What a busy, wonderful day this has been! We've read that July is the rainiest month in Slovakia, and we believe it -- but today we were inside the Bible School attending a conference celebrating the 10th anniversary of the school where many people shared the last decade of miracles accomplishments, and challenges that will continue.
We heard many stories and testimonials from old and new about their experiences of the Bible School of the past 10 years, but all seemed to share a common message of miracles and love. There were stories of the countless miracles that helped the Vision of the Bible School to overcome financial, political and social obstacles to become the thriving entity it has become. The other recurring theme was one of love, love of Christ, love of theWord, and love of mission. All of us could see that this bold type of love overcomes all obstacles and bind all of us as one in Christ.
As Americans, we just can't fathom the lingering effects that a post communist society has to deal with. People have many more choices, but don't know quite what to do with them. And within a church, the people still feel that they only need to attend church, and the pastor does all the rest. They need to learn the community, the fellowship and service that we are so accustomed to in our church. The Bible school here works to equip lay leaders with the skills to build and embrace these concepts and to shape them.
And our day continued.. We're here singing with the St. Andrew's Choir, and tonight was our first concert, at the Lutheran Church in Martin. Our months of rehearsals and hard work have been well worth it, and it was a joy to perform in such a beautiful setting to a full house! Music really is such a universal connection that transcends language barriers. It was great to communicate with the Slovak people in this meaningful, faith filled way.
Yesterday, Pastor Hogenson shared with us that on a mission trip like this, we always think of what we are doing for others but he added that they will actually do a lot for us--and that we should be alert to those "God moments" as we experience them. One such moment occurred for us yesterday as we rehearsed for our concert. We were told that the words to a "A Child's Prayer" had been translated into Slovak and that three little Slovak girls would be singing that piece with the choir. As we rehearsed the piece for the first time and we heard the little girls sing their part we experience a "God moment" as these innocent children with their angelic voices sang of the love for their Heavenly Father. At that moment the sung prayer transcended language as we ministered to one another through music. There wasn't a dry eye in the house.
God continues to bless us on this trip, and we eagerly await what else God has in store for us as we continue the journey.
Mark and Deanna Haugh, Choir
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