Battling the Language...

Habakkuk 2:14 - my first Slovene memory verse

Another question I'm commonly asked is how good I am at languages/ am I learning Slovene yet? My answer is always that I'm ok but not as good as my sister. I shouldn't really compare myself as she studied languages at university...

As Slovenia is not a very large country there aren't very many resources in England. Most of the progress will hopefully be made when I actually move to Slovenia. Part of the plan is to take lessons in Ljubljana. In the meantime I use the only app that actually caters for English speakers learning Slovene - Memrise. As with all things the more time I put into it the better I get.

That being said I think Slovene is a very hard language to learn. The hardest part I've come across so far is that they use the dual form. This means that verbs have different endings if one is talking about two people. For example to say 'we have' could be: midva imava (masculine dual), medve imava (feminine dual), mi imamo (masculine plural) or me imamo (feminine plural). The same is true for you or they!

Language lesson over you'll be glad to know! I have been very blessed to have been sent a Slovene Bible which has been a great tool.

I now use this as my main Bible at church and in Bible studies etc. (I do also keep an English Bible close by). Not only has it helped me start to understand the language in a practical way but it has given me a new insight on different Bible translations. I am starting to have enough understanding that I am able to pick out differences between the English and Slovene texts and so gives a broader view of what is being said. This Sunday was a bit of a triumph for me. It was the first time I was able to read a verse in Slovene before it had been read out in English and understand what was written there. It was made all the more interesting as the English differed in its translation!

This blog post has been very focussed on a topic I know is not as fascinating to everyone as much as me. People ask me the question and start to glaze over slightly if I go into too much detail but this is going to be a massive part of my new life. I should be able to survive in Slovenia using English but as someone helpfully summarised it, I won't reach many people that way!

The language is the culture and I fully intend to embrace it as much as I can! In the meantime I will continue to battle the language and with God's help I will learn the language and people will be able to understand me!

Wait, So You're Not Going to Slovakia...

A common conversation I've had since I became interested in Slovenia is where it is exactly. A lot of people seem to get it confused with Slovakia or at least think that the countries border each other. It probably hasn't helped that I did go to Slovakia in 2013 and 2014 to serve on an English camp for teenagers. 

I thought that I would focus this post on the country of itself to help those who want to know more about the situation I will be going into.

As shown on the above map, Slovenia is on the Mediterranean coast and borders Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia. It is shaped roughly like a chicken with the capital, Ljubljana, in the centre of the country. It has a population of about 2 million people, 57% of whom identify as Catholic with just 0.1% Evangelical Christians. 

Slovenia was part of Communist Yugoslavia until it declared independence in 1991. It joined the EU in 2004 and the Eurozone in 2007.

School lesson over! Slovenia is a beautiful and interesting country. Not many places are known as both a Catholic and a former Communist country. When people talk about the church they are always referring to the Catholic church. Shrines such as the one below are common sights across the country. 

Street shrine near Jeruzalem

Evangelical Christianity is looked upon as a cult and viewed with suspicion. It is a country that needs much prayer but we know that God can work in all situations. I don't believe in coincidences and I'm struck by the fact that in Operation World the date for praying for Slovenia is 27th October which happens to be my birthday!

Psalm 96 has been an important Psalm for me as I have been seeking God's will for my life. v3-6 state: 

Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

These verses remind me of who is in control over all things. God is leading me to work in Slovenia and I pray that He uses me to declare his glory among the nations. 

I can't do this without both prayer and financial support. I know that God will provide all the things I need to serve Him wherever He leads me. Please let me know if you can help me in either way, to copy a phrase, every little helps. The task is daunting but God is big and will be with me every step of the way.