seven cases, one confusing language, one (or more) deeper meaning

so, as i've been learning slovak, i have learned of seven "cases" in slovak. these are different forms that nouns take depending on their relationship/position in the sentence. for example, if i want to say that bob has a book, then "bob" stays the same (nominativ) but the book changes its ending because it is being affected by bob (akusativ). anyway, this is not to explain all the cases to you (since i only know the two right now), but to point out the implications of this. one big thing is that "jesus" is not simply ježiš, but can change depending on the relationship to the rest of the sentence.

while this makes learning the language quite a bit more difficult, i really like the implications of it. as i mentioned with jesus, nouns cannot simply be expressed in one way without concern for other parts of the sentence. nouns can only be understood in relationship to each other and to other parts of the sentence. this is reflective of our interconnectedness in this world. while (especially in the us) many would like to think that we are who we are no matter where we are/who we are with, that is simply untrue. we are constantly changing.

much of the time, i feel like the changes in me are the work of the holy spirit as i grow into myself, but the changes are also through my relationships to other people and all of god's creation (which can still be, and usually is, the work of the holy and creative spirit). when we change words in slovak depending on their relationship to others, it provides me with a reminder that we are connected and that we do, in fact, affect each other, for good or for bad. so, as i go out each day, i try to make a point of thinking about how i might affect others and how i can allow the spirit to work through me, rather than inhibiting its work.

halloween

so, here in slovak (at least in the lutheran areas), october 31st is reformation day, preceded by reformation week. as such, i was anticipating very little in the way of costumes, masks, pumpkin carving, etc. well, i was very surprised to find that on the thursday and friday before halloween, the afterschool-type program that i work with three days a week, was "celebrating halloween." that mainly translated to making masks with the kids, so that they could wear them and take them home and show their parents since they didn't have homework those two days because they didn't have school. that in and of itself was really fun (i made a tomato mask for myself and called it bob. most of you (especially if you ever watched movies in sunday school) probably know why, if not ask me and i'll tell you..or google it.

then, on saturday, october 31st, we had a worship service for reformation day at 4:30 and after it, i headed over with the other young adults to the mladeš youth group, where we found people carving pumpkins!! they had three pumpkins, which were all already gutted. it was fun watching and then they asked me to carve the final pumpkin, so i actually got to carve a pumpkin (which i haven't done in years) on halloween!!! we didn't go as far as cooking the pumpkin seeds and eating them, like my mom had always done growing up, but it was really nice to have people celebrating with me something that is a fairly distinctly "american" holiday:)

here's a picture of my pumpkin, nice and goofy, just like me:) \

peter might have the keys, but who really owns the kingdom?

"let the little children come to me"

what wisdom exists in such a simple statement. ok, it continues to be even more profound, but first, let's think about just that phrase. the disciples are rebuking parents for bringing their children and babies to jesus and jesus responds by saying to his disciples, "let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of god belongs to such as these." (luke 18:16b)

wow.

let the little children come to me. and how often do we simply give lip service to the importance of children and youth? yes, we all know that "they are the future," but do we realize that they are also the present? they are the church and they are the world. they own the kingdom of god! now, i’m not suggesting that children should own houses, cars, etc. but owning the kingdom, changes how we as "non-children" view and understand church and our relationship with god. if little children own it, it takes us back to thinking about what we learned in kindergarten: share your toys, play nice with others, say please and thank you, and you can do anything you want. what a different view from the one we get from society!

and let's face it, children in general (and perhaps all people) are usually smarter than we give them credit for. this is especially obvious if you've ever taught a bible study or sunday school with kids. the questions they come up with and the insight that they provide never leaves me without something to think about.

so, if we are inviting the little children to come, it must mean that we need to listen to them, right? no, they can't make all the big decisions, but why not ask the kids in your life what they think about an issue before you vote on it at church or before you decide at home? have kids be more involved in leadership, give them a place, or at least a voice, on church council. i think you'll probably also find that kids are maybe a bit more generous than non-children, which, however problematic it may seem, is very much needed in the world in which we live and move and have our being.

ok, where did this come from? well, there's a bit of a story to that. "pre lepší život (for a better life)," the association i'm working with here, is geared towards children. they are the very clear focus of the work we do and right now, we have an after school-type program that we are running. well, this year is the fifth anniversary of the association's founding, so we had a retreat this weekend to celebrate.

during the retreat, i couldn't help but notice, as i wrote in my journal, that this group "is a fierce example of how we are supposed to love one another. here there are men and women, roma and gadje all working together and loving each other as christ first loved us." this group of people loved, lived, joked, laughed, prayed, and praised together, but none of that would have happened if we hadn't all had the commonality of the pre lepší život. if we weren't all here for the children, to work for a better life for them, then all of that love that we so readily shared might not have ever even existed.

i have found that when something is focused on children, whether it's fundraising, after school projects, or anything else you could think of, people are a lot more willing to get involved and people are a lot more generous. they are more generous with money, yes, but more than that, they are generous with their time, attention, and love. (i do realize this is not at all a universal truth, but instead a sweeping generalization, and i'm ok with that) people come together for children, and they share love with the children, but also, and perhaps more importantly, with everyone involved.

so, maybe when jesus said "let the little children come to me" he knew it would mean that so many more people would also come, after all, who lets their child run off without at least knowing where they are going or following them? it was really a marketing ploy by jesus. get the kids to want it (like with toys on tv) and the parents will have to buy it too, or at least check it out, and if not the parents, then friends or relatives. let the little children come and watch the love and generosity increase exponentially as others check it out also and work together for a better life for everyone.

passover remembered

so, i based my talk on the following poem. i really like it and heard it at our orientation in chicago and it has really resonated with me and with what i am up to this year. i do think that it is a really good poem in general, though. so, for you, enjoy.

"Passover Remembered" by Alla Bozarth-Campbell

Pack nothing.
Bring only your determination to serve
and your willingness to be free.

Don't wait for the bread to rise.
Take nourishment for the journey, but eat standing.
Be ready to move at a moment's notice.

Do not hesitate to leave you old ways behind -
fear, silence, submission.
Only surrender to the need of the time -
love justice and walk humbly with your God.

Do not take time to explain to the neighbors.
Tell only a few trusted friends and family members.
Then begin quickly, before you have had time
to sink back into old slavery.

Set out in the dark.
I will send fire to warm and encourage you.
I will be with you in the fire, and I will be with you in the cloud.

You will learn to eat new food
and find refuge in new places.
I will give you dreams in the desert
to guide you safely to that place you have not yet seen.
The stories you tell one another around the fires in the dark
will make you strong and wise.

Outsiders will attack you, and some follow you
and at times you will get weary and turn on each other
from fear, fatigue and blind forgetfulness.

You have been preparing for this
for hundreds of years.

I am sending you into the wilderness to make a new way
and to learn my ways more deeply.

Some of you will be so changed by weathers and wanderings
that even your closest friends will have to learn your features
as though for the first time.

Some of you will not change at all.

Some will be abandoned by your dearest loves
and misunderstood by those who have known you since birth
who feel abandoned by you.

Some will find new friendships in unlikely faces,
and old true friends as faithful and true
as the pillar of God's flame.

Sing songs as you go,
and hold close together.
You may at times grow confused
and lose your way.

Continue to call each other by the names I've given you
to help remember who you are.
Touch each other,
and keep telling the stories.

Make maps as you go,
remembering the way back from before you were born.
So you will be only the first of many waves
of deliverance on the desert seas.
It is the first of many beginnings -
your Paschaltide.

Remain true to the mystery.
Pass on the whole story.
Do not go back.
I am with you now and I am waiting for you.


and the slovak version for those interested:

"Pesach v Spomienkach"

Nič si neberte so sebou.
Prineste si jedine vašu odhodlanosť slúžiť
a vašu ochotu byť slobodným.

Nenechajte chlieb vykysnúť.
Vezmite si jedlo na cestu, ale jedzte postojaci.
Buďte pripravení sa okamžite sťahovať.

Nezdráhajte sa zahodiť svoje staré spôsoby za hlavu –
strach, mlčanie, podriadenosť.
Len sa poddajte potrebám doby –
milujte spravodlivosť a v pokore choďte so svojím Bohom.

Nestrácajte čas s vysvetľovaním susedom.
Povedzte to iba niekoľkým verným priateľom a členom rodiny.
Potom začnite rýchlo, prv, než by ste mali čas
opäť upadnúť do starého otroctva.

Vyrazte do tmy.
Zošlem oheň, aby vás ohrial a povzbudil.
Budem s vami v ohni a budem s vami v oblaku.

Budete sa učiť jesť nové jedlo
a nájdete útočisko na nových miestach.
Dám vám sny na púšti,
aby som vás priviedol bezpečne na miesto, ktoré ste ešte nikdy nevideli.
Príbehy, ktoré si budete navzájom rozprávať okolo ohňa v tme,
vás urobia silnými a múdrymi.

Cudzinci vás budú napádať a niektorí prenasledovať
a čas od času budete unavení a zo strachu,
vyčerpanosti a slepej zábudlivosti budete na seba nazvájom útočiť.

Pripravovali ste sa na toto
stovky rokov.

Posielam vás na pustatinu, aby som vytvoril novú cestu
a naučil vás lepšie mojim spôsobom.


Niektorí z vás sa tak zmenia túlaním sa dažďom a vetrom,
až vás vaši najbližší priatelia budú musieť spoznávať,
ako by to bolo opäť po prvý raz.

Niektori z vás sa ale vôbec nezmenia.

Niektorých z vás opustia vaši najmilovanejší a tí,
ktorí vás poznali od narodenia, vás nepochopia a budú si naopak myslieť,
že to vy ste ich opustili.

Niektorí z vás si nájdu priateľstvá s ľuďmi, s ktorými by sa inak nespriatelili
a starých dobrých priateľov takých verných a skutočných
ako stĺp Božieho plameňa.

Cestou spievajte piesne
a buďte si navzájom blízki.
Môžete sa niekedy popliesť
a stratiť svoju cestu.

Aj naďalej sa vzájomne oslovujte menami, ktoré som vám dal,
aby vám pomáhali pripomínať si, kto ste.
Dotýkajte sa navzájom
a pokračujte v rozprávaní príbehov.

Cestou si robte mapy,
aby ste si spomenuli na cestu späť k časom pred vaším narodením.
Tak budete iba prvou z mnohých vĺn
vyslobodenia na mori púšte.
To je prvý z mnohých začiatkov –
vaša Pascha.

Zostávajte oddaní tajomstvu.
Odovzdávajte celý príbeh.
Nevracajte sa.
Ja som teraz s vami a čakám na vás.

wedding!!!

so, last night i went to the third wedding i've ever been to. since the first wedding happened before i was old enough for school, all i remember of it is a conversation with my mom in the bathroom. the second happened in high school and was my youth minister's wedding. and then this one. so, i'm not sure exactly how normal weddings in the us go, nor how normal this wedding was by slovak standards, but i'm going to attempt a comparison anyway.

overall, i think the ceremony is about as similar to us ceremonies as the church service is to us lutheran church services. that is to say, the differences are: 1-the language, 2-the way the pastor dresses, and 3-the liturgy is basically all sung here, while that is not necessarily the case in the us. the service was small, had a sermon, communion for the bride and groom, and exchanging of the traditional wedding vows. then, the bride and groom went out and were congratulated by everyone as they left and given a TON of flowers.

the wedding reception, however, was (i think) a bit different in a couple of ways. the first thing that i noticed was that when people tapped silverware against plates, glasses, etc., it did not (as is custom in the us) mean that it was time for a toast. instead, it was an indication that the bride and groom had to kiss, and if people weren't satisfied with the first one, then they kept tapping until they were satisfied.

as far as beverages go, i was quite surprised to find three different glasses at my place setting. i had one for soda/water (the bubbly kind, of course), one already filled with a slice of lemon and some sweet wine, and a shot glass. maybe it's just me, but i didn't realize there were so many times and ways to toast at a wedding.

finally, there is some of the wedding (such as cutting the cake) about which i can't report because the wedding ceremony started at 4:30 and we left the reception at 9. usually the celebrations last all night (it turns out this one ended at 7am!) and the cutting of the cake wasn't planned until midnight!! well, with two pastors preaching in the morning, we definitely weren't staying up all night (for which i am grateful), so we left early and i was very much content with the time i spent at the wedding and ready for bed when we arrived back home. the dancing was definitely fun and i learned new dances, listened to people speak slovak, tried to speak slovak myself, and even understood some of other people's conversations. what a fun time it was celebrating love:)

ready, set, pray!

so, one thing that has become abundantly clear to me in the two whole days that i’ve been here is that prayer takes on a very different role here than it did for me growing up. now, this may have to do with my family and the family i’m living with now more than with us culture or Slovak culture, but it is still really interesting. i have never been really into praying. i do know that prayer can be very powerful and meaningful, and i relate best to it when praying aloud as a group, but it has never quite been my thing.

as such, i have prayed more times since arriving here than i had for quite awhile before that. i think that i always prayed in my own way, but it was not really an explicit, “ok, now let me pray” it was more mentally thinking with god. here, we pray before eating (which i really like and was doing in chicago and bratislava as well, but not quite as in-depth) as well as in the morning with our devotional (a biblical reading and reflection then a prayer) and at night before bed, we pray together.

now, most of the time i have absolutely no idea what they are saying when they pray, though i do occasionally catch a word or two, or my name. this is fine though, because it lets me think about what they might be saying. when it's my turn (usually in a group of just a couple, everybody prays, while in a big group a few people are either chosen to pray or pray as they feel called. it seems that people are not nearly as fearful of praying as in the us), i have found that i do have a lot to pray for and about, as well as that i find relief and comfort in praying, even though the only group part is that everybody said something.

i used to think of group prayer as more meaningful (for me, at least) because the group could hear and understand what everybody had to say, but that is not the case here. yet, it is still (or perhaps more so) meaningful to pray in a group. i guess i can't quite articulate this change in how/why i am praying, but it is definitely more meaningful for me now than it has been in the past.

language

so, as many of you probably know or could guess, i will be (and have begun) learning a new language this year. well, this new language is also only spoken in one country (slovakia, obviously), although it is similar (i believe an appropriate comparison would be spanish and portuguese) to czech and a few other slovak languages. it is also written with roman lettering (only with added marks to what we use in english). this would seem easier, but it means that the two languages i already know (spanish and english) are more likely to get confused with slovak than something like hebrew would. i am working on it though, and i hope to soon have a solid grasp (and to be able to easily identify) the differences in gendering of nouns between spanish and slovak.

anyway, that's a lot of talk about things most of you probably don't care about, but here's what i have to say about language:

not only am i learning slovak (because i am actually interested in learning it as well as because i think it is important to learn the language when you are in a new place), but i will also probably be learning at least some romani, the language spoken (in varying dialects) amongst the roma people. the language is fairly similar to slovak, so hopefully that will help. i have been working on the language, and although i can't really understand your average slovak speaker (they're much to fast for me), i think that we as a group probably know more than we think we do. we have some basic grammar rules down and we're working on the vocab, so we'll see how it all shakes out in the end.

anyway, this is a fairly random post, but i'm excited about the language learning, and the window it will give me into a new culture and so very many new stories:-D so, tomorrow i'm off to rankovce, slovakia to finally start (for the last time, since i've already started twice before: leaving colorado and again leaving the u.s.a.) my adventure and my journey of stories.