Saturday, July 11

1:30 p.m.

We’re nearly finished.  We had the final session of the conference this morning.  Dave Leinbach spoke on the importance of evangelism. We went from there to discussion groups. To my great chagrin, I could hardly keep my eyes open. Quiet room, comfortable chair, soft-spoken people.  The translator leaned over once and asked me if I was ok. She had seen me nearly fall out of my chair, I guess.  How embarrassing.  We all got a good laugh out of it, but good grief!

Back to church to wrap  up the conference and have a quick lunch. The rest of the team and several young people were scheduled to go on a hike at a large lake, and I questioned  the wisdom of my going  along with them. Pastor Bohdan very kindly and tactfully told me that he felt the trip would not be best for me; instead, he and the family invited me to spend the afternoon with them on a tour of the downtown area, most of which will be by car. With a broad grin, he suggested I might like a little nap before we leave.

I did. And now I’m waiting for everyone to gather.  I suspect Bohdan may be taking a nap of his own 🙂

So we spent a couple of hours in what they call the Centrum, the center of town, where there are still some pretty old buildings as well as some new ones.  Bohdan pointed out  buildings that were post-socialism as well as those that remain from that era, which are all gray.  Also some beautiful old buildings.  I have a few pics, but still can’t figure out how to make all that work over here, so it will have to wait until I get home.

To end our stroll, we went to a shop called “The Chocolatier.”  I ordered a cup of cherry chocolate, dark, no alcohol. It came with a little bowl of whipped cream and a little bowl of water to drink when you finish the chocolate.  It’s very rich, very thick, very delicious. We sat under an awning outside the cafe, with a cool breeze blowing and the sun warming us. It was a highlight for me.  I felt very much at home. Chocolate. Ambrosia 🙂

When we returend home, Bohdan got out his cello and did some warming up.  I’d asked him if he would play in church tomorrow, and I hope that he will.  He’s a very gifted man, a great pleasure to talk with and to fellowship with in the Lord.

The team had been invited for yet another cookout, this time on a much bigger lake. Again, wonderful food, wonderful hospitality.  These people really know how to make you feel welcome.

You can read about this place online.  Look up “Morske Oko.”

So I went to thank the host and hostess and was showered with hugs and cheek kisses and an invitation to stay with them next time I come.  They also handed me a gift bag of mementos of our visit to Michalovce–cards, maps, many pictures. Beautiful place.

I got home early tonight–just after 8 p.m., and I’m glad for that.  I need an early bedtime tonight so I’m fit for human consumption tomorrow.  I feel it’s going to be quite an emotional day as we say goodbye to these people who have treated us with so much love.

I need to make a correction.  We were not at Morske Oko, although I would love to see it.  We were at Zemplinska Sirava, or “The Slovak Sea.”  And that’s how you can google it.

Friday, July 10

I’m starting this one early.  It’s 3:45 p.m. here, and we have -hour break before we reconvene for “light refreshments.” We’re invited to a private home for a barbecue after the service this evening.  Just call me “Porkie,”  No.  Don’t you dare!

The morning service was preached by Pastor Tibor from a village about five hours from here.  He spoke very well on the importance of discipleship. We had discussion groups, then lunch.  Yeah, we eat well here.  Homemade Slavik goulash with good bread, and pastries for dessert.

Afternoon session was preached by a young man, Maio (pronounced MY-O) who spoke about discerning truth in God’s Word compared to Satan’s lies.  Discussion group again.  Then, just as I was leaving, Yanka came running up and asked me to stay just a little while.  I sat down in the fellowship hall, and soon Emily Acuri was there as well.  “What’s going on?”  says I.  “I think it may have something to do with birthays,” she replied.  Hers is today; mine was on the Fourth. Sure enough, several young women came in bearing roses for each of us, and a box of chocolates for each of us. They are treating us so well!

My roses are now gracing the top of a cupboard in my room, and I’m going to lie down and enjoy them until 5. When, like I said, we need to go eat. Again.  This time, though, there will also be a question-and-answer period during the meal.

You can’t talk with you mouth full, right? !!:

11:00 p.m.

Just got dropped off at the pastor’s house. The whole team had been invited to another home for barbecue after the service tonight. Good grief. SO MUCH FOOD!! And every bite more delicious than the last.  The people are warm, gracious, and want to please us. You’d think we were kings and queens.

I got almost an hour-long nap, and I’m glad I did. Made it possible for me to keep going the rest of the day.

The service went well tonight. Dave Arcuri spoke about the structure of a biblically-based church, and then we split into two groups this time.  Men stayed in the auditorium, and the women went to the fellowship hall.  I got to lead this session, in which we discussed a woman’s role in the church today.  We got a little bit of a slow start, but once we got rolling we had a great session.  Funny, serious,  emotional, and focused on God’s Word and what it has to say to women.

I’m tired, but wired.  Glad I have my Kindle with me.  I’ll read until I’m sleepy.

Dobry nuc 🙂

Thursday, July 9

The day was fairly quiet for me.  The men worked hard to finish pouring a cement floor in the upstairs part of the church, where there are several new rooms being created.  They were all thankful that  the weather is much cooler–mid to high ’70’s.  Leah was doing a lot of painting and got a little woozy from the fumes, and we all told her, “No more painting!”

I spent some time with Eva, the pastor’s oldest girl.  She has very long blonde hair, and I wanted to put it in a waterfall braid for her.  Couldn’t get it right, and she was being very patient.  Finally gave up and did a basic French braid with the end tucked up underneath.  She seemed to like that.

In the afternoon, most of us were resting in anticipation of the evening service.  Marianna and I took a walk with the kids. There’s a nice little river about two blocks from their house, and it was calm, cool, breezy–just beautiful. Marianna told me about a friend who said she would like to talk with me, so we’re going to try to set that up.  Also, she has a friend from a nearby town who would like me to come and speak to the women in her church like I did here on Tuesday night. Don’t know if that’s going to work out or not, so please pray with me that God will make a way for it to happen.

Supper at church was basically pork and sauerkraut, and it was to die for!  My word, these women can cook!

The conference started at six.  I’m not sure, but I would guess maybe 50 people were there. Pastor Spears was the main speaker. He talked about salvation, forgiveness, the importance of living a godly life. After his message, we split into discussion groups where people could ask questions.  One of the women in our group wanted to know how to tell her friend about the meaning of birth by water and birth by the Holy Spirit.  That led to a lively discussion about the reality of hell.  I know, big jump, but these things happen 🙂  We reconvened then to share what each group discussed, and then we finished for the night.

A young woman came to thank me for something I said during the discussion group, and of course we talked for some time after the meeting was over.  We prayed together, and she told me she had wondered why she was home for the summer, not going to help in a Bible camp or some such thing, which is what she usually does. She said she knows now that she was supposed to come to this conference, and she’s so glad we’re all here.

I don’t know if my cup can runneth over any more than it already is!

Good Weekend

 

On Friday, my daughter and I and three close friends drove to a lovely part of our state to attend a women’s conference at which I was to be the speaker.  We had such a good time on the trip, laughing and enjoying good fellowship.  We went to the home of another dear friend who fed us delicious lasagna.  We were housed in the guest house next to the church, a wonderful old Victorian house that the church is restoring.  I felt like the Queen of Sheba in my perfectly-decorated, clean and comfortable room.

The theme for the conference was Be Strong in the Lord.  What a wonderful topic to dig into.  I spoke three times, using Joshua 1:1-9, Nehemiah 8:10, and Ephesians 6:10-18 as my texts. The women I spoke to were to warm, open, and encouraging.

They fed us a delicious lunch before the final session, and then we were on our way back home. We stopped for supper before we all went our separate ways. The  weather was perfect for the entire drive, and the traffic was surprisingly minimal.  It just couldn’t have been a better weekend.

I love doing this type of thing.  It is a great privilege and a great responsibility to open God’s Word and teach it.  I do so with a lot of prayer and study.  Anyone who handles God’s Word in that way has to be answerable to Him for the the words he uses to teach the Word to others. How easy it is to make oneself the center, rather than the Word. How easy it is to misinterpret, misuse, and mislead.

I am so thankful for godly, biblically sound preachers, pastors, and teachers in my life who have taught me to reverence and respect the Word, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.