Answered Prayers

Dearest Friends and Prayer Partners,

It is coming up on six months since I arrived in Slovakia. It seems like I have been here forever and no time at all, all at the same time. It is hard to believe all that God has done in that time. He provided me with a wonderful apartment, provided me with a language teacher, has allowed me to become a part of the church here, and be used in so many different ways. Even since my last prayer letter, He has been working abundantly and I’d like to praise Him for what He has done:

• My visa has been approved, and I now have residency granted through the end of September 2025.

• We finished our church retreat, and it was a tremendous blessing to all the families in the church.

• Our VBS went very well. All of our church kids came, and we even had a few visitors. We also just had a meeting to begin planning for next year’s VBS.

• The Kisarts spent several days here in Kežmarok as they were traveling back to Ukraine. He is Ukrainian, and she is American. They had spent a couple of months in the US and are now back in Ukraine where they are faithfully serving the Lord.

• I have begun being able to have conversations in Slovak and am understanding most of what people are saying around me.

• For the first time, I finished reading through the Bible in Slovak. When I started, it was a struggle to understand, but now I understand it almost as well as when I read in English.

• I was able to share the gospel with Soňa (my Slovak teacher) this past week in Slovak. It was simple, and I couldn’t say all that I wanted, but it was still the gospel. Please pray that God will use it to work in her heart.

• I’ve been able to join an online Slovak class where I’m interacting with both the teacher and six other students on a weekly basis. They are living in Slovakia, England, and the US, and all of them are unsaved.

• We’ve had a new couple start coming to the church, and they have been faithful for about two months now. Don and Dávid have been meeting with them almost weekly and they will be baptized soon.

The Lord has also been working throughout the time I have been here to confirm that Slovakia is where He wants me–both now and in the future. Please be praying with me that He would continue to be working in all the details, including the timing of all the steps that need to be completed before I can come back full-time.

There are some additional items that I would like for you to pray with me about.

First, during the month of September, when the normal teachers asked for a break, I have been asked to teach the children on Friday nights. The past couple of Fridays, Oli has been the only one there (she is almost four). The original idea was that it would be an English club, but when I tried to tell the story of Moses in English with a felt board, she didn’t understand it. I attempted to explain it in Slovak but wasn’t able to. Because of this, this past Friday, I got a Bible story book in Slovak and read from it the story of Noah. I had practiced at home and it only took me twenty minutes to read the story, but during the class, it took the entire hour because of questions she had, and she started getting tired of reading towards the end. Please pray that I would have wisdom with what to do the next couple of Fridays.

Second, in October, LeAnne and Don are going to be traveling to America for their son’s (David) wedding. LeAnne will be leaving on the third and Don will be leaving the week of the twenty first. They will both be coming back on November first. Please pray for safety while traveling as well as for all the preparations for the wedding.

Third, while LeAnne is gone, I have been asked to lead the ladies’ Bible study. It will meet twice during that time. Please pray that God will give me what He wants me to teach and that He would use me to accomplish His purposes.

Fourth, the Bible Institute is starting up again this month. Please pray that God will give direction to the leaders on what He wants to accomplish and that they will follow His direction. Please also pray that the hearts of those who come will be tender and open to the Word of God.

Finally, please be praying that this new season will bring new possibilities and opportunities. Please be praying that I and the Christians here in Slovakia would have our eyes open to see the needs of the people around us and be bold in proclaiming Christ to those who don’t have a relationship with Him. 

Thank you for your faithful partnership in the work the Lord is doing here in Slovakia!

In Christ,

Shae Zabel