Alice In Poland

USA Here I come!

2012-01-15T21:02:00.000+01:00

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!

Isabel Joy

2012-01-04T11:32:00.003+01:00

So, 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, Isabel Joy Robbins! Can you get anyone cuter??!!

I get to see both of them though in just two weeks! Yippee!

Second Time Not As Bad, Prayer Works!

2012-01-04T11:22:00.002+01:00

So, a few days before Christmas, snow came. I was scraping ice off of my windshield, when my foot hit black ice (under the snow) and BAM! I went down! I hit my right shoulder in a similar way as I did my left two years ago. I felt a weird sensation and knew I did something bad to myself. Being the "tough" missionary lady, I try to me, I went on with my day. It did not feel exactly like the last time, but, I knew I did something to it. That night, I went upstairs to my friend, who is a doctor, and asked her to look at it. She took me straight to the hospital. The X-Ray showed that it was fractured the same way the other one was, but it looked like it was an old injury . . . huh? So, they wanted to to a MRI, then a CAT scan (two weeks later) I put my arm into a sling and called my mom to get people to start praying. You see, I am leaving in two weeks to come back to the US for a visit and I cannot travel with that contraption that I had two years ago.
As the days went bay, I could feel the prayers of people back home. My shoulder started feeling better day by day! I have almost full motion in it now and have it in a sling just to keep myself from doing too much.
Yesterday, I had the CAT scan, I will find out the results in a few days, but right now, I can say that this shoulder is healing faster than I could ever imagine! I have two more weeks of getting it healed up for the US! Thank you for your prayers and keep praying!!

Our God is an Awesome God and this has reminded me how much He loves me!

Giving at Christmas . . . What does that really mean?

2011-12-14T11:32:00.000+01:00

This past weekend, our youth group went to go give out packages from Operation Christmas Child at one of our local schools in a very poor district. Most of these children were from local orphan houses or foster care as well as homes who just cannot afford presents. I think many of our young people's eyes were opened as they were asked to not hand our gifts, but to play with these kids for over 2 hours. I think this was just as great as a gift to these children as the packages were.

Christmas Time, Means Youth Group Gathering!

2011-12-14T09:58:00.002+01:00

Our group at our Christmas Outreach party!

I wanted to let you in on a little secret . . . I cannot do all nighters any more! Yeah, I know, you are SHOCKED, but alas, this night owl must say nightie-nite, at 2:30am, or I am useless for days! It used to be that I could do the whole youth group all nighter with no problem. . . but I am not sure if it is my age or if I am just a bit smarter than I used to be . . .

We had a WONDERFUL time just having out on Friday night and playing games. One of our activities was also a very meaningful one. Sara, put together a prayer labyrinth with stations that reflected all of the things that we have been learning this semester about living a life IN Christ. It was special. I left after midnight, I can't remember when, to go and "make" brown sugar for cookie baking the next morning.

When I got back to the "party" at 9 am, I walked in only to find that the kids just got to bed at 8:30 am. We had breakfast, worship and then it was cookie baking and Christmas decoration making time!

Saturday afternoon was filled with preparing for our Christmas Party Outreach! What fun! We had around 20 kids! TONS of cookies and Jacob (Hash) read the Nativity story while having everyone in the group act it out! He then took a few moments to bring in the reason for Christmas and it was a beautiful way of sharing Truth and challenging each student to consider following that Truth.

We were tired at the end, but oh, what fun! God was there and kids were blessed and I went to bed tired and grateful for all that God had done not only in the kid's hearts but in mine as well. What a wonderful Christmas present!

Our Youth Group

2011-11-26T23:44:00.001+01:00

I would like to introduce to you, the Opoka/Katowice youth group. It is made up of a diverse group of students who are on different levels of their spiritual journeys together! We are teaching about the basics of following Jesus. It has been a GREAT semester! Friday and Saturday we will have our Christmas celebration and then next week we hand out boxes from Operation Christmas Child. They are a great group and I hope that this new step in serving will inspire and encourage them to serve like Jesus did!

Thanksgiving with my JV Family

2011-11-26T13:51:00.001+01:00

I love my JV family! When you can't be home for Thanksgiving, THIS is the place I want to be. I missed being with my family in Denver, but this is a GREAT substitute. I am so loved in both places, I really wanted to have a transporter so I could go to both! I am so thankful for both of my families!

A Time To Give Thanks

2011-11-23T23:34:00.001+01:00

Today is the day before Thanksgiving. I am at our JV headquarters in the Czech Republic surrounded by loved teammates whom I would rather call family. I am so blessed! I love this time with my JV family. I miss my own family in the States, but this is a WONDERFUL "replacement". Thank you, God, for giving me a place where I can call and feel home when I am far from my family! I hope to post some photos from tomorrow!

God's Help While Being Away From Home

2011-11-08T10:20:00.004+01:00

For those who know me, I LOVE my family! In fact, being away from my family is one of the hardest things about living in Poland. I miss my nephews very much and it is hard to be away and not be a part of them growing up. This was a cost that I did not realize would cost so much when I chose to follow God's leading to move and invest in the Polish youth. God knows. God cares. God provides.

In God's great mercy and love, He has given me "nephews and nieces" here in Poland to love and be a part of their lives. Jacob Hash, Kelsey Carlson, Jillian Carlson, David Eifling, and Natalie Eifling are all wonderful JVKids who fill a portion of the hole that is in my heart when I am away from my precious David and Liam (and soon to come, B-Rob 3.0!)

These five kids bring joy and comfort to this ol' Auntie Alice! Thank you Lord, for meeting this need in my heart!

The Normal Day

2011-10-19T11:44:00.002+02:00

What is there to report to you? I am not sure. . . I have no real cool photo to show you and life is pretty normal right now. I have meetings with students . . . youth group which is going GREAT . . . editing which I am struggling with right now (none of my ideas are working and I have a deadline) . . . making and drinking the last of my Starbucks. Nothing new. . .

Yet, God is in the normal too. He is in the everyday, average day, boring day. He does not change. His trustworthiness is good and full of His power and majesty.

So with this normal, average, boring day, I must say, it is well with my soul.

He inspired me to think different (Ramblings about Steve Jobs)

2011-10-06T10:20:00.002+02:00

I was having problems sleeping last night. Just when I was drifting AGAIN (at 2 am), my phone alarm went off. (I had forgotten to silence it as I normally do when I sleep.)
I looked at it and saw the announcement of the death of Steve Jobs.

Steve's life has not only influenced the world through the amazing gift of creativity and drive that God gave him, but also caused me to look at things a bit differently. I can honestly say that I would not be the computer "nerd" that I am had it not been for the Apple computer. My talents and skills in video and design, as humble as they are, would not have happens had to not been for the iMac 1986 version and then the Apple 2e and so on. For that, I thank Mr. Jobs.

I loved the way he captured an audience, and try to copy it at times. I loved the way he thought out of the box, and I try to do it, even though I am not really on "out of the box" kind of person. He inspired me to "think different" about how I looked at technology and how it shapes the world.

My uncle gave my brother and I a TRS-80 (Radio Shack computer complete with 1mb cassette tape hard "drive") when we were kids. That changed my life, and it intimidated me. I used the computer because I knew I had to learn it for my future. Then, along comes Steve and he made me WANT to use the computer and that helped open up so much of my own creativity.

It is funny how a computer guy also influenced my youth ministry. Because of his creativity and ingenuity, Steve captured the youth. Beauty and function coming together. For ministry, it is Truth and practical living. He inspired me to use what students were attracted to as a tool to introduce the Kingdom.

As I read the Bible it amazes me how God used people who would not acknowledge Him as Lord and yet He still used them for HIS Glory. That still happens today. I look at all of the youth ministries who have been inspired and helped through the creativity of this man.

Last night, when I heard of Steve Job's death, my first thought was, "I wonder where he is now?" I hope that Steve did acknowledge and turned to his Creator.

Then I think about my life and my influence. I know that I will not influence the vast number of people as Steve has, but it causes me to ponder, what am I doing NOW to cause this generation to "think different" and then "do different" for the Kingdom of God.

These are my words of process as I mourn the loss of a technology/creative mentor. Thank you Steve for the way you have influenced my life in the way I use "worldly" things to impact the Kingdom of Heaven. I hope that I get to see you there someday.

Justin Taylor's blog concludes my thoughts well: "From a spiritual perspective, this much can be said with certainty: Steve Jobs, created in the image of God, was a remarkable example of God’s common grace in his aesthetics and creativity and productivity.

And we can all hope that in his final days, this recipient of so much common grace found rest in God’s sovereign saving grace."

A lovely Evening with Sara

2011-09-27T22:04:00.001+02:00

Sara has spent way too much time with us crazy Americans! I love it!

I had a WONDERFUL dinner with one of my favorite people in Katowice. Her name is Sara Wala. Sara is from, Skoczów the same town that h2o is near, and is finishing her university studies up here in Katowice. She is part of our youth group leadership team this year and I am looking forward to many more talks like we had tonight.

On Sunday, I asked Sara if we could together, and she said "Yes!"
"Where would you like to go?"
"Tuesday! And can we go to . . . Pizza Hut?" she asked with a BIG smile. Susan Ellis (my teammate) and I introduced Sara to Pizza Hut this spring and she LOVED it! (Pizza Hut is really good here.)

So off we met at Pizza Hut tonight. During our time, we talked about many different subjects, but the one that excited me the most was when I asked her what she was learning with her relationship with Jesus. Her smiled got bigger, and she said, "I can't stop reading the Bible! I read and write things about what I would like to hear in sermons, write is all down and then I read more and more and, I love it!" (paraphrased)

Sara's passion for the Word of God is inspiring! Our conversation was and encouragement and only solidified my goal this school year to be even more intentional with my relationships here with the youth of Katowice. It was a joyous evening! Just wanted you to rejoice with me! :)

The Summer's End, Now Begins the Fall!

2011-09-23T16:37:00.000+02:00

Lunch with Warsaw group, Greg Carlson and Daniel Efiling

I know that summer is ended because it has been a very long time since I have written on my blog and we just got done with our JV Fall Leadership conference at Malenovice, in the Czech Republic.

It was a great one this year. There is something moving in the lives of Josiah Venture missionaries and "members". We had a three track conference this year where we had three levels taught by three different teams.

The track I did was "Thrive" (how to disciple and train how to disciples). We did the same information in 2006, but the spirit of the information was much closer and Spirit filled! I was personally challenged to look into my own life and see where I was teaching only about Christ and NOT just Christ. I and still processing the information, but I am excited to share what I learned to others this fall!

What Happened This Summer?

2011-08-15T19:22:00.010+02:00

I am back in Poland

2011-07-22T19:43:00.001+02:00

What in the world happened to me? One day I was in Poland and the next in Kiev. There were a few moments when I was asking, "God, what are you putting me through?" But then, I also was eager to see what he would show me. What did He do this time? He gave me a new appreciation for what my teammates in Ukraine live in each and everyday. It will help me pray for them better! I also met not one but 4 other missionary families from all different organizations. It was wonderful to chat with them and find out what they do. I stayed with a wonderful family and had a great time with the kids! What I am also looking forward to is that in two weeks I get to repay the help I got as this family has to come to Poland to clear their visa problems up. God is so good as He takes care of His children with Family that they never knew they had! Thank you, Father for your gift of Kiev to me. It would never had happen had my card problem not come up! You are ABBA!!

Upon leaving the Ukraine

2011-07-22T07:16:00.000+02:00

I leave sad I have made some great new friends here and wish I had a few days more. I did not getting to do ant sight seeing since I was interrupting people's lives and my trip was un planned. But I love to see real life more than just pretty buildings.

Ukraine (Kiev) is a city about 20 years behind Poland. What is normal to them felt broken and dirty to me. It was not true, but it was a feeling. As we drove around the city, I kelt on thinking about how many times I would have revive my dad due to the driving. I thought parts of Poland was bad/crazy! I think it is true that the further east you go the less rule and laws are followed on the road!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Dream Town

2011-07-21T19:32:00.000+02:00

What do you do with a 10 year old boy who does not want to go shopping but mom has to go? You take home to "Dream Time" shopping mall, of course!

Dream Time is a HUGE mall. I mean, one of the biggest I have been in in a long time. I did not try to couture the stores, but it also included ice rink, movie theater, rollerblade rink, aqua park and bowling alley a long with a huge arcade. It blew me away
how big it was. It felt empty, but I think that was due to the emesity of the center.

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In Kiev and Blessed

2011-07-21T08:21:00.001+02:00

I sit here drinking coffee after a good night's rest here in Kiev, Ukraine. I cannot even begin to describe feelings and insight that I have experienced in the past 24 hours.

I got on the plane yesterday to a place where I knew no one. As I met the Wysong's and Pam and her kids, I had this overwhelming sense of visiting my cousins. (you don't see them very often, but when you do, your conversations are fun and effortless). Last night I got to meet other missionaries at a grill and planted flowers at a health clinic that Pam works with.

I will blog more about my impressions of Ukraine later. This trip was and is so much more than just complying with the Polish government! God IS Good and His Love is everlasting!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

And I'm Off!

2011-07-20T10:08:00.000+02:00

I am blogging from the airport. I have had a "visa" issue so I must leave the EU and go to Ukraine for two days. I had great plans for this, but yesterday it all blew up and I found myself scrambling to get out of the country in time to not have problems. I will tell you the full story when I have a computer. I am blogging via iPhone now. It has been a stressful 24 hours, but God had walked before me every step of the way! I have had help from my Polish friend and Dan Hash. I am going and meeting/staying with some missionaries on Kiev that Dan knew 20 years ago! I always wondered what Kiev was like and now I get to find out for 48 hours!

Please pray for me during this time that I may rest. When I get home I need to pack and drive 8 hours to the Polish seaside for my last camp. :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

2x3 Today

2011-07-08T12:50:00.003+02:00

Almost 3 years ago, we started a campaign called the 2x3 campaign. We wanted to double our "fruit" in three years. In Poland, it is happening. God has heard our cries for the youth of Poland! Just this last week in our first two camps we had over 20 youth make first time decisions to follow Jesus! This is the MOST that we have EVER had here in Poland during a "camp term"
Today I had my first meeting with one of them and it was a sweet time! I want to remind you of what we are about. Please take a few moments and watch this video.

2x3 Campaign - Short from The Reluctant Missionary on Vimeo.

What is striking about this video to me is that 3 years ago, I would not say that the Polish youth was atheistic or agnostic in any sense, but this year, there has been a switch in the generation and I have spoken to more students who do not believe in God or who feel that God has no influence on life. Please be praying for our other 7 camps! I will be leaving for my second on Sunday.

This is why I am here in Poland! To share the love of Jesus with Polish youth who want Truth, yet fill their lives with the lies of this world. Please pray for me that I will boldly proclaim the mystery of the Gospel to the youth of Poland this summer!

Faces and Fun from Camp

2011-07-07T13:59:00.001+02:00

Here are some pictures from camp. I have over 3000, so I just chose some. I hope when you see them, it will inspire you to pray for the youth of Poland!

Nine

2011-07-06T13:19:00.001+02:00

This is the number of brothers and sisters who have been added to our Spiritual family this past week! God was so good as He moved hearts toward Himself! One of my joys of camp is "M".
This young woman has a very difficult story. I have been meeting with her for English lessons for a few months now and invited her to camp. During this camp, we had some great conversations. We talked about Salvation, Sin, Hell, God, Jesus and Universalism. On Friday when the speaker challenged those who made first time commitments to follow Jesus to stand, she popped up! Tears filled my eyes as I saw her do this. I never thought she would accept Jesus so quickly! It has reminded me how ready this generation is to live for Truth and not just culture and tradition!
Thank you Jesus for your love and salvation for "M".

Beautiful Feet!

2011-07-06T13:03:00.001+02:00

"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written,"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" ¹⁶But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" ¹⁷So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."
Romans 10:14-17

Three groups from America have BEAUTIFUL FEET this week as they share the good news of the Truth of Jesus this week! They are from Colorado, Indiana and Arizona! Please pray for these wonderful people as they go to Wisła, Bielsko Biała and Warsaw!

Day One! Katowice camp!

2011-06-26T11:05:00.000+02:00

Doing the Camp Dance to Hawk Nelson's "One Shot"

It has been a great 24-hours at camp so far! Of course we have hiccups here and there, but they will get ironed out. What I love so far about camp is the atmosphere that we have! There is nervousness and anticipation of what will happen this year! It is our first year that we are introducing Jesus and His truth on the first night.

Please be praying for the camp as the Truth of Jesus will be talked and about as well as lived out in the lives of our leaders!

Here Comes Summer!

2011-06-24T23:04:00.000+02:00

I will be stepping out tomorrow to my first of many summer camps this year! The first camp will be with Katowice. A few churches in my fair city have banded together since the youth groups are small and cannot really do a camp alone. So, they have formed a wonderful group who wants to reach their peers with the truth of Christ.

Yesterday the American group who came along with our summer interns joined the Poles in our pre-camp planning time. I saw three groups come together and become one faster than most groups!

Today, we spent time talking about the spiritual climate of Katowice youth and it shocked some as each person told the Americans how Polish youth have turned from being just religious and are now atheists with religious roots. It has been moving this way, but today every Pole talked about this fact. No a single student talked about how religious their friends were. The paradigm is changing here in Poland!

Our theme this year is "Collision". What better way to reach a generation who are now rejecting God then to have Jesus "collide" with their belief system? Please pray for us!

Here are some pictures of our time together.

The Team before dinner

Polish Worship team leading us

Our team praying for camp at different prayer stations

Friendships are being forged!

The team practicing our camp theme song "One Shot" by Hawk Nelson!

Cowboy Day!

2011-06-10T19:27:00.000+02:00

I know it is taking me longer to get these out, but here is a video of our Cowboy day! It was lots of fun!

Cowboy Day CCU from Alice Robbins on Vimeo.

Orphanage

2011-06-07T14:26:00.000+02:00

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

Last year, CCU went to an orphanage. Sadly, none of the youth group came with us.
This year, though, a number of the youth group. They LOVED the kids well! Here are photos of our time.

When A Youth Group Grows

2011-06-07T10:32:00.000+02:00

Palowice youth group with CCU on Cowboy day!

I met the Palowice youth group last year. They were a group of young people who knew the Bible and loved God and each other well. Their problem quickly became evident though as they were very introverted and lacked vision for their lost peers. As CCU did English Camp with them, the youth group just basically stood on the outer edge of every event, just watching as the CCU students engaged. It broke my heart and I to be honest, I left camp last year discouraged, wondering if this group would ever understand how lost their peers were.

This year, I met with the group about a month before camp and encouraged while challenging them to look outside their own group. Two weeks before camp, my teammate, Susan and I returned to do a evening of "pre-camp" talks and there was a marked difference in the group. I left encouraged and prayed that God would use this group more than CCU to reach the students of Gardawice Jr. High. God answered that prayer!

Colorado Christian University

2011-06-07T10:17:00.000+02:00

Four years ago, Colorado Christian University has started coming to Poland. The trip has evolved from a "survey trip" into a Spring English Camp at a Jr. High school.
For two weeks, six students and one professor came and shared the love of Jesus with students. My hope is that not only did the CCU students fall in love with missions, but also with Poland. My prayer is that God will continue to work in the lives of each student who was involved and that the Spirit will draw many students to God.

Busy

2011-05-31T13:28:00.000+02:00

You can tell when I am busy and away from my computer. It has been almost a month since I have blogged. I will fill you in with a few entries in the next day or two. Here is the first:

Family Away From Family

2011-05-31T11:29:00.003+02:00

I love family, in fact, the most difficult part of being here in Poland is being away from my parents, brother and sister-in-law, not to mention my precious two nephews! I miss them everyday and often struggle with "family-sickness".

Josiah Venture helps though. We have a family conference each year and it helps with "family-sickness". I have family here and enjoy it! For some strange reason, it was especially good this year and I am not sure why. God was meeting me where I needed to be met and He blessed me with rich times this year. I had a GREAT time with a group of the singles as we took time and just hung out together talking about life and ministry. I had great talks with people whom I normally do not get to talk with very much because our family is growing! God has truly blessed me with this group and he has blessed me with a family in Poland where we can laugh, pray, cry, struggle and rejoice with.

I am blessed

My Poland family!

Some of the beautiful single women of JV!

My Josiah Venture Family 207 and growing!

My JV nephews, Caleb, Noah and Jacob. Love these guys!

Hut, Hut

2011-05-09T18:20:00.002+02:00

My reaction just after getting tickets

For anyone who knows me, you could imagine my excitement when I was invited to an American football game here in Katowice! The university here has a football team. They are the Silesian Miners. There are 7 teams in the Silesia "state". It is kind of like a high school level game, but so much fun to watch! Jacob Hash and I joined the game with international group of people who go to our church for an afternoon of football! I think we entertained some of the Poles as Jacob and I did Denver's In-Com-Plete (wah wah wah wah) cheer! :) So much fun!
What was funny for us, was the cheer "Let's go offence, let's go!" But with the Polish accent it came out, "Let's go All-Friends, let's go." We tried to start a wave, but it was contained to just the six of us. . .some things just do not translate. Our international friends had fun learning how to do the wave though! I had fun teaching our friends the rules of the game and I found out that I really do know referee hand signals! :) Also, the commentator was on the sideline and was SO biast FOR the Miners, it was funny!

I look forward to more games. At just $3 a game, I guess there will never be a strike. These guys play for the joy of the game. The fans come to cheer and learn about an American pass time. Did I mention that the Miners lost. . . so sad. If they had a better special team effort, they would have won. Oh, well. Maybe next season.

Exit Tour

2011-05-02T13:18:00.001+02:00

This past week I went to Świbodzin, Poland where we had our Exit Tour. What is Exit Tour? It is a program that we have to get into schools to help students in practical life subjects such as relationships, sex, cults, gangs, self-esteem, and English. We bring in adults to conduct seminars during the day and then at the end of the week, we have a big concert at the city culture center. At that concert our band shares their testimony and then we had everything over to the local church that works with us at the after-concert party the next day. We will not go into a city where there is not a church who will not follow up on the students who came to the after party.

I had quite a few significant talks with students about my story and even was able to bridge the subject between friends. It was a great moment to see a young woman ask her friend about her journey to Jesus!

A personal note. Świebodzin is a place full of mixed emotions for me. They now have the largest Jesus statue in the world and it is quickly becoming a pilgrimage location. What is funny about the location is that there is a Tesco (like Walmart) just across the street. There is a Polish joke already that says: "What came before Jesus? Tesco!" It looses a lot of laugh with translation, but the base of the joke is that because Tesco was built 5 years before the Jesus statue, it was "created" before Jesus. The joke brings laughs, and yet on a spiritual level, it brings sadness to me that even in this area of Poland, materialism is coming out "on top" of spiritual things. (My header photo is the top of the Jesus. )

Laughing

2011-04-25T11:00:00.000+02:00

Yesterday, I was with my JV family for Easter. It was a GREAT time! I also got to bring my flatmate and her sister Jola with me. They had a good time of observing how a bunch of Americans can sit around a table and laugh and have fun. I was sad to have them leave early since Jola's orphanage only allowed her to be gone for a few hours.

When I got back from taking them to the bus stop, we watched a movie and then started telling stories and giving each other story puzzles. Some of us knew many of them,or I should say knew part of many of them. We laughed and laughed as some of us loved doing the puzzles and others did not, yet were gracious enough to participate. We also played the game Apples to Apples. Try doing that with 4 people who have counselor degrees was fun for me as I had a great time just watching them and listening to their guesses!

This is truly a day where we could all forget about our ministries and just be together! I did not leave until almost midnight and things were still going on! What a great day! I woke up today feeling rested! It has been a while since that has happened!

Today I go to my neighbors to celebrate the day after Easter! Whahoo!

Today is "Good-Bye" for now

2011-04-21T09:34:00.001+02:00

We are saying good-bye to a precious sister today. Bożena Furgała died unexpectedly on Monday. It was a shock for her husband, sons, family and friends.

When I got the news from Laura Hash, my eyes filled with tears and images of Bożena over the past few weeks flashed before my eyes. Every single one of them were of her smiling at me before hugging me.

How did Bożena impact my life though? She was one of the first ladies of the church to physically embrace me! I know that sounds a bit strange for Americans, but I considered it an honor that she would be the one who made the move first.

Every Sunday in church, she made sure that she greeted me and spoke to me as if I knew Polish as well as she did. When she saw a blank look on my face, she smiled and repeated it while tapping my upper chest gently, I think she thought that would help me understand more. Her patience with my Polish ministered to me. :)

The last Sunday I saw here we had a nice chat. She was happy to be helping with Dan Hash's 50th birthday party and in her normal place in our church, near the coffee/tea tables getting everything ready. Bożena was a quiet servant of our Family. Even thought she struggled through illness, she always showed me grace and love.

Będę tęsknić droga siostro. Dziękuję za miłość i życie!
I will miss you, dear sister. Thank you for your love and life!

Celebrating 50 Years of God's Work

2011-04-11T21:42:00.000+02:00

Yesterday, we celebrated Dan Hash's 50th birthday. It was a wonderful evening. The Hashes have had an impact for the Kingdom here in Katowice. Dan has lovingly and patiently lead Opoka Church through some tough, deep waters the past few years, and through it all, he has shown how to do it through the strength of our Heavenly Father. Laura has been by his side and has loved the women of Opoka well too. It is an honor to be working with them.

Last evening there were many there to not only wish Dan a "Happy Birthday", but to also celebrate how God has worked in and through Dan's life. Laura did an amazing job honoring her husband. (I hope that if God ever grants me the privilege of being a wife someday I will be able to honor my husband as Laura does Dan.) They are both a great example of a marriage that seeks God's glory. Last night was just one more example of that.

The party was full of VW Vans, stories, games, gifts, blessings, good ol' Polish food and prayer! It was one of the best parties I have ever been to. So this blog entry is to honor God's work in and through the life of Dan Hash!

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Note to self . . .

2011-04-05T17:40:00.001+02:00

When using public transportation in a Polish city which has been turned upside down with Katowice's version of the Boston "Big Dig", make sure you get on the correct bus going the correct direction or you will spend 2 hours getting home instead of 15 minutes. . . enough said. You now know how my day went. :) Yes, I am still smiling and laughing at myself!

Impact at 15

2011-04-04T23:07:00.000+02:00

Last night our wonderful Noah Ellenwood was voted out of the CeskoSlovenska SuperStar competition. As sad as I was when I heard this news, I then watched the "voting out" portion of the show and was AMAZED at how much this young, fifteen year old man has impacted not only the view of music in two two countries, but also the lives of all of those who he lived among over the past several weeks while competing in Prague. Even the interviewer of the "survivor" could not do her job due to crying about Noah's departure. This young man has been a light in a world where winning the competition is THE dream, THE passion and yes, even THE "god".

SuperStar will miss more than Noah's voice, they will miss his presence. It is obvious that they know this too. I have seen others being voted off and the show never "stopped" like it did tonight. (Please endure the Czech and the very LONG, DRAGGED OUT time at to announce Noah's departure and then watch how well he handles the news and you can then see the impact he made on everyone there.)

We do not know what this exposure to on of Jesus' followers did in the lives of those whom Noah lived among, but we do know that this is just one more experience for Noah to learn and grow in his becoming more like Christ. Thank you Lord, for all that you have done in the past months in Noah's life and in the lives of those whom his life touched through this competition. May YOU be Glorified in this experience!

It's the little things that make my day

2011-03-31T11:01:00.000+02:00

I have struggled with my Polish. I know that is not a surprise to any one who reads this. It has been a slower process than I have liked, but yesterday when Jacob Hash and I were meeting at an Irish restaurant, I ordered fruit juice for us and later the waitress came back and said (something like), "Your Polish is very good. I did not know you would be able to speak Polish when you came in. (she heard us speaking English when we walked in) You have a very good accent." It was a great thing for me to hear this.

Today, I had refrigerator problems, again and had to have a repairman come out. Can we say STRESS?? Not only do repair men tend to speak too fast for anyone, they also use industry vocabulary, which I know none! Well, I did it! I did not understand all the words, but he was patient and explained the problem to me more slowly the second time and I understood! Tomorrow I get to start lessons again and I am looking forward to another jump in my language!

The Beautiful Women of Josiah Venture

2011-03-22T14:11:00.000+01:00

These are the beautiful women of Josiah Venture. They are women, daughters, sisters, mothers, grandmothers,wives, friends and teammates!
Normally, we have "outsiders" come and teach, but this year we had three of our own and I think it was timely and needed! This year just had the feel of "together" and "intimacy" for the whole group. Thank you Connie, Amy and Laura! It was a blessed time! God is still showing me things in my life that I need to work on and dig deeper! It was a great time for me. We also had a great time together shopping for Polish Pottery this year. That was so much fun, helping the ladies pick out the perfect piece!

This is a typical picture of my Poland team. We LOVE being together! We love to laugh. Too many times we are not together and I miss it when we are all in the same room, talking, praying, crying and laughing together. I am so privileged to work and live along side these incredible women!

Top Right: Iwona Eifling - Iwona is Polish married to Daniel Eifling. She is a wife, mom of two and mentor to many young women. She also leads our divorce recovery weekends for teenage girls.
Bottom Left: Heidi Carlson - Heidi is married to Greg, our country leader. Heidi is a mom of two, friend to several Polish moms and women in the church and our HR person. We have needed this so much for so long and Heidi is GREAT at it!

Center: Laura Hash - Laura is married to Dan. Laura is a mother of one, gifted speaker, mentor of women, pastor's wife, English camp director and many more things to would take too long to write.
Bottom Right: Susan Ellis - Susan is a master all trades and master at MOST! Susan sees what needs to be done for JVPoland and how to do it and then gets all the pieces in place to get it done! She mentors young women, trains young leaders countrywide, works in her youth group, markets for our camp H2O and is normally at the front end of any new project that we may have going!
I know I have not listed everything that these women do. They love Poland and each other well! I love my team and I thank God for each one of them!

Noah's first Live Song

2011-03-21T09:35:00.000+01:00

So, I had just gotten home from the JV Women's retreat when I found out that Noah had his first LIVE performance. It is not on youtube! Here it is!

I am amazed that this 15 year old took on such a song! He is doing well, and we will find out if he will take the "couch", or the train. :)

Living life while sharing Jesus!

2011-03-14T22:57:00.000+01:00

Noah Ellenwood - Photo by sister, Hannah Ellenwood
Talent runs deep in this family! She took my last prayer
photo and it is one of my favorites!

As followers of Jesus, we have a balancing act in life. Is it possible to live a life that both the world and God would say is successful? I think so. Josiah Venture has a group missionary kids who's talents blow me away. I have never been around such intelligent, creative and loving young people.

Today, one of our JVKids, Noah Ellenwood has made the top 24 of Czech/Slovakia's version of American Idol, Superstar! This is a big opportunity for this talented 15-year old. It is not only big for his music, but also for his witness. He has had many interviews and has been very up front with who his is, where he comes from, what is parents do and that he wants to do the same when he is an adult. (What Noah does not fully realize though is that he is being a missionary NOW!)

Noah, we are proud of your not only for your musical talent but also how you are allowing God to use you, even as you live and sing with the other contestants. Sing your heart out Noah! I am proud of you!

A New Look for a New Year

2011-03-12T00:29:00.000+01:00

Yes, I am a few months behind, but I am trying to change my blog into more of a web/blog/communication tool. I hope you like it!

I love my frog! It is a fountain in Katowice and one of my favorite sites in the city! I hope you enjoy it too!! I will try to change photos from time to time. Let me know what you think??

"I am Catholic, I believe in the old man up there, but I will never go to church again."

2011-03-05T23:17:00.000+01:00

"Kitchen" Ice Breaker Game

Pancake toss

This is what one young man told me today at an English club in Gardowice, Poland. I will call him, "Darek". I met Derek last year at English camp and we hit it off. I was pleasantly surprised today at a new English Club when he came right up to me and started talking.

During club, I had the Bible story time. This week, we celebrated "Fat Thursday" here in Poland, where everyone stuffs themselves with doughnuts, so the theme of this club was "What are you full of?" I told the story of how Jesus offered a full life to the woman at the well. I challenged the students to think about what their lives are filled with and encouraged them to think about Jesus being the ONE to make life worth living.

Explaining how to make doughnuts

After club, Darek and I talked about what fills his life. "Sports", he said. Then he listed all the sports that he participates in. I ask him what he thought about the talk and he said that it was interesting. I asked him if he went to church and he said, "No, not since I went to confirmation. The church is empty. I believe in God, that old man up there," he pointed to the sky,"but, I will never go to church again. I live my own life." This is the second similar conversation I had this week.

Learning new "cooking" vocabulary.

Please pray for Darek, that he will think about what was said today and that next month when we have club again that he and I can talk more.

Also, please pray for "Kasia" (not her real name), who I am starting to meet with. My meeting with her was the other conversation I had this week. She has NO idea that she needs a relationship with Jesus to find purpose and peace in her life.

FAT THURSDAY! Tłusty Czwartek!

2011-03-03T15:22:00.000+01:00

It is a tradition here in Poland that the Thursday that proceeds "Lent" is the day when you can eat as many pączki or doughnuts as you can get in your stomach! Really, it is a big deal here! Long lines of people form in bakeries! I have never seen quite as many doughnuts as I have on this one day of the year. Poland goes CRAZY over these little balls of fat, flour, sugar and gooey inside stuff! I was driving down to our camp H2O this morning and due to the line of cars off the side of the road, I thought that there was an accident . . . but no, a line to get into the roadside bakery!

These doughnuts are all filled with jams, fruit and what I discovered today. . . Nutella! Yum!

My dear brother Łucasz was kind enough to model what it looks like when a Pole eats a doughnut on Fat Thursday! Tomorrow is the day when you use restraint and the stock on doughnuts crashes!

Śmacznego!

Long day, GREAT day!

2011-03-01T22:56:00.001+01:00

I got home tonight after a 9 hour marathon of meeting with 3 wonderful young ladies. All at different stages in their journey with Jesus.
It struck me again today, what a privilege it is to be in each one's life. They are fellow journey(wo)men and each seeks for her own identity and worth in her life. The conversations went from how school is hard and how exciting a sister's July wedding will be to apologetics and defending one's faith to a intellectual teacher as well as a ultra conservative "live not in or of the world" roommate, and then to the subject the church and how it should really look like and what and who are the wolves that we need to identify and fight. So many deep things, that my head is literally hurting from thinking and talking so long.

And yet, I am at peace and think of what a wonderful day it has been. God is so good even in the tough stuff.

Note to self: When in Poland, please wear a full coat and scarf and even a hat when it is 36 degrees and sunny. A warm sweater only brings disbelieving and disapproving stares. I am sure half of Katowice think that I will wake up sick in the morning due to my lack of "bundling up"! :) It really was a wonderful, sunny day! I was not going to ruin it with a silly coat! :)

A New Sobering Statistic

2011-02-10T23:11:00.001+01:00

The picture is a bit fuzzy, but you can find the full report here on Operation Word's website.

Poland has less Evangelical believers than even Libya Jordan, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia!

That is Less than 100,000 in a country of over 38 million!!! My heart breaks even more for Poland!

O LORD! Fill this country with your Spirit! Cause the people of Poland to seek YOU, not religion or money. Comfort your followers in the land where loneliness and separation screams in the darkness! Give them confidence and courage to declare YOUR Truth to their family, friends and co-workers! Please bring more workers to help the church reach this country for YOU!

Would you too pray for Poland? Would you consider coming and seeing if God would have Poland in your future?? The harvest is ready!! The hearts are so needy!

What a great game! Did not like the results, but a great game!

2011-02-07T12:52:00.000+01:00

Well, it was a great night! The game started at mid-night and ended by four-thirty. Who hired the "blond chick" to sing the wrong song? Yeah, I know who it was but to mention her name would just bring more humiliation to her. Wonder what did thought about when she woke up this morning?? ;) And what was up with the sound for the Black-Eyed Peas? So sad!

We had a full house here and cheered for both teams. I was the only one who was really cheering for the Steelers. Dan jumped in toward the end, though. :) Yesterday was the NFC's game. Oh, well, at least Rodgers is cute! Matthews, dude, you played GREAT but get a haircut!! :)

The best part though was being together! The Hashes, Susan Ellis and Erin S., along with my roommie (who had to go to bed soon after the game started). We enjoyed laughing, cheering, skypping with Dan's family, calling my family (my bro and I enjoyed laughing about the un-named bumbling blond) and watching the game.

It may be very "earthly", but is was a joy that you feel more intensely when you are away from home. Thank you, Lord for the little things!

A Bit of Americana Tonight!

2011-02-06T19:01:00.000+01:00

It is a tradition when you do it more than once right?? Well, if that is true, Super Bowl night becomes "Let's go to Alice's" night! I get the Super Bowl on ESPN America, so all of my fellow Americans in the area want to celebrate this wonderful meeting of the brains and muscles. The only problem is that it starts late for us! This year though it starts at 11 pm! Gotta love Central Standard time!

So the Hashes, Erin S. and Susan Ellis are coming over to celebrate and cheer! I think I am alone though routing for the Steelers! I just cannot bring myself to root for Green Bay! Just can't! So I hope this picture is the outcome of the game. GB chasing after Pits the whole time. If not, I will have some crow to eat!

I went upstairs to warn my neighbors (and invite them) and they just laughed and said, "No problem, Alice. We know it is an important holiday for you!! "

So here we go! I never got into the pre game shows, but since I am here, it is kind of fun. Too bad we will not get the half-time show. . . I was looking forward to finally a good group doing it! Oh, well. We will watch and rate the commercials on the Internet since we don't get them either! BUT we get the game that that is all I want to see! Super Bowl baby!!! Super Bowl!!

MSP: Snow Camp 2011

2011-02-02T13:34:00.001+01:00

This year the snow was great! The temperature was COLD and God was heard in whispers rather than shouts. It was a different year. The leadership group decided to have "Jesus talks" happen through conversations rather than up front during our meetings. There is good and bad to that strategy, and I felt the tension. For me it was, "Do I trust God to work in a way that is not as comfortable (having the Polish believers speak Truth rather than "teacher" up front) to reach those whom His Spirit is and will stir, or do I try to force it with my own strength and 'plan'?" It was a stretch for me. Even as I struggled with that tension, I had some great conversations! There were three young men who had many questions that their priest at school either could not, or would not answer and they were frustrated! During our conversation, they started to get frustrated too because my answers were, "What/Where does the Bible say about that?" or, "What did Jesus say about that?". They could not answer my questions, because even though they said they read the Bible, it was obvious that did not know how to find the answers they were seeking. We struggled and discussed various themes and I hope they left inspired and challenged to get their Bible out and seek God adn answers instead of just having someone give them the answers. Another few conversations I had was with a young woman whom I have been chatting with off and on for the past two years. She wants Jesus, but, He is one of many options in her life. Camp week made her come face to face with the lies that she is believing about herself, others and life. (THANK YOU, Dan Hash for your evening group talks!!) She still is looking at all of her options, but I think/hope she saw that all the other options she is following now besides Jesus brings her to deception and emptiness.

Please pray for our JV team who went (Dan and Laura Hash, Susan Ellis and myself) as we have contact with some of these youth throughout the year! Please pray that God will continue to open the eyes of this group of young people to HIS Truth!

What a wonderful time in American! Hello Poland!

2011-01-18T04:25:00.000+01:00

I love being in America! I love all of the Mexican restaruants, Starbucks coffee places, King Soopers and yes, Wallmarts! I love being with my family and watching my little nephew Liam take some of his first steps! I love seeing my nephew David increase his vocabulary each and everyday. We were amazed at some of the stuff he said! I love spending time with mom and dad, just hanging out and relaxing. I love seeing my brother and sister-in-law becoming AWESOME parents! My nephews are in WONDERFUL hands!
I love the way my friends have loved me so well this trip back. Not that it has not happened before, but this time it was different. We went deeper in our conversations and I was blessed beyond my wildest dreams during this trip.
I love the way God blesses me with all of these relationships and so much more. This trip was one that truly confirmed that I am in the right place, Poland. I love America with both sadness and joy. I go to Poland with excitement and anticipation!

Thank you, Lord for your blessings and your love by the people you have placed in my life!

My family whom I will miss!!!

Liam

David


Donna

Bill

Mom

Dad

Thank you for your love and the wonderful time that I got to spend with you! For my friends, I have been blessed beyond words! Thank you!

Getting Ready To Go Home/Leave Home

2011-01-11T18:45:00.000+01:00

I have had such a great two months in Colorado. Not just because it FINALLY snowed and I got to go to not one, but TWO Bronco games (thank you Pat and Chuck) but this time home has been filled with blessed times with people and more than one or two acts of love that has been lavished on me! God has shown me (once again) how much He loves me and how precious I am in His sight. Not all of my material goals have been met yet, but, I leave here rested and refreshed as well as encouraged and challenged. God is good!

I am getting ready to jump on a plane next week to my home in Poland and look forward to being with my roommate and friends! I have missed them so much! Every time I told a story, I looked at my calendar to see how many more days until my return. I long to be with my friends and JV family and yet I long to stay here with my family and friends just as much.

If you have never lived a life where two homes pull you, it is hard to understand my dilemma. I love both places and love people there and there. . . Now that I am getting ready to leave here, I am longing to stay here. . . just as I am longing to be in Poland. . .

If this is confusing for you . . . just imagine my brain and heart right now!

Thanks for praying and please pray that I leave well here and that the next month will be a good transition time!

Our Loss, Dan's Gain!

2010-12-31T03:26:00.000+01:00

This week one of my brother's closest friends went home to heaven this week. Dan prayed for me for the past several years as I have been in Poland. Every time I returned to America, I tried to go see him. Our conversations were not about him and the difficult life he had, but on what God was doing in Poland. He rarely would talk about himself. He always wanted to know how he could pray for me and the Poland youth.

Our conversation continued a few weeks ago when I went to visit, Dan asked, "How are the students responding to Jesus?" What a question! He was bedridden, in pain, waiting for his trip home to heaven, and yet he wanted to know what God was doing in the lives of Polish youth! I wish I knew him as deeply my brother did, but what I did know, I consider it a great blessing in my life!


My last visit with Dan. It was a great time!

We will be celebrating Dan's life next month. I am happy that the memorial will happen before I return to Poland. Dan has been a great prayer support for me! I rejoice that he can now dance and run and jump in worship before our King!

Please be in prayer for Dan's family. This was not an unexpected death, and yet there is a great void in their lives. Please pray for peace and comfort and hope.

Christmas Eve 2010

2010-12-28T01:23:00.000+01:00

As you can tell, this year was all about the kids! We had so much fun, but ended up taking David to the hospital because he just would not stop coughing and it was getting very bad. He is okay and is on meds. We then had our fondue dinner Christmas night! What a great time!

Merry Techno Christmas!!!

2010-12-13T17:44:00.002+01:00

For those of you who know my love for Apple will LOVE this!!! I would love to have a iPad someday (when it has everything I want on it!), but for now, I get to enjoy these guys and their talent!! Hope you like it!!

North Point's iBand from North Point Web on Vimeo.

The Blessing of Friendship

2010-11-30T00:34:00.000+01:00

It was way back in the '09s when I met Jen when she walked into my Sunday school class. She was this crazy 8th grader who I clicked with instantly! We went through many ups and downs in our relationship and God has been the center of it all. After all these years, I can say that Jen has become a great friend of mine.

Today we got to spend several hours reconnecting after a 4 years absence from one another's lives. Either I have been in Poland while she was in the States or she has been in Mongolia when I was in the States. Today, we were in the same Starbucks at the same time!

Our time blessed me beyond words! I thank God for Jen and all she is to me!

Thanking God

2010-11-26T04:30:00.000+01:00

It has been years since I have been home in Denver for Thanksgiving as I am on furlough. Today I had a wonderful time with my family reconnecting and sharing what God is doing in Poland. The whole day though I was also missing my JV family. I normally spend this holiday in the Czech Republic with my Josiah Venture family. It is an interesting feeling to want to be in two places at the same time, loving two groups whom you call family. On this day, I am reminded how blessed I am to have family all over the world.

Thank you, Lord for these precious people whom you have placed in my life.

Christian Polish Rap!

2010-11-16T00:34:00.003+01:00

So, I have been waiting for this to come out for a really long time! It is a rap video that was shot in Dan and Laura Hashes backyard! I love it and I love the fact that it shows how their home is the place that everyone like to be!

What is extra sweet about this video is the number of Polish young people who rub shoulders with peers who would not normally enter a church door. They are the only "Jesus" that many "un/anti"-church Poles see! Please pray for these leaders as many are isolated and some are misunderstood by the "normal" evangelical church.

A Brief History of Poland (without words)

2010-11-14T22:13:00.000+01:00

My teammate showed me this animation of Polish history. I thought it was GREAT. So if you have about 8 minutes and want to experience the heartache and joy of this wonderful country, sit back and enjoy!

For an explanation of some of these dates, click here: http://tinyurl.com/BriefHistoryOfPoland

Just thought you would like to know something about my second home and why I love it and cry for it.

You Just Gotta Love Jr. High!

2010-11-12T22:57:00.000+01:00

Tonight I had the Jr. High group over to my place for a pizza making and game night. Yes, they are all girls!! Our High School group are all guys. . . go figure!

Kasia (next to me) is really running the group. I am moral support and the group "hugger". :) I love watching Kasia lead and love these girls in to young womanhood! She is doing a GREAT job!! I few years ago, I am not sure I would have seen her do something like this, but as she has allowed God to grow her and challenge her, she is now investing in the next generation and is it is a beautiful sight!

I also love all of the Polish I am learning too! you can't pay enough for this stuff! God is good! He has blessed me with being a part of two groups and I love living life along side teenagers! Please pray for these group of young women as they get to know themselves and each other.

It's a Big Day here in Poland!

2010-11-11T23:35:00.000+01:00

Today is a BIG DAY! It is Poland's Independence Day and my brother's birthday! What is interesting too is that Poland's Constitution Day is on my birthday. . . go figure.

Happy Birthday BRO!!! Hope you liked the phone call!

Because it is Independence Day here, everything is closed including school. So, I had the youth group over to my place for prayer, pizza and movies! We had a GREAT time and I have not heard a group of Poles laugh and cheer as loud as this group did as we watched "The A-Team"! It was a great bonding time for us and I am so blessed to have these young people in my life! I will miss them as I am gone for two months to the States.

Do not grieve like men who have no hope . . . .

2010-11-09T09:26:00.000+01:00

1 Thes. 4:13 has been screaming in my head this week. Last Friday we lost a wonderful woman on our team. Ania (on the right) lost her very short fight with cancer. Just 3 weeks ago she was diagnosed with a tumor near her heart and lungs. She was in the hospital all that time to undergo tests and radiology. They were taking a week break testing, so she wanted to go home. That night (early Friday morning) she went to sleep, only to wake up in the presence of our Lord.
Her husband, Piotr is their church's youth pastor and a leader in our JVPoland organization. Last week, he lead a huge, 4-day evangelistic event that had been planned for months. He would be at the event in the day and then go to the hospital to be with Ania in the evening. I have always admired the show of love that Piotr and Ania had for each other, their kids and the youth group.

For me, Ania was the picture of grace and hospitality. We could not speak very long to each other due to my lack of Polish, but she always talked to me on my language level and made sure that felt welcomed and loved. She was a great model to other women with how to love young people and invest in them while having a family too. She was everyone's "mom" and the youth group in their church knew that Ania was always there for them.

About 4 weeks ago, Laura, Jola and I were in Nowy Tomyśł (Ania's home) to have a post camp meeting with their church. Ania was in pain(she did not know what was wrong with her) yet, she served us and would not let us help. She loved us and even as we prayed for her, I felt blessed more than my trying to bless her.

Today Piotr, Olywia and Jacob will be saying "good-bye" to their wife and mother. Our hearts are heavy and we are still in shock, yet we are filled with the hope of Christ that we will be reunited with her someday! Thank you Lord, for giving us Ania and for the example she was to me.

Please pray for Piotr, Olywia and Jacob as they mourn and adjust to life without their wife and mom. The coming weeks and months will not be easy as each have to struggle with the reality of death and God's will and timing. Thank you for your prayers!

The Bronco Game

2010-10-31T23:37:00.000+01:00

All I can say is that I am glad the game did not start at 10 pm. I would have gone to bed before the first half was done.

Oh, and why do we have the coach we have?? Even I can see all the way from here that the coaching and quarterbacking is TERRIBLE!!!

Enough said, I am going to go watch a movie to get into a better mood. . .

BRONCOS!!! BRONCOS!!!!! BRONCOS!!!!!

2010-10-31T15:13:00.000+01:00

Gettin' to watch the BRONCOS LIVE!!!! Before 10p.m. ! Because I live in Poland, and because neither Manning brother plays for Denver, I don't get to see many live Bronco games. When they are on, they normally are on on until after 10p.m. Well, today the game is played in London!!! I get to see the game! What is cool about this game too is that Jacob Hash, (my teammate's son and my adopted nephew) is celebrating his 16th birthday with his two friends along with the dads!!! Not only do I get to celebrate the BRONCOS tonight, but also the life that God gave an incredible young man and two generations of friendship (dads and sons). Let's here it for community!!!

WHAHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Being Part of the Body . . .

2010-10-28T10:43:00.001+02:00

In the past three weeks, I have had a number of conversations: the source of evil, the importance of prayer, the difference between religion and relationship with Jesus, the role of church in our lives, the importance of Bible study and interaction with God, amongst other topics. All but one of them were with with people under 30. As I get ready to go on furlough, I am reminded that my role here in Poland is not to stand in front of groups of youth and teach them about life and leadership, but to be the one who meets for a cup of coffee and walk along side young people and help them process things of life. Even though I am a "behind-the-scenes" type of person, I can honestly say that every once in a while I struggle with the fact that I am not one of the "spot light" people, teaching groups of young leaders, but when I do, God reminds me what part of the 'Body" I am. This last three weeks have been part of that reminder! We all have different abilities and contributions that God is using here in Poland, to invest in the lives of youth.

Questions: What part of the 'Body of Christ' are you? How are you using your abilities to invest in others? How does God remind you that you are exactly the part of "His Body" that He has created you to be? Do you listen to Him?

IT'S HERE!!!! IT"S HERE!!!! CHECK IT OUT!!!!!

2010-10-20T10:25:00.000+02:00

We have been waiting for over a year now for the new Josiah Venture website! I must say that it is WORTH THE WAIT!!!!!!

Come check it out!!

Josiah Venture

What do you think??? I hope it becomes a place that you go to often. Sign up for our new monthly newsletter too! You can also now read more about me and the JVPoland team along with new missionaries whom we are eagerly waiting to come to Eastern Europe. I hope you can tell that I am EXCITED about this new site!

Tell others about it! Link it to your website or blog!!!

Inspired

2010-10-04T19:12:00.000+02:00

Have you ever met someone who was a Bible translator? Someone who's passion for their own people moved them so strongly, that they gave up many things in life just to translate God's Word from the original languages into their own, so that his countrymen could read it and understand it? A few weeks ago, I met a man named Piotr Zaremba at our Fall Conference. He has written the most recent translation of the Bible into Polish. (He is fluent in Hebrew and Greek, and translated the Old Testament directly from the Dead Sea Scrolls. He has finished Psalms and many of the minor prophets.)

Piotr teaching about the importance of good translation.

I was moved not only by his passion for translation, but also his passion to see Poland come to Christ. He spoke about the lack of understanding of the Bible and the real Jesus in Poland. Everyone knows of church and God, but it is just a cultural thing. His passion is to see the Polish nation truly become a Christ following nation, not just a Religious Identification nation.

Reading the Polish New Testament has a very new meaning and purpose to me now that I have met it's translator. Please continue to pray for the Polish people. They have the Bible and yet it is not much more than any other book that is on their shelf. The Bible that is being used now in churches is over 200 years old and is very difficult to understand. Please pray that Piotr will be able to continue his translation work and soon have a Full Bible ready to place in the hands of the Polish people!

Note: One of my girls who has had a very difficult time reading her Bible told me after I gave her one of Piotr's translations that she could finally understand what God was saying to her. The Polish was modern, yet accurate and it made all the difference to her!

Blessed Baptism

2010-09-29T11:38:00.002+02:00

Sunday was a very special day for two very special people in my life. Jacob Hash is the son of my teammates, and we have kind of adopted each other. I am his "Auntie Alice" and he is my lil' bro. It has been a wonderful experience to watch this "boy" transform into a young man. Sunday was just one more step toward manhood. Gosia is a young woman who met Jesus by reading the classic, "Crime and Punishment". This book caused her to question her sin and through a two year journey, has come to faith in Jesus. Gosia and I have been meeting together for a year now and she is learning how to follow Jesus with all of the heart, soul, strength and mind. Sunday was blessed for me, as I witnessed Gosia overcoming her shyness and willingly told her story to a full crowd and then followed it with her public declaration of following Jesus. Here are some pictures of this blessed event.

Long time for me and many of my friends!

2010-09-29T11:24:00.000+02:00

I can only assume that every one is very busy this time of year. I have noted that I am not the only one who has been delinquent in blogging this month. . . well, I hope to end my "tardiness". Let me start with my next entry. One filled with joy!

So what has been going on?

2010-09-02T22:34:00.000+02:00

I noticed that it as been a while since I have blogged. I have not been incredibly busy, and yet I have been home. It is good. Rain has come back and the Wisła river is back up, but we hope that the flooding will not come. Tomorrow I will be attending a street party coordinated by some of my former students. It is a great thing for them because not only have they helped the city, but they have also been able to show their work ethic to the city hall. Please pray that it will not rain tomorrow so that the festival can happen. I will take some pictures so that I can share them with you!

FINALLY!

2010-08-16T15:51:00.000+02:00

I have been working on getting my Polish driver's license since February of this year. I took the test and passed it and with all of the red tape and two countries trying to talk to one another, I finally got it!! I am finally an official Polish driver! WhaHoo!!!

It is time to celebrate! I have my residence card for almost one more year and now my driver's license until 2013! Guess I have to stay a while! Wouldn't want anything different! :) Thank you, Lord!

Discipleship on Facebook

2010-08-09T22:38:00.000+02:00

If you would have told me that I would be using Facebook for more than social networking, I would have laughed. "Facebook is great for me to keep in touch with my American family and friends, and keeping track of some Polish students, but that is all" Well, I was wrong.

Today I got a FB chat from a young lady whom I prayed with a few weeks ago. "I am done with the book of Mark! Now what? It has given me so much peace!" I asked her to start reading it again but just one chapter at a time. I gave her a series of questions for Mark one, and she is excited to work through them! As soon as she does, we will go on to Chapter two. This young woman lives over an hour from me, so meeting face to face is not very possible. Facebook is though! So, I am fully jumping into social network technology to help a young woman grown in her faith! FB is no longer just a "catch up" site! It is now a discipleship tool here in Poland!

My Last Camp! Whew!

2010-07-29T23:00:00.000+02:00

I am off tomorrow morning for my last camp Is and away camp in the middle of the mountains near Ukraine and the Czech Republic. It is not very fair by miles, but will take over 4 1/2 hours due to the roads. The weather should be good tomorrow, but please pray for me as I travel alone. I am looking forward to this camp! It is with one of our favorite Canadian groups! I will give you a full update next week when I get home and rested a bit from my very busy month! Where has July gone?

Wisła Camp

2010-07-29T22:56:00.000+02:00

This was an unique camp. It lasted 2 weeks. For the first week the Indiana team served and spent time with the youth group leaders at the Lutheran church in Wisła. The second week was our English camp. We had 81 campers.

God moved in this camp. It was not only in the campers, but in both youth groups. We had 3 kids decide to follow Christ and 12 come and rededicate their walk and lives to following Christ.

This year at camp we are doing a Laberynth and that has brought the spiritual journey to a tangeble expierience. It was beautiful to see students experience God that night. It was interesting since the building we were in was not big enough for all the need stations and we had to move part of it out side. Right before we started the Laberynth, rain started pouring down! We decided to continue the activity though, and the rain only enhanced the experience for the campers.

I was able be part of a young woman's journey to Christ. Her name is Zuzia (Susan). She came to me and we sat down. I asked her what she wanted to talk about and she said that she was tired of living her own life and failing God. We talked about faith and what Jesus did for her and she asked to pray. We did! Zuzia is now reading through the book of Mark. She has been reading every day and we keep touch via Facebook!

God is at work in building a new generation who need to be encouraged and and walked with. They are more than likely to be the new church leaders of Poland's youth! God is moving!

We are Blessed Again

2010-07-10T09:49:00.000+02:00

Every time we have a group from North America come, I feel blessed! This week we have four groups from the US and Canada would will be doing English camps all over Poland. They came on Tuesday, spent the day of orientation on Wednesday and departed for their various camps on Thursday. I was personally blessed by two of the groups who not only brought me hugs (I know them from previous camps), but also things from the States that I have needed (or wanted). It was a great treat for me!

Laura Hash talking about Polish culture.

Each orientation is full of talks about Polish culture, practical living in Poland while here, building relationships with Polish youth, Catholicism and English teaching and Worship.


Talking about Polish views of Catholicism

Four of our wonderful interns!

They are BACK and almost got a piece of me!

2010-07-05T23:24:00.000+02:00

I was getting out of my car late tonight when I noticed a movement just to the left of me. . . I thought it was a dog. No, it was a mama Wild Pig! We have them here and they come into the city often since no one does anything about them. They are a real problem here. . . anyway. I then saw three little piglets behind her and she looked at me and started at me. I jumped back into my car and honked my horn, sorry neighbors! She stopped and ran around my car with her "kids". I waited for a few moments to make sure they passed and then got out of the car. As I was quickly walking to my building door, I hear a dog growl, pig squeak, wrestling and then a very hurt dog cry. I closed my door and thanked God it was not me doing the crying! Hopefully this will be the only encounter this year, although, last time this happened, we had them here until fall. Our interns Chris and Kelly were here too. . . . that was the last time the pigs came to my house. . . I wonder if Chris and Kelly brought them? Could be! :)

My "Luck" Ran Out

2010-06-24T10:25:00.001+02:00

I have always wondered why I am the only team member to have not been stopped by the police. I thought, 'Well, I do try to go the speed limit and follow all of the rules, so they should leave me alone." One of my team members calls me "Granny". :)

I was bringing the our summer intern's van back to the Hash's house from Krakow late last night. Here in Poland you must have the registration or "documents" with you at all times or you will get your car taken away. The "documents" also must be on your person and not stay in the car, so if you have a "group" vehicle, you have to pass the "documents" on every time someone else uses it. I thought the intern's left the document glove box since one of the interns had just driven it and handed me the keys. No, it was in his pocket and he forgot to give it to me and I forgot to make sure I had it.

I had just gotten out of the toll booth on the main highway when I saw a policeman point at me and wave me over. . . GREAT! What did I do? I was only going 50km! I stopped and he asked me for the "documents". I opened up the glove box and all that was in there were cd's. . . . (inside I was really panicking because I am also still waiting for my physical Polish license card from the Katowice DMV) I told the police officer that the van was our organization's and the last person must still have them, I would call them and ask them to bring them. I also did not understand everything he was saying and if there was a really big problem have Laura help me with a little translation. He smiled (don't know if it was a "yeah, right" smiled or, "I will give you a break" smile. I called Laura and she got the "documents" and said that she would come right away.

The officer's partner then came up and asked for my license, at this point my stress level shot through the roof due to my lack of the physical license. I gave them my Colorado license and they asked if I had a residence card. I gave them it. He smiled and said, "Colorado! I like!" They then asked me where I lived and I said Katowice. They asked me where my Polish license was and I said at the Katowice DMV office and they smiled. They gave me my stuff back and I told them that I would wait for my boss to come and they said, "No, go wait over there at the gas station." I took that as grace from both God and the officers and drove away thanking the officers and wishing them a pleasant evening.
Laura came soon after with the 'documents' I needed. The rest of the trip I drove with no problem, but was looking for the police to pull me over again to make sure I had done what I said I would do. They must have gone for a coffee break!

God was so good though! Police often stop people here for no reason beyond a "safety check" and if everything well, slap you will hugh fines or even take your car. None of that happened and I even used my Polish even though I was nervous on the inside, I kept is cool on the outside. I knew that even in this 'little' thing, God was with me and He would see me through no matter what the police would have done. I received grace and mercy las night and I am very grateful!

Yeah, yeah, I know

2010-06-20T22:16:00.000+02:00

It has been over a week since I have updated. I have been working hard to recover from the CCU camp and get ready for our camp season. Our first group comes on Tuesday! I get the chance to welcome our first group and then go visit the camp later up on the seaside. Believe it or not, I have NEVER been to the Polish seaside, so I am very excited. What is even more exiting for me is that I am taking my friend who I have been meeting with for months now, with me! I am looking forward to intense time of conversations and deepening our friendship! Please pray for me and for the camp as they will travel from the south of Poland to the north of Poland by train. Gosia and I will travel by train on the 30th. :)

Well done!

2010-06-07T01:04:00.000+02:00

Some of the youth group and students

Three students and one professor from Colorado Christian University, came and shared their lives here in Poland with us this last week. It was a great time to watch God move in their lives and in the lives of the Polish youth that attended the mini-camp we had at a Jr. High school. God was in this camp. We, a Protestant group should not have been able to get into a school here especially a village school where they try to protect their Catholic values from cults and other religions. The youth are protected fiercely, so to have this opportunity to share the Truth of Christ was an blessing! The head mistress loved us! The kids loved the classes and the club that we did after school. They even came back on a holiday weekend to come to the final club meeting! We rapped up the week by going to a local orphanage. The kids had never met Americans before and they wept as we left. I am not sure they get any visitors at all.

What was a joy for me to see, was the youth group of the Brethren Church step up and love on these students! They have been praying that God would give them something to push them beyond their comfort zone. This week did and they learned first hand what it is like to serve outside the church. Tears came to my eyes as we watched the week recap video because I saw so many school kids surrounded by church kids. A few even got brave enough to come to youth group on Saturday night! God is moving! Please continue to be in prayer for the Palowice youth group as they strategize the next steps of outreach.

More Rain and More English

2010-06-02T13:35:00.000+02:00

Today is our last English class day. It was a mini-camp lasting 3 days. Tomorrow is a holiday and then on Friday we will have our "CLUB" and parents are invited. Please be praying for this time. Please pray for the area with the rain. Driving to the school today was not too bad, but if we get any more, the town we are staying in will be isolated by water. We are to get two more days of rain. This morning water was leaking into the church we are staying in and parts of the parking lot had large pools of water. The volleyball court was covered with water and the soccer field looks like a marsh.

Please pray for continued conversations here at camp over the next few days!

These two young men wanted to know the specks of my computer and it was interesting to try to turn the conversation around to their lives and need for Truth.

I hope to continue the conversation today and then Friday.

My First English Camp

2010-06-01T22:52:00.001+02:00

Getting the teachers to do "Little Cabin In The Woods."

This week we have had 4 members of Colorado Christian University come and spend 3 days at a Junior High school. It has been fun to see the three students teach English and do stories from last year's camp curriculum. We will later go to an orphanage and down to Czech to see Josiah Venture's hotel/head quarters and a look at our H2O camp. We love the fact that CCU has taken an interest in what we are doing in Poland. This is the 3rd group who has come and we hope to have many more!

I got to lead the fun song "chants" and music!

Group discussions after the story.

On a personal note: The professor who is with the group is a very good friend of my friends the Tonkin's. It has been like having family here! What a blessing this group has been to me! Also, I have had a GREAT time teaming up with my dear teammate, Susan! We work really well together! I hope to do more events with her!

I am looking forward to going to 3 summer camps this year! I get to finally see the Polish seaside! Yippee!!! :)

Please pray as I am entering my busiest season of the year!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

2010-05-25T10:18:00.001+02:00

I sit here in my living room, listening to what once was comforting and now is just an annoyance (for now), pouring rain! We have had significant rain on and off for the last two weeks! There has been flooding and loss of life here in Poland. The waters have receded some from our camp, but there is more rain forecasted.

This past weekend, we had our Pre-Camp Conference at the Hashes house. With each significant conference or gathering, there is pressure and things that happen to try to throw us off our game. This year, it was a flash flood at the Hashes. It was not the raging river flash flood but the Hashes live at the bottom of a hill, below a farmer's field. When the rain hit, the water came rushing down and overwhelmed the water ditch and so started to flow into the yard and the basement of the house. The water was coming up from the ground because it is so saturated! Just mere hours from the first of 50 Polish leaders coming, and we are outside trying to keep the water from coming into the house. After a few phone calls from dear friends, the fire department came to give us sand bags. Well, sand and bags. So, Laura and I had to fill the bags and haul them over to the places where we needed them (Dan is in the States with his mom and Jacob was in Katowice doing a kid's outreach). The whole time we were laughing, grunting and wishing we had a camera to show you all the picture of our sandbagging techniques. The first group came only 1 1/2 hours after this extra activity!

God was good though! It rained on and off all weekend, but no more flash floods! The time with these leaders was sweet! This year's camp theme is "Redeem". It got me thinking that even though the weekend could have been a disaster, God, in a way, redeemed it for His Glory! The leaders were challenged to not only prepare for the camps but to look inside and see where God wants to redeem even more in their hearts! We did not have to break it up for flood control either!

I am still tired from the weekend. It did not stop on Saturday! Sunday was full too!

Now, on Thursday, I will go to Krakow to welcome a group from Colorado Christian University's Youth Ministries department for a vision trip which includes a mini-English camp at a local Jr. High school.

Summer has started ALREADY!!! Whew! I love Camp Season!

When it Rains it Pours!

2010-05-18T23:16:00.000+02:00

I know that many of you have heard about the floods in eastern Europe. It has been raining for 4 days in Poland now and even though the rain is not very hard today, the ground is so saturated, it will take very little to have even more flooding.

One causalty in the flooding is the camp that we are renovating, H2O. The good news is that none of the important buildings have been flooded, just the swimming pools and the lake. Please pray for the people in this area. Some have been cut off by the Wisła river which has risen and even broken through in some places. (That is how much of H2O's flooding has happened.) We also have an American group coming later this week to work at the camp.

Here are a few pictures of the flood:

This is from the second story floor. the brown building is where the two swimming pools are. The water looks like the water is about 3 feet from this picture.

This is the lake. There is a path and then about a foot down until the water normally. You can see all of the streams of water gushing down. Above it is our new soccer field we don't know what will happen to it or the watering system we had. . .

This is a different angle of the pool area. I am not sure if the waters are receeding or if they are still rising. It continues to rain.

Please pray that even with this setback, God will be glorified in how we deal with this and how we continue to trust in HIS timing and HIS direction.

Honestly, I ask myself, "What more can happen?", but then I think about the future and respond, "Thank you, Lord for making H2O COMPLETELY about you and your power and not us or our efforts!" What a story it will be a few years down the road when campers come and ask how this camp got started!

Please pray for wisdom and for the Sunriver Church who will be working at the camp this next week. Also, please pray that the rain will stop and that we will be able to dry out in time for all of the groups who are coming to help renovate.

I am in no danger of the water. My flat is on a hill. I have so far heard that none of the JV missionaries have been harmed, it is just hard to get around in some of our areas.

Thank you!

Please pray for our JV President!

2010-05-17T17:12:00.001+02:00

Tomorrow (tonight around 11:30 p.m. MST America) Dave Patty will be going in to have his mitral valve repaired in his heart. He is in the hospital now to get prepped for the surgery. The doctor thinks they will be able to go in through a side rib, but there is always a chance to need to open the chest up completely. All of this will be done as his breathing and circulation will be done via machines! Amazing!

Please join me in prayer for Dave and his family: Connie, Tyler, Caleb and Claire!

We all love them and are confident in what God is doing! The need for this surgery took everyone a bit by surprise, except for God! We rest in His hands!

Rain

2010-05-17T11:11:00.001+02:00

It has been raining for 3 days now with no stop! There has been local flooding, but for me, I am on higher ground, so I am okay. The rain messes with your emotions though! It is only 45 degrees and where it should be spring, it feels that the coolness of fall leading into winter. YUCK! I am hoping that the rain goes away soon, but they are saying it will stick around all week!

The Father's Pleasure

2010-05-08T21:23:00.002+02:00

This week I have been at our Josiah Venture Spring conference. The theme has been about parenting. How in the world could this be relevant to an old single gal like me?

That was one of my questions, so I went into the conference with an open mind and a heart to see how I can apply the principles to my spiritual "kids". It was wonderful how our leader Dave Patty made it so relevant to everyone, even us singles! We are spiritual parents to so many young people!

One part struck me. It was the Fatherhood of God and His Pleasure in me. How do I convey that to those whom am investing in?

Today was our FAMILY DAY! We had an old fashion family afternoon with games, softball, grilling, popcorn, cotton candy and pop! What a great, relaxing time it was for all of us to just sit back and be American with one another and to enjoy our lives together.

The photo above struck me as I have been thinking of the Father's pleasure. My teammate, Daniel, LOVES his kids deeply and I was able to capture his true pleasure of them just being his kids. They did not have to perform or say anything to gain it, he gave it freely. It will be a picture that I will not soon forget to remind me of my Father's pleasure in me!

Got pulled over today in Czech

2010-05-01T23:58:00.001+02:00

So I was driving on the highway in The Czech Republic. I purchased a "highway tax" sticker and put it on with The others I used over the past years. I passed a van that looked offical but did not think about it. I was not speeding and I had my sticker! The VAN pulled in frount of me and there was a glowing sign in The back window stating "Follow Me". In 4 languages. So, I followed. My friend who I was with knows some Czech but we chose to do this stop in only English. ;).

"Did I do something wrong, sir?". I asked
He did not speak English very well, but we figured out that I should not have had all of the past stickers on.
"Oh! I did not know! I will take them off right now." I told him.

"okay, but 25 euro" he said.
"But I have the sticker."
"only one. "

Okay. So I tried 3 or 4 times to not get a "too many stickers on your windshield fine", but he would not let me go until I paid The fine. He even had a card scanner for those of us who do no carry Euros with us. :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins

2010-04-28T12:15:00.000+02:00

"If that is not true, what does it matter whether God is almighty or Jesus Christ was born and died and rose again? It is because these things have a bearing upon my forgiveness that they are important to me." - Martin Luther

I am continuing my teaching on the Apostles' Creed tonight in our youth group. It is interesting how often we as believers take this phrase for granted and then wonder why we have problems with trying to "earn" our forgiveness. It has caused me to stop and really look at myself and wonder if if truly believe this in the deepest part of my spirit or if I have fallen into the "works" trap. . .

A Day Off!

2010-04-26T12:32:00.001+02:00

Last year I was challenged to take a "Sabbath" day. Sunday is that for most, but for me it is not. For many months I have not taken a FULL day each week and just rested my soul, body, and spirit. Since I have been taking Monday's off, I have not been as weary of every day life here in Poland. So, Monday's are my off day. I sleep in, read, watch movies, hang or go visit non-ministry people and even go somewhere if I so desire. It has been a wonderful practice for me and I have started to really protect this day. I even hope to continue this when I have my furlough in Colorado!

Enough of the Sad News! Here Some Fun News!

2010-04-21T09:39:00.010+02:00

On April 10th my former roomie, Monika got married. Her husband is a Australian MK whose family has run a Christian Center in an old Polish Palace in a village about 3 1/2 hours from Katowice for over 20 years. Three freinds from our church in Katowice were in the wedding, so we all went together. It was a great weekend with them!
Half of the guest were from Australia and I LOVED being surrounded by their accent. I have never spent so much time with "blokes' like them before though. I found out that they really are a nation that loves to joke around and laugh, a lot! (Did you know that there are as many Australian accent as there are American? Well, it felt that way. Some of the guys I understood with no problem, but some. . . I still am not sure what they said!)
The opposite were the Polish guests who not only were mourning the loss of the Polish President, but also are not as loud and "free" in their fun with strangers. It was a very interesting experience of two cultures. I actually found myself hanging with the Poles more!
One funny little thing was at meals that we fixed in the provided apartment. The Ausies (all guys) just fixed a plate for themselves and ate on the couch. The Poles made a full meal and set the table ate and cleaned up all it the same time. It was fun to make meals with my friends!
It was very funny to hear Polish spoken with a thick Australian accent too! Now I know what the Poles hear with my American accent as I speak Polish!
God was there and the whole time was a blessed!

Remembering Columbine

2010-04-20T11:58:00.000+02:00

I can still remember even after 11 years where I was. Our church's Missions pastor and I were just getting done with a meeting about the possibility of our church youth group going to Poland when were saw at least 10 Police cars and an armor truck speeding down Wadsworth. (We were less than a mile from the school.) We got back to the church and saw that every face in the office was white with shock. "What happened?" I asked. "There is an attack on Columbine High School." the secretary said. The next several days felt like a movie.

That was then. Today is the first day after the official 8 days of mourning for Poland. Again, 9 days ago, I felt like I was living in a movie. Was is really happening? Where is God in all of this?

God was right beside me the whole time in both tragedies. He did not go anywhere. Even when my emotions were accusing Him of leaving, He was there. I just was not looking for Him in the place He was, right beside me.

How do you process through tragedy. One of two ways, you either step closer to the Creator or step away. I have chosen to step closer.

If there was anything positive that came out of Columbine for me, it is the fact that my Trust in God has grown. He saw me through that and all of the stress that it brought in my life and the lives of our students and families and today, He sees me through every day stress here in Poland.

Please continue to pray for Poland and that God's Glory will be shown through out this country! There pockets of believers popping up where they are seeking God and praying for their country more than ever before. Maybe this tragedy is a catalyst for a revival in Poland!

Why this blog commentary?

2010-04-18T18:10:00.002+02:00

My mom told me that many were concerned and interested in how Poland and I am doing during this time. I decided to give you a glimpse into my experience here in Poland through the last several entries.
The funeral of President and Maria Kaczynski was today and I had the honor of watching it on TV. I have a English speaking Russian channel that give very good commentary (they all sounded American) and the reporter has lived in both Poland and Russia so he gave a very balanced and interesting commentary as well as important history during the funeral.

I hope you will be able to understand this beautiful country a bit better.

Start with "A Weekend of Farewell".

Please pray for Poland.

Going to their final Resting place

2010-04-18T18:02:00.000+02:00

The procession is at the castle. Wow! The pall bearers (military, of course) are walking the caskets up the the official castle entrance. For those of you who have been here, you know how steep that hill is and now, imagine carrying a casket! Wow!

I cannot imagine walking behind my parent's caskets for a kilometer. How difficult this must be for Marta Kaczynski. She looks so frail and sad. (Marta was criticized a few years ago for being on Poland's version of Dancing with the Stars. She is quite the public figure herself.) The sorrow on Marta's face breaks my heart.

At the Wawel cathedral: The "Silver Bells" have been ringing. This happened last when John Paul II died. It is a very rare occurrence in Krakow. The caskets are being "greeted" by beautiful choral music. The President and First Lady will be buried under the Silver Tower.

I am amazed at the beauty of the music that has been selected. It is like a movie, and yet you see the artists playing live. (Can I get the soundtrack!)

You may ask, "Why such a public funeral?" Lech Kaczynski was a big part of Solidarity with Lech Walesa and was a man of the people. Until a few years ago, his views and politics were shared by many. This funeral is for those who struggle with him. (Or at least that is what the commentators said.)

After a short ceremony, they are now being taken to the crypts under the castle. And that is the end.
At the sounds of a 21 cannon gun salute, a new era of Polish history starts.
(RT TV will be putting much of this on their YouTube site should you have the desire to watch it. It should be with full English commentary.)

Polish Pride and Sorrow

2010-04-18T17:21:00.000+02:00

Both caskets were taken to the Castle via Hummer.

Countless flags were held up by onlookers as the President passed by.

The funeral mass was beautiful and sad all at the same time. Pomp, tradition and national pride was on display for the world to see. As the caskets were taken (by hummer) to Wawel castle, the crowd broke out in applause and then someone started the Polish national anthem. What an incredible site of national pride. I have not seen this outside of a soccer or a men's volleyball game. There are even more people in the square than I thought.

The flags and the flowers are too many to count. I am amazed at how many phone cameras are being used to take pictures of this most unique time of European history.

As the media zoomed in on the faces of Polish leaders, it was interesting how many emotions were shown. Polish politicians are known for showing no emotion at all. These death have brought an end to that. I hope it will be for a very long time.

They are now at the Peter and Paul church about 1/2 km from the castle and the multi-generational applause is amazing to me. Many youth have no idea what the history of this President was and his recent years have been full of controversy and division, yet today Poland is united.

A Weekend of Farewell

2010-04-18T15:45:00.002+02:00

Crowd attending the memorial service in Warsaw.

On Saturday, at 8:56 a.m. I had to look out my window to make sure everything was okay. I hate air raid sirens and they all went off throughout Poland to start the weekend of sorrow and farewell.

Hundreds of thousands mourned and said good-bye to the 96 passengers of the Poland plane which crashed a week ago.

The faces on the family members were more than sorrowful, they were hopeless. As I watched the line of family member receiving rosary beads as a symbol of their kin, tears filled my eyes. I am living in a country who proclaims to know God and yet it is just window dressing for most. There is such a sense of loss and hopelessness here.

Inside the funeral in St. Mary's Cathedral.

Today at 2 p.m. the sirens when off again to announce the beginning of the funeral. I am right now flipping stations from Polish to English coverage of the President and Mrs. Kaczynski's funeral. It looks like hundreds of thousands are sitting/standing Krakow's city square. It is amazing to me that this is a place that is so common to me and I have been in the St. Mary's church so many times. It brings it very close to me.

The service is so like many that I have attended here, empty. There are some who genuinely know and follow Jesus Christ and are in the Catholic church, and yet for the majority of Poles, it is just a national identity and "obligation" for country pride.

This morning we heard two teaching as church about this tragedy and what it means to us in Poland. The first was a beautiful talk about how true believers are the only ones who can ask tough questions to and about God and yet be comfortable about those questions. We have a Creator who know all and our trust is in Him, not in the events of the world. The second one was more subdued as our pastor talked about how life is empty without God. How everything is meaningless without the One who gives meaning.

Later today the Kaczynski's will be layed to rest in the Cathedral in Wawel castle. I have heard rumors though that they may be buried in a different wing of the castle. There was GREAT controversy when it was announced that they would be buried in the same place of past Kings and Queens of Poland.

A Week of Mourning

2010-04-12T12:19:00.000+02:00

Poland will officially be in mourning for the next week. I want to assure those who are concerned about our presence here in Poland has not changes. We are here as before and are mourning with our Polish friends.

Poland is a stable country and even as the EU was ripped by financial crisis, Poland was okay because they had a very smart head of the National Bank Committee. Unfortunately, he was also on the plane.

I will give you updates as I hear them. As with any tragedy, there are rumors in the news which are reported as fact and fact which are reported as rumors. I don't want to spread anything that is not true, so I will not write anything that I have not confirmed with my Polish friends.

Please continue to join me in prayer. I will quote my Polish teammate, Iwona Eifling, "When I sat and watched that my president and all of these leaders died, I watched in disbelief. I felt the same shock I remembered feeling as I sat and watched those planes fly into the towers." (Ewona was living in the US during 9/11.) Imagine 9/11 with 89 of America's top political, military, financial, and intellictural leaders being taken out.

To understand more about the significance of Katyn go here, here, and here. An wonderful movie was made in 2008 about the massacure. You can get it here. It is not rated, but is a war movie with the same intensity and adult themes as an American rated "R" war movie. It is in Polish with English subtitles.

The Moment of Silence and Sorrow

2010-04-11T22:37:00.000+02:00

Today, President Lech Kaczynski's body came home to a country full of sorrow and worry. Twenty bodies have been identified so far and dozens more hope to be as they go through the wreckage.

The question: "What will happen now?" Key leaders and cabinet members, all of the top military generals along with some of the top historians and intellectuals lost their lives Saturday.

According to my Polish friends, the lower Parliament leader will take over as temporary President for the next 2 weeks and 60 days, then an election will take place to seat a new President. The elections were going to happen anyway in December and a real fight was starting to brew amongst candidates. Unfortunately, at least two were on the plane. It will be a very interesting two months.

Yesterday's wedding was beautiful even with the shadow of a national tragedy. After hours and hours of food and fun conversations with a few great Ausies, I went to bed at mid-night while the "youngens" were still whooping it up down stairs. (It is nice when your room is in the building as the wedding party!)

Today we went to church at 11 and in the middle of the service, at 12 noon everything stopped in Poland as air sirens sounded, for two full minutes, I echoed the whispered prayers of my Polish brothers and sisters for peace, guidance and new search for real Hope.

As we drove back 3 1/2 hours in heavy rain to Katowice, there was a feeling of doom as we approached the city. Everything was closed except for gas stations and McDonalds. It felt to me like the day of and after 9/11 when everything was closed and planes were not flying over head.

After I got home, I went up to my neighbors place to give my condolences and found out that they were friends with one of the passengers on the plane. This brought it much closer to me. I am not sure if we Americans fully understand how significant the loss is, here in Poland. It is more than tragic to have the "Head of Poland" chopped off twice in the same area of Katyn (the deaths of over 20,000 Polish officers and intellectuals by the Soviet Union). Click here for a pretty good article about Katyn and this weekend's tragedy.

Dear Heavenly Father, please comfort this country through the gift of the only Hope that will bring peace and comfort, your Son. Use this tragedy to bring many to your thrown and show them that Jesus is the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life. Everything else is just vapor.
Amen

A Country Mourns

2010-04-11T00:43:00.002+02:00

I woke up this morning looking forward to celebrating Monika's wedding. I looked at my Phone and saw the message "polish President's plane went down on Russia". My heart fell. What will happen? I have been the wedding all day, so have heard more news than I have.

Please pray for this wonderful country. Maybe this tragedy will bring people closer
to trusting Jesus. Pray that my words will be of comfort, yet seasoned with the salt of the Godspel.

What a great day!

2010-04-08T23:48:00.000+02:00

I just want to let you know what my Thursdays normally look like. They are my busy contact day! I normally meet with a young woman who has lead our MOOSK (Citywide youth group) team. We have a great time speaking "Ponglish"! Today I also got to make lunch with one of my old roommates and got to try out my "Life Coaching" skills which I learned at the women's retreat last week. She has some big choices to make and I was amazed by how the process took her to a place neither one of us saw at all! It was a special moment for both of us. I then went to go meet with my future new roommate and one of her friends. We went from a coffee shop to the food court to a Kebab place near our church to a hospital parking lot to pick up her sister and her boyfriend and then we met one of our other friends, Arek at a wonderful new Tea House. Well, two of us had not eaten yet and so we went back to the kebab place to get food and then returned to the Tea House (at 10pm). It was a great time for me to see the world of my future roommate. Almost everything was in Polish and I must say, I held my own! :)

I was so happy to share this evening with young adults who know about Jesus but they do not KNOW Him. My prayer is that through these encounters with this new group of young people, they will see that it is more than just Ania who follow Jesus. I also pray that their heart become hungry for Truth and Belonging.

Whew! It is now almost midnight and I am leaving tomorrow for my former roommate's wedding! It will be a fun and full weekend!

Rockies and Weddings

2010-04-07T21:12:00.002+02:00

This week has been pretty mellow for me. I have had the Hashes dog, Zoe with me and we have had tons of fun together. Tonight I turned the TV on and saw that the Colorado Rockies was on, and they are winning! This weekend I will go to my old roommate's wedding. I love to watch and be a part of Polish weddings! I will post pictures when I get home! It will be a 3 day event since I am transporting 3 of the bridesmaids! Whahoo!