WEEKS 49 - 56

The bells from the carillon of the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church toll beautifully each morning. Located right next door to us, their melodic chimes are a beloved part of our daily routine. It's a sound we will deeply miss when we return home.

Church bells serve many purposes. Primarily, they ring out to signal that it is time for worship, often marking the beginning of prayers and other religious activities. Beyond their spiritual role, bells are also used to announce civic events, signal times of public mourning or celebration, and even alert people to imminent danger.

No matter the reason, we are deeply grateful for churches that choose to preserve the sacred significance of their bells. Each morning, bright and early, these bells serve as a reverent reminder to Marilyn and me of the importance of our own personal prayers.

The City of Sobrance and the Regional Sobrance Hospital have been focal points of our humanitarian efforts, and we have cherished every moment spent there. On January 21st, we planned a closing ceremony at the hospital to recognize the Church’s support in providing needed medical equipment for the rehabilitation of long-term cerebrovascular patients. This significant event brought together Mayor Sklar, the vice mayor, hospital administrators, doctors, and representatives from several major medical equipment companies.

However, about a week before the ceremony, we received an invitation to attend the Slovak Republic of National Plenipotentiary of the Government for Roma Communities conference in the High Tatras, scheduled for the same day. This conference was expected to host 250 attendees. Faced with two important events, we had to make a tough decision.

In the end, we decided that I would rent a car and drive to the Tatras for the national conference, while Marilyn would attend the Sobrance Hospital event with our translator. Both gatherings turned out to be excellent opportunities for the Church to receive recognition throughout the country.

At the hospital event, Marilyn was interviewed by the local television network, highlighting the Church’s contributions. Meanwhile, at the national conference, I had the opportunity to meet key figures in the Slovak Government responsible for Roma Communities. During the conference, it was announced that the Church was responsible for 80% of the country's Roma community projects. In a nation of 5.4 million people, with only 400 members of the Church, it was both encouraging and heartwarming to witness the significant impact the Church is making in Slovakia.

Here are some pictures of both events.

Dignitaries from City of Sobrance

Alexander Daško, Plenipotentiary for Romani Communities.  Mr. Daško has a very interesting and diversified background.   Among his many talents, he is a professionally trained violinist. With us is Darina Barančiková,  government director of Roma Villages in East Slovakia and a good friend.

  Matuš Nemeth director of National Project            Development Teams and Darina Barančiková

          

City of Jasov Development Team presentation

Slovak Republic of National Plenipotentiary of the Government for Roma Communities Conference

Last summer, we met with the Mayor Marek Miker and municipality members in Laškovce. It became immediately clear that there was an urgent need for a Learning Center and hygiene facilities. The primary school was bursting at the seams and in dire need of expansion. Our plan was to install two containers to serve as classrooms and one hygienic container for restrooms and a laundry facility.

Many Romani children do not attend school due to poor hygiene factors and their parents often feel embarrassed to send them to school. With the installation of two classroom containers and an additional hygienic container, we aimed to address these challenges.

The new hygienic container now enables parents to launder their clothes and maintain better hygiene for their children, boosting their confidence and willingness to attend school. By providing these essential facilities, we hope to create a more conducive learning environment and encourage greater school attendance among Romani children.  The members of the municipality and the community as a whole, were very grateful for the Church's donation.  We love being a part of this wonderful work and have grown to love and appreciate the good people we serve with.

Mayor Miker and several members of the municipality of the City of  Laškovce

Mayor Miker and Darina Barančiková. You have often heard us speak of Darina. She is one of the most dedicated and charitable NGO here in Slovakia. She has been a lifesaver for us, always knowing exactly where the most urgent needs are among the Romani population. Darina has become a dear friend to us, and we love working with her.

We traveled to Žilina to help put together hygiene kits for Nadacia Mesta Žilina.  This is one of the Church's NGO's in Žilina that we have done projects with over the years.  With the help of the young missionaries and Sestra and Starší Edwardson we put together 220 hygiene kits for displaced and underprivileged families.  With the cooperation of the City of Žilina the kits were distributed during the winter season when vulnerable families need them the most.  

Some of our favorite people in the world are Rich and Becky Bruggeman. Rich and I share a special bond—we were mission companions 51 years ago, serving together in Kentucky and Tennessee. Time may have passed, but the memories and camaraderie we built have stood the test of time.  

Rich and Becky have spent much of their lives exploring the world, with a particular fondness for Europe. Recently, while on a business trip to Frankfurt, Rich decided to take a detour to Slovakia for a whirlwind visit. Though he was only here for about 24 hours, we made every minute count!

Rich is the kind of friend where no matter how much time has passed, we pick up right where we left off. Our brief reunion was filled with non-stop reminiscing about our days as young missionaries and sharing stories that feel as vivid now as they did back then. It was a joy to reconnect and relive those cherished memories together.

Life is a beautiful journey, and it’s moments like these that remind us how lucky we are to have friends who feel like family.

A quick visit to Spišský hrad

On February 17th, we traveled to Brno, Czech Republic, for an inspiring Mission Conference. Though our mission is small, with only around 64 young missionaries, it’s truly a force to be reckoned with—full of heart and determination.

A few days later, on February 20th, we had the privilege of sharing lunch in Snina, Slovakia, with Jozephina and Daniel from Nadácia Pro futura, and our dedicated friend and translator, Ria van Dalen. Together, we discussed plans for exciting future humanitarian projects, focusing on how we can make a meaningful impact in the region of Snina.  We love this great work we are honored to participate in it.  The Lord is truly blessing so many lives here in Slovakia and we feel blessed to be a small part of it all.

We love you and appreciate your continued love and support!