On Slovak Soil

     There has been so much that has happened since my last update. I was able to spend some time with Bible Baptist Church of Beaver Dam, WI; First Baptist Church of Barron, WI; and Grace Community Church of Lombard, IL. I was able to meet a few people with Slovak ancestry and it was a blessing to connect with them over that. In addition, I was able to just fellowship with so many people who love the Lord and want to see him glorified throughout the world.

     Then on March 3rd, my sending church, Berean Baptist Church of Beloit, WI, held a commissioning service for me. It was incredibly humbling and a tremendous blessing to see my church family come around me, display their care for me, and pray collectively for the work God has set before me.

    Over the next few weeks, I invested time with the people God has placed into my life and then said goodbye to them. Even with the technology available today, I still have moments that hit me where I deeply miss these friends and family. I know that it is an indication of the love and mutual care we share, but those moments are still not easy. Please pray that God will use those moments to continue to draw me closer to Him and to keep my eyes fixed on Him.

     After that, on March 26th at 11 pm, I boarded a flight heading to Europe. My flights were without complication, and I safely landed (with all my baggage) in Krakow, Poland at 5:30 pm local time. The Waites picked me up from there and we drove about two hours south through the mountains to Kežmarok, Slovakia.

     It has now been about two weeks since I arrived in Slovakia. While there are definitely things that are different here than in the States, there’s been many things I’ve thought “Oh, I had never considered –- before”, and I still have so much to learn, there’s also a part of me that just feels at home here. It is a blessing to have the peace that this is where the Lord wants me.

     In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve gotten to know David and Silvia, Anna and Kristen, Lukas and Valarie, Miro and Simona, and several of the other members of the church better. We’ve had several ladies’ Bible studies and coffee times, a couple meetings of the Bible institute, Sunday services and a few other get-togethers. I’ve been able to help prepare several meals for these gatherings including an Ethiopian feast. Just before I arrived, there had been some missionaries that the church supports from Abraham’s Oasis in Ethiopia visiting. We used some of the spices they brought with them to prepare eight separate dishes for the church to try.

     The day after I arrived, we went to look at an apartment and started the paperwork on it right away. After about a week, I was able to move in and have started to get settled in. It is 1.5 km (about a mile) from the church, and I’ve become used to walking between the two. While in the States, I would feel a little odd walking around town all the time; that is not the case here. Walking is very common and probably only half of the people in Kežmarok own a car. Please pray for wisdom about if the Lord wants me to get a car while I’m here, and if He does, that He would provide the vehicle He would have me use.

     This coming Wednesday, I have an appointment with the foreign police to submit the paperwork for a visa/residency. Please be praying that the process goes smoothly and that there aren’t any issues getting it approved.

     We were able to find a Slovak teacher and now I have three, two-hour lessons a week. I can tell that my comprehension has been improving even in the short time I’ve been here, and I’m starting to be able to put together some sentences. I’ve been able to navigate the grocery stores and have been able to follow more of the conversations in Slovak. Please pray that I continue to improve and that God would give me opportunities and the skills to be able to witness to my teacher. Her name is Sonja, and she is not saved.

     There’s also been a good bit of planning going on. Please pray for wisdom and clarity as plans are made for:

• The upcoming year for the Bible Institute

• VBS this summer

• A church retreat this summer

• Another trip to the states for LeAnne to help her mom with a second knee replacement surgery

• A visit from the BMM field administrator

     Above all, please pray that God would use me to bring Himself honor and glory according to His perfect plan.

     In Christ,

     Shae Zabel