Wednesday, November 7, 2007
SNOW!
It’s snowing!! For the first time since I’ve come to Slovakia! It’s pretty exciting. It’s finally getting colder outside. From what I’ve heard here so far, I think the weather is very comparable to Minnesota weather, as far as cold temperatures and amounts of snow and ice. We got quite a bit of snow today, enough to put a nice white covering on everything, but I’m REALLY excited for the first real snowstorm! I guess last year was a really mild winter with no snow, so everybody is thinking this winter will be really crazy! Is it snowing where you are???
October Newsletter
Life in Koseca
OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
For this newsletter, we were told to unpack the term “missionary” in our own context and calling. In the past, I’ve thought of the word “missionary” as a heavy and loaded term. My idea of the classic missionary was a person who ventured to a land radically different than their own, living in the worst imaginable living conditions in poverty-stricken villages. My stereotypical image of a missionary was one who selflessly brought only the clothes on their back and optimism, loudly proclaiming the gospel and their love for God.
While Slovakia definitely has distinct differences from the U.S., it’s not radically different. I live in a nice, well-kept building and have my own room. I have both internet access and phone access. I can still easily go to a shop and buy Fructis Shampoo, Aquafresh toothpaste, a Snickers candy bar, or a bottle of Sprite. I can even catch Grey’s Anatomy on t.v. here (except my favorite television characters are speaking Slovak instead of English). Believe me when I say that I brought WAY more than the clothes on my back, and many days I struggle with being very optimistic because I’m surrounded by disadvantage, poor health and suffering. And as far as proclaiming the gospel, well, they wouldn’t even be able to understand me because of the language barrier. I’m lucky if I accomplish a small conversation about the weather. So do I feel like a missionary? Sometimes yes, but most times no. Do I still have a strong sense of what the term “missionary” means, or what connotation it carries? I’m not sure. I know it will be something to consider throughout my year of service, and for years to come.
One thing I have learned is that serving God by helping others is usually not a grand gesture. It’s about the small things, as well the bigger. Helping in the kitchen sometimes so the cooks can go home faster, or helping the teachers correct tests so they can spend more time with their families at night, or just attempting to have conversations with those special people that I’ve found here that are lonely and looking for a friend. And often times, I feel like the people I’m meeting here are missionaries also. I feel like they’ve helped me and offered me more help than I’ve been able to offer them in return. I’ve met some truly amazing people.
I learned in my week of orientation that doing mission work is all about accompaniment. I finding more truth in that than I ever imagined I would. Doing mission work isn’t about fixing things, or making situations better, but it’s about being with the people. It’s about experiencing the realities of life with them and learning their ways of life. “I’m here to share my life with you, and please share yours with me too.” And whenever I feel down and frustrated about the language barrier, I think about how much I’ve been able to share with these people, and the friendships I’ve been able to form without ACTUALLY being able to talk to them. It’s truly God’s presence in Koseca.
Peace,
Ashley
Thank you so much for all of your support!! To read more about my experiences, check out my blog online at:
www.ashleyrenslovak.blogspot.com
Address:
Ashley Severson
Stredisko Evanjelickej diakonie
Koseca 898
018 64
Slovakia
Email: ashseve@hotmail.com
Phone: 011.421.918.310.062
*To learn about the volunteer options through the Young Adults in Global Mission Program, visit: www.elca.org/globalmission
OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
For this newsletter, we were told to unpack the term “missionary” in our own context and calling. In the past, I’ve thought of the word “missionary” as a heavy and loaded term. My idea of the classic missionary was a person who ventured to a land radically different than their own, living in the worst imaginable living conditions in poverty-stricken villages. My stereotypical image of a missionary was one who selflessly brought only the clothes on their back and optimism, loudly proclaiming the gospel and their love for God.
While Slovakia definitely has distinct differences from the U.S., it’s not radically different. I live in a nice, well-kept building and have my own room. I have both internet access and phone access. I can still easily go to a shop and buy Fructis Shampoo, Aquafresh toothpaste, a Snickers candy bar, or a bottle of Sprite. I can even catch Grey’s Anatomy on t.v. here (except my favorite television characters are speaking Slovak instead of English). Believe me when I say that I brought WAY more than the clothes on my back, and many days I struggle with being very optimistic because I’m surrounded by disadvantage, poor health and suffering. And as far as proclaiming the gospel, well, they wouldn’t even be able to understand me because of the language barrier. I’m lucky if I accomplish a small conversation about the weather. So do I feel like a missionary? Sometimes yes, but most times no. Do I still have a strong sense of what the term “missionary” means, or what connotation it carries? I’m not sure. I know it will be something to consider throughout my year of service, and for years to come.
One thing I have learned is that serving God by helping others is usually not a grand gesture. It’s about the small things, as well the bigger. Helping in the kitchen sometimes so the cooks can go home faster, or helping the teachers correct tests so they can spend more time with their families at night, or just attempting to have conversations with those special people that I’ve found here that are lonely and looking for a friend. And often times, I feel like the people I’m meeting here are missionaries also. I feel like they’ve helped me and offered me more help than I’ve been able to offer them in return. I’ve met some truly amazing people.
I learned in my week of orientation that doing mission work is all about accompaniment. I finding more truth in that than I ever imagined I would. Doing mission work isn’t about fixing things, or making situations better, but it’s about being with the people. It’s about experiencing the realities of life with them and learning their ways of life. “I’m here to share my life with you, and please share yours with me too.” And whenever I feel down and frustrated about the language barrier, I think about how much I’ve been able to share with these people, and the friendships I’ve been able to form without ACTUALLY being able to talk to them. It’s truly God’s presence in Koseca.
Peace,
Ashley
Thank you so much for all of your support!! To read more about my experiences, check out my blog online at:
www.ashleyrenslovak.blogspot.com
Address:
Ashley Severson
Stredisko Evanjelickej diakonie
Koseca 898
018 64
Slovakia
Email: ashseve@hotmail.com
Phone: 011.421.918.310.062
*To learn about the volunteer options through the Young Adults in Global Mission Program, visit: www.elca.org/globalmission
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