This week was quite busy so I didn’t realize the fact that I am here for two weeks already. I already realize that it will be very hard for me to leave this congregation. On Friday (7/6), I was invited with pastor Doug’s family to visit Shon Cook’s family to have dinner with them and then we watched the Boat Parade on Duck Lake – this was the 5th annual boat parade and it ended up with party just few houses nearby. On Saturday (7/7), pastor Doug took me to the Summer Arts Festival on Blue Lake. This festival has a long tradition. It was very nice over there and I appreciate it that pastor took me to this place. Sunday 8th was my very first chance to take an active part during the service.

Since my Name-day back in Slovakia (and in Serbia) is on July 8th, this day was also associated with this. Parks’ family prepared a Welcome party for me and Mrs. Irene made a delicious cake for me – yummy! Thanks! Party attendants were their family friends and almost all families that I will be living with during this summer. – I had great  time and I thank them for that! This day was a bit different than previous days, because I moved to another family, to the Keller’s family. Again, like last time, it’s a very nice family and I’m glad to be with them! This family has two cats – I’ve only seen one. I hope that by the end of next week I will see the other one too, haha.

During this week, I was with pastor Doug on several home visits, which for me means a lot. One, for example, was with an older man – Mike, a long-time service visitor, but who, due to the “unstable” health condition can no longer go to the church. – pastor tries to visit him regularly. The next visit we had this week was a premarital counseling and also meeting with The Rev. Megan Crouch for baptismal counseling. Megan was pastor of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, MN. She is now moving to Michigan and will be pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church and St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Midland, MI. During this week I also had a church-tour and meet up with people who work there. This church is not just the place where people meet each other but the church where people live! Church is also home for Boy Scout Troop 1048 – on Wednesday (7/11) pastor Doug and I went to visit this troop at Owasippe Scout Reservation.

Since this church has its history which is connected with Swedish-speaking people, we had this dinner called (in Swedish) Smörgåsbord which was on Thursday (7/12). In Serbia this form of dinner is simply called the Swedish table-dinner. What was different in this dinner from those I know was that, that here it was traditional Swedish food. At the beginning of this dinner pastor Doug  had a welcoming word and I held the lead prayer..  A lot of people attended  to this event and it was a really blessed time spent.

It is very interesting and amazing how this little town Whitehall has such amazing festivals during the summer. Last week I was with pastor Doug at the Summer Arts Festival on Blue Lake. This Friday, thanks to Shone Cook that gave me an entrance ticket – how lovely from her! – Kathy, Josh, Drew (Josh’s friend) and I went to the play “Mom’s Gift”, which was first play of this year Summer Theatre Festival. The destiny of Kat in this play touched me … and it made me cry – oh, how sensitive I am sometimes …

Yesterday, on July 14th, I was with the Keller’s family on wedding of their friends in Muskegon at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church. – let us break the differences. 😊 It was very wonderful and blessed time for me to be invited to this ceremony. It was something new for me, maybe a bit unusual but after all I really appreciate it. We had such an awesome time! Thanks to Keller’s family and this lovely couple.

Today we had a beautiful sacrament in Lebanon Lutheran – baptism. Together with pastor Doug and me there was also pastor Megan Crouch – the family member of the little Tobias. It was nice to be on such an event when a child is initiated into the Christian faith and to the Church.

Next Sunday I will preach for the first time in english! Wish me good luck.

Until next time, bye.