A Really Slovakian Man!

 Well, according to the caption on this picture posted on my Facebook wall by one of Tim's basketball buddies, here is a "Really Slovakian Man" now!!  The hat and axe are traditional for this region, worn and used by the shepherds in the mountains.  Do you think he'll get through security at the airport???   

So I'm exactly a week behind on the blog, but maybe I'll get caught up because we are lucky enough to have functioning free WiFi here on this InterCity train to Bratislava.   :-)  Right now we're on the way to catch an overnight train out of Vienna to Ferrara, Italy, where we'll be visiting cousin Mary Ellen and her family.  Can't wait to see the gang again after our fun week vacationing in Puglia last summer with them when Beth was traveling with us.  

But, backing up to last Friday morning, we had our final all-school worship service at church, with both the primary and high school students and staff.  We went early to rehearse with the student/staff worship music team.  

These workmen were outside the church installing the new message board.  Until now, announcements have just been taped or tacked to the front doors of the church, so it will be great to have posters under glass in the display board instead.  This is typical of many we've seen at other locations in Slovakia with information protected from the weather. 

This is one of my favorite classes at the basic school - the 1.B class with their teacher, Evka.  She's a dedicated, enthusiastic, and effective educator, and I've really enjoyed getting to work with her in math lessons! 

During the service, this group of young students sang a medley of Bible songs, complete with actions!   Adorable!!  

Our H.S. 1.A5 class --- the ones who gave us the apron and tie at their barbeque party.   :-)

I had taken a picture of our cooks the day before in their white chef uniforms on our last day in the school cafeteria, so I took one with them all dressed up in normal clothes too!! 

Before the service started, our sweet 3.AP class came to find us to say farewell, and to present us with a couple of gifts to remember them by, including a framed collage photo of each one of the students.  We will miss these great kids sooo much!!  

We had a regular liturgical worship service, but there were also some special presentations including 'student of the year' for each building.  (Zuzana Bobková, Saška's daughter, couldn't be there to accept her award.)

We sang two Slovak songs, one of which was a fun children's camp-style song!  

Our song in English was a new one to us, but we really like it --- "My Lighthouse".  We are so blessed to be able to praise God in song with these amazing young people! 

A few of the 4.A class, some of whom went on the Croatia trip with us.  

After most of the students had left, a few of our wonderful 2.A5 girls came for one last hug!  We'll be watching Miška, next to Tim, playing volleyball on the Slovak national or Olympic team someday !!  :-)

Pat'ka is the Deputy Headmistress of the Bilingual Program at EGJT, so she is technically "in charge" of the American lectors ---- and she has been a huge help every step of the way, starting with being our official greeter when we first arrived.  She has been a dear friend, making sure our experience has been wonderful in so many ways.  

We each were presented with a bouquet of flowers during church, and some other students gave us single flowers too.  The kissing angels in front are also from the 3.A5 class --- they said it's us, because we've been their 'angels' --- I cried, needless to say!

After church, we went out to lunch with Katarina, Janka, Zuzka, and Timko, and it was so nice to just relax, linger, and take our time before heading back to school for the afternoon to just get some work done in our offices.  Tim, however, took a bus to Závažná Poruba instead of returning to school so he could attend the annual basketball guys' gulaš (pronounced 'goulash') party in a garden.  He took charge of the camera for the day!! 

It was a beautiful day to be outside enjoying refreshments with the guys!

It ended up being a farewell party for Tim actually.  He said everyone came, and they made sure to all be there when Tim arrived.  (The pot of gulaš started cooking over the open fire at 8:30, which was when the party actually started!)  

Most of the Vrbica Bulls basketball brothers, who Tim has played ball with every Friday night for the past two years.  

The party was at Vlado and Zdenka's house, the same ones we visited at their 'snowbird' apartment in Hurgada, Egypt over spring break.  All of the guys decided to give Tim the traditional Slovak hat, but Zdenka insisted that he also needed the traditional axe to go with it!!     :-)

Tim looks really good with his authentic Slovak swag!!   :-)