WEEK 1.7 – 7.7.2024

One great thing which is in US grocery stores is the package of many types of chips. This week I had a similar package of happy, interesting, and also sad experiences.

On Monday pastor Eric made a tour around the church area. I was amazed that such an old building is still in good shape. I must compliment Dr. Martin Luther’s church that they do a good job around this church.

Tuesday was a very sad day because church president Garth had a heart attack. The man with whom I shook hands on Sunday, was now in hospital. That is how me and pastor Eric started a tour of Cleveland’s hospitals.                                                                                                                                                                Garth was in the Cleveland clinic so I and the pastor went there as quickly how it was possible. We waited here for a few minutes when Garth’s family came. It was hard for everyone to hear how serious is Gart’s health condition. And the end pastor prayed for Garth and his family.
The little positive thing was that Cleveland’s clinic has nice architecture and design so I took a few pictures.

On Wednesday me and Pastor Eric go for a second visit to Garth. It was a sad look to him with many pipelines, infusions, cables, and medical devices. We talk with family members and pray for them. Funny in this sad situation was that pastor Eric told a few of Garth’s jokes which made smiles around him.

At the end of that day, we got a message that Garth passed away. Honor to his memory.

Independence day in Anderson’s family

At the start of this week, I moved to my first host family of Andersons. Husbands Steve and Kristen and their sons Liam and Brendan have a nice house in a forested neighborhood. They also have two cute dogs – girls Lola and Lucy. Lola always needs attention and Lucy is more calm and peaceful.


Anderson’s invited me to their Independence Day party on the 4th of July. This Thursday party was great and interesting. Also food and drings were amaizing. I met a lot of new people and Aderson’s family relatives. Most exciting was the fireworks which Steve bought on this occasion. It was very funny and loud to see all the fireworks and explosions. I fired few fireworks but don’t tell anyone 🤫. 

On the other hand, I’m proud that in Slovakia we have banned strong fireworks, so animals and pets are not scared of crazy fireworks and human traditions. 



Trip around Cleveland

On Friday Anderson’s took me on a trip around Cleveland city. I saw a lot of skyscrapers and interesting buildings. Was very excited by architecture in Cleveland. It is something unlike in Slovakia or Europe. Most interesting was the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. I was not inside, but still, it’s a beautiful and interesting building.
The most beautiful was the coastline of Lake Erie.
Only thing that annoyed me was hot weather, and the big humidity. I think that that is a good idea to build big air-conditioning on Lake Erie to prevent this

Sunday

I don’t expect that this Sunday there will be worship service again. It’s not weird to come to church every Sunday?
This Sunday was special because it was the first time I participated in liturgy. It was a little stressful, but interesting and a great experience. After a worship service, we had lunch. At lunch, my host church welcomed me in the US. Lunch was very great and there was a lot of good food and sweets. Now I know why I have thin pants 😄. People were also very friendly and nice. We had a few talks and jokes.

After lunch, church organist Jeff took me on a trip. He took me to Stan Hywet Mansion and surrounding parks and gardens. This place had amazing architecture design and look.
This property was owned by a famous businessman in the tires and rubber industry.

He had to be very rich because this huge mansion and park were not a cheap thing.
We started our tour in parks and gardens. My favorite part was the Japanese garden which I saw for the first time in my life. There was also a forest Park or English and flower park. Amazing and beautiful nature scenery.

Next was a tour around the Mansion. The mansion was well decorated in neocortical English style. Inside there was also beautiful furniture and wall decorations. The funny thing is that this mansion has the newest inventions and gadgets from the 1910s. There was a telephone, vacuum system, telephones in every corner, and one of the first fridges in the US.


Jeff then took me to his favorite Italian restaurant where we had great stromboli. In the end, Jeff took me to his house. He invites me for a cup of coffee and Jeff special sweets – brownies and cookies. They were tasteful and full of chocolate.

The last point of our trip was Jeff’s house. Surprisingly Jeff likes collecting and buying antiques. So his house looks like the palace of some duke or baron from Cleveland. We spend maybe half an hour viewing and talking about antique furniture and other antiques.
He also has a collection of interesting desert and tropical plants. One of these plants looks like an alien 👽 (look at the picture).


The last thing that surprised me in Jeff’s house was his Organ in the house. Organs looked so great and expensive. The price of this organ totally got me. Jeff told me that it cost 50000 dollars. I must ask him: “Fifty or fifteen dollars?”. I must say this Organ looks great and sounds very great too.

See you soon in the next blog 😉.