tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96979442024-03-13T10:03:45.433+01:00Alice In PolandUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger483125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-13542879944072261402013-09-25T18:11:00.000+02:002013-09-25T18:11:03.028+02:00A NEW ERA, A NEW BLOG<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey all! If you are wondering where I am, I have decided to conclude this blog of over 9 years so that I can fully go onto the next chapter of my life. I have loved this blog and hope you enjoyed journeying with me as I prepared for, lived in and returned from Poland. What a journey it has been! Thank you for joining me and I hope that you will switch and join me with my next chapter of life. Come and journey with me again as I live in "Alice's Wonderings"!<br />
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Here is the link: <a href="http://aliceswonderings.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Alice's Wonderings </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-51518197651784975862013-07-01T12:56:00.000+02:002013-07-01T12:56:00.706+02:00One Ring to Rule them all!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YwmFENryAG70NgeaKKskU4nQXCxZI4MHHYg4G32M7SGfciEV7RoT-Nw-SKyTtFm1BpLOLkW35CL9OsVBYJEjjMB45hWezS8jrKy8a-deHZrrI3OQvnn2-uaLcy39vVPN0YtjQQ/s971/LOTRdvds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YwmFENryAG70NgeaKKskU4nQXCxZI4MHHYg4G32M7SGfciEV7RoT-Nw-SKyTtFm1BpLOLkW35CL9OsVBYJEjjMB45hWezS8jrKy8a-deHZrrI3OQvnn2-uaLcy39vVPN0YtjQQ/s320/LOTRdvds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
For seven year, Jacob Hash and I have shared the love of sci-fi, fantasy, action/adventure and super-hero movies! To celebrate our seven years of movies, conversations, discussions and even arguments over these wonderful stories, we are doing a Lord of the Rings marathon! We will both be leaving Poland in the same week for different US destinations. <br />
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It has been a GREAT seven years watching Jacob grow up from a little boy into a young man and leader! I will truly miss my times of watching movies and sharing life with him! It has been a great time for me to be Auntie Alice!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-2307925533907902532013-06-25T11:15:00.001+02:002013-06-25T11:15:30.446+02:00What was a pain, turned into JOY!Okay, so we all have to do things we don't want to, right? One of my most unfavorite things here in Poland is to deal with the government and to make sure that I am still a legal resident. Don't want "illegal" to be anywhere on my papers. I am leaving in August, only 5 days after my residence card expires, so I have to leave the full European Union and the associated countries around them. My options were Ukraine or Serbia. . . hum. . . I guess I will take Ukraine for 200zl. My last time in the Ukraine due to a visa issue was good because of the wonderful missionary family I got to meet, but this time, I was not sure what to do since I wanted to do it cheap and fast! I have too much to do to have to take a trip just to get a stamp. <div><br></div><div>So, my dear friend Emilka said that she would love to go to Lviv and show me around! Really? Is it really that pretty? (I was not impressed with Kiev at all.) So I said, okay. She arranged for us to take the bus, an 11 hour bus ride. . . it would have been 5 hours in the car, but I trust her! I was SO happy we did! </div><div><br></div><div>So many fun adventures we had and she was a GREAT travel buddy! We walked the streets of Lviv, looked at churches, museums, an open air market, and cafe hopping for 3 days! Our conversations were filled with grace and deep thought as well as fun and lots of laughter! We also were loved very well by the Williams (JV Staff in Lviv) I am very sad that Emilka and I did not take more trips before, but I will cherish this one for a very long time! Thank you Emilka!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3eJmXPWpUftmBcbig2-3zXrvjIGoHYherdHzsyAX1j4Dy1LWQkEU3yUHfbpE9YRASsw55YUfDpsokRXmIikanVw3NzJTP7QAgC-XeZdsWaSjepixTUxjtwq_g9FUhFl-qFEcgw/s640/blogger-image-1800756566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3eJmXPWpUftmBcbig2-3zXrvjIGoHYherdHzsyAX1j4Dy1LWQkEU3yUHfbpE9YRASsw55YUfDpsokRXmIikanVw3NzJTP7QAgC-XeZdsWaSjepixTUxjtwq_g9FUhFl-qFEcgw/s640/blogger-image-1800756566.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> This is Emilka having a very good "Apple" idea!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11-j6_HzMLdYVhrf8vjfVnFcxBQlpEzYJZOdvYqcEjFHFspmUdAaBHUKjvc510rmAsJDDeXx5QPqKv6p0cwpfN_gWRXu671zMzTyi-OcyNpfIydmPi1y6HQF8U0QUIFFSEjPXGw/s640/blogger-image--1845579719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11-j6_HzMLdYVhrf8vjfVnFcxBQlpEzYJZOdvYqcEjFHFspmUdAaBHUKjvc510rmAsJDDeXx5QPqKv6p0cwpfN_gWRXu671zMzTyi-OcyNpfIydmPi1y6HQF8U0QUIFFSEjPXGw/s640/blogger-image--1845579719.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> I cannot believe that I took this with my iPhone4 ! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> Cannot wait to get it on my computer to enhance it and then later print and frame it!</div><br></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-78162978884195170592013-06-11T14:17:00.002+02:002013-06-11T15:57:14.580+02:00God Raising Up Leaders To Lead!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wiktoria (bottom): One of our leaders investing her life in Marta and Sali (bottom to top)</td></tr>
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What a wonderful movement God has started here in Poland! I smile and thank Him for His love for this wonderful country and for the lives of young people here. When I arrived in Poland seven years ago, I saw a country that was dark and hopeless. The church was small and young people were leaving to escape. Today, although some of that has not changed, it is not as dark and hopeless as it was when I got here. There is a new emerging spirit here in Poland, a small yet powerful paradigm shift that is starting to grow. I have been able to see the transformation of many young people who are now serving our Lord in various capacities.</div>
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The work in Poland is <strong>NOT</strong> finished, but it has become clear to me, through prayer, thought, and conversation with many people, that my job here in Poland has come to an end. It is with <strong>deep</strong> emotion that I write this. I love Poland, I love the youth here, but I also know that this chapter of my life is finished here, and there is a natural "seam of transition" coming for the ministry in Katowice this year. What is it? Opoka (my church in Katowice) is going through a big transition as it moved to a new location, our youth group is losing its current youth leader and gaining new ones later this year. Along with these changes, the Hashes are in the process of shifting strategic focus. I came here seven years ago to assist and join the Hashes in their youth venture in Katowice. As that time is coming to a close, I feel that my time too has come to its natural conclusion.</div>
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My departure will take place in mid-August so that in the next few months, I can help train our youth servant team, continue mentoring the new leaders who will take over in August, help lead the summer interns and do my final camp as a JV staff member. I am filled with<strong>deep</strong> sorrow in leaving this wonderful country that I have called "home" and yet, am also filled with joyful anticipation in what God has for me in my new chapter of life. I know this may come as a shock to some who know my longevity of ministry and "job", but I also know that it is a good time for me to step aside and allow those whom I have trained over the past years to lead. I wanted to work myself out of a job, and I feel that I have done it! </div>
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I will return to Denver on August 15th, but will be on the Josiah Venture payroll until November 30, 2013 in order to help me transition back to life in the States. My hope is that you will continue your prayers and financial support until that time. The last monthly support must be received by November 30th to comply with tax requirements. </div>
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I know this is not going to be an easy transition. To assist my transition, I will attend a week long program at MTI, for their re-entry program in October. This week will help me process my experience in Poland and help me think about life in America. I will also be needing to find a job and start adjusting back to American culture after being gone for so long.</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Please continue to follow my blog. Now that this news is public, I will be sharing my process of returning to the States and all that entails! </b></span></div>
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Following His Lead,</div>
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Alice</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-50625192529499687282013-06-11T10:53:00.000+02:002013-06-11T12:19:31.738+02:00May ALL who come behind us find us faithful!!My friend Rafał became a believer some years ago. Now he is busy enriching his life with lots of Bible study. This is as is should be, one generation teaching the next to love God with all one's heart, soul, mind and strength!<br />
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This is one of my favorite Father/Child photos!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-35068716615646888162013-05-17T16:33:00.000+02:002013-05-17T16:34:39.728+02:00Why I have been in Poland for 7 years!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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This is why I have been in Poland for 7 years. It took 4 just to get started and "trustworthy" in the eyes of many but now, during the past 3 years I've met and started meeting each one of these wonderful young women! Now, each one of them are leading in their own spheres of life! I love these women!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-81083249487450002572013-05-04T22:48:00.001+02:002013-05-04T22:48:05.979+02:00Looking back, looking forward<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have noticed that I have not posted since last year. Somehow it blows my mind that I have not done this. So much is happening now and yet I am overwhelmed and cannot seem to grasp it all. I look back at last year and see that my lack of blogging is due to my leg and not having much to say. I have gotten out of the habit of blogging. . . okay. . . so looking forward. . .<br />
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May has started, my birthday was yesterday (3rd). So for my new year, I am planning on blogging again. <br />
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Please stand by. . . . .Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-77166762067391093392012-11-27T21:27:00.000+01:002012-11-27T21:27:04.061+01:00Have you ever seen your doctor yell at another doctor before?I never thought I would see this! My dear doctor sent me to get an x-ray this morning at 10am. The department said that they were down and could not get me in until 12pm. Okay. . . I did not want to wait, but I had my Kindle and so I said, "No problem." I HAD to get it done. Noon came and they said, "Don't know, you have to wait for it to open." Okay. . . 2pm came (note 4 hours) and my doctor (who is on call today) came down to see why I had not come to see him. He saw me sitting and asked if I had been seen. I smiled and said, "No." His eyes got really wide and I could see his jugular start to pulse! REALLY! He found the doctor in charge and started yelling at him and his aids! I just kept reading (and listening) and let him fight for me! They sent me to another building and I had to wait another 30 minutes, but I got it! <br />
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News: Something moved or grew in my ankle, They are not sure what it is, but my bone (fibia) is not where it should be and it looks like it is rubbing on my foot bone (or that is what I understood). That is why I am having problems walking and why I am in pain. He was VERY pleased by the amount of bone regrowth. "You are a very healthy woman!" he smiled. <br />
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So what is next for me? I am going to wear a brace for the next several weeks and take some more meds and then when I get back from my trip to America (in Feb.) we will see if I need to get another operation to put another pin in to help stabilize my ankle.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-84118234792937311952012-11-26T18:16:00.002+01:002012-11-26T18:17:23.616+01:00Thanksgiving 2012I love my family and I really miss not being at home during Thanksgiving. BUT I have my JV family and our time together is so blessed that even thought I miss my blood family, I have my family here. We get together and just rest and have fun! I get to have long talks about nothing and everything. This year I was so encouraged by my sisters here and had fun with the JVKids! I love having all of the kids around me so I can be an Auntie to them all. :) <br />
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I am thankful to God for my family in Denver and for my family here in Eastern and Central Europe. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-27371856088654335942012-11-25T14:39:00.001+01:002012-11-25T14:39:26.838+01:00What is the hottest thing in youth culture now?Okay, so this video has been around for a while, but it is gaining even more strength! No matter where in the world you are, youth know THIS song and video! It is NOT even in English! It is fun, creative and is just an example how media has created a global youth culture. So the question remains in my mind and heart: How do we as youth leaders use pop culture to share God's good news? <br />
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Jesus used parables (which I think would be kind of like that times version of movies or YouTube) to share truth to the masses. How do we use all of this for the kingdom of God? <br />
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Watch this video thinking about what youth are interested in, not whether you like or agree with it. This is now the MOST WATCHED YouTube video of ALL TIME! YouTube is a central aspect of today's world youth culture! <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9bZkp7q19f0" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-18759119629881571782012-11-20T17:43:00.001+01:002012-11-20T17:43:22.688+01:00Exagora: A way to share the love of JesusThis past weekend, our youth group did their first evangelism event. Our theme was "Freedom". Kids brought their friends and we played table games and a few group games and then the leaders performed the drama, "Everything". It was "magical"! After the drama, Jacob gave the Gospel using the verses and the Gospel presentation "format" that we have been teaching the group. It was good for our kids to see what they have been learning, being USED in a relevant way!<br />
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On the way home, Jacob's friend (not a believer) said that the drama conveyed more about the Gospel than a two hour movie ever could. It was a great conversation to listen in on as I was driving them to the bus stop! Please pray for our group as they get deeper and deeper in to relationships and as they try to share the love of Jesus with their peers!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-46596972611233759342012-11-16T10:51:00.000+01:002012-11-16T10:51:17.886+01:00Starbucks, It's about more than just good coffee!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am always teased here by my Polish friends about my love for Starbucks. The truth is, that I could very easily live without it (I have for 6 years) and that there are other places that are just as good with coffee, well almost. What I have been able to do though at my Starbucks here in Katowice is establish relationships with most of the employees and the manager. They all know me as "Alicja"and all want to practice their English with me since that is a requirement to work at this store. <br />
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I normally have at least 3 meetings with students a week there and so it really has become my second office. While there, I get to interact with the Baristas and they constantly see what I do: read and study my Bible and meeting with young people. <br />
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One of the Baristas, Łukasz, is very friendly. He sometimes comes to work early to see if I am there so that we can talk about everything and nothing. He even introduced me to his parents one day! Yesterday, he had a big coffee test. He is trying to become a "Coffee Master" and it is a pretty big deal here at Starbucks. It means more money and there is a pride thing too. Right before his "test" I went to him and put my hand on his shoulder and said, "Okay, Łukasz, I know you are nervous, but I also know that you know your coffee! You will do just fine." Later, he told me that my words really encouraged and calmed him. He had no idea that I was also praying for him. :) We have not been able to talk about spiritual matters yet, but I am trying to lay the ground work for this. <br />
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The whole crew here are very nice and I would love to see them all smiling because of what Jesus did for them rather than it just being "company policy"! Oh, to have a shop where Jesus was lived out amongst the public! Please pray for me as I balance my relationships and my speaking about Jesus. I don't want to weird them out (the LDS missionaries do that very well here), but I also want them to here the truth of Jesus! <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-21128921127086179112012-11-15T15:33:00.003+01:002012-11-15T15:33:48.463+01:00Getting ready to host a strangerOne thing that I have done here that I did not really do in the States is host strangers. The culture here is that you can stay with friends of friends or relatives and it is cool. I have met some great people this way.<br />
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This weekend I get to host the friend of Nancy Pyle's. I am looking forward to showing Natalie Katowice and our youth ministry. This weekend, we are doing a special outreach for our youth group's friends. I am looking forward to sharing this with a fellow American. I will update you on how things go. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-53481515873639611912012-11-12T11:29:00.002+01:002012-11-12T11:29:42.436+01:00A New Week! I am Weak, but happy todayThis was a very tiring weekend. I have started walking without my crutches and this has been very good, but today, I am tired. <br />
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Our dear pastors from Southern Gables Church in Denver were here and it was GREAT to have them! Last night, we got to watch the Bronco game live! It was a great treat to watch the game with very animated Denver Bronco fans! Oh, what fun!!<br />
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I look forward to this week as I begin to meet with some of my girls. I have really missed this! <br />
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Sorry, short entry with not much to say today. But I want to get back into the habit.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-17595494847684902062012-11-09T13:03:00.000+01:002012-11-09T13:03:33.413+01:00What are you doing next summer???Josiah Venture is desiring to grow our summer intern teams! I would LOVE to have more and more students from North America to come and help with our camps here in Poland! Check this video out! <br />
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Would you start praying now for the students who will come to Central and Eastern Europe next year? Right now we have several of our team members in the States and Canada recruiting and sharing about what God is doing here! Please join us!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-90894139546675425052012-11-09T11:19:00.001+01:002012-11-09T11:19:28.328+01:00Back from a 5 month sabbatical . . .
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It has been five months since my last entry. Wow! I cannot believe it it has been so long. I want to start blogging again to share what God is doing in my life here in Poland. Please join me again as I share with you all that God is doing!</div>
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Looking back over these past several months, God has done amazing things in both my life and in the lives of the students I have been around, despite the fact that I was in a wheelchair and then crutches for much of that time. </div>
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Last month I had my final operation to take the pins out and got a very bad infection in my ankle. Here I am almost one month later, and I am still suffering from that. I cannot walk much without the help of a crutch due to the fact that the infection really weakened my muscles and tendons. God has been good though. Until this past week, I have been pretty content. Now I am just itching to get out and get going, but my problems with walking is inhibiting me. </div>
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James 1 and Roman 5 have been bouncing around in my head this whole time and enduring trials and allow them to build your character. I hope this past 9 months of my broken leg ordeal will be part of my character building. It has shown me areas of strength that I never knew I had and along with areas of weakness that I thought I had overcome. I look back and even forward and thank God that even though this has been a hard year, it has been a good year. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-52460520611807356232012-06-20T11:14:00.000+02:002012-06-20T11:28:58.042+02:00Broken Leg Chronicles - InteruptedAs I look back of the past several weeks, I have not given you anything that is "new" lately. I want to share with you the joyous event that happened two weeks ago. Marta, one of my "mentorees" was baptized! It has been a very stressful decision for her since she is the only believer in her family and although the family accepts her decision, they do not understand it. <br />
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It was a joy for me to see her take this very important step of faith. The only bummer was that she asked me to be the one to baptise her (we do that here in Poland, the significant person in your journey to Christ baptises you, if you want) but I was not able to due to my broken leg. Another joy was that our service was done in the lake at our camp h2o! What a beautiful setting and beautiful day! The rain came after we were all done with our service and grill!<br />
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I have about 3 weeks until camp Katowice is in full swing. Please be praying for this! Thanks!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-47748787580557008412012-06-04T09:37:00.000+02:002012-06-04T09:37:48.489+02:00The Broken Leg Chronicles - FourSorry for the delay. . .<br />
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Okay. . . how do I write this? To my beloved Polish friends, please do not be offended my this post. You must understand that my experience is just that, my experience and in no way, share or form am I judging you or the Polish culture. I love you all and I love Poland. With that said, I must blog about a few things I found to be funny, strange, and sometimes just sad to me.<br />
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So here is the first:<br />
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The wake up call:<br />
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6 a. m. - The lights are turned on, the nurses come in and start to fill up big bowls of water for each person. The patients (me NOT included) "rip" (okay, a bit of an exaggeration, but not much) their clothes off and start to wash themselves. Remember, NO privacy screens and a few times the door was open just a bit. Of course, my bed was the closest to the door . . . :) Here I am, washing under my night gown. The nurse comes to me the first time and says, "You must take all of your clothes off to wash!" My response, "No way! I am an American! We don't stripe in front of strangers!" She just laughed and walked away. Every morning this is how I was woken up. Lights, striptease, wash, change bedding, bed pan time. Yes, I said bed pan. There is no bathroom in the room. <br />
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7 a.m. - Time for the nurses to come in and straighten the room out. I got yelled at everyday because they did not like the fact that I had a lot of stuff. There was NO way that I was going to do what my other roommates were doing. Stare at the ceiling all day and evening just to wait to go to sleep. I had books to read and movies to watch! :) Anyway. After a few days, the nurses just went on to give me a disgusted look as visitors came and left more gifts for me. . . where do I put them, under my bed? :)<br />
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8 a.m. I wish I could have recorded the sound of 9 doctors shuffling down the hall grunting, talking, and discussing what they were going to do. They came to our room and surrounded each bed an talked about teach patient. I was always last and to me it sounded like they sped up their speech just so it would be harder for me understand them. But I had a secret weapon named Dr. Dudko! Dr. Dudko not only did my operation, but he was my self appointed, personal advocate and let me know what was going on. After the "Doctor Brigade" came through, he would slip back in for 30 seconds and tell me what would happen next. It was a very interesting "dance" the doctors and nurses did everyday. The doctors expected clean, tidy rooms and the nurses were afraid to hear that every room was not perfect. <br />
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9 a.m. Breakfast - "How many pieces of bread to you want?" was the only question I was asked. The bread was white and I cannot have it with my PCOS so I had a friend get me bread that I can eat, but it was hard to hear the nurses say in the hallway, "Americans just don't like our Polish food, pity." That made me sad. The four things I need to be careful to not eat very much of, white bread, white rice, white macaroni, and potatoes were the main staple of the hospital diet. I was blessed by my Polish church as many brought me other food to eat!<br />
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Nothing going on until the evening when I decided to go to bed . . . That was my day for much of my 6 days in the hospital!<br />
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I would not have made it had it not been all of the visitors that I had! Panni Complain marveled at how me, a foreigner could know so many Polish people and that I had so many visitors! Most of our conversations were about how good God is and she got to hear every word! <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-80392596990468511012012-05-04T17:17:00.002+02:002012-05-04T17:17:50.285+02:00The Broken Leg Chronicles - ThreeWhat an interesting situation this hospital stay was for me. Laura went to my flat to get clothes, eating utensils, towels, wash cloth, water, coffee (thanks Dan L. for the Starbucks Via), toiletries, computer, ipod, kindle, soap etc. They only gave me a bed and the linens. VERY different from American hospitals. Did I mention NO PRIVACY what so ever??<br />
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At this time I had two roommates: Panni "Pain" and Panni "Complain" - Panni Pain was a old woman who had broken her thigh bone and was in heavy traction. She did not have her teeth in so, everything she said was just mubblings. She was in SO MUCH PAIN! Tears came to me eyes every time she looked at me (I was the only person she could see) and pleaded with me to ease her pain. All I could do was call the nurse for her. She also was old enough for me to see dementia symptoms and it broke me heart. I remember how confused and scared my grandfather was when he was in the hospital and could not remember where he was. (I also had wonderful memories of our conversations and my reading the bible to him as spent the night at his bedside.) Panni Pain could not be consoled though until her grandchildren walked in and then she laughed and sang along with crying for the pain.</div>
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Panni Complain - This older woman was a doctor in Germany and thus expected to have the same kind of service that she gave. Not in Poland though. Especially in a public insurance hospital. She also broke something in her thigh and was fighting a temperature. She and I had nice short conversations and she seemed to be a person in such need of joy and peace. Every hour she would get nervous, check her temperature and then call the nurses to tell them that her temperature had not changed from the hour before and then to go into complaining about their treatment of her. I can say that she was a difficult person to have around, but God taught me that my being there could either be a time of ignoring her or encouraging her . . .I chose the latter. I wanted to bless this obviously sad, discouraged woman during my stay. Only through God's grace did I do it! </div>
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It is Friday, I am waiting to go only to be told that my operation will be moved to Monday. Now I get to stay the weekend to do nothing but wait. . . Looking back, I think that was harder than I thought it was at the moment.</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-81788276458190882672012-05-02T14:26:00.001+02:002012-05-02T14:26:51.240+02:00The Broken Leg Chronicles TwoSo, I am laying in my bed in the hallway because there is no room in the ward. My friend Anna, I think was a bit embarrassed that I had to wait. I was feeling good, so I did not care. :) The juice was still working. Anna is a Anaesthesiologist and explained to me how I was going to go "under" during the operation. Here in Poland, they do not put you under like we do in the States. No, they prick you in the spine twice and make you dead from the waist down. They say it is more healthy because you are breathing on your own and you are awake. . . yes, AWAKE! My mind started spinning when I heard this. I had NO INTENTION of listening to the doctors drilling and chipping on my leg. NO WAY! So, I asked if I could listen to music on my ipod. Anna said that she would make arrangements to do this but it is not normally done. At this point I was nervous.<br />
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I was getting myself psyched up for my operation later in the evening. All the time, there was a peace which was keeping me from freaking out. <br />
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Then, I had to call my parents. A call I was NOT looking forward to. So, I did and my dad answered. The conversation was brief, I think they were in shock. <br />
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Laura was there with me the whole time. Caring for me, loving me, giving me silent strength. I am very grateful to her. <br />
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A space opened up for me in a room and I was off to a room for 5 with no screens, no beds that you can push a button to lift your head, nothing was supplied . . . nothing. That was a bit of a shock for me. I was in pain, and then the doctor informed me that I would not have my operation due to a bad accident that needed the OR. Whew! Maybe my leg would miraculously be healed over night. . . .Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-42969737460758004402012-04-25T23:16:00.001+02:002012-04-25T23:16:13.290+02:00The Broken Leg Chronicles OneSo, there are so many things that happened to me on March 15, 2012. The one thing was that when I was walking down the Hashes walkway, I stepped on some ice and slipped. I felt my ankle break on the way down and and knew I was in a bad situation. Laura Hash was there along with her son, Jacob. I was on the cold ground with my foot facing the wrong way. (no more details) We thought I could get up and they could take me to the hospital, but when I saw my foot, I said "no". So an ambulance was called. <br />
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The EMT's came and wanted to cut my brand new, wonderful shoes off. Laura yelled, "No! Alice, they are going to cut your new shoes off!" She knows how much I love those shoes. So, we asked if they could take it off without cutting it.<br />
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"It will hurt." he said.<br />
Yeah, like I did not hurt already! :) "Please, just take it off!" I said.<br />
So he did, and YES! it hurt! BUT I saved my shoe!!! WhaHoo! ;) I hope that someday soon, I will have the courage to wear them again. . . they are such great shoes!<br />
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I wanted to be taken to Ochojec hospital, but the emt's said that they could not. My neighbor, Mira is a doctor there and I wanted to be where there would be some one who I could trust. After waiting a bit and asking again, we were off to Ohojec! <br />
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Jacob Hash (Laura's son) was wonderful. He held my hand and as I told him that I was going into shock, he got me blankets and rode in the ambulance with me. All I could think about was the missed meetings with kids and that I was to teach the next night. Yes, I was also thinking of the pain. <br />
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Pain. . . pain. . . pain . . . can a ride be so bumpy? Did I mention pain?<br />
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We got to the hospital and there to welcome me was Mira, a great orthopedic doc, I call Dr. Lukasz, the head of orthopedics, Dr. Piotr who says "Aleesee, Aleesee" when he sees me (more history later on him), my friend ad Mira's daughter, Anna (a new doctor) and my hero, Dr. Dudko who has been wonderful and was the lead surgeon for my leg. <br />
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They got me on the table and Dr. Piotr had to straighten my foot. They get me juiced up, while I tried my best NOT to break Laura's hand. My foot was then placed into a HEAVY cast and I was sent to the orthopedics ward. . . but there is no room, so I got to hang out in the hall, while they tried to find a spot for me. It seemed like a long time, but honestly I am not sure how long it really was. Long enough for Anna to tell me about how they do not put you under during operations but just merely give you a spinal shot to deaden you from the waist down. . . yeah . . . I was thinking the same thing, "WHAT???"<br />
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to be continued . . . .<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-76037430935758416562012-04-25T23:01:00.002+02:002012-04-25T23:01:45.517+02:00Post Broken Leg Entry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just when I thought it was all going well, BAM! I break my leg in 3 or maybe 4 pieces depending on how you look at it! Wow! 7 weeks ago my life changed for a very long time. I am going to do a series on my experience and how God is working in me and in the lives of those around me. I hope these will encourage you as they are encouraging me looking back and seeing just how God has been there every step of the way. . .Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-45504895026786990492012-03-07T17:56:00.001+01:002012-06-20T11:29:38.124+02:00Am I Dead?No I am not dea! It has been a long time since I have blogged!
How long has it been?
Way too long! I plan on starting this up again, so stay tuned!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-48181462787915295892012-01-15T21:02:00.000+01:002012-01-15T21:02:54.131+01:00USA Here I come!Yeah, in a little over 48 hours I will be on my way to Denver! I am so excited to be back home for a little bit and see my new niece! Denver . . . Here I come!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9697944.post-6339986468501133082012-01-04T11:32:00.003+01:002012-01-04T11:32:42.843+01:00Isabel JoySo, part of not having two hands is that blogging does not get done. One very important person was not able to be announced by me! My new niece, <span style="color: purple;"><b>Isabel Joy Robbins</b></span>! Can you get anyone cuter??!!<br />
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I get to see both of them though in just two weeks! Yippee!<br />
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