This morning was the fifth that I have spent in Slovakia, and my last. Sitting at my breakfast table, I listened to the rain hit the pavement just outside the window. Gentle conversations in Slovak and German were developing at the surrounding tables as I sat and enjoyed my last morning in this refreshing place.
Although not much my time was spent pursunig monuments and landmarks for which the city is known, I feel as though I have been privileged to experience a greater piece of Slovakia, a truer expression of its individual elements that equate to the beautiful constellation I have come to know. For I have spent the past five days with the people of Slovakia.
Yesterday afternoon, I spent several hours with three young Slovak women. Danka, Zuzana and Simona are all from Eastern Slovakia who have chosen to come to Bratislava to attend a one year Bible School. How connected I felt to these women. As the hours passed they related their difficulties with a prodigal sister, dominating boyfriend and a broken past. They expressed a sincere desire to understand God's will for their lives particularly in the context of what to do when they complete their Bible School program in May.
To all you attendants of Bodenseehof, or any other dearly love Bible School, I know your heart aches for them as well and, I know you fellow Bible students can fully understand the connection that was made between them and I. As I began to share, their expressions softened with gentle relief as I explained that six years ago, I was in a very, very similar situation.
With no plans of my own and more knowledge of what I didn't want to do than what I did want to do, I found myself in a situation that was heartbreaking and bewildering. But, as I shared how God's faithfulness was expressed to me stronger then than it ever had been before, I found myself smiling with a certain ironical understanding.
Six years ago this August, I left my Bible School in Fishbach, Germany and boarded a plane from London to Denver with dissapointment, lament and plenty of tears. Yesterday, I found myself in Bratislava, Slovakia pouring out my heart to these young women, with a message of 'I've been there, and there is hope'.
At one point in the conversation, Danka expressed her frustration in her own wavering ability to comprehensively trust God and with confidence, I was able to relate to her that fortunately our amount of faith in God does not determine the amount of faithfulness He expresses to us; something I don't think I would have bee able to say had I not walked onto that Colorado bound plane six years ago.
Looking back over my time here in Sovakia, I could tell you about the memorable architecture of Saint Michael's, the lack of adequate parking or the controversial upcoming elections, but I feel it would all be information you could find in a travel guide or on the pages of CNN.com.
What I will tell you is that once again God's people are compassionate. Their cultural background may cause them to be hesitant to publically answer a speakers question, their narrow streets may demand they drive smaller cars and their progressive educational system may produce tri-lingual eighth graders, but despite the differences, the redemptive nature of Christ's love is repetitively the underlying connection that unites sanctified saints worldwide.
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