What Happens in Slovakia

Monday, June 30

Pastor Hogenson once said in a sermon, "What happens at St. Andrew's leaves St. Andrew's." This is also true in Slovakia. This morning Pastor John was in a real hurry to get his coffee and be first in line for breakfast. After 25 minutes of drinking coffee, and enjoying breakfast and friends, he was told that Ruth, his wife, was locked in their room and shouting to be let out. Needless to say, our pastor was stunned, embarrassed and without words. So what has happened in Martin, all of you across the pond now know.

VBS got off to a great start with over 300 children attending. It was a joy to see the smiling faces of children and get re-acquainted with old friends. Today's lesson was the story of Noah and his ark and how God's grace saved him from the flood. The memory verse was Eph. 2:8,9: "By grace you have been saved through faith, not of your own doing, it is the gift of God." The drama acted out the story of Noah.

On of the most touching moments since we arrived was the confirmation and baptism of 4 young couples during the Sunday service. God's word is being lived out throughout the community. Thanks be to God!

Through the music, the lesson, crafts and dramas we hope and pray that what happens in Martin, Slovakia will leave Martin and that the Word will go forth and not return void. We appreciate your prayers.

Lois and Dave Klostreich

Sunday in Martin

Sunday in the Martin church is always so special. This morning was no exception. Our crew was moved and impressed by the depth of the sermon and the wonderful people who attended, many of whom have become dear friends. Paul Berge and John Hogenson assisted in the service dressed in authentic Slovak clergy garb. After church a great meal of goulash soup was served to us.

Many new babies have come since the last time we were here. We tease the leaders of the schools that they are growing the Lutheran church in Slovakia with their own families. The little kids are running around in the square, making us feel at home as do their parents, even speakig in two languages.

We set up the big rooms for tomorrow morning's opening exercises and received our t-shirts. Each class has a different color, which really helps when you don't know your students' names or their language! We can all say "Dobre rano," which means "Good morning." Everyone is busy preparing first day lessons, not knowing exactly what to expect, just as teachers and students have always been before the first day of school. Slovak translators and Martin Bible School students are involved with us in the classroom. We couldn't do it without them.

Bible lessons, songs, crafts and games, are all part of the way we communicate the theme of the week, "God In Our Lives." We couldn't be here without knowing that God is with us. Pray for all of us as we greet and teach the children this week.

Jan Gilbertson

Greetings from Martin Slovakia

Ahoy.. we have arrived! It is now time to recover from jet lag, organize the VBS classrooms, re-aquaint with our Slovak friends and look forward to the arrival of 350 students on Monday morning!

Our trip over can best be describe as… long, but, in all, uneventful. Highlights were a last cup of “good” Minnesota Java at the Minneapolis airport watching Pastor Hogenson and Diane Erickson give us their best impression “hamsters in a wire wheel” at the Amsterdam airport, and a dangerous moving sidewalk which tripped Joanie Johnson, inflicting a “boxer-style” laceration above her right eye. A few wet-wipes and band-aid were applied, and she was good to go.

From Amsterdan we ha d 1 ½ hour flight to Vienna, arriving in Vienna minus only one piece of luggage! However, when attempting to load our luggage on to the bus and van that were there to get us to Martin, we realized that it may have been to our advantage to lose a few more!! Try as we might, we were unable to get all of our gear into the provided transportation. A meeting of the minds decided that a taxi would be hired to get the “excess bagge” to another location to be picked up later by a Bible School employee who would make the 8 hour trip from Martin to Vienna and back so that we could have our jammies in time for bed! Slovak hospitality in the truest sense!

Today we awakened to a sunny and 72 degree day. We can only hope that it will continue for the duration of our stay! Pastor Jan Hrobon assures us that he has “highest connections,” so he will see what he can do about the continuation of this perfect weather.

The Martin Bible School campus was a busy place today. VBS teachers readied their rooms and lessons. The parish hall was cleaned up and made ready for VBS opening, lunch was prepared in the dormitory cafeteria for all of us hard working folks, lost luggage was found and delived, ATM’s were located, downtown was explored, and three weddings took place at the church. Whew!!

Tonight will most likely find us enjoying dinner at the hotel or downtown and retiring early as tomorrow is another full day, and a day closer to the start of VBS 2008!

Nancy Olker and Sue Sohrweide

We're off!

June 26, 2008

Today 50 people board an evening flight to Amsterdam to teach Conversational English and Vacation Bible School in Martin, Slovakia.

Commissioning services were held last Sunday at the 8:45, 10:15 and 11:30 Sanctuary worship services at St. Andrew’s. Our partnership with the Bible School and the Lutheran Elementary School has been a significant commitment of St. Andrew’s and partner congregations for over 10 years.

This summer we will be present during the weekend of July 4-6 to celebrate the 10 Anniversary of the Bible School. The theme for the celebration is, “A Decade of Miracles.” Over these years the Bible School has been the history of miracles unfolding as several degree and certificate programs of study have been created for adults preparing to be living witnesses of their faith in congregations, public school class rooms and in communities throughout Slovakia.

As members of St. Andrew’s and partner congregations, you are present with us in the witness that comes through the teaching of Vacation Bible School to approximately 350 children, June 30 to July 4 around the theme, “God in our Lives; God is the Giver of Life.” You are also present in the Conversational English classes from June 30 to July 11 as adult students of the Bible School learn a language that links them to published resources in English and opens up another language in which to communicate the gospel.

Members of the St. Andrew’s Choir under the direction of Jan Gilbertson will sing festival concerts of sacred music throughout the weekend of the 10th Anniversary celebration in Martin, and will travel during the following week, June 7 to 10 to cities in Eastern Slovakia to present several more concerts that celebrate the history and vision of the Bible School.

You are invited during these days from now until July 15 to log on to the St. Andrew’s website and open up a daily blog that will keep you informed as these programs unfold over the next weeks.

The opening anthem for the festival concerts is, “God’s Son has made me Free.” In a nation that for over 40 years lived under political repression, this theme from the Gospel of John, expresses that we have been made free in Christ to live in a restored relationship in God and with our neighbors of many national identities

Thank you for your partnership in prayer for safety of travel and health for all who participate in these programs. Our prayer is that the witness of faith in Christ will be a living testimony that God continues to work in our lives through the gift of his Spirit to bring new life to all God’s children.

Paul Berge
Director of Vision Slovakia.