Do you ever take a few minutes to look back on all the things God has accomplished? I’m finding that writing these updates to you provides me with the opportunity to do just that. He has been so abundantly good.
Relationships have been a major theme over the past couple months and it has been such a blessing.
I’ve had several opportunities to spend time with my future co-workers. I was able to have David and Vivian Waite (Don and LeAnne’s children) over for Christmas. It was wonderful to be able to get to know them better. Then LeAnne Waite and Anna Smith flew into Watertown for a few days in early January. Then, while this is not the happiest reason, I was able to see Don, LeAnne, David, and Anna at Don’s mom’s funeral, as well as being able to meet some of their extended family. Please be praying for the Waite family. Grandma Waite is with her Savior, but her presence is very much missed here on earth. Please also be praying for Don and LeAnne. Don will be flying back to Slovakia this week and LeAnne will be flying back in a couple of weeks.
Additionally, I’ve been blessed with being able to develop relationships with several churches: First Baptist Church of Hartford, WI; Faith Baptist Church of Port Washington, WI; East Side Baptist Church of Milwaukee, WI; and Fellowship Baptist of Watertown, WI. It is amazing how God allows us to have an instant connection with other believers even if we’ve never met them before. It has been an encouragement to meet so many people who are striving to follow the Lord and not something that I take for granted. I pray that the Lord was able to use me to be a blessing to them too.
Beyond this, the Lord has allowed me to spend time at a BMM missions conference, catching up with family and old friends, with my church family, and getting to know a new co-worker at MBU. All of these relationships have encouraged me greatly.
In addition to the relationships the Lord has allowed to develop over the past couple months, He has allowed me to purchase my plane ticket to Slovakia. I leave March 26th. Please be praying for all the preparations that go into moving across the ocean, that the residency/visa requirements will be completed smoothly, and that I will be able to find the apartment God has selected for me to use while I’m in Slovakia.
The Lord has also allowed me to continue with learning Slovak and my comprehension has drastically improved since my last update. I’m still at the beginning of the language learning journey, but I’ve been able to spend a couple hours almost every day in Slovak and I’ve started reading books like “Hobit Alebo Cesta Tam a Späť”. Please pray that my comprehension will continue to improve and that I will be able to find a language teacher once I’m in Slovakia.
In Slovakia
The Bible Institute classes have been going well and there have not been many issues with the weather recently. Thank you so much for your prayers!
While we are still praising that the bridge by the church has finally been opened, the temporary bridge has started to be taken down and is currently sitting in front of the church and preventing access to the church. Please be praying that this will be taken care of quickly and people will soon be able to come and go from the church with ease.
Please be praying for the church in Kežmarok while Don and LeAnne are in the states. They are continuing to serve one another faithfully through the Bible Institute, Sunday services, fellowshipping, and otherwise being there for eachother.
In Christ,
Shae Zabel
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