Sabbath Refreshment!

I forgot to mention this --- after the a cappella concert Friday night, we were talking to the members of the group with Ema, and some random Rotary member came up and gave us this Slovak folk music CD, we think just because he heard us speaking English, so he asked about us and found out we were guests from America.  Such kindness is amazing!  

We've learned how to pick up on 'hints' about things here in Slovakia by now.  As we walked towards the church this morning, we saw group of about 30 people lined up on the square, presumably some guest choir, AND five or six pastors heading out of the church office building across the square ready to process into church, all decked out in their lacy, ruffly cassocks over their black robes, so we knew right away this would be longer than normal church service with some special significance!!! 

It was a special day honoring two famous Slovaks who were born in this region.  Both were writers and poets, and one was also a politician and Lutheran pastor.  

This saxophonist is also from L.M., and he is a famous performer, now living in Paris and playing music for a living.  He played the prelude and postludes, as well as accompanied the organ on the hymns.  He was excellent!!  

The choir was from Brezno, and they did a nice job too.  There were also recitations of the two poets' works, by a renowned orator.  It's interesting to hear dramatic orations --- very much along the lines of the Hope College Nykerk competition orations.  

The service lasted about an hour and a half, and it was quite impressive.  Ján translated for us, which was especially helpful today, or we wouldn't have had any idea what all was going on!!  Another couple of church-related side notes --- The church altar has been removed for restoration, so behind the painting in this picture is basically the concrete base of the altar.  It will take several months for the process, so we're looking forward to seeing the results.  And secondly, last week during the announcements, it was mentioned that a few heaters have been added underneath some pews in the church, just in time for the weather to turn cold.  And guess where one of the heaters is located.......under the pew where we always sit.  We're wondering if it's a coincidence, or maybe pity upon these wimpy Americans who wore long underwear to church all last winter!!     ;-)

After church we invited Ján for coffee/tea and cake at a nearby coffee shop.  We enjoyed spending an hour visiting with him and getting to know him better.  Ján is coming to school on Tuesday to give his witness along with a presentation on his recent mission work in Africa, to the staff Bible study.  We are looking forward to it!  

I haven't included many "food" pictures lately, but this meal merited a mention.  (Nice alliteration, eh??)  We have such generous friends, and this meal is a great demonstration of that --- the deer meat, wild mountain cranberry topping, home-made strawberry jam on the toast, and the wine were all gifts from dear friends!!  And our Sunday dinner was delicious!!  

It was a warm and sunny fall afternoon, so we got the bikes out and headed up the Demänovská valley - which is the direction of the Jasná ski slopes, south of L.M.  

The entire ride was along this mountain stream rushing down to the Vah River.  

Like all our bike rides from Liptovsky Mikuláš into a mountain valley, it's uphill all the way.  We just keep pedaling as long as our legs can possibly manage it, then hope there is someplace to stop and get something to wet our whistle and rest a while.  

This ride had many spectacular views, and like our other valley rides, it was all downhill once we turned around!!  It's nice knowing you can ride until you can't pedal any more, then just coast the entire ride back home.  We love it!!  

This is the view of the ski slopes - we could see the ski lifts from here, but they didn't show up on the picture.  Just beyond this spot, there was road construction, with a chain-link fence right next to the road surface, so we didn't think it would be safe, and we turned around to return down the valley.  

All the pictures were on the way back down, since I never wanted to stop and lose my momentum on the way up.  I might never have gotten started again!!  LOL!!  

"Dovidenia" means 'good-bye' - this view shows the high Tatras in the distance.  

The High Tatras to the north beyond L.M.

Sigh!!  The views were so beautiful the whole afternoon!!  :-)   

This is looking at the Low Tatras to the south.  Also beautiful!  

This view of Kriván at dusk was a surprise - we didn't know there was such a good view of Slovakia's most famous mountain from so near us.   Usually we can only see the highest tip-top of the peak from school, since the hills around us obscure the view from down in the town.  

We were tired after our long bike ride, but it was a 'good tired' after enjoying the fresh mountain air and spectacular scenery all afternoon.  In the evening we did some skyping to wrap up our weekend.  Today went fine - 3 classes each at the basic school and the H.S. for me, and Tim had a full day too.  After school we did a little shopping before church choir rehearsal (over 30 there again tonight - I guess the English Christmas music didn't scare them off!), and then volleyball until 8:45 or so.  Tomorrow morning is our normal Tuesday staff devotions time, so we'll go extra early.  We may have missed out on an "Indian Summer", but we have really enjoyed our warmer, sunny fall days lately.   :-)