February 29th, 2016 by Zac

Our local church keeps moving forward at a steady pace. Different people come and go but our numbers stay about the same. Next month we will send out our first missionary to Thailand. So we are excited at this sign of growth and maturity.

Small churches like ours are being birthed at a growing rate across Slovakia. Although most religious people are still involved in the traditional church, many are being attracted to forms of church that are more relational and non traditional.

Please pray for our church, that we can be the kind of light God intends for us to be in this city.

February 29th, 2016 by Zac

This is not an easy topic to speak publicly about. But every person these days is being affected by the wave of pornography that has swept over our world in the last 20 years.

I believe every parent should assume that by the age of 6, their child (especially boys) has been exposed to pornography. Our “good” missionary kids are no exception. We have already had pornography related issues with each of our children. Because inappropriate sexual images are everywhere – magazines, TV, movies, google images, websites, advertisements, video games, Facebook to name a few.  So we have adopted a kind of “under siege” posture in our family as we face the overwhelming presence of pornography in our society.

Beyond the normal healthy relationship kind of practices, here are some of our attempts at pornography prevention and protection. Read the rest of this entry »

February 25th, 2016 by Zac

It all starts with the tree!!

Hampton’s class preformed a Christmas special at his school.

Complete with a flute ensemble.

Church family Christmas celebration together.

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February 25th, 2016 by Zac

Soccer balls, picture frames and ginger bread cookies. It looks like a Pinterest list. But it’s actually the list of gifts we chose to give to our gypsy club members this Christmas.

Our club team of 10 gathered together on a cold December 22 to make preparations. We had also decided to have a cookout with hotdogs, pickles, bread and cookies. So we set up the grill and a table and went to work. Read the rest of this entry »

February 25th, 2016 by Zac

We’ve lived in our new neighborhood for a year and a half now. Although we have made some progress in meeting our neighbors and becoming friends, I’m sure we have not reached the standard of loving our neighbors the way that Christ intended.

But one day recently, we had a unique chance to move in that direction. One cool autumn day, our neighbor had started building a retaining wall around part of his property. We don’t know the neighbor that well, but we imagined that he might need some help. So, we offered to lend a hand.

Early Saturday morning, I found my work gloves Read the rest of this entry »

October 30th, 2015 by Kim

Fall is always a busy time for us and this year is no exception. In addition to school starting and getting back into the swing of things, I’m organizing after school activities and schedules. Our national organization (TCKompas) is also starting the new school year and doing the very same (as our family).

Some of the highlights of the past 6 weeks include:

Welcoming Hudson and Kari Jones (back) to Slovakia! The morning they arrived to Slovakia from Arkansas, Zac came down with a terrible stomach virus! I was able to make the 3 hr trip to Vienna and be their welcoming committee. We are so excited to have them here. Although they didn’t stay with us that weekend as we planned (because of Zac’s illness), they did return and stay with us the following weekend for the Fall staff meeting.

During the staff meeting I was able to host our growing staff (35+) in our home for a meal. Honestly, when I said “yes” to having them, I didn’t think about the details. Details like, I don’t have enough plates or silverware, or what if it rains, there isn’t enough room for everyone to be inside. Read the rest of this entry »

October 25th, 2015 by Zac

As our kids grow older and have summer activities of their own, it’s harder and harder for us to go back to America on a regular basis. But somehow we managed it this past summer.

Nothing can replace time with your family. It seems to do something for your soul. All of my family (Zac) were together and we spent extended time with all Kim’s family as well.

Kim’s mom is recovering steadily from her cancer treatments and heart attack she had in May. (if you missed that story click HERE).

My parents are holding steady and are much more stable now that my brother (Jac) has moved back home from Arizona. Having family as a caregiver in the house makes a huge difference for everyone. Thanks big brother!

Time at home also afforded us the chance to be with all those who so faithfully support us. Each Sunday and sometimes during the week, we spoke to churches and groups of people who have a heart from Slovakia.
Read the rest of this entry »

October 24th, 2015 by Zac

It surprised me that it was time for one of our family members to join me at our annual international leadership training conference. As our staff made the list of possible participants, Emili never crossed my mind. But it was true! EMILI is now youth ministry leadership!! I still can’t believe it’s really true, but time does fly and kids do grow up.

So, with a last minute conference registration and some school negotiations with her teachers, she was ready to go. Read the rest of this entry »

October 24th, 2015 by Kim

(this is the post from my Slovak blog that i mentioned in my earlier post – “a little update from Kim”)

There is a book we have at home,  a favorite of mine.  I have read it countless times to my 4 children (one who has needed it more than others), Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst.

It’s a funny book, but serious and very real at the same time. Because let’s face it, everyone has these kinds of days. It’s about perspective. Particularly, how one boy reacts when things don’t go his way. Alexander (the main character in the book) decides that when things go bad for him, he will move to Australia

When he wakes up with chewing gum in his hair, trips on his skateboard,  drops his sweater into the sink while the water is running, he declares, it is going to be a “horrible, terrible, no good, very bad day”. And it is.

At breakfast, although his brothers get prizes inside their cereal bags there is only cereal in his cereal bag.

At school his teacher doesn’t like his picture of the invisible castle, she criticizes him for singing too loud, and for leaving out 16 when counting. His mom forgets the dessert in his snack, his brother pushes him into a mud puddle and calls him is a crybaby. When he punches back in return,  his mom punishes him for being muddy and for fighting. Read the rest of this entry »

October 23rd, 2015 by Zac

Sam is a rising force in our family. He is growing like a weed and prepared to surpass everyone in the family with his height and shoe size! His mind is like a steal trap and he manages Bible trivia like a college student. He is in his second year of high school (8 year high school that is) and eats up his school work like it was lunch. Obviously, he has his mother’s brains.

He has also taken up the bass guitar. He has lessons each week with one of our older teenagers in the church. A while ago, he played for his first time in our church worship. He seems quite natural at it and gets great complements from his teacher. We are proud of him and anticipate epic things from this next Shepperson generation!

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