During the second week of August, I went on an unofficial missions trip to assist the New Hope International offices in Bratislava, Slovakia. I had visited the New Hope offices and staff there in September 1997 and looked forward to coming back sometime if there were a way I could be helpful. Before going I discussed via e-mail my interests with Juraj Sandor, the director of New Hope's Slovakia outreach, Nova Nadej Slovenska, and how I could be useful to the operation there. He wrote back suggesting several areas where I could be helpful during my stay.

On Monday, the day following my arrival, I met with Vierina "Vierka" Sandor (Juraj's sister) and two other staff members at the Nova Nadej Slovenska offices. Juraj had to be away from the office on a family emergency, but Vierka and the other New Hope co-workers were very friendly and gracious in taking the time to talk with me about their operation. They were in the process of preparing for one of their camps to take place later in the month, so we spent a significant amount of time talking about the Peer Group (Rovesnik) Program, for which the week at camp was designed.

New Hope Slovakia began this program in 1998, and through it invites teenagers to meetings, somewhat like those of Young Life in the States, where the New Hope workers get to know students in some of the city's junior high and high schools and identify students with spiritual maturity and a willingness to help their fellow students. Once this set of students is identified, New Hope trains them for three weeks in interactive skills in general and in the particular skills of counseling peers in the areas of sex, values, drugs, materialism, the use of spare time, developing friendships, and having good values. The whole Peer Group program lasts two years, and there is also a version run for church youth workers.

These children then participate in biweekly meetings--again with a Young Life format-where they mingle with their peers and offer help in a low-key way. Adult leaders of the Rovesnik program offer Bible studies to participants who are interested. Around the Peer Group Program is growing up a dance class (led by Vierka), a skateboard park, and some other organized activities. Some of these are planned as after-school activities; some are planned as evening or weekend activities. The Peer Group Program also makes it possible for participants to go to camps during the summer months. One of the most fun things done at the camp is that Juraj will work with the participants to develop a play based on a Bible story. They campers will write the play, make the costumes and props, and stage it for other campers and adults who participate. I viewed several videos about Peer Group camp experiences, and it was useful to see how these camps were run, as we at NPC consider the possibility of being involved with the development and implementation of similar New Hope camps in Moldova.

The Peer Group Program seems to be run very well, and in fact it was given an award by the Slovak government for being the best social program for 2004. During our discussions, the Peer Group leaders enumerated some ways where Americans could be helpful to the program. They identified several types of items for youth activities, which I am planning along with Mitch Gore to collect and send from interested people here at NPC and elsewhere. There may also be some aspects of the program on which we can follow up through the Alternative Gifts at Christmas Market.

I also visited the Caspian Club, which is New Hope's program for at-risk young people from 8-16 years old. Named after a prince from the Chronicles of Narnia, the Caspian Club is a program that operates in an office in a Bratislava tenement on the other side of town from where the Rovesnik program is run. The coordinator for this project is Marina Zajacova, and she has a staff of about seven. We had a nice discussion as she explained how the Club operated. There are rooms for meetings and for doing art, etc., and while there are programs available at certain times, children may come and go as they wish during the hours the program facilitators are at the office. There are rules for being at the club, such as no drugs, alcohol, fighting, etc., and if a child shows a minimal level of interest, one of the leaders of the Club will invite the child to participate in some enjoyable Bible-related craft or story.

There was even a regular helper for craft projects--a lady who assists the children in making simple plates and mugs with their clay. Marina explained that these items would sometimes be fired in a kiln, painted, and sold. There was a possibility that this lady would be around when I was there, but she apparently was on vacation. The Club is largely focused on providing a non-threatening, relaxing environment for anyone who stops by. Sometimes mothers will come with their children, but more often the children will come by themselves, and it is often clear from observing or interacting with the children that they come from a difficult socioeconomic environment. The Caspian Club takes this orientation-often expressed as apprehension about what goes on at the Club-into account in planning activities and interacting with the children. In addition to the activities which occur in these rooms, there is also the possibility of going to camp.

The Caspian Club staff, like those who work with the Peer Group Program, also requested some teaching and activity materials, which could be donated from our church. It is possible that the Club may move to a new location, and if this occurs, it would be worthwhile to see what this space is like, as the new facility might be able to use gifts in kind, such as a small refrigerator or a portable basketball goal.

I enjoyed my stay in Bratislava and the time interacting with the Nova Nadej Slovenska staff. I was glad to see how the operation was running, especially since I had not visited a New Hope office overseas since 1997, and the fine programs the staff is running there were further encouragement that our partnership with New Hope in Moldova holds much promise.

Miley uses the opportunity of being in Bratislava in 2004 to get advice from the President of the Slovak Lutheran Youth Organization, Dusan Sandor (pictured here with his wife Zuzana).	Miley confers with Nova Nadej Assistant Director Vierka Sandor (right) and a Slovak friend (left) on Rovesnik and Caspian Club programs programs during Miley’s visit to the New Hope Bratislava office in August 2004. With Vierka is her son Mateus.
One young man at a Rovesnik program summer camp takes full advantage of the opportunity to be away from the concrete and asphalt of his urban life.	Teenagers of the Rovesnik Peer Counseling Program enjoy some team building exercises at a camp outside Bratislava.
A small section of Petrzhalka, the huge communist-era housing complex on the west bank of the Danube where many families live who participate in the Nova Nadej Caspian Club programs.
Teenagers at the Caspian Club share a light moment with one another. New Hope Slovakia plays a key role in offering such youth healthy opportunities for fellowship.	Young people from Petrzhalka enjoy a game of foosball at the Caspian Club.
Young people at the Caspian Club enjoy making music with several turntables.	Young men participating in a Caspian Club activity enjoy wholesome fellowship in a caring environment.