Just few info about me- my name is Michaela Honsová. I am from Žilina, lovely city in the central Slovakia. My whole family are roma-catholics and I’ve been also baptised there. My parents are divorced and until I was like 14 I didn´t even go to a church. And now I am studying Lutheran Theology in Bratislava, and I plan to be a pastor in Slovakia.

This is my first week in the US and it feels like I’ve been here since forever. I could talk a lot about everything I’ve already experienced. Firstly I’ve been afraid of the travel here. All the traveling and Immigrations and Customs. I was really afraid they wont let me go into the country. 😀 I am here in Monroe, WI now, so probably they didn’t considered me dangerous.
From Chicago I went to Madison, Wisconsin. During the flights and transfer, there were so many people that helped us (I’ve been travelling with Danka, she is the slovak intern in Texas) to find our way, police officers encouraged us and always tried to make us feel better. Everyone was talking with us! That’s something totally different than how it works in Slovakia.

My first host family waited for me in Madison, WI. They are really sweet! I love being in their family! Sometimes I am surprised how they can combine for a meal sweet and salty but I am kind of getting used to it.

The day after I came, I went to a wedding and after that I stayed for evening services. People were so opened and nice to me. They asked me many questions. Some of them were really silly, like “Oh cool, so there are other languages than just english?” or “What do people in Slovakia do for jobs?”

On Sunday morning we went to the church- this services were liturgical, and there were more people than on a Saturday—but it felt more like a community and family. People were really awesome! And pastor John made me a schedule called “Miška’s schedule of fun” or something like that—there, people can sign themselves up if they want to take me somewhere or think that I should see something and then they’ll discuss it with pastor.
About 2 we were leaving to Elkhorn, WI. We spent in Lutherdale 5 days with pastor John and our 6 confirmation kids. But all together there were about 100 kids. I got to know many people—mostly pastors, because after lunch kids had games and other stuff so we had a plenty of time to go on the boat, canoe or play some board games. I have also played kickball, 9 squares in the air, Gaga ball, and I’ve learnd new songs!

Kids were really nice. In Slovakia, most of the time in our camps I spent with persuading kids to be quiet, to listen and then do what we said to them. They are more shy and they would never do some things I’ve seen in the Lutherdale. Kids this week were excellent! When I didn’t knew something, or I haven’t heard what had been said, they repeated or explained it to me.

I loved being there. I really made a few good friends there, so I was kind of sorry that we had to leave.

On the camp I realised I am like Israelites when they were complaining that God brought them out of Egypt. God gave them manna and were present there all the time, but they were complaining about losing something they had. So was I, in thoughts. I felt like in total different place where I don’t belong first few days, and I was thinking why did I sign up to go here. Why did God bring me here. I don’t know what he wants to teach me here now, but I bet he will teach me something.

And update of last weekend—on Saturday, I was supposed to be in a funeral, but I went to graduation party, and today after church I went to baby shower party. Tomorrow starts the work in the church, we are going to visit some people and do something in the church. I don’t know what yet. I’ll write about it more later!