My Polish Classmates

It was a good group to learn with. We were all at different levels and that was good. The group was from many different countries: Japan, England, Latvia, Russian, Egypt and France. I felt like a mom sometimes since most of them were young enough and had so much energy! I learned so many things during this time and not all of it was Polish. I was reminded how important it is for youth to have someone/something to live and die for. If you don't have it, than life is aimless and empty. You could see that in some of the students at this school. It was in their eyes and I wanted to sit down with them and find out their stories.

I hope to blog a few more things about what God has taught me over this past month later, but for now all I can say is "Thank you, Lord for giving me strength and courage to finish and finish well!"


PS I scored higher than I thought I would on my test. :)

Finishing Polish and a Pondering Bear

I am done with class except for Monday's "good-bye" class. My test yesterday was well, in one word . . . "masakra"! (disaster) At least that is what I felt as I walked out. I got a bit of Polish culture which I am not sure I like. We were given only 1 hour to answer 132 questions. Two questions were writing multiple sentences and writing a letter consisting of 80-100 words! Time ran out as I had only 20 words on the paper. I walked out feeling defeated and depressed.

Right after the written part of the test I went to the café to drink some coffee and calm my nerves. I still had the oral part of my test to go. I needed strength and courage from my Heavenly Father. As I drank my cappuccino, I got on my iPod to read some words of encouragement from Colassians. As I read, my heart captured chapter 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." This last month has been for HIM! Not my teachers, my fellow students, my teammates or even my supporters back home. I asked God to forgive me if there was even a hint of wanting to please any of them rather than HIM. With new perspective, I was ready to go on to the portion of my test. I have NEVER had an oral test before, so I was not sure what that was all going to be about. It turned out to be much better than my written test.

You might ask, Alice what is that picture for? Well, it displays what my heart says. When it all comes down to it, God is what matters. Worshiping Him is what I want to do! Even the bears sit and worship Him for the wonders of creation. God created me for his pleasure and to worship HIM!

One test, one disappointment, but ONE GOD who loves me beyond my understanding. He sees my heart, not my performance in Polish class.

I will look upon this picture though and remember WHO created language and worship Him as I speak this new tongue.

My act of worship will be speaking Polish as much as I can!

Yes! There is Salsa in Poland!

Just when I thought I would have to go another year with no REAL Picante Sauce, I run into this little Mexican restaurant in POLAND of all places! It was a great little place in Cieszyn, Poland where I am doing my classes. I took the afternoon to get a good meal and study when I ran into this little place. It was complete with chips, chimichanga, yellow rice and hot salsa! The music was Mexican mariachi which only played 12 songs over and over, but it was great to have something a bit familiar.

This is just another way that God has been taking care of me in the midst of language course.
The other day as I was driving home, I realized that I have not taken multiple classes like this for almost 20 years! No wonder my head is ready to explode! :)

Well, tomorrow (Saturday) is the big test. I am going in seeing what I have learned, not what I can stuff in my head at the last minute. My teachers even encouraged that. They don't want high grades, but people who will be speaking Polish!

Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement! They mean more than you know!

Boli Mnie Głowa!

You may ask why Alice has not updated in such a long time. . . well, my head hurts! I am so full of Polish words and phrases which I can say half the time and remember the meaning the other half. It has been a good time but also a frustrating time. For the past 3 days I have gone to class only out of obedience to God and why I am here. I am drinking Polish "water" out of a fire hose right now and my head is swimming!

Today, I think everyone felt this way. Few were understanding the teachers and the teacher's normal enthusiasm, well, just was not there. We are all tired and we still have another two weeks! Ahh!!!

God has been good though. Even today as I was feeling lost and sorry for myself, I was begging our Father for mercy. At break time, I was praying to remember the words that I am trying to learn and just can not keep in my head when my teacher from last semester asked to sit with me. She asked me how I was doing and I answered honestly, "smutny."(sad). She smiled and told me (in Polish) that all of her students were feeling that way today. Her siting down with me and speaking to me in Polish and my understanding it was God's mercy just moments after I cried for it. He has done something similar each time I have asked. One day I even left class, got into my car and cried tears of frustration. As I drove back to Skoczów, where I am staying, (about 20 minutes) a calm came on me, not peace, but calm. The next morning I drove the same way and the calm was replaced with peace. It was the first day that I has considered not going to class, but I did. Class was not easy, but it also was not "masakra!" (disaster!) It has been a wonderful, yet stretching time for me.

Next month I am not doing any Polish classes at all. My head needs time to settle and I need to use what I am learning. I am trying to find people in the church who will be willing to meet with me each day and just let me talk, or try to. :)

Please pray for me to stop listening to the lie that I need to get this all now in order to be a good steward of God's money. I am struggling with the the thought that I have to learn in big bites when everyone here says I need to take smaller ones. :) One day I am fine and the next, I hear the whispers. Please pray that I only listen to the voice of my Shepherd!

Is it or Isn't it??

The other day I was at our mall. It is a great mall and it gets new little shops in all the time. Guess what I thought when I saw this sign from a far? Look at the "ee's" and tell me what went through my mind . . .

Worship In Midst of Celebration!

This picture will stay with me for a very long time. While everyone was having fun singing worship songs, one of our campers was moved to make her worship special. I have been watching this young lady struggle and fight and release her pain and hurt. I don't speak Polish well enough for her to share with me, but one of the Polish adults was with her the whole way. Tonight was a night of surrender for her.

It was also Gospel night. The Holy Spirit was there in the room. I am not sure if anyone made a decision, but there were SIGNIFICANT talks going on! Please pray!

Tomorrow is the last day. I am also doing the first few days of my Polish class. It has been hard, but good! God is GOOD!