November 29th, 2010 by Kim

That’s the answer we got last night after going to two different stores. Both had trees in stock already, but neither would sell them! Can you believe that?

We understand that we are definitely not the typical Slovak family, wanting to put up our tree almost 4 weeks before Christmas. But  we didn’t understand the concept of having tress, but NOT selling them. We only heard, “come back next week”!

I did try to convince them, in light of the fact that it is the first Advent Sunday, and we needed greenery to make our Advent wreath. Still, he wouldn’t budge. There were 5 people “watching over” the tree lot and i think it must have been the highlight of their evening, however confusing we may have been to them.

To say the kids are disappointed is an understatement, not to mention we still don’t have up any decorations! So,”next week!”

November 22nd, 2010 by Kim

Not the Middle East, but for all of us living here in Slovakia those words, “The East”, mean the east of Slovakia. A place I LOVE to visit. Why? The people. People in the East are generally friendlier. Not to say that there are not friendly people in central Slovakia, but there is something about the people in the East that is inviting and warm and pleasant. That makes it a place I love to visit.

Today, I go by train to a city called Presov for a long overdue visit to a co-worker’s house, Maruska. She has invited me several times to visit her and speak to her small groups of young women on the topic of purity and value. Finally we have found a time and I so look forward to being with these young women. Maruska too is excited and has been busy getting the word out about my visit. So far we have 65 young women who have committed to coming! I’m a bit nervous about that, but that makes me just rely more on God’s Spirit to give me the right words for these ladies.

I’ll have about 3 hours on the train to do last minute preparation and gather my thoughts (in silence). I did our grocery shopping yesterday, so there is plenty of food in our house. I made lists for Zac and the kids, the laundry’s done (no one has to worry about clean clothes) the house is relatively clean…so my mind is at peace and ready to be away for a few days.

It’s a good feeling when you feel God speaking through you, giving you words that will give life to others. I’m so thankful for the opportunity!

November 22nd, 2010 by Zac

Dizmas is a Christian, American rock band with a mission (www.dizmas.com). Exit is a Josiah Venture vision that hungers to see students across central Europe come to faith in Jesus. Together they form the Exit Tour. Last month (October), in two major Slovak cities (Zilina & Kosice), Dizmas and the Exit Tour team have made purposeful contacts with over 3000 high-school students! Here is the way it works.                                                                                                                       

The Exit Tour team works for months in advance to train local church youth groups for outreach and follow-up. Plus, they make arrangements for concerts and social prevention seminars in local high schools. Dizmas gives of their talent and energy to come to Central Europe for 2 month and perform concert after concert in these cities and high schools. In each school Dizmas presents a short concert and the Exit team presents various seminars about drug, alcohol and AIDS prevention.

There is also a special seminar by Tomas Graumann, who was one of the final children survivors to board the Winton rescue trains from Prague just before World War II (www.auschwitz.dk/Winton.htm). Graumann, now 79 and a believer in Christ, openly shares his faith and gives out Bibles at the end of his seminar. His story and presentation are spellbinding!

Then, at the end of a week of visiting high schools, there is a final concert in the city featuring Dizmas and another local Christian band. At the concert, the gospel of Christ is clearly shared and everyone is invited to respond.

The two weeks of Exit tour are over now and follow-up has begun. Many small groups have been started, hundreds of new friendships have been set in motion and the seed of the gospel has been planted in hearts.

One observer commented, “I’ve never seen so many unbelievers in our church – EVER! Help us pray for significant fruit and more opportunities in other cities.

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November 22nd, 2010 by Zac

I (Zac) have recently accepted a new role in my work. I will be coordinating a new dimension of our national work focused on increasing the  health and reproductive capability of local churches. This new focus is called ADVANCE and will carve out about 15% of my work schedule. This is a new direction for Josiah Venture and  Kompas Training Center, because our primary focus to date has been youth ministry.

However, Josiah Venture has noticed a pattern over the years resulting from healthy youth groups in unhealthy churches. The pattern involves the average youth group member, who hits some imaginary ceiling in the adult church, after he is old enough to leave the youth ministry. Eventually, they drift away from the church because of a lack of continuity in health, passion and vision between the youth ministry and the adult church. Our vision is an entirely healthy church, where this disparity doesn’t occur. And ultimately, more healthy churches will be produced and multiplied.

Over the past few years, I have spent more time than ever before in the place of directional leadership of our local church. So presently, my passion runs high in the area of having a healthy church. This seemed like the right appointment for me in this present environment.

Prayer fuel:

* That God would raise up a group of young leaders and seasoned pastors with a passion for healthy, reproducing churches.

* We need new model churches that are strong in the Word, discipleship, community, outreach and multiplication.

* I should only be a temporary leader of this new direction. Pray for the right Slovak national who would step into this role with experience, vision and passion.

November 22nd, 2010 by Zac

Just for your information, Josiah Venture has a new website.

You might be interested in some of these features:

1. A place to subscribe to Josiah Ventures monthly, e-mail newsletter.

2. A place to make a special gift to one of our three current projects in Slovakia- (click here)

4. Josiah Venture mailing address

5. Our latest Shepperson family profile

The new web address is the same as the old one – www.josiahventure.com

November 16th, 2010 by Kim

At least for me anyway. I often feel like I am living from one thing to the next. At the same time, I DO feel like I am “living life” , enjoying family, our church and serving our Lord. But still the fact remains, life doesn’t move slow. It’s fast. Often not even yielding  time for reflection.

I am a planner/scheduler: grocery shopping, weekly menu, home-school planning, school events, bible study, after school activities, meetings. . . Most of the time, if I get it on the schedule, it will more than likely get done. Now with that said, I also fully believe that at the present moment, I have (or can think of) enough things on my schedule to plan for the rest of my life. So then my planning becomes more prioritizing, staying ahead, SURVIVING.

One day, it finally hit me just how full my days are when I was at the grocery store for my weekly shopping. I saw there a friend. I had my list, he had his, we laughed at how we both were moving so fast through the dairy section. Then as we were parting he said to me, “ok, so we’ll see you when you bring Oli (his son) home from sports”. Immediately I panicked, flushed and my heart sank at the realization that despite my good planning, I had missed it. How could I have forgotten such an important thing. This couldn’t be happening to me. Not only had I forgotten that it was my “day” to pick up from sports, but I had not even remembered to “take” my boy to sports! What a mess! Thankfully my friend was very understanding and stepped right in my crisis and helped me out.

This week (and for many weeks now) on my schedule is to write a web post update on all the great things going on over here in Slovakia. When I see it on my “list” through-out the week,  I immediately think of all the things I can write about and in my mind I have really nice elaborate posts. All i need to do is get them out of my head and onto the web (easy enough). Unfortunately, so many things take over and prevent the latter from happening. Not major things, but just life: dinner preparation, shopping, homework, homeschooling, teaching, bible study, cleaning – the list goes on.

But today, I found a space. I finished homeschool with Emili, sent her off to regular school for the rest of her classes. The house is cleaned (yesterday’s list).  Dinner is already started and on the stove.  Hampton is watching a “program” and occupied for the moment. Here I am, in the kitchen,  computer at hand, ready to dictate all those nicely composed posts. . . . how can i just pick up and write without first an explanation? that done, and now. . . the timer goes off (time’s up) ! Off to the  next thing (lunch date with Zac,  school pick-ups, small group preparation for tonight). But first, necessities to squeeze in (get out of my pj’s, brush teeth, clean up breakfast dishes)

Still I’m thankful for what i did write and hopefully “next time” will prove to be a bit more productive! Until then!