H2O Through the Eyes of a Work Team

I don't use this sight to promote many things. I want this to be about what my life is like here in Poland. Recently, my life has intersected with our new camp facility, H2O. We are at a point where we can not go much further without help from people who are willing to give of their time and muscles!

I am excited that the Polish churches have lead in this project this last spring. We are asking for teams to come form North America this next year to help us get the camp ready to open! The following is a video that one of the work teams did after they spent part of this summer with us at the camp. Watch it, pray about it, and see if God would like for you to help us out with H2O's Extreme Makeover!



If you would like to, please contact Kasia Vincent via my comment page. I will get you to her!

Enjoy the new work that God is doing in Poland!

Which Way Do You Turn?

Have you ever found yourself looking for something or someone and spent a good patch of time knowing where you need to be, but cannot get there?

I had that experience Saturday as I was trying to meet with one the women at the church. I knew the area where she lives, and then, as I was following her directions, thought that I had forgotten her neighborhood.

Lydia speaks less English than I speak Polish. I called her to get directions. Hey, directions in Polish are not that hard. I called and she said (in Polish) "Go 3 lights and turn right at the 3rd intersection." Okay, so I did. I turned right after 3 lights. I turned right into the parking lot of a Catholic church. Hmmmmm . . . I know that was not it. I called and she said, "Oh! Aleeeeese, turn right, turn right! On Konserka" Which was not the name of the street because I could not understand her accent with her nervous taking. "Oh, oh, mission impossible, mission impossible!" (I was thinking "Too much Tom Cruise for you, my dear!") She said over and over until I totally cracked up!

It took me an hour of poor Lydia calling, smsing, yelling, and laughing. She was nervous about me getting lost forever. I knew where I was, just not her street. So, I found a map, went to a gas station and asked the gas attendant, in broken Polish, for directions. (I figured out what the name of the street is, but can not remember now. . . something like Kominka) Within 5 minutes, I found it.

What was the problem? She gave me directions coming from the church and and I was driving to the church! So her right was my left! HA!!!! I was giggling the whole time knowing that the problem had to be something that simple. Mission Impossible! Mission Impossible!

When I got to her door, she hugged me and thanked God that I got there safely. Instead of saying, "Aleese!", she said, "Mission Impossible!!!" I think it is now may be my new name. :) We spent the next 1 1/2 hours talking and laughing and continuing our language misunderstandings! It was a great night!

This is a story that I will cherish. Not only because it was a funny experience, but also because it reminded me that I need to be at the correct starting point, in order for directions to make sense. Oh, the little lessons we learn . . .

:)

God's little ways of blessing us!

In my last post I talked about living well through the struggle of acclimation. Today God gave me a little boost. This holiday season, I am going to try and bring a bit of Denver here this Thanksgiving by attempting my Grandmother's family Black Beans and Rice.

Today, I did a dry run since I have NEVER made them before and when I took the first bite I felt like I was at home in my Gram's kitchen eating one of my favorite treats that she would make for us. My tummy is full and I am grateful that even during this tough time, God "light" from home and I can enjoy it in my new home. He gave at wonderful gift to me today and I am very grateful.

I am seeing that all of those cooking lessons that Grams gave me through the years are starting to pay off!!!

Black beans and Rice, can't get much better than that. . . . well, only if you drink some Bongo Billy's River Blend Coffee with it! Yum!

I hate that when it happens!

Sometimes fingers type what they want to and if you do not check them, well, then you have the wrong scripture reference. It is HEBREWS 4: 14-16.

Thanks Crystal!

Time to Cowboy-Up!

When I was down in Palmer Lake, Colorado two years ago, doing my missions training, our teachers did a skit about the process of culture shock and acclimation. I watched and understood that there is a period of time where you just want to go home and never return even though you love the country that you are in. You cannot find anything good in the country in which you live. You get critical and everywhere else seems better. I have been looking back over the past few months, trying to put a finger on the emotions and thoughts which have been going through my head. I am seeing this stage of homesickness and wanting to give it all up. This is a time when I must depend on ONE whom I am here for. He is my all in all, even though I long to be home in Colorado. It is time to cowboy-up!

I love living here in Poland. It is a land full of people who love and long for Truth. Many just do not realize what or Whom they seek. There are many challenges through living here and walking day by day with my Lord.

I am teaching an English speaking Bible study and we are reading through Colossians. Last week's study hit me between the eyes. I have always acknowledged that Jesus understands my homesickness and my culture shock, but it was all intellectual. Last week, it hit me straight to the heart. I "saw" how much He gave up to come to a culture which lives religiously, yet does not truly understand the love and grace that He offers. He understands, He feels, He is Grace and Mercy because of what He lived and suffered through. Hebrews 5:14-16 came to mind this last week and I am walking the the steps of my Lord and Master.

One of my teammates spoke at our last team meeting a few weeks ago and she said that she is learning that she must live fully where ever she is. That resonated with me. I have been living these past few months trying to be in both places. It is not that it is bad to miss home. I do, but when it conflicts with living a full life where you are, then there is a problem. I have caught my thoughts living back home. Wondering how the youth ministry is going. How my friends are doing. What is happening day to do in my family's lives. How my new niece or nephew is doing.

The stage where I am right now is about at the same place in that skit at the training center.

I am coming up on my 2 year milestone in January and Thanksgiving and Christmas is coming up and I will be here. (I was in Denver last year.) Will I celebrate fully here? I want to! (Mom, you will laugh.) I am going to deck my place out as much as I can afford for Christmas this year! I am going to celebrate the birth of Jesus!

It is time to cowboy-up. To depend more and more on my Lord and Savior. To fully live here in Poland. To jump into my language even more than what I have been doing. God has been faithful! He has met needs beyond my expectations! He has given me courage to go and do things on my own without anyone to translate (I even translated for a English speaker with a Polish woman this last Sunday!) and to feel okay when I mess up. I have been laughing at myself a lot lately! Lots of language laughs!

God is Good! He is my Refuge and my Peace!

Sorry, Prince Charming Not Included . . .

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Ah, to be in Germany! It was GREAT! Last Thursday, Krista and I jumped in my car and headed for the open road! I can see why it is called the "Romantic Road". It is quite charming and romance can be felt! No guys though, so Krista and I took to our cameras and shot and shot! :)

More than the trip it self, I was able to relax and be linguistically baffled with someone instead of being the one left behind in the language realm. It was good to have a few days of that. We were pampered by our German hotels and loved the breakfasts and breads!

On our way back from Neuschwanstein Castle, we stopped in Munich for my quest . . . STARBUCKS! We found it and spent a few hours just being normal North American girls reading and sipping good ol' joe! I felt relaxed and at peace. The only bummer was that the Christmas blend did not come out until the next day and the lady would not budge on selling me a bag early. . . oh well, I got my Moca Java! :)

We then stopped in Dresden to see a friend of ours and I got to see how much the city has changed! I did not even recognize it! I was there in 1991 shortly after the wall came down and most of the old palace section was still bombed out, not much more than ruins. Back then, our tour guide said that they would never rebuild to remember what happens when the wrong people are in charge. I guess that is now a distant memory now, because it is all either restored or being restored. It was beautiful and yet there is not real remembrance of what happened there. I hope history does not repeat itself. . . Anyway, we found a nice little Chinese restaurant and had a great dinner! It was great fun to sit there for hours and talk and eat good food. Good until a few hours later when I got food poisoning. . . I will not go into detail, but it was an ALL night experience and Krista has to drive all the way home. I did not even get out of the car to do pottery shopping! For those of you who know me, you know that I was VERY sick to miss out on pottery shopping! :) I am feeling much better now though. Tea and crackers do wonders for stomach that can not hold anything.

The whole time of our trip, I was reminded of how much my Heavenly Father loves me how I am His precious child, His princess! His glory and His home for me is much GRANDER than what I saw and yet, do I live that way every day: living the life of the daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords? It was a great time of enjoyment and of ponder!

Thank you Lord for this wonderful gift!