Progress Report – 2024 – April

The school environment is often stressful – for teachers and students alike. However, had you visited our school on April 17 and 18, the chances of improving your mental health would have been really high. Our school psychologists prepared various activities, workshops, and lectures for students to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and how to keep it in a good shape. We know that ultimately it is God who, by his mercy, gives our souls an ultimate rest. But he also gave us modern psychology with various time-proven practices and methods that can improve our mental well-being in our everyday lives. Thanks be to God!

In April, we were also blessed by a visit of our long-term partner and supporter – Hales Corners Lutheran School and Church (HCLSC), in Hales Corners, WI. The school principal and pastor Chad Kogutkiewicz with his wife Katie and teachers Katie Dennert and Mary Gabler spent a week in our school, participating in our classes and discussing cooperation between our institutions. HCLSC has been faithfully conducting to J-camps in our school for decades. In the upcoming school year, our student Martin Hroboň will be the first exchange student at the near-by Martin Luther High School.

April was also a month of extraordinary accomplishments by several of our students. Andrea Bačeová from our high school won the essay competition “Twenty Years in the Europe Union” that aimed to reflect Slovak young people’s experience with our membership in the EU. At the National Bible Olympics organized by our Lutheran Church, Ema Evinová and Adrian N. Kacian won gold in their categories while Rebeka Lisá took bronze. Thanks to their great performance, our school was the best among all the Lutheran schools in Slovakia.

In April we, Bohdan and Adrian, were able to meet some of our partners during our 10-day USA visit. We were presenting not only our progress, but also our new challenge – to build 9 classrooms in our main building for $1,278,000. It was very encouraging to see familiar and new faces in Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Naples, FL, First Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND, Mt. Carmel Ministries, Alexandria, MN, St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, MN, North Heights Lutheran Church, Arden Hills, MN, Hales Corner Lutheran School and Church, WI, Martin Luther High School, Greendale, WI, and Timothy Christian School, Elmhurst, IL. At Grace Lutheran Church and School, River Forest, IL, and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Naperville, IL we were blessed to preach at the Sunday services and speak at their annual Slovak dinners.

Through all their genuine interest and care, we experienced that amazing grace of God. We’ve returned reassured that this ministry will continue to grow to the glory of God.  Thank you for your ongoing support!

Yours in His service,