Vision Slovakia News
Blessings of a Retreat
The following letter was received from Dr. Natalia Kacianova, faculty member of the Bible School in Martin, Slovakia, and director of the BeFriender ministry in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Natalia recently held a retreat for leaders that she has mentored in the BeFriender Program, a retreat that St. Andrew’s supported financially. Natalia also shares the health concern for their son, Timko, and herself. You are present in Natalia’s ministry as a supporting member of St. Andrew’s.
Dear friends,
I would like to share with you some thoughts from our retreat. This year, as you might know, I have a group of 14 students from all around Slovakia and Czech Republic as well. The word about pastoral care ministry for dying and grieving is really being spread! I would like to express my thanks for all your support - in the name of whole group and each individual, including me.
The blessing of the four-day retreat was in its atmosphere and closeness we could never experience during the class time. We did have a lot of time to share, to go deeper in our inner selves, fears and troubles. We did have a time to PRAY, to VISION about the possibilities of our service in congregations, social care institutions and schools as well. A few of my students are teachers and school psychologists, working with bereaved kids and teens. Thank you for supporting us and giving us this opportunity to be together!
The highlight of the retreat was the practical experience in the hospice of Mother Teresa in eastern Slovakia. Two of my students work there as nurses, so we were privileged to be part of whole day care for the dying patients. We assisted in all ways and got to see what it means to care for somebody totally dependent on the help of others. Of course, the major part was to befriend, listen and BE in the presence of the people. A great experience was to see one of the students befriend a little child - that has changed the student forever. We had an opportunity to witness as well on how the program and the Bible School influence our life and work. We could MOTIVATE more people to think about serving as pastoral care volunteers.
Now something from me out of BeFriender ministry life - I would like to thank you for all the prayers on the behalf of little Timko. We had some difficulties with his health, spent few weeks in the hospital and experienced helplessness when no one could tell us what the problem was. Timko had high fevers, couldn’t play or walk, cried and couldn’t eat or sleep. The doctors think it was some kind of an aggressive virus, but anyway, they did treat Timko with ATBs for 27 days! His immune system collapsed and now he can’t go to the day care until May 1st. My mother in law is in charge of him now, and I am getting back to all of my projects, visits and work responsibilities. My energy is coming back - it’s a slow process, because me, myself ended up lying in the bed for a week with high fevers as well. Thank you again for keeping us in your prayers.
One last thing to share with you - I have done (God did, but with my assistance:) the first grief support group in our congregation. My students did the group in two other congregations as well. People from our group in Martin evaluated the chance to grieve by writing an open letter to the church committee, expressing their thanks for the possibility to share their grief. The pastors personally expressed a desire for continuing in this pastoral activity, so in Martin - we have a green light and can serve people this way too.
God bless you and keep you peaceful, joyful and expecting the great news of the resurrection of sinners.
Blessed Lent and Easter,
Natalia
The BeFriender group at the hospice of Mother Teresa in eastern Slovakia.
A BeFriender class under the leadership of Dr. Natalia Kacianova.
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