Special People

One day, Katka comes to our apartment with a beautiful young woman whom she introduces as Andrea Hybevoa. Yes this is the young woman who is coming (as if I’m there already) to the Central Coast of CA and be a part of St. John’s in Arroyo Grande and Bethel in Santa Maria this summer. It turns out that she was in one of the classes that Gary taught in Žilina before Christmas.


Andrea wanted us to tell her about the churches, first. We described them both as very loving and friendly brothers and sisters in Christ. We told her about some of the activities of the churches (mostly about St John’s because we know its activities best.) Then she wanted to know a little about the area. We also told her not to expect extremely hot weather and to bring a light wrap. And we showed her some of the photos we had on our computer. It was a delightful afternoon speaking with this delightful young lady.


On Sunday, Michal took Katka’s grandmother and us toward their cabin, east of Martin. Before we got there, we stopped to buy some sheep cheese. It is a touristy place because people (who come to the Tatras to ski) know this is a good place to buy cheese. You can see Gary and I next to one of the witches there. (No, I do not know why they had several witches.)

The last real snow storm was in January, but they had a large pile of what used to be snow, but looked more like ice. Yes there was a wooden witch guarding it. We stood in line for about 25 minutes before we could buy the cheese we wanted. They gave each person special service so we were not unhappy with the wait. Then we drove




We drove through the town in which Michal grew up, as well as the one in which Katka’s mother lives.






Then we were in the country again, where their cabin is. It is quite a large cabin that has places for many people to sleep. As you can see, they have beautiful views from their windows. This one looks towards the creek, but you have to walk partially downhill before you see the creek.




















We went on a walk, up the road from the canyon. We could see the Tatras with snow on them. It was not a good day for pictures in the distance, because the sky was a very light blue, almost grey. But we did get our pictures of the Tatras in winter.

Fridays are sometimes lazy days for us because we have no commitments. Emily knocked on our door in mid-morning to tell us that the United States Ambassador would be here this afternoon. He was coming to see the Center for Christian Education because he had heard so much about their English program in the elementary school.

So we were there to see him. All five Americans were there, as well as twenty-five to thirty students (who had stayed after school on a Friday afternoon to greet him.) Being the diplomat that he is, Ambassador Theodore Sedgwick went over and began speaking with the students. The younger ones had pictures that they had drawn (and framed) for him. Then the older students sang a song (in English, of course).




After that, he met the Americans and asked how we like teaching English over here. It seems that the Slovak government has made a law that all students would begin having English classes by third grade (CCE’s elementary school starts students in the first year). To help Slovakia with this, the Ambassador is wondering about a program in the States in which people could be encouraged to come to Slovakia to teach English.

We definitely stated that this was an unforgettable experience. We also stated that it was not only for young teachers, but also for retired people (four of the five Americans here now, are retired.) Yet Bohdan Hroboň told the Ambassador that this works here because we are here for the Lord’s work, not for the salaries.

Then it was over before we knew it and he was out the door.



I thought this was a good candid shot taken after the Ambassador had left. You can see Gary, Mihal, Jozef, Bohdan and Emily, holding her birthday flowers. (Yes, the Ambassador came to sing Happy Birthday for her.)