April 28, 2006

fast Going!!

5 weeks! Oh my word!! This week disappeared so fast and where has the past month gone?! Thank you for your prayers! I would never have made it this far without you!

Last weekend went very well!

Friday we packed six people and their stuff for the weekend (including 3 guitars and sleeping bags for everyone) into a minivan. And drove about 6 hours across Slovakia to The Lumen Festival in Trnava (www.festivallumen.sk). I spent Friday night in the flat of a girl from Monroeville, which was very nice. I had my own room and chocolate chip cookies and un accented English conversation. (God takes such good care of us doesn’t He!!)

Saturday was a search for a good restaurant for lunch and Timothy's concert where my videos were used. It was so neat and nerve wracking to see them on the big screen! Also, the reason for me to be on the trip, I photographed the band during their concert. We got home about 2 in the morning.

Sunday was a day of beautiful relaxation and finally some sunshine! Spring is coming to Slovakia :) Also, I had the closest thing so far to an untranslated conversation in Slovak. You’d have to have a loose definition of “untranslated” and “Conversation” but I came close and managed to understand the questions and most of the time give an appropriate answer. There were sometimes I needed help, like explaining that my mother works as a Laboratory Technician in a hospital, but I could tell him names and ages of my siblings, that my father is a pastor, and that I think Slovakia is very pretty! All in all, a great ego boost! Everyone here is impressed by what I can understand already. I wish it was coming faster though

Monday, I barely missed my bus (I literally saw it pull away from the stop as I rounded the corner) and instead of waiting the 35 minutes for the next one, I just started walking toward town. It is about a 45 minute walk to the office but there are bus stops with more frequent stops between my house and the office. I was not wearing the right shoes for this decision. But had a blessed time of visiting with God in spite of the blisters on my heels.

Tuesday I got up early to take the bus to Kosice for a doctors appointment to ensure that I will not infect the country of Slovakia with some horrible disease if they give me a visa. It went well and aside from the taking of blood, it was mostly just a lot of walking from building to building trying to figure out what I needed. I was so thankful that Zuzka went with me since sometimes she was confused and she is Slovak! God is so faithful!!

I started planning for another video project. I’m excited about this one. It is a music video for one of Timothy’s songs about how God brings the light back into our lives. It has a good possibility of being on Slovak TV. It is mostly planned out and we’re just waiting on some small details, like a camera. When I came, I thought that MPK (“Mladez pre Krista” YFC in Slovak) owned a camera. But I had misunderstood and they just have friends who loan them cameras for certain events, and a two small consumer models. Please join me in praying that God will provide a professional camera.

Thursday I went to a concert with some girls I met at the small group I attended on Monday night. it ws a lot of fun and very good for me to hang out with other girls my age!!

I’m still waiting to hear back from someone I e-mailed about teaching me Slovak. Some days I’m very tempted to just get by on what I pick up and what English people here speak, but in my heart of hearts, I really want to learn this crazy language!

This weekend I will be helping/learning to mix the video for the big screens at the worship festival in Michelovce. Practice for Campfest!! we leave at 630 AM on Sunday! and i'll be back to Presov sometime around 11 or midnight!!

PLEASE PRAY:
~ That my battles with homesickness will come at longer intervals. (currently the trend is moving the opposite direction)
~ That I can find a Slovak tutor and learn the language.
~ That I will be able to build relationships.
~ That things will progress smoothly to get my visa.
~ That I continue to grow closer to God and stay Rooted in Him

Dovidenia,

Stasi

April 24, 2006

flickr

updated my first 2 weeks of photos.

use the link to the right. you know the one that says, my pictures!

week 4!! or a WHOLE Month!

Can you believe it was 4 weeks on Friday and today is a full month according to the date?! Me either!!

Last week was very busy! I didn’t finish all of the videos that I wanted to for the Lumen festival, but the ones that I did finish went well.

My weekend was fun. Friday we packed six people and their stuff for the weekend (including 3 guitars and sleeping bags for everyone) into a minivan. And drove about 6 hours across Slovakia to The Lumen Festival in Trnava (www.festivallumen.sk). I heard some fun bands. Some even sang in English, and one sang in Slovak with a British Accent! I spent Friday night in the flat of a girl from Monroeville, which was very nice. I had my own room and chocolate chip cookies and un accented English conversation. (God is so Good isn’t He!!)

Saturday was a search for a good restaurant for lunch and Timothy's concert where my videos were used. It was so neat and nerve wracking to see them on the big screen! Also, the reason for me to be on the trip, I photographed the band during their concert. We got home about 2 in the morning.

Sunday was a day of beautiful relaxation an finally some sunshine! Spring is coming to Slovakia :) Also, I had the closest thing so far to an untranslated conversation in Slovak. You’d have to have a loose definition of “untranslated” and “Conversation” but I came close and managed to undertand the questions and most of the time give an appropriate answer. There were sometimes I needed help, like explaining that my mother works as a Laboratory Technician in a hospital, but I could tell him names and ages of my siblings, that my father is a pastor, and that I think Slovakia is very pretty! All in all, a great ego boost!

This coming week holds a lot of paperwork for my visa and a Slovak Physical Tuesday in Kosice. Monday’s task is visiting the bank to try and set up an account in Slovakia.

Please Pray:
~ That the visa quest will go smoothly (especially the doctor visit part!)
~ That I will learn Slovak (especially for finding a tutor.)
~ That I will “be all here” (especially in forming relationships)

April 15, 2006

what do you need?

Anastasia needs encouragement regarding the importance of regular school
Anastasia needs a caring and committed family who can encourage her
Anastasia needs a teacher who can make it interesting and exciting
Anastasia needs lessons in talent acquisition [Re: ILUVCOUNTRY] ... I think she needs a lesson in manners
Anastasia needs to refine her comments to the contestants more
Anastasia needs to send a message to the browser, asking it to start showing this particular book
Self-confidence is what Anastasia needs. Where to find it? Studio Charmante, of course
Anastasia needs extensive work on her hooves to compensate for the deformity of her front legs
I do think Anastasia needs to get her mind out of the gutter
Anastasia needs to be 110 percent to win the French Open again
First Anastasia needs to finish school, and she is going to Borneo with you and Mrs. Chamberlain for a few months." "That sounds sensible
Anastasia needs a nap
Her parents said Anastasia still needs regular check-ups with orthopedists and neurologists but other than that, she’sa regular 4-year-old
Anastasia just might not need oxygen when she comes
Anastasia: Does she need to overcome her fear of his being ill and allow him to do what he wants
Anastasia needs to lose about 20 pounds
Anastasia needs to get aromas

April 11, 2006

today, i photographed a funeral and a midget held my umbrella.
last weekend i got kissed by a nun
what's new with you?