Home Over The Sea: One Month

It’s so hard to believe, but I have been back in Slovakia for over a month now. Time has gone so fast, but I am soaking in every bit of time that I have gotten with people, Fusion and opportunities for new experiences so far. Since my last update two weeks ago, we have had new Fusion trainings, filmed music videos, started preparing for conferences, launched the FOURTH Fusion in Slovakia, and started band practices for Fusion in Senec! So many exciting things are happening here!

This last Wednesday, Fusion Bratislava helped launch the start of a brand new Fusion in Rača by putting on a concert for kids in locals schools. They had 5 students show up for their first Fusion that same evening, which is amazing! I, unfortunately, wasn’t able to stay for their Fusion, as I had to be back in Senec for our own Fusion. 

Exciting things are happening in Senec's Fusion as well though! We had new students come this week that said they really enjoyed it and hope to come back again! God is growing the leadership team here together as we start to make some changes and prepare for camp this summer. We are a bit behind on the planning and scheduling for camp, but our team is still hopeful and enthusiastic about making it happen. If you could pray with us for the details of this camp (that will take place in July) to come together, we would greatly appreciate it! 

I’m starting to feel more comfortable around the people and students in Senec, which is a blessing for me. It’s been a strong tendency for me to fall back into my comfortable, already established relationships in Bratislava, but my focus should be Senec and the kids and leaders here. As an introvert, it always takes me so much longer to reach out to new people, but I’ve been praying that God would not let my discomfort decide who I have the potential to share Christ and develop relationships with. 

We had our first band practice yesterday in Senec! We are preparing for a concert around late April/early May. We had a lot of fun yesterday jamming together and learning new songs! During this time, any student can come and learn any instrument they want to and the goal is that by coming and practicing every week, they will be able to play a song or two at the concert. 

This last Sunday, I got to help Draho lead worship at our church in Senec, which was a blast and a blessing for me. Its only been three or four weeks, but I have really missed leading worship on Sundays! I was very thankful for this opportunity. And also for this coming Sunday, to be able to help again with Monika. 

God has provided in countless ways for me here, in Senec. He’s seen my needs before I even knew them, and He has filled the holes before I knew they existed. I’ve truly seen God’s faithfulness here in the last four and a half weeks and I am so thankful. He’s known when I need silence, He’s known when I need encouragement, He’s known when I need comfort, and He’s known when I need to be challenged and pushed out of my comfort zone. It has been a great exercise in learning to be joyfully dependent on Him! Learning that to be dependent on someone does not make you incompetent, or give you a reason to live in shame, but that you can be dependent on someone and live with more joy than if you chose to go at it alone. 

I have also been taking Slovak language “lessons” with my friend Miriam for a couple hours every week, and this has been a highlight for me every week. I love spending time with this girl and being able to be a part of her life and have her be a part of mine as well. I have been learning a lot too! Some days are better than others, that’s for sure, but for the most part, I feel I can say I’m getting a little better everyday at understanding the language. It’s so exciting! Speaking, on the other hand, is so difficult for me… It will take a lot of time. But it will get there eventually, I know.  

This next week, I will travel to Žilina with the rest of the TCKompas/ JV team to prepare for Slovakia’s annual youth leadership conference called KPM. I went to this conference last year and had the privilege of helping in a few little ways and I was so encouraged by this conference! It’s an amazing atmosphere and powerful time of worship and learning more about God’s will in our lives and our ministries. I’m very excited to help with some music and worship again this year and to see what God will teach me! 

Thank you for your prayers and for keeping up with my adventures. I pray that you are encouraged by what God is doing here just as I am!
Lord, keep me gratefully and joyfully dependent on You each and every day. 

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