These are my new friends Gabo and Martin. I met them at the CS Lewis school where I have had the opportunity to substitute for the gym (P.E.)teacher. After we played soccer one day at the school these guys started a conversation about golf. It was obvious to me they are true enthusiasts. When they found out that I share their love for the game they began inviting me to go with them to tee it up. When I departed from the USA I thought my golfing days were over.I had heard that golf in Slovakia was almost non exsistant which is true to some degree as there are very few playing courses.

I wasnt able to get the full story on this building but like most things here here it quite old. This was originally built as a summer get-a-way for some nobility of days gone by, possibly like an emperor or something of that nature. Now it is an empty shell. However the course owner told us that he has some American investors lined up to purchase, renovate and operate this building as a hotel.

The course has just opened up a new section which expanded the course from 9 to 18 holes. It was a beautiful plot of land. Can you see the green way down at the bottom of the hill? The owner of the course is friends with this family and so he rode along behind us in a golf cart chatting with us and telling us where to hit our shots. He didnt speak any english either so Gabo and Martin were on translator duty throughout the round.

The preferred mode of transportation around the golf course was different than what you traditionally see in America. The Slovakian version is more, shall we say, historic. The horse would just clomp his foot a certain number of times to indicate what club I should use on my next shot. I'm kidding of course. This was just one of the services provided to members at the club. A little sight seeing around the course, Victorian style.

Good looking swing Gabo. These are the type of young people I want to get to know better. I have been invited back for another round sometime this summer. I will be looking forward to round 2 at the Bratislava Country Club.

The old part of this course was really quite beautiful and like most places in Europe there is certainly some history associated with this area.

Ive had a few requests for pictures of my new flat so I decided to give a little tour. So, if you are ready, just follow me. This is my kitchen. It is quite nice and well equipped. It is not common for a flat here to have all these appliances, especially a dishwasher. There is also a stove, oven, microwave and fridge/freezer. Everything works great and I am tremendously blessed in this place. I thank God for His amazing provision.

Here is one part of my living room where this huge...I dont know what you call it, takes up a whole wall. But its a great place for pictures of family, books and various reminders of who is head of this house.

This is my spacious living room. The wood floors are really nice. Most of this furniture came with the flat including the t.v. Ive made a few changes and adjustments but it didnt need much. The neighbors are quiet and I rarely see them. Sometimes I wonder how many of the flats in my building are rented out. You can also purchase these flats. My landlord is a private owner of this and other individual flats. Miro is his name. He has been great to me. Miro has done everything he can to make me feel comfortable and give me what I need. He speaks real good english so that helps alot. If I could get my bike here he said he wants to take me out and show me the good trails for riding. Cool.

See the next photo and text. This goes with that next photo.

Here is my bedroom. Its not big but its not small either. The windows in this flat are fantastic. As I said this flat was completely furnished. This room had a dresser and a large sliding door closet for all my pants and collared shirts. Like several other parts of the flat this room has beautiful wood floors. Unfortunately the sleep comfort mattress I brought over has been useless so far. When I tried to use the motor to blow up the Mattress I think I put too many amps or wattage into it. I may have fried it. But I like the bed and have been sleeping well.

This is the extra bedroom which doubles as an office space as you can see by the desk and office chair on the right. You can see the clothes dryer in the background. It took me awhile to realize that there's no way to plug the darn thing in. Turns out your supposed to just hang stuff on it. Hmmf. I have yet to get the room organized the way I want it but the bed is all set with new bedding which is more important. There will be regular guests staying here as we constantly have people coming from America or somewhere else for ministry purposes. My flat is the most logical first option for people to stay because I am single and have lots of room. I enjoy hosting people so its a good thing. Anybody who is interested, theres a bed waiting here for you. Mi casa su casa.

Scroll down 2 photos to get the story on which part of the flat this is (this blog prints everything in reverse. Still trying to get the hang of it).


With a telephoto lens I could show you the Bratislava Zoo from here. Its truly a "room with a view."

This view faces Austria and on a clear day you can see the large electricity producing windmills. You can also see the neighbors balcony below mine.

Proceed to the photo and text just below this one then return here to read the remainder of this text.

As you can see its a beautiful, spacious balcony where I hope to add a small grill at some point.

Through the back of my second bedroom is this door leading out to one of 2 balconys for this flat. The first balcony, not pictured, faces the street where you enter this complex. But this balcony is something more special...

Welcome to the party. These next several photos chronical our trip to Budapest, Hungary. This is my first time to Hungary and it turned out to be a great adventure. Our mission: to play baseball with a Hungarian team and then to see some of the capital city. But first the bus ride which is of course half the fun.

Fortunately they had a gravel field we could use as the real one was under water from a downpour of rain earlier in the day.

Here are the Hungarian kids. Very sweet children. Their language is completely different from Slovakian so I was at a total loss to communicate with any of them using words. High fives and hugs work just as well.

The Devinska Fire Balls. What a great trip we had to Budapest. Our kids loved every minute of it. At first the weather would not cooperate but then it was game on. The team we played is the same team that traveled up to our city to play us. Its about a 2.5 hour bus trip

BOOM!

During the early stages of WWII Hitler captured this city and used this very spot to defend it later in the war with these big guns. Our boys thought it was pretty cool to get up close and personal with these weapons.

After the baseball game we took the kids to a place called The Citadel. I'm not sure of all the history of this place but the views of the city are spectacular. Most of our kids had not been to this part of the world before so it was quite a thrill for them and a day they will not soon forget.

Finally the weather is warming up and we are experiencing some summer days here in Bratislava. Its a good time to show you around my new city. Are you ready for the tour? All aboard! Like many cities in Europe art in the form of statues like this one is culturally important and common place. The city was massively neglected during the communist years and so the reconstruction projects are everywhere. The city is a huge contrast of the old and run down and the new and the renovated.







These next several photos move us from Budapest to my home town Bratislava. This is a globe fountain right out in front of the Presendential Palace. You can see some of the more modern office buildings in the background.

This is the presendential palace. I see this building everyday as I travel past it on the bus. It is an impressive building with armed guards marching or standing guard out front. They are dressed in traditional costumes which is reminiscent of Buckingham palace in London.

This is one of the main squares down in the old city. Beautiful fountains, incredible architecture and tons of history. This particular square has the embassy buildings for Japan, France and a few others. It is rare when live music cannot be heard here. Vendors sell their art and crafts and people come to fellowship here with people from all over the world. The other great past time in these areas is to sample fantastic zmirzlina (ice cream). It is very good and very cheap.

As I said earlier, the arts are such a integral part of the socialcultural fabric here. This building would be considered the center of much of that artistic presence. This is the opera building located down in the old city. I have yet to see the inside but I'm told its spectacular. I'm not sure how old this building is but its a sure bet that its older than our country. I look forward to the day when I will get to see a performance here.

Here is a typical scene. This is a church from the 13th or 14th century. These are fairly common place and are really amazing inside. The construction in the foreground is everywhere in the city right now. The "old city" is the pride of Bratislava. It is a little sanctuary of beauty and history nestled at the center of the bustling city. The restaraunts and shops are quaint and the cobblestone corridors take you back in time. Here there is no graffiti (which is everywhere in other parts of the city) or noisy public transportation.

Finally the weather is warming up and we are experiencing some summer days here in Bratislava. Its a good time to show you around my new city. Are you ready for the tour? All aboard! Like many cities in Europe art in the form of statues like this one is culturally important and common place. The city was massively neglected during the communist years and so the reconstruction projects are everywhere. The city is a huge contrast of the old and run down and the new and the renovated.

For those of you who have not met Tom and Debbie Johnson, these are my ministry partners here in Slovakia. They have made a huge investment in Slovakia over the past 10 years and now are here indefinately. The people of Slovakia love them for their commitment and there desire to serve. I am fortunate and blessed to be serving with them.

My transition into Slovakian culture continues to unfold. In many ways it is beyond my control how and when it happens. I have learned that it is my job to respond to it and to soak it up as it comes. So far I have had adequate time to process the journey so that the experience peices together in a way that makes sense. Otherwise it is just a blur and things get confusing. I am still searching for and peicing together a routine and a rythym to my new life. I'm sure it will take a considerable amount of time. I did have my first official counseling appointment the other day. A young college student (Slovak) just walked up to me after church service one day and said she had heard that I was a counselor and could she set up an appointment. I look forward to my counseling ministry growing over time.

I feel like I am playing charades most of the time as I try to communicate with these kids.

I knew it would be diffcult dealing with the languge issues. The inability to just walk up to someone and begin having a conversation. Obviously you dont know exactly what that will feel like until you actually experience it. I got a taste of it last summer and now I am experiencing it on a regular basis. It is especially understood when you can compare it to the opposite situation, like a trip to the mountains with english speaking high school students. It is really exciting to me when I can just begin a conversation with a young person and invite them to tell me their story. The possibility of connecting with that person becomes so much greater. And it is precisley those kinds of connections that give me life. I have noticed that I feel alot more drained when I spend 3 hours with the Devinska kids even though it is really precious time. The language of love is universal and words are not necessary to speak that language. And so we love on our Devinska kids and pray that the translation is clear.

This is a little boy named Rutko (not sure about the spelling). He is just like your all - american boy. Tons of energy, loves to play, loves to laugh, loves to run. In other ways he is a typical Slovak boy. Very sweet, wants to please the adults, very obedient and there is an innocence about him that is very precious. Rutko is not quite old enough to understand that just because the american guy named Scott can speak a few Slovak words doesnt mean he can carry on a conversation. So this sweet little guy continually approaches me and begins asking a long, drawn out question and I contiually tell him, as I hug him, pre pac te, nerozumium (I'm sorry, I dont understand). Then we just laugh and go on playing.

One of the primary endeavors I will be involved with here in Slovakia is working with a group of kids froma small village named Devinska. About 15 years ago a man from Canada started doing youth ministry in Devinska using baseball as an outreach tool. When he left, 10 years ago, Tom (my partner here) picked up the baton and has been running with it ever since. Whats really neat about this situation is the kids Tom began with 10 years ago are now coaching and working along side of us. They have said that they appreciated so much the time others took to enrich their lives that they feel compelled to give back. So here are some of the current members of the Devinska kids we have the privilege of serving. Krasne (beautiful).