Martin Luther King Jr. once said: “Take the first step in faith. You do not have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” As it is written in this quote, my first step of faith began on my way to Muskegon-the city of blueberries. After long and exhausting flights, I started to question myself, this internship and the whole summer. I did not know the congregation, its people, my pastor. I did not know what to expect. However what I knew was that God called me to serve this summer, He called me to learn from people around me.

My worries and stress disappered as soon as I got to know my new pastor and his family- wife Katie and his son Sam. They were just warm and welcoming. The firsf few minutes we spent talking about the differences in Slovakia and America, school system and the Lutheran church. It took me few days to adjust. Even though the first moments were challenging I could not wait to meet people from my new church-Dr. Martin Luther Lutheran Church.

The first time we had a chance to meet was on Saturday, when we cleaned the church. For some, it might sound boring, but as we moved and replaced things, I got pretty good sense of the atmoshphere here and relationships among people. They all knew each other very well, they were joking, trying to take me in as one of them. After eating lunch together and spending more time together, I knew that this will be my home.

Sunday morning brought a bit of stress again, as I was a deacon for the first time in my life. Pastor Mike supported me and led me through the whole service. When I looked at the people, I could see a warm smile and support. After the service, we had agape for everyone to meet and talk. There were people who tried to speak in Slovak, some of them even baked “Slovak” cakes. I have never seen so many loving, welcoming and faithful people at one place.

The first steps are always difficult. But when we walk in faith, they are easier to survive. I pray for this internship, for the people in Muskegon and our church. I pray that our days will be full of God’s love.