Velky Slavkov, Slovakia

One of the great things about being here with this program is that I work with people from around the world working in similar situations, even in different countries. Through Dick and Carolyn Otterness, who also work alongside the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program, I've had a chance to meet and befriend 7 other young adults from the US and Canada. 3 of these volunteers are currently working in Slovakia. One of them, a man named Sepp, is working in a little village called Velky Slavkov, Slovakia. On my return from Poland, I took two extra days and visited his home there.

Sepp has been pretty isolated most of this year because he is alone in his village, so this was a great chance to remind him that he's not alone in the mission. His job is with a home for men coming out of orphanages. Because these men haven't had their parents raise them, they lack social skills, work skills, and other life skills (how to cook, clean, manage money, etc.) Most of the men in the home are Roma (Gypsy) men. The 20 guys live together and share many rooms in a big house. They have chores around the house (cooking and cleaning). They also have work that they go to everyday. This work pays them so that they can start to get themselves on their feet and make something of themselves. Sepp is at the home to motivate, to encourage and to help them in any way. He has organized trips to the local water park and has taken on some projects (like landscaping behind the house) with the guys to teach them other skills and to encourage good use of free time. While I was there, it was the weekend, so I only had the opportunity to visit the home, but to see the reception that Sepp gets there, I know he's playing a good part in their lives.

Sepp lives in an old retreat center or hotel. It has about 12 different rooms, all with lots of beds in them much like you would expect at a retreat lodge. However, with all those rooms, only 3 or 4 of them are occupied. 2 are occupied by small families and 1 is occupied by an older man whom I didn't hear speak the entire time. Because of the age differences, it's easy to see how loneliness can be an issue. Aside from the kitchen and shower space, Sepp has his own space, which is sweet. Plus, it's easy for him to host guests with all those extra rooms! :)

One of the most amazing things is the location. I always fall in love with my city when I see it with someone new... or when I see it from another perspective. However, I'm not sure that will happen again after seeing the view from my window on the mornings I stayed there.

Well, have a look for yourself:

the view from the window where I stayed. Yes, those are mountains... the Tatra Mountains to be exact.


goats!


duck chase! (this is one of the boys whose family also lives in the building.)


a view of the village from a window in the home where Sepp works


the church... and on top, you can see a bird that we don't have in the US: a STORK! yes, storks live in Slovakia and Hungary. We named these two (they mate for life) Roni and Pat - not sure who this one is, but then again, that's why we chose names that could be a boy or a girl... we couldn't tell them apart.