Wedding Photos

Prague

The overnight train was an interesting experience. I was able to sleep
some, but not much. We were clearly the boring folks on the train.
There were some parties going on in our car. There were also some
college students to a project for school taking photos of folks on the
night train. I am still convinced it was a scam, I just haven't been
able to figure out their angle yet. No one woke up missing a kidney or
anything, so I guess in general we were okay.

Public transportation in general is always a new and interesting
experience for me. I really like my car, but it is also nice to be in
a place that has options for getting around by bus/train/tram etc.
Obviously it is different here where countries and distances are so
much smaller than in the US, but it is still interesting to see the
commitment to public transportation that clearly does not exist in the
US. To see how they figure out ways of merging small streets and
trolley systems in historic cities where you can't just knock down
buildings to make room sort of removes a lot of the justifications we
use in the US to not add systems in the US. I guess adding these
things in the US doesn't help I guess if we wouldn't use them.

Yesterday and today is visiting the partner church in the Czech
Republic, the Evangelical Church of the Czech Brethren. Prague is a
beautiful city, sadly we have very little time to explore. Still we
had a little time yesterday, and some time today to see some of the
city. Mostly we have been participating in their annual Synod Meeting,
which is equivalent to our General Assembly. It is interesting to
participate in a meeting like this when you don't have the context of
local needs and politics. I get lost trying to follow PCUSA politics,
so this is a challenge at the least. It is fun to see how different
churches organize themselves and manage their decisions. Lots of
similarities and differences. Interesting things happen, wherever you
are, when you put a bunch of church people in a room together for a
long period of time to make decisions.

In general it has been interesting to see the deep history that exists
in these churches in this part of the world. The Reformation is sort
of an academic thing for those of us in the US, but for these
churches, it is a part of their history and identity. They struggled,
were oppressed and fought to form as churches. It seems particularly
true still in these countries where these churches are still minority
churches to the Catholic Church. Secondarily there is the issue of
Communism and how these churches were impacted during this time and
then after the fact as they try to create and reclaim a past identity.
For some it seems to have provided an opportunity to reinvent and work
to be relevant. Others have struggled since two generations of people
grew up in a culture opposed to attending and participating in a
church community. Here in the Czech Republic they say they are the
most secularized country in Europe so they are particularly challenged
in drawing folks in to Christian community.

Tomorrow we hop on the train to Berlin to visit a couple of mission
workers there and to see their ministry.

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First Leg Complete

Well I haven't written much, but I am never sure if anyone is reading,
so if no one has checked the site, no harm I guess.

We have finished the first part of our trip. Well technically, the
second I guess, but summarizing like it is only the first leg makes me
feel like less of a slacker. It was a long trip, first the flight,
then the train. Ukraine was good. We spent like 36 hours there. The
one full day was busy. We visited a church where Presbyterian Women
had helped install a water system, met with the Bishop of the Reformed
church and talked about "official" business. Then we visited a
preschool for Roma kids and the neighboring village, then another Roma
community where a PCUSA mission worker may help start a preschool,
then a high school, them more meetings. Really good, really
interesting, really complicated. This is a complex part of the world.
Lots of history, both old and new, that makes for a complicated world.
Yet another setting where borders were made that create challenges.
Although we were in the Ukrainian the people identify as Hungarian.
However, Hungary picked the wrong side during the first world war, so
parts of the area where Hungarian is spoke is split between Hungary,
Ukraine, Romania and Slovakia. For our local church partner, that
means what was once one church was split. They try and remain
connected, but are all separate legal entities now in different
countries, all with different challenges to face.

After spending time in Ukraine we headed to Budapesh. We were there
for what seems like an even shorter amount of time. We arrived
yesterday afternoon, checked in to our hotel, and spent the afternoon
meeting with representatives of the Reformed Church of Hungary. Today,
we had more meetings learning about more of their ministries. One that
was interesting was their Disaster response. They sent a medical
response team to Haiti within 36 hours of the earthquake. Now it can
be argued what is the best way to respond in crisis, but still it was
impressive to hear about.

We even had a little tourist time. Not much, just an hour or two to
walk around the castle district. Enough to make me feel like I at
least saw the city. No souvenirs though. We are moving around too
much. Going to have to wait to our last stop I think.

Tonight we are on a train to Prague. My first time in a sleeper car on
a night train. I told some folks it feels like a random mix of the
Hogwarts train and the Night Bus from Harry Potter. Can't really
sleep, so I am writing this. Tomorrow we will be in Prague, then off
to Berlin on Saturday morning. Leave Monday morning for the U.S. Its
a real whirlwind.

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Made It

Just a quick note if people are reading the blog to you let you know
that we arrived safely and are now in the Ukraine, just over the
Hungarian border. Had no problems with flights, just a lot of travel.
First flights, then a bus, then a train then a van. Really all we
needed was John Candy and the complete would have been complete.
Already met some interesting folks, and tomorrow looks like a hugely
busy day because we are in this area for such a short time. I will do
my best to do updates, but I have run into a bit of a challenge, I
forgot both my camera, and my phone charger. Others can take pictures,
and maybe I can borrow someone else's charger a bit, so things will
work out. The one positive is I brought my laptop, so I can use it for
emails and such when I have access to wifi.
Ben

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Short Start

On the plane to Frankfurt, leaving from Dulles, in Washington DC. The
one thing that stands out so far, is that the airport is nothing like
it appears in Die Hard 2. I am pretty disappointed. Yippee Kai Yay
indeed.

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Not a very good Blogger

I haven't been very good about blogging for this trip. Maybe I am
getting a little bit over traveling, or maybe I am just lazy. Really
it is probably that most of this trip has been either traveling, or
participating with the retreat. Not really interesting material.
Don't get me wrong, this has been a great trip. I think back about my
first mission personnel retreat in 2007 and compare it to now and I
feel so different. I am more comfortable in my work, and instead of
knowing almost no one at the retreat I came here this time knowing
almost everyone.
Brazil is very different. Largely if it wasn't for the fact that
everyone is speaking strangely, I could just as easily be in the US.
Well maybe not really, but it seems very close. Or maybe I am just
becoming more adaptable. Brazil is great though. It is early fall
here, so the climate has been very mild. Our hotel isn't fancy, but it
provides for all of our needs and is very comfortable. As I mentioned,
I know most of the mission personnel, so it feels more like a reunion
for me. All in all, a very good trip.
It has been interesting also to learn more about folks work in South
America and the Caribbean. we have people in Peru, Brazil, Argentina,
Colombia, Bolivia, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Some of these
folks have been working with the PCUSA for over 30 years, and others
for less than a year. Really a good, diverse group.
I am taking some pictures, so I hope to post some when I get back.

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Portuguese is not Spanish

So I do not speak Spanish. Basically all I learned to say is what I
picked up from Sesame Street. But people say Portuguese is similar to
Spanish. So I figured I would be able to at least say hello, goodbye,
thank you, etc. So far, it isn't that easy. Sure it looks similar,
but it doesn't sound similar to me.

Anyway, the first bit of time here in Brazil as been really good.
Yesterday was a long day. Over 24 hours of travel time. But we got
here without any problems. We were greeted my two of the PCUSA mission
personnel who are in Vitoria. Then we checked to our hotel and then
hurried off to meet people from the partner church. It was a good
meeting, where we were welcomed warmly and heard about the training
center that we were visiting. I must say though jet lag and a new
language don't always go well together. Thankfully there was some
translation happening, but all in all it was mostly all over my head.

Today was very busy as well. We started early with visiting the eight
churches in the area of Vitoria. It was great, and we saw not only the
diversity of the city, but also the churches. From very small, to very
large. And to be honest, I am starting to get used to the idea of
hoping in and out of vans and having my picture taken at churches. It
really is cool to see both the similarities and differences between
churches in different parts of the world.

Tomorrow we depart for the retreat. So back to the airport, and then a
bus ride. I really have no idea what the place is like where we are
going, so it should be interesting.

Oh, and one fun note. Dad had a pin pall from Brazil when we were
kids. We always got these awesome chocolates. I think I found them, so
I bought a box. Now I just have to decide if I eat them all or share
them.

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