Lucenec and Cinobana

Our team arrived safely in Budapest, Hungary, early last week. Our first week in Slovakia was spent living in Lucenec with a host family. We commuted about twenty minutes each day to Cinobana in order to teach English each weekday for three hours. I taught a beginner English class of eleven children (ages 10-12). The teacher spoke English well enough to translate; however, her German was much better as she is a German teacher in the school. Along the way, the children insisted that I learn basic Slovak, and they spent some time teaching me my numbers and a couple of different greetings. After several days (and lots of giggling), they were almost satisfied with my pronuciation of their Slovak numbers.

During the afternoon from 2-5 pm, our team hosted a camp for both Roma and Slovak children. Each day we had about 35-45 children show up for games, crafts, Bible stories and singing. For the final day of camp, we partnered with local translators and affiliates to host a carnival for the children during the early evening. With face and fingernail painting, fishing for candy, painting, relay games and a bucket toss, there was a lot for the kids to do and enjoy.

This weekend we will be living and relaxing in Nesvady, Slovakia, before moving on to another week of camp. Please continue to pray for us as we travel and share the love of Christ!

Tomorrow's the day!

Tomorrow the Roma Road Team will be leaving from the Atlanta and flying to Europe! Please keep us in your prayers as we travel and complete our assignment this summer.

God Bless!

Another adventure...

This summer I and four other students will be traveling to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland to work with CBF personnel on behalf of the Roma gypsies. Together we will be hosting English camps, backyard Bible clubs, and learning more about the Roma culture and people. As we travel, internet access will be limited, but don't worry, I plan on taking plenty of pictures for the return home to Missouri. My updates will be few and far between, but I do ask that you remember to keep us in your prayers as we travel and share the love of Christ.

Pictured above: CBF Student.GO - Roma Road Team 2011

Below I have listed a brief schedule so you all will be able to keep an internet eye on us. :-)

June 21 - Depart STL, MO USA

June 22 - Arrive in Budapest, Hungary

June 23 - Relocate to Lucenec, Slovakia

June 24-29 - English Cam

ps in Lucenec and Cinobana, Slovakia

June 30-July 3 - Nesvady, Slovakia

July 4-8 - Vazec, Slovakia - Roma Camp

July 9-10 - Prague, Czech Republic

July 16-21 Brno, Czech Republic and Auschwitz/Berkinau Concentration Camps, Poland

July 22 - Return to Budapest, Hungary to return to USA

Our Daily Bread

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

While thumbing through a magazine this afternoon, I stumbled across a recipe for banana bread. And, being the impulsive baker that I am, I went to the store to grab some buttermilk and shortening to try out the recipe. Upon returning home, I dragged out the bread pans and kitchenware necessary, cranked up the Johnny Cash and went to work. Stirring this and mushing that, the mixture was finally poured into the pans and placed into the oven with care. And then, the most difficult part.

I waited.... and waited. Impatiently. Checking the timer every two minutes.

As I waited, self-doubt showed up to assist me during the baking process.

Did I mess something up? How many bananas did I put in? What's the oven temperature set on? Did the recipe call for baking soda or baking powder?! It shouldn't be taking this long!

And finally.....BEEPING!

I pulled the first pan out, stuck in a knife and.... still squishy. Placing the pan back in the oven,

self-doubt and I spent another ten minutes together before the bread was thoroughly baked.

This time, I pulled the bread out of the oven, and my fears nearly vanished. I had what smelled like and looked like banana bread. Cautiously tasting a bite, my concerns dissipated. I even called my mom to celebrate in my banana bread success. However, hanging up the phone, I realized that I had a problem.

Okay. Great. Now what? I have two pans of banana bread. I can't eat it all. What should I do with it?

Not a second later the light bulb above my head came on, and I had my "Ahah!" moment. Perhaps I should share my bread. I should take it to others and let them have some. Maybe we could talk about the impending snowstorm, Cardinals baseball, iPhone apps, or just life in general. Perhaps we might even share parts of our lives and build life-sustaining friendships with others.

Its no secret that some of the best relationship building happens over a delicious morsel. The disciples and apostles were constantly breaking bread together in the New Testament. In fact, the word "bread" appears in the King James Version of the Bible nearly 360 times. People are created to be together, build relationships, and share their experiences. So this week, sit down with someone over a tasty treat and simply share.