the power of media and the likelihood that many people would rather watch a video than read a blog. If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably not the person I’m talking about.

For now, here are a few pictures of thanksgiving in praha.

my team at buffalo bills for thanksgiving dinner. (left to right) Aaron, Matt, Shannon, Carlyn, and me.

Me, Yasmin, and Katie eating my 2nd thanksgiving dinner in Prague at my hostel with friends I’d never met.
Who can even believe it’s November 28th? More on how time flies next time.

6 hours in the future.

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You’d never believe all that you can do in less than 24 hours in Prague. I’ll give you a good “swirl around” of the old town square here.

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I found this article and thought it was pretty great and funny. I’m an ex-myspace user myself, and try to convert most everyone to facebook on a regular basis. You too, should try it, go to facebook.com to set up your account today, it’s free, it’s easy, it’s for everyone. Mark Zuckerburg, you are a genius.

We were there on Krakow’s independence day. It was a glorious cold and snowy adventure. I’ll post some from Prague next week!

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walking down a Krakow lane with Jenn Prince and Jenny Rone

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Right now I’m in Krakow. It’s been snowing all afternoon and it’s dusting the square. Some of it is actually beginning to stick. The ground is somewhat icy and I’ve sought a warm spot in an internet cafe near the square. I’ve really enjoyed my time here and have needed a chance to refresh and recharge. It’s amazing how much a drain ministry can be on you especially when you put so much pressure on yourself to perform. I’ve got a lot of learning to do. I’ll head back to Kosice tonight with a better perspective on life and hope for the future.

It’s been interesting to be here for the past few nights. Jenny Rone came down from Sweden and Jenn Prince is here from the Raleigh regional team. It’s been good to spend some time with them and to be refreshed by their wisdom and conversation.

In just a week and a half the american part of my team will head to Prague for thanksgiving and after that my friend Stacy is coming in from America. I’m looking quite forward to having visitors here! Sometimes, even thought I am on a team, it is easy to get lonely and feel isolated here. I’ve been thinking of ways to combat loneliness, but I think there is still a reality when you live overseas in a non-english speaking country.

I’ll add pictures and video soon.

Last Thursday was a huge holiday here in Eastern/Central Europe called “All Saints.” Hundreds of people flock to the cemeteries to pray for their ancestors who are buried there. They pray that God will let them into heaven. There are thousands of candles all around the cemetery that are lit in honor of those they know that have passed on. Obviously the theology here is all out of sorts and I wasn’t going in support of the tradition, but more as a witness as to what other twisted tradition the church can find itself locked into. Seeing all the candles going up the hill and in the entrance way was a fascinating site, but more than anything else, I felt really saddened that this is what these people really believe.

Ever since I’ve arrived in Slovakia, it’s been quite difficult to shake the reality of distinct racism. There is a culture here called ‘roma’ or gypsy. You know the phrase, “I got gyped” well, it’s a racial slur relating to this people group I’m about to attempt to explain to you. Really my source is wikipedia, I can’t lie. I found out from said source that this people group migrated from India and there are somewhere from 12 to 15 million of them, but no one can be absolutely sure because they about their race because of the racism that exists. This culture is spread out from India all the way to Western Europe. They are easily recognizable; they have dark features and usually look pretty ragged. You can find them going through trash cans to find something to eat (trash from my apartment even), begging on the street, or even huffing window cleaner (as seen on one of our first days here).

I’m not sure I have any clue how to take all of this in. These people are beautiful, made in the image of God- and live like rats, well almost.

They live in ghettos in different spots around town. I’ve heard stories of these buildings that were built for gypsys to live in and they have moved in and trashed the place. Selling anything that would make them a krown. These villages look like war zones in a third world country. I’m not exaggerating.

As I write this I’m nearly in tears, but this isn’t rare. I often tear up when I think about this gypsy culture. I’m reminded of Jesus’ words, ” whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me.” I think I get it.

The least of these.

I went to Budapest by train and a woman was begging at the ticket station. Her hand was curled up in the begging position, a wound on her forehead with dried blood, and an old coat around her shoulders. No doubt, I didn’t speak her language (try any of the options Hungarian, Roma, or Slovak) but this is not an excuse. She was waiting for left over change from ticket buyers. I don’t know how many forint (this is the Hungarian currency) I had on me at the time but surely I could have spared a few or bought her lunch. As I walked by her she grabbed my arm and I turned my head away. I still can’t believe I did that. I just don’t know what I should do in those situations, but I know what I did was not right, at all. I’m ashamed to write this, but hope that you might identify.

I’ve heard people say that if you give homeless people money they will buy alcohol. Or if you try to give them food they won’t take it. I’m not sure these excuses are good enough for me anymore. As I was on my way to Budapest on this very same trip I was reading Irresistable Revolution (again) a book by Shane Claiborne, whose battle cry is the church learning to love the homeless. The church is not living, is not loving, as the church should. He is right. We are so out of touch with a hungry, hurting, dying world.

Even as I write this the Dalit Hymn popped on my ipod. “Free the Dalit, free the Dalit, Prime Minister Free the Dalit” How appropriate. Do you know of the Dalit?

The couple that runs our language school, Brad and Karla Theissen, are here with an organization called International Messengers. They have a ministry with the roma people. They teach them vocational things like how to sew and also practical things like how to read. Fascinating. They’ll go into these villages and show the Jesus film (which is the only film in the Roma language) and hundreds of them will come to Christ, but the next day its back to the same lifestyle. They’ve never seen the Christian life lived out. Why? Because no one is in there living it with them, showing them how to live. Would you know how to live the Christian life if you’d never seen anyone do it? Would you be encouraged in your faith if there were no other Christians around you, no resources, no podcasts, no worship in your language, no pastors, nothing. This is reality.

In Claiborne’s book, he mentions a story about a wealthy church in town who mailed a box to help, even with good intentions, to Claiborne and his friends efforts to conquer a challenge to keep the homeless from being kicked out of an abandoned cathedral. He was excited the package had arrived and found only its contents to be microwave popcorn. This church really thought the tent city had microwaves or even electricity. We’re fooling ourselves. We don’t really know what God has called us to. How He’s called us to live. Wake up heart. Wake up church. There is a hurting, dying, shivering, wounded world next door.

Feeding the homeless one Saturday a month is a good step. But that’s not it. God calls us to more. To sacrifice. I need to figure out what He’s doing in my heart and follow Him. I long to follow Him. To live with arms high and heart abandoned in awe of the One who gave it all.

stop sending microwave popcorn.

when a tram or a bus is coming to a stop. just look at it and be amazed.