This is to certify that Daniela Hrabovská has been accepted as a participant in the Intern/Trainee Program of the International Relations Committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America- Slovak Zion Synod.
During the period between approximately June 15, 2010 and September 30, 2010, this individual will be hosted by the Slovak Zion Synod and by Lebanon Lutheran Church, 1101 S. Mears Avenue, Whitehall. Michigan 49461, the Rev. Douglas M. Ogden, pastor.
Age 22; birthday : August 24, 1987
Daniela Hrabovská is twenty-two years old and will be a third year seminarian in Bratislava. Her hometown is Stará Turá (located west of Nové Mesto nad Váhom).
Check out our photo gallery on our home page to see photos of Daniela during her stay at Lebanon Lutheran.
Jarmila Zajickova -- 2008
My name is Jarmila Zajickova. I am from Slovakia and study the seminary in Bratislavia. I am going to trainee program at your church this summer. Yesterday I passed my last exam and now I prepare for my journey.
I enjoy you and your church very much. I have never been in the US, only at the American church services in Bratislavia :) . I believe it will be a great experience for me to help you and learn from you and my desire is that God will use me for His work at your church. I hope we will have a beautiful time together.
Jarmila left for home at the end of September. She was a joy to be with.
Hi my friends,
It is a long time I wrote you, I know...but be sure you are still in my mind! I hope you are fine and enjoying nice summer days. In Slovakia we experienced a lot of storms last days. But today it is nice hot weather. This year was very busy for me at school. In March, I took the exam Cambridge Certificate FCE—First Certificate in English. I had to visit intensive course at language school for 6 months. It was hard but I did it. Then we started to work on final essay at seminary. It is my homework for next year and I should spend more time working on it this summer. It is one of the reasons why I stayed home and did not go to the US, and I wanted to be with my family, friends and youth group to, because it is my last summer vacation. So my plans for the summer are: to study, rest, spend time with friends and family and organize camp, sports events and trips for my youth group. I think I will not be bored…
In these days, I think a lot of you and my first days with you because Milan Bartko is experiencing the same just now. I was so afraid of everything and you were so nice to me. Thank you very much that you made my first days and al the summer very easy. And say hello to Milan. We are not close friends but we know each other from the seminary. What is new in your lives? How are you and your families? I will wait for your emails.
Big hug, Love you,
Jarmila
P.S. if you chat on Skype, try to find me, my nickname is: oldtimesover
Milan Bartko 2009
Dobre rano! Good morning! My name is Milan Bartko. I live in Slovkia, in the town of Svit near Poprad. Poprad is the tourist center of the High Tatras - which are mountains like smaller Alps.
I live with my parents - dad Milan, mom Elena, and with brother Adam. I was baptized as a child, but I wasn't an active member in my congregation at church. In elementary school I had religion as a school subject, but during the Confirmation lessons (at church?) I learned more about Jesus, Christianity and about church. It was interesting for me and I wanted to know more about it. After my elementary school I went to a catholic high school. In the first months I asked myself: What what am I doing here? I am Lutheran! A Member of another church! It was a shock for me to see all these catholic ceremonies, Holy mass, to hear their liturgy. Now, I know that it was very good for me to see and to be there because I can compare and understand them. I had classmates who were Catholics and one who was Baptist. We often talked about theological problems, differences and about some things in catholic, baptist and evangelical traditions. For example: the Virgin Mary, Holy Communion, the Pope. These were very interesting discussions and we could share with each other and we also learned about ourselves. As time went on I became more and more interested about religious ideas and about putting them into practice.
I have a very good relationship with my pastor in Svit and I always asked him about religions questions, what I and my classmates we're talking about. I decided to be a pastor because I want to teach people, children and adults, about religions. I know a lot of people don't know about basic Christian truth and if they know them, they often misunderstand them.
I study at the Lutheran Seminary in Bratislava, the capital town of Slovakia, and I feel that it is the best study for me. I am interested about it. We learn history, Hebrew and Greek languages, singing, theology and we are good friends there. When I heard for the first time about an opportunity to spend the summer in a US parish, I wanted to try it and to see and learn how a congregation and the ELCA work. I've learned a lot of good ideas which are effective. I see you aren't only members of the church but you are friends who want to spend time with each other. I have many experiences I haven't had before: I dressed in a white robe and I assisted the Pastor with Holy Communion. It was a big and strong moment for me. I haven’t dressed in a robe in Slovakia because I don’t want to try it for fun. It is something very holy for me and I have respect for it. These experiences and all these days which I have spent here have strengthened me emotionally and spiritually.
I have been in Whitehall for 2 months. Whitehall, Montague, White Lake and Lake Michigan are very nice; its nature, woods, lakes are beautiful. Whitehall and Montague are two nice towns with friendly people. All the experiences which I have had with Doug and with you are very good for me.
I feel that to be a pastor is the best life for me. Being part of the actual running of a church, seeing the problems, and meeting the people have given me an excellent opportunity to learn more about a pastor’s work.
I have also learned a lot about myself. This is exactly what I want to do in my life. I know it can be hard, but the work is good and fulfilling. However, I know we are in God’s hands, and we are privileged to do His work. He gives us everything we need.
Jesus is in my life and He is the Bread of my life. I am very thankful that He cares about me, about my family, and friends, and I see He cares about your congregation, too. I have seen it everyday during these months with you. I see it on Wednesdays when I am helping do Jesus’ work helping in the food pantry. I saw it when I went with your youth to Biloxi to do His work helping to rebuild. I see it in your faces during worship.
I will always remember you in my life to come, all my friends in America. God bless you. Amen
Martina Onoferova - 2007
Received from the internet:
Hi everybody
I feel shame, because I don’t write all of you a long time. I would like to tell you about everything, but I cannot. But I try to write something about my changes and new stuff and interesting moment in my life. But first I wish to see all of you again! But next time, because this year I cannot come to USA. I was little bit disappoint and sad, but I think that maybe is ok. Maybe it is better, if I first finish my college and then I come to USA improve my English:)
I spend great time in Prague. Prague is beautiful city, and I find there lots of good friends. With international students we had a great and funny time. I was so sad when they had to go back home, and also when I have to go back home. But I spend a good time with my friends in special places.
We had some extreme weather here and I dream to be close to Lake Michigan and again swimming there. I want to tell you that all of you are my special part of my life. I thinking of you and I love you. I hope that everybody are ok and everything going good. All of you have my invitation to Slovakia. So if somebody will be going around, just give me a call. I also want to say hello to all the congregation and hello for all other people, who cannot come to church. Especially Irene & Mary’s mother and the other nice lady who lives in the same home. And also David Hendrixon’s grandmother. And say hello also to Darlene. I miss you. Keep in touch and have great holidays.
Love, Tinka
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Ivan Bozenik - 2006
Our summer intern for 2007 was Ivan Bozenik from Levice, Slovakia. Ivan is 22 years old and has finished three years of study of Lutheran theology at Comenius University in Bratislava. He has two more years to go to graduate.
Last year he was in St. Pauls Lutheran Church, LCMS, in Raritan, New Jersey as a summer trainee. He was happy to be experiencing the “American lifestyle” again.
In Slovakia, he lives on campus at the University in Bratislava during the week
Hello my good friends!!!
I did not forget that you are alive. I am just very busy (or very lazy), and therefore I did not write to you. How are all of you? How are the things going? I would like to hear something from you? I am writing to you because I want to stay in contact with you. I never had many friends because we moved maybe 6 times with my family, and now I respect that I have had the option to know you and to know what it means to have nice and good friends. I sit in the back of the class and when it is boring I think how good it was with you . . . What we did and how we were laughing and doing crazy things.
I also help in the congregation. The month of October was full. I was preaching every Sunday, and also in school. I miss a little bit the American “easiness,” or peace, reposal (I do not know the right word). But I have to wrestle with my life. I think everybody has his or her small fight. But it was good to see the optimism in your lives. Thank you for showing me small hope and joys.
Greetings to everybody,
Ivan Bozenik
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July 28, 2009
My Dear Friend!
Sorry for my grammar
I still cannot forget the summer and the beautiful beach!
I would like to inform all of you about my life.
I had at 1 June the state exam from theology. I finished school. I am right now without a job and waiting for the vicar exam. It has nothing to do with University. It is an exam from our Church (bishops), if the new vicar knows the agenda, rules, and church law. It will be on July 21.
On August 1st we will have a big occasion in my home Church Levice (my town). All the finished students they will make successfully the vicar exam, they will receive the blessing. We call by us Ordination. (Go to be a vicar, pastor, we will receive the apostolic succession). It will be a live television transmission at www.stv.sk at 09:30. But it is still question, if it will be functioning.
I have to learn the exam, but I do not have an interest. My family is OK, only father has problems with his heart and diabetes. Right now I am at home and I am helping with the house reconstruction and garden work. I have to move all my things from Bratislava to my town. But really, I am happy to begin to work in church. I still do not know where, but on August 15, I should begin. I hope everything will be good.
I would like to say hello to all of you. Thank you for the good summer and nice memories.
Ivan Bozenik
935 03
Batovce 160
Slovakia
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Tax Information
Michigan Public Acts 256 and 231 of 1994 reward financial contributions to Michigan food banks with a 50% State income tax credit (half your money back!). Limits: up to a $100 credit ( for a $200 gift ) for an individual, $200 (for a $400 gift) for a married couple filing jointly, and for businesses, 5% of the business's tax liability before claiming any other credits, or $5,000, whichever is less. In addition to the State credit, your gift to a Michigan food bank should also qualify for a normal Federal income tax charitable deduction.
