Winter Update From The Blairs

Greetings from Slovenia!

It's been a while since we've given you all an update, and to be quite honest, it's because of... life!

We are really settling into our new home, and getting used to our new normal.

We were delighted to get to spend our first holiday season in Slovenia, and our first "real" winter in a long time - this Florida-transplant family forgot about the cold!

So, we just wanted to give you all a short update on what we've been up to in the past couple months.  

Christmas

We were so excited and honored to be a part of the Christmas program at the local church we attend, here in Ljubljana!  Our big guy played the part of a wiseman, and was part of the children's choir!  It was extra special to hear him singing Christmas carols in Slovene!

On Christmas Day, we were so thankful to have Christmas dinner at the church with a few other families.  One of the families from the church hosts it every year, especially for those who don't have family nearby.  We loved getting to spend Christmas day with our new church family!

We also delivered cookies to our neighbors in our apartment building.  With the help our language teacher, we wrote each one of them a note, wishing them a very Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year.  Then, we went to each door and introduced ourselves - in (broken) Slovene!  It can be difficult to get to know one's neighbors, especially in an apartment building, but we're hoping that through interactions such as these, we'll be able to build meaningful relationships with them!

Language Learning

This is definitely NOT the glamorous side of missions, but it is the foundation, the groundwork without which we won't be able to truly reach Slovenia.  So, we have been working hard at our Slovene language classes.  Here are some examples of how much we've learned in the past few months:

We've had language classes for about 3 1/2 months.  We have learned how to introduce ourselves, talk about the weather, give directions, talk about motion, conjugate verbs, express possession of nouns, describe our families, lots and lots of grammatical rules, and we just started learning the past and future tenses.

We could not be more pleased with our tutor - she is very knowledgeable (she teaches at the university), patient, she loves her language - which in return makes us love her language, and she has a wonderful way of tying in what we're learning about Slovene with the culture.

Our teacher is actually leaving for 3 months, for a job outside of the country.  Please join us in praying for her, that she would be able to adjust well to her new surroundings, she would enjoy her job posting, and would... come back!

In the meantime, we will be taking a course at the university for the 3 months that she is gone.  We took a placement test earlier this week, and classes start at the beginning of March.  Please be praying for us, that we would make new friends at our courses, that our Slovene knowledge would deepen, and we would have a good time doing it!

Ministry

We were so excited to visit one of the other churches in the Pentecostal movement, a church in Murska Sobota.  In the type of coincide that only God can bring together, the pastor of that church was actually a friend of ours from college, at Continental Theological Seminary in Belgium.  We had a wonderful time sharing with them!  We introduced ourselves in Slovene, as well as we could, and then Dan shared his testimony, and how the Lord orchestrated everything for us to be able to come here.  We look forward to being able to visit more of the churches in the future, and building relationships.

Speaking of relationships, we've been very excited to get to know some of the children and parents from our son's school!  In the afternoons, we all seem to pick up our kids at the same time, which has been a great way to meet.  These pictures were taken on a hill near buddy's school, where we got to have some fun.  In the next few months, we're hoping to meet some of the parents for coffee, or arrange play dates, so we would appreciate you praying for those relationships as well!

As always, we appreciate your prayers, your love, and your support!  Thank you for making it possible for us to minister in Slovenia, we couldn't be here without you!

But, Where's Jesus?

Hello, dear friends!  We hope you are all having a blessed and peaceful Christmas season!

We are experiencing our first holiday season here in Ljubljana, and we are enjoying so many of the uniquely Slovenian traditions.

Yesterday, we went up to the Ljubljana castle to see some lights, and were thoroughly tickled pink to see the official Saint Nicholas for the city of Ljubljana, just before he headed out for his procession through the city.

As we walked around, we noticed a life-sized carved wood nativity. It was beautifully intricate, and we stood there for a while admiring it.  We had been standing for quite some time, when I noticed something, and looked at Dan, and said "But where's Jesus?"

Now, I understand that realistically and probably the reason baby Jesus is not yet in the manger, is because it is not yet actually Christmas, so he hasn't been "born".  But is was odd to us, nonetheless that Jesus was not part of the nativity.  As Christians, whenever we set out a nativity, the "baby Jesus" piece is the most precious one, and is not one to be left out.

But as we admire the beauty of the season here in Ljubljana, this has been what we've noticed:

There are monuments to religiosity peppered through the city - churches, nativities, stars, crosses... but, where's Jesus?

People prepare to go to midnight mass, they celebrate a saint, Saint Nicholas - who devoted his life to serving others in the name of Jesus, people slow down and spend time with their families... but, where's Jesus?

You can buy Advent wreaths in all the local grocery stores and flower shops, you can hear Christmas music playing on the radio... but, where's Jesus?

Because Slovenia is traditionally Roman Catholic, their traditions revolve around the symbols of the season, and yet the true relationship with Christ, the "reason for the season", is missing in so many of their lives.

This is not a uniquely Slovenian phenomenon.  It is the same around the world, and yet our hearts are for the Slovenes.  It is our deepest desire that the people of Slovenia would know the personal relationship with Jesus that gives us joy, comfort and peace during this time of year - and throughout the year.

The beauty in the lights, is that Jesus is our light.  The meaning behind the stars, is the star that led the wise men to Him.  The sweetness of the nativity is being reminded of Jesus' humble birth - God became man.  The tradition of Saint Nicholas is special because of the idea of giving our lives in service to God and those around us.  The tranquility of the Advent wreaths, is to prepare our hearts for the Lord.  Christmas music (not Jingle Bells, but songs such as Away in a Manger) are public reminders of why we celebrate.  We spend time with our families and loved ones, because we are thankful that God gave them to us to love - because He loved us first.  All of these traditions and symbols are beautiful, and should be celebrated.  But if they are celebrated without Jesus, they lose their meaning.

This Christmas season, we hope and pray that the symbols Slovenians - our friends and neighbors, see around them cause them to wonder, and search for the true meaning behind them - Jesus.  And we pray that we are able to be there for them in those moments.  We are so thankful that God has allowed us to be here, and for the lives that will be changed because of Him.

We pray the same for you, that you and those you love would open their hearts to God, and allow Him to give you joy and peace that surpasses all understanding.

Please continue to pray for us, we are still dealing with a situation we cannot yet freely share about, but we know that God is in control, and the local churches here, and our new friends have been a great help to us.  We know that everything will work out in God's perfect timing.

Have a merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year!

Laying the Groundwork - Prayer Covering and Language School

Hello, friends!

Thank you for being on this journey with us!  We so appreciate your prayers, emails, comments, and any other way you may reach out.  It is encouraging to know that there are so many people lifting us up before God.  We also pray for you, that God would bless each and every one of you, that He would give you peace and that you would know His love in a tangible way.

We have had a whirlwind of a couple months, and wanted to give you all an update, as we have settled into our regular routine a little better.

Last week was Fall break here in Slovenia, which means that everyone leaves town, and most everything is closed.  We decided to take that opportunity, and we planned a couple-day prayer retreat for our family.  We know the power there is in being covered in prayer, and wanted that to be one of our first and main focuses.  We made an effort to "hit" some of the major Slovenian national symbols, as we prayed for our new home.

1. Mount Triglav

Triglav is THE national symbol.  It is featured in their national crest, numerous businesses are named after it, and it has been said that you are not a true Slovene if you haven't climbed it.  (Dan is working on that.)  We actually went up to Mount Vogel across the way to get a good view of it.  Here we prayed that in the same way that you have to look up to see the mountain, people would raise their eyes to the Lord, and be filled with wonder of Him.

2. Lake Bohinj

Lake Bohinj is the largest lake in Slovenia.  It was absolutely beautiful and tranquil.  Here, we prayed for the peace of the Lord to come into the lives of our new friends.  That whatever their worries are, that they would be able to cast them onto their Heavenly Father.

3. The Church of The Holy Spirit

This church was amazing.  It was built during the I World War by Austro-Hungarian soldiers, as an homage to their fallen brothers in arms.  They dedicated it to the Holy Spirit.  The only way to get to it, is via a 30-minute hike - wow, what an image!  While we were here, our son thanked Jesus for his new Slovenian friends, and we also prayed that the Holy Spirit would sweep into this nation, and that He wouldn't be hard to reach, out of the way, and a hassle to get to - rather that they would see Him as the Helper Jesus says He is.

4. The Soča River

 

The mesmerizing emerald blue-green of this river is indescribable.  It is another main national symbols - it's also on the national crest, as well as the subject of art, poems and songs.  We drove along this river, stopping occasionally to enjoy the beauty of it, and also to pray that the hope of Jesus would rush into this country, much in the same way as the Soča does.  What a powerful force water is - it cuts through rock, forms the land - and yet how much more powerful is hope in Jesus Christ!

We were so thankful to have some quiet, reflective and prayerful time together as a family before this busy season.

As important as prayer is, we also know we can do nothing to engage the people of Slovenia, unless we are able to reach them in their own language.  With that in mind, this week we ALL started school.

1. Language School

Dan and Abigail started language school this week.  We meet with our language tutor, Melita 3 times a week.  She is patient, very knowledgeable, and a great teacher.  We've already learned a lot!  One of our favorite phrases is "taco-taco", which means "so-so".  It's interesting being back to doing homework, and using parts of our brains we haven't used in a while, and we're really enjoying it!

 



2. Our Big Boy in Vrtec

Our son started at vrtec, the Slovenian equivalent of preschool, although they translate it to kindergarten here. Please keep him in your prayers - everything at school is in Slovene.  His teachers seem very nice and patient.  We know he will make great friends, and that the Lord is with him wherever he goes, but it is also a little scary to leave him in a situation where none of us are really quite sure what's going on, haha! 

As always, we are so thankful for you.  We love our new home, friends and neighbors.  Thank you for making it possible for us to reach them.  Please continue to pray for us, as we settle into our new normal.

Our First Couple Weeks in Slovenia

Well, we've been gone a since Aug. 28th, and our life has been a whirlwind, but we wanted to give you all an update!

Pastor Jonathan and Al from Oceanway Assembly gave us a ride to the airport on Monday, August 28th.  We loaded up our bags, and boarded the first of 3 flights.

Our little missionary kid, dreaming about his new home!

After 19 hours of international traveling, we arrived in Hungary.  Here, we stayed with Abigail's parents, where we got over jet lag, and prepared to move to Slovenia.

After a couple days, we were very thankful to let Aidan stay with his grandparents, while we went on a week-long house hunting, and prepping trip.

One of our first pictures after crossing the border into Slovenia.  We automatically fell in love!

We were so honored and pleased to meet Dr. Daniel, the superintendent of the Slovenian Pentecostal movement, his lovely wife Vlasta, as well as see his daughter and son-in-law, Tina and Andrej - who also happen to be our friends from Bible college!  They graciously invited us to their home in Murska Sobota, and we enjoyed a wonderful time of fellowship.

After nearly 2 years of talking about it, we were FINALLY in Ljubljana, our new home!  That is the castle in the background, and to the right of us, the university where we plan to take our Slovenian language classes.

We spent the next few days viewing apartments and houses, as well as getting to know our new home a little better.  Here are some of the notable moments:

1. Trying out the local market

 This is an automatic milk dispenser.  It is local, raw milk.  You can buy one of the bottles provided, or bring your own - and fill them up!  It's one of the neatest things we've ever seen!

 There was scrumptious-looking local fruit...

 vegetables...










flowers... as well as honey, mushrooms, dairy products, meats and more!

2. One of the days, we went up to the top of the castle, to get a birds-eye view our this beautiful city!  It's surrounded by mountains all around!  We also had to find the dragon on Dragon Bridge.  The dragon is the symbol of Ljubljana, and is featured heavily around the city!

3. Getting to know our neighborhood

 We were feeling brave one day, and the local pastor named Chris graciously allowed us to park our rental car in the church parking lot, so we took the bus!  The Ljubljana bus system is extensive, and easy to navigate.  We look forward to our public transportation adventures!

This is one our local grocery stores, it's actually the Slovenian (and Austrian) version of Aldi.  It was fun seeing all the grocery options!






4. Trying the local food

 We decided to take the attitude of "if it looks good, try it!"  And we did!  Honestly, everything we tried tasted wonderful!  They do lots of different kinds of cured meats, and spreads, dumplings, yummy desserts and more.

Abigail even tried this purple cheese.  We have no idea what it's called, what it is exactly, or what animal it comes from, but it was good!










5. Home Hunting
We were very thankful to find an apartment that first week we were there!  The apartment we found is right in front of a bus stop (with buses coming regularly, taking us either downtown, or to the church here in Ljubljana), there is a post office across the street, and a grocery store within short walking distance.  We signed the contract and went back to Hungary to get Aidan, and buy some furnishings for our new place.

6. IKEA

 This is what it looks like, to furnish an entire home with IKEA!  We were so thankful to find all the things we needed!  

 Waiting to load it all up!

Who needs a seatbelt, when you're hugging two mattresses, lol???








7. The MOVE

So, on September 15th, we moved into our new apartment!  After living with a dear friend, and in and out of hotels for over 2 years, we cannot express the joy it felt to have a home to call our own!  Thank you so much to everyone who has helped us get to this point!






8. Getting Adjusted

 We don't have a car yet, so we've been mostly walking everywhere.  On one rainy day, we decided to walk to our local grocery store!

 It was overall a great experience, and it was fun to see the different way they do things.  For example, when you bag your produce, you then come over to this machine, where you punch in the produce's code, and it prints out a label for you.

We loaded up our bags and stroller, balanced an umbrella each, and walked back to our apartment, with some necessities and yummy things to eat!  We are so thankful for this grocery store, called Tuš (pronounced Tush - yeah, we've had fun with that)!  It's a great location, and easy to get to!

We've also been riding the bus, which Aidan is particularly fond of!  He keeps making friends with the people sitting next to us, and he loves pushing the button to indicate we want to get off!

So what are we up to now?

We are in the process of applying for our visas (please keep us in your prayers about that, specifically for favor), we will hopefully be purchasing our Speed the Light vehicle soon (thank you, PFYOUTH!!!), and we will also be looking into schooling options for Aidan, and language school for us.

Thank you SO much for all your love and support, we couldn't do any of this without you!

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