Hello there! When I went to bed last night I realized that I forgot to write a new blog for you. I know you’re impatient and that you can’t wait until I write something new for you. My apologies. It wasn’t intentional. Past week was really good and I hope yours was as well. As the school year began, all summer activities ended – September is a time when the Slovak intern doesn’t have much work here. Activities that are planned in the coming days will relate to days when I will be back at the Seminary, so I don’t have that much active participation in this planning. So, I’m attending activities that usually take place regularly every week.

Last week, as I wrote, I moved to the Nelson’s family. This family has a house right next to White Lake. It is truly amazing to live by the lake. On Tuesday, and also on Sunday evening, I went with Mr. and Mrs. Nelson on a boat – it was the first time in my life I step a foot on a boat. I really appreciate the fact that I was able to experience this as well as the company and relationship I have built with this family. It’s different to be on a boat than on a kayak. On Wednesday, pastor Doug and I were in Muskegon’s hospital (past. visit) and later that day we went to The James Jackson Museum of African American History. This museum is located in Muskegon Heights, whose population is almost 80% people of African-American origin. It was a unique opportunity for me to visit such a museum and especially when it is about the history of people who have been condemned for years, discriminated, oppressed, unacceptable. I am very glad that we do not have such a history in Slovakia, nor in Serbia. Although it is a small museum, it has a lot to offer. What got most of my attention in there was the bill from the slaves’ sale from 1825 in Muskegon. I am glad that the time of slavery is over and that most of today’s nations has changed. After visiting this museum, we had a Bible Study – currently we are going through the Romans. (attending 8-10 people). Last week we also had a visit – it was two Nelson’s daughters that came to see us (Lauren and Megan). I challenged myself again. Two weeks ago when I was with the Crouch family at dinner, I ordered shrimp. Because they had told me that there will be many kinds of fish, I thought it was a fish. But when I ate it, I found it to be something else, different. On Thursday, we also had shrimp for dinner … and it was good. I never imagined to try this kind of food, and to be honest, shrimp? Probably never in my life. It was good – I got used to it, as well as to many other things I’ve tried in America.

September is quite boring. For pastors in Slovakia, September is time when the “summer holidays” end and the school year begins. In fact, pastors in our countries teach religion at school. As I have learned, religion is not taught in the US at school. For pastors in the US, September is a paper month – lots of planning for next months. Since I preached last Sunday (9/9), that week was devoted mainly to that. I also prepared prayers. I preached in both services. However, I want to share with you one information that’s very encouraging for me. The last time I was preaching (two weeks ago), one couple came to our church. They have recently moved to Whitehall. This married couple visits another church in Whitehall every Sunday (read: they go to the different churches and they are trying to find one they want to belong to) and so they came to see us – the Lutherans, two weeks ago when I was preaching. Last Sunday there were not here but this Sunday (9/9) they were back. It made me very happy. I don’t want to be rude for being proud (because I’m not that kind of person) but one of the reasons of their return to our community could be the sermon, the community of people and/or the atmosphere that is here. If it was the sermon that brought them back to our church – made them decide to come back here – it is my honor. I am very glad and I take it as an encouragement for my future ministry. I’m looking forward to see them again in two weeks (they will not come this Sunday because they are going to the other state). In my home church it is very difficult to attract new people. Mentality in Serbia is quite different. When you are not raised from childhood in the church, it is very unlikely you will go to church, nor as an adult – something really serious must happen to make you “go” into the church community. I know many people who have moved to the town where I grew up, and their purpose was not to find the church after their arrival. The mentality of the Americans is a bit different and I am very excited that they want to be a part of some church.

I forgot to tell you that we had wedding on Saturday in Lebanon Lutheran. It was the wedding of our two members, Frank and Alice. I’m glad that they wanted me to take a participation during the wedding ceremony. I know the background of this two people, because I was together with the pastor Doug during their premarital counseling even when they talked about the possible date of their wedding. As they knew that I will leave the States at the end of September, they shifted wedding from the end of September to first Saturday of September. Thank be to them.

So, this was my week. It wasn’t too busy, but it was good. I really enjoyed it. It is nice to be in this congregation but at this point, it is hard for me, when someone asks me when will I go back to Slovakia and I need to say “in 16 days”!