Levice to Kalná nad Hronom

I ran out of yogurt this morning, so I had eggs for breakfast. When I cracked open the first one two yolks spilled out. I knew that happened sometimes, but I'd never seen it. When I cracked open the second one two more yolks slid into the frying pan! That's got to be a one in a million kind of chance. So I've had a four-yolk, over-easy kind of morning.


Last week I went to a jumping class in a village a few minutes from Levice. A student, and good friend, from our youth group teaches the class on Mondays and Saturdays. Everyone gets on these mini trampolines and you jump around for a while to peppy music. So fun. She told me it originated in the Czech Republic about ten years ago.

I had to take a bus out to her village, and she kindly found one and told me exactly how to get there. It was leaving from terminal 8 at 4:15, Kalná was the second village, and I'd get off at the second stop across from the cemetary. She'd meet me there and take me to the class. I bought a t-shirt at Lidl because all of mine were in the washing machine and had my roommate write down on a sticky note exactly how I should buy my ticket, "Celý lístok do Kalnej".

I got to the bus station that afternoon just in time to see my bus driving away. I'd been listening to Bastille and strolling around for too long. I called my friend and we found a later bus, but she wouldn't be able to meet me, and I'd have to get off at the first stop instead of the second. I waited around for a while. Told a gypsy I didn't want to buy a magazine. Listened to more Bastille. She sent me the address of the place so that I could GPS it when I got there.

My second bus came, and I got on with no issue. The bus driver gave me a funny look. I felt obnoxiously American. I sat behind an older man, and my friend called me again just to check that everything was going alright. Speaking English on a silent bus full of Slovaks is the opposite of comfortable.

I'd heard the man in front of me ask for a ticket to the same place, so I followed him when he got off and set my GPS. He was still walking in front of me about a hundred meters later when he turned around and said "Excuse me, are you Cory?"

I'd lived in Slovakia for one month, never been to that village, and never seen that man before in my life. Shocked is an understatement.

Jumping friend on the right

I said yes, of course, and he told me that he was my friend's father. He'd heard me on the phone with her and had called her to ask if she had an American friend coming out to the village. He also recognized me from camp pictures on Facebook. He walked with me to the jumping class explaining that the village owned the land that the nuclear plant near Levice is on, and so they get some of the taxes from it. We met his wife and son at on the street too, and they walked with us.

They got me to the class just in time, and I know I would have never found it without them. It was back behind a school in a dark building that looked mostly empty. I found out later that it used to be a part of the school, but they don't use the classrooms in that building anymore.

It's been incredible to see God care for me here in such tangible ways. To see him plunk a guide down right in front of me when I was in need of direction. It happens so often here, and it reminds me of his absolute sovereignty over people and circumstances. What a powerful God we serve.

The bus ride home was uneventful. I was pretty much a pro at it by that time. I had plans to meet with a student from camp that evening, but he cancelled so I skyped with a friend from home and ordered pizza over the phone in Slovak all by myself. I think it might have been my favorite day since coming here.

Then and Now

During some down time with God last week he revealed to me just how present he has always been in my life. When I graduated from college two and half years ago I desperately wanted to stay in Chicago. Some of you have heard this story. I was an all-in, flat-out, full-blooded Chicagoan. I loved the beat of the city and the rhythm of my bike tires on the pavement. I loved the freedom of the streets and the ever evolving culture of the neighborhoods. There was a Mediterranean place across the street from my apartment with the best falafel and hummus I’ve ever had. On the other side of the block was Tre K, the Swedish place we went for breakfast with the smoothest cup of coffee. The Brown-line was a few blocks down and standing on those wooden platforms on a clear, crisp day waiting for the vibration of a train against the soles of your feet was near perfection.

But before graduation I spent a free Saturday at a Starbucks praying about the future - about where I should be and when I should be there. I wrote out the options; I read scripture; I watched the people coming in and out. And in the span of a few hours God moved my heart back to Tremont. It was an unbelievable shift. A transformation that only He could bring about. That’s what made it so certain for me. Because it was exactly what I hadn’t wanted, but exactly where I knew I was going.

There were times afterwards when I fought discontentment. Fought so hard I felt sick - thought I was losing my mind. I started working a job I didn’t like. I wrote bland poems about a bland job in a bland town to leak some of the bitterness out of my heart. But I also started working with the youth group at church. And I started praying. A lot. I read Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s biography. I meditated on scripture. And I chose to see the good in my work. God met me right where I was, in the place to which he had brought me. 

I worked at CAT for a year and a half before getting laid off. I applied for Josiah Venture that December. I was accepted. I began support raising.

Now I work at Eli’s waking up early, making coffee, and chatting with customers. I have opportunities almost weekly, sometimes daily, to share about my love of Slovakia and what God is doing over there, how he is transforming people’s lives. Just last week I had a regular customer come in (black coffee in his own mug except on special occasions when he gets a peach latte) and pick up my prayer card and ask how he could help support me. We’d talked about Slovakia before and how he does historical reenactments and how his day was going and what his kid was going to be for Halloween. But this blew me away. Because I would have never come into contact with people like him if I had stayed in Chicago. I would not be where I am today if I had let those grimy streets win out over God’s calling. I look back and see that he knew I would need this community. He knew I would need a church that felt like family. He knew that he could bless me so richly if I followed him. I love where he has brought me, and how he brought me to it. I love seeing the connections - that I get to share his love and his story with my old coworkers from CAT, my old small group, my new small group, my church, my Eli’s coworkers, my customers, my family, and soon with my Slovaks.

What a beautiful journey this is when we let him determine our path. It is not easy, but it is so good. Thank you for bring part of my journey and part of the blessing God has showered on me in my time here. You will all be missed, but not forgotten.

Missionary Training Institute

Let's talk about living life in a blur. Because that's most often how I live mine.

Noah and I at the Cabin

Wedding in California, weekend leadership retreat, Slovakia presentations, Brenda visiting, Talissa and Kristen helping me pack, Cabin coffeehouse with Noah, Ricky coming, church at NCF and hugs on hugs on hugs. And sick on top of it all. You know at the peak of a deep breath when your chest is full and up in your ears? That was my weekend. It's only four weeks I'll be gone, but the goodbyes I said felt real. If I could have hugged them all into my suitcase I would have. Amber, Chloe, Kenzie, Heather, Taylor, Zoe, Mikayla, Mitch, Tyler, Riley, Isaiah, Michalah, Krissy, Brendy, Talissa, Jim-shea, Mit, mom and dad if you guys are reading this know that I miss you! And if I left you out it's because my brain is toast from phonetic drills this week.

Cabin Leadership Retreat

These first two weeks at MTI are focused on language learning while the second two emphasize cutlure. We've been learning fantastic techniques that will help us learn our target language once we get where we're going. They're based around the way a baby learns to speak its first language. Babies cannot read, cannot write, cannot speak, but they can listen. And they can babble. We're allowed to babble here at MTI. Yesterday we were able to break up into smaller groups to practice these techniques with a specific language. I was in the Russian group. We spent three hours learning Russian commands like "put the pen on the book" or "drive the car to church" or "pick up the red pen and put it in the black book". We never saw them written, we only listened and acted. It was incredible what got stuffed into our brains. Even though we may not have caught every word in the sentence, by the end of the three hours we could hear complicated commands and understand them. In Russian! It was by far my favorite part of the week.

Closely tied for favorite was our s'more circle last night. There is about anyone you can imagine out here from singles, to marrieds, to families with kids, all of us going places like South Africa, Taiwan, Vietnam, Slovenia, Kenya, Mexico, and Slovakia. Connecting with these people has been both inspiring and encouraging. They are people on the same path as me. We talk about what our families think about us, how support raising is going, the cultural challenges we're about to face, what we're excited about, what we're nervous about, why we care so much. Last night we all sat around the fire pit talking and laughing. Some serious conversation, but a lot of laughter - the perfect way to unwind from a strenuous learning week.

S'more night

It's the beginning of the end for me. The first of the final steps before I move all of myself to Levice. Being here at MTI has made everything so real. I'll come back mid-October and leave a month later. There is a new sense of urgency in my heart. And a slow, boiling excitement. If you haven't already partnered with me, I urge you to do so. I am close to 50% supported, and the day I hit 100% I can buy my ticket!

Thank you to those already walking with me. You have kept me going and cared for my sometimes weary soul. Nothing about this process has been easy, but so much of it has been good. You are all part of that good. I am consistently overwhelmed by the power of Christ in his church. Thank you for your generosity, love, and support. I could not run this race without you.

Some wonderful friends having a bake sale for me while I'm gone.

Give at : https://josiahventure.webconnex.com/1210110

Sunday Reflections

I just love being a part of the Cabin. I love the collaboration of minds and hearts that want to see change. Minds with visions and hearts with love and tenderness all wrapped up in the Gospel. People - ordinary people - with passion. Carpenters, techies, students, nurses. Just people living but asking for more. Living, but with the Kingdom in their eyes and eternity in their throats so thick they'd choke on it if it didn't come out.

We're nothing special. None of us are. Most of the time I feel weak. But I was thinking in church today how God uses us in our weakness. Listening to my brother sing, leading worship because he can. Unobtrusive, unaffected. Just simply and purely. Because he believes in the One, True God. Not in himself. Singing loud, because that is how he is, but without theatrics. And I thought how beautiful it is when God thrusts us out in our weakness. How much more room he has when we aren't quite sure we can do it. When we have to lean on him because there isn't anything in us to stand on. I've always thought it is important to use your gifts. To find your niche and exploit your skills and talents. But maybe it is better to do what scares you. What you think you don't the power to do. When you reach the end of your abilities and have to jump into the white unknown beyond them. Because then it isn't about you and what you can do. It's about all that is missing in you and all that Christ fills up. All that he can do with these weak and broken vessels that we are.

That is what Cabin leadership is. A whole bunch of cracked pots all filled up and glowing with everything that our Lord is. All goodness, all perfection, all grace. The ability to do anything. And we screw up sometimes. Go through dry times. Lose vision. Lose passion. But today I saw people full of Christ. Lives permeated by his Spirit.

I just love what He does. I love it when he shows me a little bit of how he works. And I'm so excited about the future of the Cabin. I'm privileged to be a part of the leadership team, and I so wish I could stick around to see the changes and fruit that I know are coming. But it is exciting also to pass on that leadership. To step out of the way and see others carry the vision and responsibility. I will miss our meetings with all our plannings and our plottings. And I will miss the challenges the Cabin has produced. But I am looking forward to joining another team in Slovakia. A team, like here, full of Christ-vessels.

Sometimes I can't believe that this is my life. That God has granted me such beautiful people. That I have been a part of sweet friendships here, and that I will get to enjoy even more of that sweetness in Slovakia. In Slovakia! In a place that I love with people who are so dear to me! I can't believe that these opportunities are mine. Our God is so good. And though I do not always stand in the awe of him that he deserves, I relish the times that I do. When he so graciously shows me his goodness. When I can take my eyes off of all the grit and grime of the world long enough to see His hand.

The future is bright because of Him.

KECY Camp 2014

I'm not sure what to tell you about my most recent trip to Slovakia. The thoughts and feelings that expand and shift during such an experience are difficult to put into words. They are magnified by the briefness and intensified by the nature of such a trip - like living an entire lifetime in a single week. Growing deep and old with people you've only just met. It is so beautiful, and so difficult. Its overwhelming, but in the best of ways. And when its over all you want to do is rush back in and do it again.

The camp theme for the week was the Upside Down Kingdom. We talked about how the kingdom of God is so backwards from the world we live in. It is a theme that continues to jump out at me when I'm reading my bible - how crazy God's plan sounds to us! But when we look at our world and what makes sense to us, we can see that it doesn't work. Our world is a mess, our logic is flawed, and it is truly our kingdom that is upside down. We spent time in our discussion groups talking about happiness, forgiveness, love, worry, and Jesus as our Ruler and King.

My group, Imagine Red, was one of my all-time favorites. We were all at least a little bit introverted and absolutely terrible at sports, but we became such good friends! I loved walking into the dining room and seeing them all sitting together, people who only a week earlier had never met.

Some years at camp you get to know one or two students really well and other years it feels like you get to know the whole camp. This year was one of the latter ones for me. I really enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and meeting so many new ones. This was espeically important and one of biggest reasons I chose to go this summer. I really wanted to build a foundation with as many students as possible before I move to Levice in November. 

Before I left for camp I had been struggling with a lot of fears. Mostly fears concerning lonliness and depression. I was afraid I would move to Levice and get stuck in a routine that didn't involve seeing friends or meeting new people. Afraid that I would be too tired or scared to try or that no one would want to make an effort with me. But God is always good, and the peace that I felt and still feel after coming home is a gift. I was so encouraged to hear that people were excited to have me come! I've already made plans with a few of students to come to their football matches or try out their jumping class. And I've agreed with several students to help them practice their English if they help me with my Slovak. I think it is a good trade.

I also met my roommates and got a tour of the flat I will stay in. They are two of the sweetest girls! I've known one for several years, and I met the other at our camp after party. This was simply another blessing that I didn't expect. I know that it is not usually good for me to live alone, especially in a new place, but God took care of that need without any thought or effort of my own.
"God is my Father, He loves me, and I will never think of anything that He will forget, so why should I worry?"-Oswald Chambers

God's provision is something I continue to run into on this journey.The flat is small and "vintage" as the girls call it. I'd call it orange. But it is one big, orange blessing!


"In the same way the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world - just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God's grace."
I love the global nature of Christ and His kingdom. And I love that God allows me to be a part of it. This short trip to Slovakia has only increased my excitement for the next few years. I can't wait to be over there and really involved in the students' lives! Thank you for walking with me on this journey.

Our amazing Slovak team. These people put in hours and hours of work months in advance to make camp happen. They are some of the most amazing people I know, and I can't wait to join their team this fall!

Waiting for students to arrive on day one.

Ready to welcome students. It was so fun to have my brother with me!  

First evening program - introducing the Upside Down Kingdom.  

My good friend Čičo. He came to KECY for the first time three years ago, and now he is on the leadership team and doing an awesome job!

She is my new favorite t-shirt.

A few of the Doctor Who fans at camp. We're planning a fish fingers and custard party when I get over there.

Siblings group photo.

Seeing the castle in Levice after camp.

KECY Band at our camp after party. We invite all the students and their parents to the youth center in Levice to have a mini camp program.

Got to spend some quality time with the Rumbold family in Bardejov after camp.

Enjoying our girl time.

Just a few of my favorite people. Loved catching up with Ed, Wendi, and Seth and playing with the kiddos.

Transitions

This transition is long, and I don't know how to navigate it. I want to live fully here as long as I am. But I can't forget that I'm going. I can't let things slide. There is work involved in the going, and I can't forfeit it. I can't take a pass and say it'll all come together in the end.

I'm divided. 

And I lean on myself a lot. I bank on my skills or my talent or my past successes. It will be ok because I know I can do this. A lot of lies and a lot of pressure. 

But The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his annointed one (Ps. 28:8). These things do not depend upon me. The Cabin, my small group, Slovakia. They depend upon the Sovereign Creator. 

I'm also discovering that I'm a self-worshipper. I think we all are. I think that is the root of sin. But knowing that means nothing until you know it. Until you feel it in the tightness of your chest and the bitterness in the back of your throat. Until you're sitting in bed and you can't fall asleep because He's showing you yourself. The ugly and the misguided. 

Self-worship is fear and doubt. It's pressure and heavy and overwhelming. It's confusion. It's everything you, and you are so weak. 

But I love his strength beecause it is satisfying and full. It trades pressure for peace, chaos for calm, and I can breath when He is on the throne. 

To be worshipped is His right, and to worship Him is my joy.

Clap your hands, all you nations; 

shout to God with cries of joy.

For the Lord Most High is awesome,

the great King over all the earth.

He subdued nations under us,

peoples under our feet.

He chose our inheritance for us,

the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.

God has ascended amid shouts of joy,

the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.

Sing praises to God, sing praises;

sing praises to our King, sing praises.

For God is the King of all the earth;

sing to him a psalm of praise.

God reigns over the nations;

God is seated on his holy throne.

The nobles of the nations assemble

as the people of the God of Abraham,

for the kings of the earth belong to God;

he is greatly exalted.

(Pslam 47)

-----------------------------

Slovakia update:
Support raising seems to be going well. Money is rolling in slowly but steadily, and I am still shooting for a November departure. If a financial donation is something you're interested in you can go to Josiah Venture's website, click on their Give page and search me by last name.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support! I love having you walk beside me in this journey. 

The Coming and the Going

I never knew that when I moved back to Tremont from Chicago I would fall into the most beautiful relationships. 

Waiting for the bus at Lincoln Square

I was reluctant to leave the city then, May 2012. I loved those streets, those buildings, the life that thumped out at all hours of the day or night. I was wrapped up in the grit and grime of city living. The satisfying struggle of twisting my bike around potholes and CTA busses, flashing my card and hopping the L, and buying groceries based on their weight and the distance back to my apartment. I wasn't done living that life, and I knew if I went home I'd forfeit it all.

But God was nudging me back. It took a day of fasting in the Starbucks farther from campus (so I wouldn't see anyone I knew). I laid out all my options, made t-charts of the negative and positives, and told God exaclty what I wanted. But in those hours of sitting there, my heart changed in a way that can only be attributed the Spirit. I wanted Chicago, but Tremont beckoned. Tremont made sense. Tremont started feeling like peace.

Watching the sun rise over Lake Michigan

I spent that first summer back in turmoil. I hated it. I hated driving my car everywhere. I hated that nothing ever changed. I hated that I had no friends. I hated that I felt like an outsider. I wrote lots of terrible, angry poems about migraines and mayonaise, and the color beige. It was an ugly time. But I stuck it out, still sure that it was right.

Things changed when youth group started up that fall. I signed up to be a small group leader because a boy I kind of liked told me it was a good idea. He came and went in a ball of fire and more bad poetry, but I'm pretty sure if it wasn't for him, I would never have met some of my dearest and now closest friends.

Knowing those girls has changed my life. I love seeing them struggle and grow. I love having them over Saturday nights. I love living life with them. It's been almost two years now that we've been a small group, with some additions and some subtractions. Two years I wouldn't trade for all the bike lanes in Chicago. In them I see God's sovereignty, his grace, his timing, his redemption, and his plan. In knowing them I am blessed beyond measure. They are beautiful girls full of His life and His Spirit.

Watching the Pumpkin Fest parade with Amber and Zoe

Most of all, though, I love seeing them counsel each other. They are tender and they are loving. But they speak truth to each other. They walk through sorrows together and through joys and triumphs. They leave me in awe of God's power. They were not like this two years ago. They have grown. They have blossomed. And I've had the privelege of walking beside them as it happened.

I said this once already, but I am in absolute, jaw-dropping awe at how God has so richlly blessed me in Tremont. My small group is only a part of that. A wonderful part, but still only part. Meeting people at CAT, spending time with my family, working with students at the Cabin, working at Eli's, all of it has been more incredible than I can even put words to. So often I find myself listing adjectives in my journal because I can't even string together sentences to do this life justice.

Small group on the hayrack at Harvest Time Services

I realize this doesn't have a whole lot to do with moving to Slovakia. But it's been on my heart, and it is what I'll be leaving. It's why sometimes I can't even breathe when I think about Slovakia. But it's also how I know it will be ok. Because God provided for me here, in Tremont, and he will do the same there, in Levice. He's before all and in all. He is all.

What an unexpected adventure this life is.

I'm going to be sharing about my upcoming move to Slovakia at Northfield Chrisitan Fellowship
next Wednesday, April 30th at 7pm. If you're interested, I'd love to have you come out. I'll be around afterwards as well to chat and answer questions.

Thanks for walking with me through this.
-Coryell