KPM: Youth Worker's Conference

This conference took place last weekend in Zilina, a very pretty city to the North. It was a really nice time to meet with leader's of youth from all around the region, from all kinds of Christian churches. What was really crazy for me, was that one day, while standing in line for lunch, up pops one of my colleagues! We never seem to teach at the same time, so I don;t know her really well, but it turns out that she's saved! It was one of those,"What are you doing here??" Moments. She is a part of the Brethren church here in Nitra, and helps out with their struggling youth group. So, we had some time over lunch just to talk and share our hearts together. Funny.

Speaking of funny... I also had some... not so serious moments!

Did you know??

That you can talk to me for free??? Yes, this is my little pitch for Skype! It's really quite a handy program. You download it for free, and if we're both online, we can talk or video conference for... nothing! You can also call out to a phone at a much better rate than I'm sure you can get elsewhere. And it has really clear reception.

I think Skype should pay me for this advertisement! :)

Spring is in the Air

Spring has most definitely arrived to Slovakia. This is a picture of the treee that's behind my house.... beautiful. The sun is shining, I only need a light jacket and I am loving every last bit of it. Yesterday I ate lunch outside on a terrace, soaking up the sun as I ate my rice and drank my kofola.

New Experiences

Yesterday I went to the doctor's office, not because I was sick, but because I need a certificate of health for my visa. I wish to describe this glorious experience, but I think Sheldon said it best. He was the forerunner, creating the way for those to come behind him.
http://armitagecafe.com/?p=41

Sum Up

Well, I am now sitting back in my apartment after our trip to the mountains, and the healing of my battle wounds begins! Just kidding. I have a few bruises on my knees, but that's the worst of it. The other night I was asked to share my testimony during the service in the evening. So, after worship and an awesome time of prayer, I shared about my past, my present and some of my dreams for the future. We laughed, we cried... it was good. I am glad that God was able to use my story to encourage and challenge the others. I've also had some good opportunities just to chat and get to know some of the girls better. I sat on the bus with Kika, 15, for a good chunk of time. I don't think I've ever had the chance to just sit and talk with her one on one. She's always with others, and I am very grateful for that chance to just talk. About stuff at home, school and how she toothpasted on of the boy's last night! Good times. :) So, overall, it was a great time, physically, relationally and spiritually. Thank you for your prayers!

Converted!

Day 3 of snowboarding and I may not be perfect, or even brave enough to go on the big hill... but I think I like snowboarding better than skiing. I need to build up some muscles though, because I've noticed that I get tired really quickly going down the runs on a snowboard. And you can't really stand up to rest a bit on the way down... But I think it's a lot more fun. We went again today, and I didn't kill myself! We actually had a lot of fun, and I even taught one of the others some of the stuff I had learned yesterday. (I took a lesson!)

Car Accident?????

(The before picture)

That is the question my body is asking. “Were we in a car accident?” I’ve heard that when you learn to snowboard, you spend most of your time on your bum. I am a testimony to that fact! I can’t count how many times I fell… it was a lot! I wasn’t the only one learning though, we were 5, so at least I didn’t feel completely alone. Misery loves company, right? I think I was the poorest one out of all of us though.







(During)

But, on the bright side, I was able to provide really good entertainment for my friends! Especially Dida, she was doubled over at some points in laughter. She tried to be encouraging by saying that she was going to sell all the pictures she was taking of me when I am a world known snowboarder. But then she also mentioned having ammunition against me for my wedding. Hmmm… (after)

A Ski Trip

This week is spring break gere in Slovakia, so we piled in a whole bunch of youth and young adults into a bus and away we went on our annual ski trip. I decided to be a little ambitious, and rent a snowboard. I've always wanted to try, but never went often enough to justify it. So, I was without excuse this time! So, I arranged for everything, rentals and the like and prepared myself for this ski trip. At church on Sunday I wanted to find out who else was going. So I would ask, "So, are you going on the ski trip?" "Yes, of course." was the reply. "Are you going to ski?" I asked. "NNNOOOO!!!" it was said in such a tone, not to be angry, but shock that I would ask such a question. The vast majority of us on this skiing trip are not actually going skiing or snowboarding. Nope. They;re going to just hang out. That struck me as odd, but it's just too expensive. But they don;t want to miss out on the fellowship, and the worship that we all share here. Please remember us in prayer. Last year we had a baptism, and I am believing that this year will also be a powerful time. We have a number of non-believers, or back slidden Christians on this trip, and i am trusting the Lord to use us as vessels of salt and light into their lives. Each night we will also have a worship time and a teaching. So please, remember us!

Excuse me???

That was my reply today when I went to the Police station. After sitting in line close to an hour, she looked over my documents and told me that my medical examination wasn't sufficient. I had gone to the doctor in Nove Zamky, where she sent me for blood tests, x-rays, the works! Then she collected these results and compiled them onto one nice little peice of paper. All for which I paid good money. "sorry, General Doctors can't do these tests." "But she sent me to specialists." "General Doctors cannot do these tests. You have to have one of these pre-approved doctors test you, and have them write this specific sentence." All I could hear was the flushing of the toilet with my money going down it!

So, I have to go for more tests and get more papers, for which need other papers... and more money. Beautiful. The funniest thing though is this, to get my self-employment papers (so I can teach english) I have to have proof that I;ve lived in an English speaking country for more than ten years. Passport doesn't count. Neither does my drivers license, or my birth certificate. I laughed and I asked them how I could possibly do that! To which I was told that I have to write myself a letter. "I hereby proclaim, Christina Chaput, a Canadian citizen, was born in this place on this date. This is my passport number and I have lived in Canada for the past 25 years. Signed, Christina Chaput." And that's my proof.

I hope that by reading these exerpts from my life, that you would all have a greater appreciation and understanding for missionaries globally. Such are our lives... and I'm new to all this! But to think that I;m going to have to repeat this year after year... (sigh)

Foreign Police

So, I got a very nice phonecall yesterday. Whilst preparing to go back to the Embassy in Hungary, I decided that I would try and phone again. Just in case the Minister hadn't approved me, or if he hadn't replied yet... so i wouldn't go down there for no reason. Well, the Consul had very good news for me. I didn't have to apply in Budapest, I could do it all at the police station in my town! Woo hoo! So I went down this morning, but of couse, they didn't have office hours today. So, another snag, but no problem, I'll go tomorrow.