When I came to Whitehall and went with pastor Doug to the Lake Michigan’s beach for the first time, I realized how much I needed my sun glasses that I left in Bratislava on the table when I left for the airport on the morning of June 30th. Going somewhere without them, feels like a punishment. You surely ask what do I mean to say by the name of this blog, why do I mention glasses at beginning and what it has to do with my stay in the US.

After my first day at Lake Michigan, pastor Doug gave me sunglasses that he brought from Houston, TX – from ELCA Youth Gathering. On one side of these glasses is written #refugeeswelcome. Word refugees is noting strange to me. We have several of them in Serbia, even one part of my town is home for couple of refugees (not one family, maybe about 50) from the states of former Yugoslavia who have been looking for their new home after the wars – in the past it was a separate town (Tankosićevo), now it is part of Kysáč. I remember how I went with my mother to one of these families who used to live in the old school building at the end of the town – in some way, we supported them. It was a nice family; I admired their modesty and humility but also the high ceilings in every room – I didn’t know that it was the old school building. Even before I was born, there were “refugees” who stayed with my family in Kysáč for a while and then they moved to Canada – my family kept in touch with them, but after the death of a married couple (that was in Kysáč with their kids) we lost contact – the last time they lived in Vancouver, BC. You often hear in the news about refugees (the most about them two years ago). I even lived with them. Our Seminary, in cooperation with Diaconia in Slovakia, housed several refugees – they lived with us in the dorm – most of them are no longer there, but there is still one lady and she is really nice. Now you’re probably asking what’s my problem with refugees(!?). Do I want to respond to Trump and his policy? No. This week (on Saturday, 8/18) we had a wedding in Lebanon Lutheran. It was a couple who came here from the Washington State … actually, this wedding would not have been here if after more than 20 years two people did not find contact with one another. It’s more of a private matter, so I’ll be brief and I won’t go into details. More than 25 years ago, pastor’s family (before he went to the Seminary) in Springfield, OH supported one refugee family that had come to the US from Cambodia. They shared their story with us on Wednesday (8/15) on the potluck dinner that we had at the church (by the way, they prepared Cambodian meals!). This family moved from Cambodia to Thailand, from where they went through the refugee camps to the United States. Actually, they got to know each other at that time in camp. The story was long … On this Wednesday, when this family came to the church, pastor’s mom also came here from Ohio because of this. What was most wonderful to me was witnessing the meeting of this family with pastor’s mother after more than 25 years. If I’d blinked there would’ve been crocodile’s tears… WOW. Pastor Doug has been trying to find this family for many years and after a long-long search this May a miracle happened, when he finally found them and went to visit them in Seattle. Before he left them, daughter of this family and her fiancée announced that they wanted to get married … in his church … in Whitehall … 2,000 miles away. So we were hosting the Cambodian wedding in Lebanon Lutheran. It was a really nice event. I’m glad I could be a part of it. It was also my first wedding, where I could do something during the service. Thanks for this opportunity! The words are fulfilled: Reside in this land as an alien, and I will be with you and will bless you (Gen 26: 3). So, the whole week was about this wedding, but we had a Food Pantry on Wednesday; on Thursday there was Backpack event in the courtyard of the church. – I liked this event. Lebanon Lutheran Church really knows what the church needs to do for people.

Yesterday, during the both services at 8am and 10:15am at Lebanon Lutheran, Michele (lady with whom I was with last two weeks) and I decided that we need to surprise people and show them that I know how to play on the organ. Michele pick up Adagio and we played it as a prelude. I played this piece for the first time on the Thursday before Backpack event and after this “rehearsal” we decided that we will play it on coming Sunday. Originally, we wanted to play this during my last Sunday here at Lebanon Lutheran, but I already have got some other plans for that services – and Michele will have concert somewhere. But back to the story, Michele played on oboe and I on the organ and people really appreciated this very much. It was a piece from 1980s written for Michele by her friend organist John Upham. Michele just now found out that her friend, who was an organist in her church in past, was installed as Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the Atlantic States of the Anglican Province of Christ the King in Services at All Saints Anglican Church in Bolingbrook, IL! OMG! He is now bishop! Could you believe that?! – she said.

After the 10:15am service, Kathy Keller told me that today I need to go to Michigan’s Adventure. I began to suspect that someone in the church reads my blogs here (especially the last one), hehe. But never mind. She took me there after the service … and after the “entrance” to Michigan’s Adventure I was supposed to wait for her son Josh and his friends. I waited and waited for over 20 minutes and then I just went to look for them … and found them faster. I’ve tried all kinds of rides and roller-coasters (not only one time!). Even now, I think that my organs are moved to other places … but my head is still here… IT.WAS.AWESOME.

I’m staying with the Crouches this two weeks in North Muskegon. You already know them – it is that family that owns a pool. They are already my fifth “step-family”. We just finished having dinner and now I’m watching The Walking Dead with their dog Gandy – it seems that he doesn’t like it very much, because he fell asleep.

Take care! Bye.