TIME OFF for work well done!   

It was another beauty of a day for working outside.  We continued our window painting project which has become a challenge to manage what ‘phase’ each window might be in….ready to sand, ready to paint, ready to glaze, ready to pull tape, ready to scrape paint off the glass, ready to wash or ….  Ready to HANG!! We got 39 of 88 windows re-hung today, before having to cleanup for the day a bit early. We need to get ready to go off to the Turčianske Teplice AquaPark and SPA! The natural hot spring mineral water was a welcome relief to our achey bodies.  After about 90 minutes in various tempertures of hot spring water and going down the water slides (YAHOO!!!) it was time for us to catch the train back to Martin with Blythe, our SPA tour guide. She got us on the correct trains … Round Trip! Dinner for most of us was at the Pasáž Restaurant, one of our favorites from years past, and again it was delicious all around.  We ended the day with a fame of Farkle…. Bob won tonight! (Rich 2, Erik 1, Bob 1).

A quartet of visitors came through the CCE Campus today.  Jozef asked KJ to share a bit of who we were and why we are here.  The four of them represented the ELCA, but 2 were stationed in Berlin, and 2 were stationed in Bratislava.  One of the 2 women from Bratislava, named Kathy, saw Mary Gookins working on a window and Mary saw her and together said ‘what are you doing here?’!  Can’t take Mary anywhere without her finding someone she knows. Kathy and Mary had taught English together in Martin in 2008 . Too funny!! KJ shared with them where we all were from and what our purpose in coming to Martin was about.  (Editorial comment: I was happy to see the ELCA recognizes the CCE as a Lutheran School needing help in finding teachers and other assistants in ministry.)

In the attached set of pictures there are two pictures of the Builders Group with a few Slovaks and a picture of the new high school cafeteria as it was FILLED with students at noon today for lunch.  What JOY for us to see the fruits of our labors from past years’ project work!!

Father of all Creation…. What a blessing it is to be here in Martin, sharing with our Slovak sisters and brothers the gifts and talents you have given each of us.  Continue to keep us safe from harm and to be witnesses for Christ in our actions.