read more ... elsewhere

my last blog post was about the process of a new fusion start in bratislava. well, since then we even launched another new fusion in eastern slovakia!!! so much work, so many good memories and a lot of God's mercy

.march 11
.beginning of Rača's Fusion

the morning began in the cultural house where the sound, lights, stage, and band were set up. after an hour of a great program prepared by one of the fusion choirs, students were given invitations to the first rehearsal that was happening that same evening.... read more

.march 19-22

.kpm

this year, we invited they youth leaders into the kingdom. we wanted to talk abou our instincts and the possibility of their deception toward us. what if there is still some knowledge of the reality of the kingdom that we ignore, because functioning through those principles would be unnatural for us?... read more

.april 10-12

.fusiondary

fusiondary is a festival for all fusions around europe. statistics of this year: cca 450 people, 5 countries, 12 concerts. read more .... this is a slovak blog, but you can use the language bar and read google translation (sorry)

.april 24

.fusion #5

their first concert together with the first official rehearsal went well. pictures can tell o lot, so visit their fb album

that would be it! 

for now :)

Seventh out of ten

Yesterday I got an email from a girl asking what would be the most important prerequisites

 for starting a new Fusion.

Good question.

When you go to our TCK web, you'll find 10 steps for a successful Fusion launch.

The first one says it all - if I don't have a burden for the lost teenagers, 

I don't even need to continue.

These people in Rača got it. After the second training ...

... there is step #7 ahead of us - preparation of the first rehearsal.

I'm excited because this means that in one week we launch Fusion there!

Till then, still lots of water will flow under the bridge 

and we need to take care of many things.

Just like today, while I was working on some details,

our Fusion students were creating and rehearsing a funny skit 

for the opening concert.

What a huge smile on my face and thankfulness in my heart!

We didn't even exist 2 and a half years ago and look at them...

...they are helping with the launch of a new Fusion in Bratislava!

Now it's Rača's turn, and then,

the next one will arise!

Fusion as a dream job?

Working with Fusion sounds like a dream job. 

It could be true.

Especially if this statement is based on fb pictures. You can think that we spend our days just hanging out with bunch of teenagers and having fun. We sing, we laugh and most likely we eat.

There is so much more work behind all of this, but I am just going to hope that you believe me.

Because instead of listing all proofs and details of what I'm doing, I would rather focus on what Fusion does to me.

Look at this picture.

Or this one.

You and me see the same thing. But I dare to say, you don't make the 'awww' sound  like I do right now!

These people are so precious. I have the privilege to know stories behind those faces. I see a boy who came blushing, trying to hide himself in a crowd and now he is able to stand in front of others and sing a solo. Or a girl who went from being able to play only few guitar chords to writing and performing her own songs.

Doing Fusion means getting out of your comfort zone! Being an extrovert doesn't matter in here. We don't like to try out some things as well.

Conducting? (Never!) Sound? (What is this cable for?) Admonish someone? (I'm here just to smile at people.)

And yet...

Fusion teaches you a lot about parenthood. You feel so proud of "kids" and there are moments when you would like to kill them. You worry, you sacrifice your free time, money or energy and they don't even notice. :)

Fusion is a team work. It's like in that African proverb: "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." However working in team might be difficult, it's always worth it. I call it a character growth booster. I've learned so much about myself and my reactions because of the interaction with our team members. It makes me aware of my natural tendency to 'my will be done' which is quite humbling. But also it brings joy when I discover that my gifts fit in and enrich others.

Fusion is God's work.  You can invest in people but you can't change them. He can and He does. Seeing Him in action is huuuuge! My faith grows, so as my desire to see even bigger things!

To sum it up....Fusion has really some good effects on me, so I guess, I could call it a dream job :)

The ultimate gift

On Sunday we nailed it! :)

One of our best concerts so far!

I am very proud of each and every one of  our students and leaders

and

happy that we could share the good news of Christmas

and that is

...

the ultimate gift

...

God gave himself to us

nicely wrapped in manger.

Even if people believe in God, they don't think He would care for them

He must be busy with so many other things.

What a mistake!!!

Bible tells us:

"For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given."

Even in the Xmas story you find how angels were singing :

Glory to God in the highest

and

peace among men in whom he is well pleased.

...

Why child?

I don't know, it's part of  the mystery,

but definitely he knows what it feels like to be human.

Why manger?

It's an evidence that people didn't recognize him even back then.

There was not enough space.

"He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him."

...

I love getting gifts during Christmas.

But if I left them under the tree, I would miss the point.

Also this ultimate gift can stay unwrapped.

- little baby Jesus in manger - 

- little baby Jesus as part of tradition - 

...

He did everything,

now it's our turn.

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name,

he gave right to become children of God."

When being single is not so cool anymore

Until 25 you are safe.

You are young, most likely a student and “that” gives you a right to enjoy life, travel and try new things.

28 is also still ok.

They look at you as a young independent women engaging herself in many different areas.

But then...

… your traveling and other excesses start losing its magic. Your freedom is not so cool anymore. For your birthday besides health, people wish you happiness that consists of finding 'the One'. And comments like “I don't understand how such a nice girl like you is still alone”, occur more frequently.

Life happens. Friends are getting married, giving birth to children.

And in the midst of these changes I try to find my place. 

Not that I don't know who I am but it affects me as well.

I am single. That's a fact.

I would like to get married. That's a fact too. I don't consider it to be something special. The psychology itself acknowledges it as a natural desire in a specific age – you are not here only to receive but you want to give, create and share (of course not only when it comes to starting a new family!).

So?

Here are some things I do:

1. First of all I admit that I have such a desire.

2. I enjoy a special position in lives of my nieces and nephew. The reality of me not running after my own kids makes me a cool auntie who is fully there for them. I am aware of this special period and I want to make the best of it.

3. I don't drive nails or drill into walls. I believe I could, I just don't want to. Not knowing how to do certain things reminds me that I need a man's help and that it is ok to ask for it. Therefore shelves on my wall were mounted by my father.

4. Everytime I see a changed FB status of people I know (...is in relationship/...got engaged..../...got married), I rejoice in it. It is great and I wish them all the best!
   
   
5. I go to God. I share my heart with him on a good day and especially when the bad one arrives and I have tendency to pity myself. As a matter of fact He alone created me and knows me better than I know myself. No one (so not even a spouse) can live in such way that they wouldn't hurt their beloved ones no matter how hard they try. Therefore I am fully aware that the whole 'prince on a white horse' idea must be put into context of reality.

Married women often tell us, the single ones, how much time we have and that we don't know how lucky we are. I am sure they are right to some extent. On the other hand they also don't know how it feels like to be older and still single. Everything has its pros and cons. Always.

I've read about our tendency to complain over things we already cannot do, instead of being thankful for what we can do in that very season of our lives.

It is a challenge to be content!

That would be my sixth point. I want to start mornings with giving thanks for my status of being single and ask if or how I can make the world more beautiful today.

And after all, we shouldn't be so serious about our statuses, both of them are just temporary. We cannot take them to eternity.

.on tour again

.what?

EXIT tour is a “lecture&concert” tour at high schools in cities. Lecturers are the people who personally experienced topic they talk about (aids, addiction, broken and/or healthy relationships, music, dance, ...) and at the same time they are relevant and able to get students interested.

.who?

There are several teams cooperating on the project: the Training Center Kompas, local churches, schools, parents, local governments, lecturers, a music band from abroad, and volunteers. 

.why?

Because the young people in our cities matter to us! On our website you can read how our goal is not just to teach the students on the given topic but also to present them with solutions for specific life challenges. We believe that the ultimate solution is Jesus Christ who reconciled us with God by giving his own life for us. Only He can fulfil our desire for peace and give sense/meaning to our lives.

This week we are visiting schools in a beautiful city called Žilina. Today it looked like this:

lectures /ACET and FUSION/

fun in the school gym

discussions

music of course

afternoon activities

making new friends

You can follow us on our FB and see how we are progressing throughout this week.

We ask and thank you for your prayers!

Fusion summer 2014

Before I start writing about the new schol year, I would like us to look back at summer with its stories that make it so beautiful. 

Bratislava

Music, fun, hard work, survival, concert, rehearsals, finding new talents, discussions, God, labyrinth, students, drama, volunteers, energy, dance, life change, questions, joy, friendship….all these words can be used to explain a Fusion camp. And yet, it’s so hard to describe it.

What makes it so special? ...... Continue ....

Banska Bystrica

One of the student’s highlights of the camp is always Survival, which is an all day hike in the woods. Some of the best memories are when a group .... you'll find out in the Upside down article.

Senec

First kick to do the Fusion minicamp came from the students who already experienced Fusion camp at the beginning of summer. They were so excited and felt sorry that we didn’t have one in Senec too. So we decided to have a 2 day taster of a camp. Great! Sounds so easy, right? .... you can read more at our TCK blog.