Well we have arrived.  It’s hard to believe that I’ve been living in Slovakia for 16 days.  But the 2008-2009 STINT team has settled-in and we are already engaging in ministry.

For those who don’t know, the journey to go on STINT (which stands for Short Term International) is one that spans over five years.  I went on a summer project to Saratov, Russia when I was a junior at East Carolina University (go Pirates).  As I observed the life and growth of the STINT team serving in that location, I knew that one day I would love to go on a STINT.  I decided to become a full-time missionary with Campus Crusade for Christ and then worked at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.  Then last fall, new plans began to emerge.

I was fully enjoying the ministry at Marshall University.  However, I still longed to go overseas for longer than a summer.  I had been to Slovakia twice at this point on summer mission trips.  Then word came that this year would be the last year for STINT in Slovakia.  The ministry is at the point where the Slovaks will be running the ministry themselves in the near future.  I began to think, “How cool would it be to be on that last torch-passing team?”  And after lots of discussion, thought, and prayer, it became clear that now was the time to go.

So here I am.  I am serving on a team of nine people, and I’d love to introduce my teammates.

From left to right: Aaron Hassell, me, Lindsey Walton, Amber Bouchillon, Cindy Taylor, Mikey Taylor, and Stephanie Godfrey

 Aaron Hassell is a 2nd year STINTer from Clemson University, and he is my roommate.  Lindsey Walton is also a Clemson grad, and this is her second time to Slovakia.  She was on the 2006 Slovakia summer project that I was on.  Amber Bouchillon is a graduate of Clemson University, and has been to Slovakia a number of times already including a summer project I was on in 2006.  Cindy Taylor was a student at Marshall University who then joined full-time staff with CCC in Central KY.  Mikey Taylor is a University of Tennessee grad who served with me on staff at Marshall University before getting married to Cindy and being placed on the Central Kentucky Catalytic team.   Mikey and Cindy are also currently expecting their first child, due in April of this year.  Stephanie Godfrey graduated from Clemson U and then interned with CCC there last year.  She decided to do another year of internship on our team.  She was also on the 2006 Slovakia summer project.

 Rounding out the team are Biba Cziglerova who has been serving on staff here in Slovakia for a number of years.  She is a Slovak who came to Christ through the CCC ministry here.  She is co-leading the team with me.  Dara Adams is also a Slovak serving on our team and has been on staff in Slovakia for a few years as well.  Dara is married to Jeremy Adams, who is currently doing full-time language study as an American International Campus Staff (one who serves indefinitely in a foreign location).

As you can tell, we have a team that is very connected and fairly experienced.  We are anticipating that God will do great things through the ministry this year!

This is my apartment building

 

Every night the sun sets behind my balcony at my apartment.