Time keeps flying!

The Easter holiday has already come and gone... WOW this year seems to be flying by. I can’t believe I’ll be half way through my two year term come April 28th. I look back and the last year has been nothing but a pure joy and blessing.

Weather: Finally after 6 months of cold dark winter I am finally seeing what looks and feels to be like a hint of spring. Who knew the mid 40’s felt so nice! It’s wonderful to see people out on the streets again and children playing on the playgrounds. It feels like everyone is finally making their way out from their winter hibernation.

Roadblock: Usually as most of you know I go out to the village of Olsztynek on Tuesdays and teach English using Bible stories. Well a group here called Catholic action has found out about our work and has seen how successful it has become. Its gone from 5 children when we first started to now 20 children coming faithful each week to hear about the Bible stories. Because the group has begun to give us some opposition. The polish pastor is having several meetings with the leaders of this group and hopefully somehow we will be able to continue our work there.

New addition: The polish pastor that we work closely with and his wife welcomed their first child into the world on March 17th. Piotr (Peter) was 7lb. 6oz. and 21 inches long. Both baby and mom are doing wonderful!

We serve an awesome God

This last week was truly one of those weeks that I just had to stand back and be in AWE of the Lord. To start off…At the beginning of the week I was a little discouraged at the fact that I have been on the field for 7 months and had yet to have a spiritual conversation with a non believer. So during my quite time that was one of the things I talked to the Lord about. In return He gave me an amazing week with numerous opportunities to share Him and praise Him.

Tuesday: I go do ESL work in the villages. Well we ended up not having class in Olsztynek so instead we made a home visit. That was the first time I had made a home visit and I think it went well. We told the Bible story of Joshua and the wall of Jericho and sang songs together with the children. Bother the mother and father stayed in the room and listened to the story and watched the children have fun making the craft and singing songs.

Wednesday: A lady come to 3C (coffee house) and I ended up getting to share the gospel with her. She is a Catholic theology student at the university but she is open to hear what I believe. We are going to continue to meet on Wednesday mornings.

Thursday: At 3C we have been having several college students attending. Well just one came on Thursday and I was able to share with her too! We talked about child/infant baptism, confession, the pope, original sin, Mary, the rosary, the authority of scripture, the blood of Jesus and way he died, and the hope that we can have by knowing Jesus. She describes herself as a post modern thinker. She was interested in hearing what I believe.

(Left: Me standing out in the middle of a frozen lake)

Saturday: In the morning I went with my language teacher and her family to feed the ducks a one of lakes in town. The lakes have frozen over here so I actually got to go out and walk on it. It was pretty cool! I also had a girl’s night with a polish fiend. After our girls night I took her back to her apt. I stayed for some tea and ended up having a spiritual discussion. She asked questions and I told her what I believe and the path of salvation. She was interested in what was discussed and she wanted to come to church with me on Sunday.

(Right: a picture of the yummy food we ate)

Sunday: My friend came to church! During church she asked questions and began to read the Bible that I gave to her. After church she wanted to go somewhere and talk and reflect on what she had just heard. We ended up going back to my apt. and we talked about the church service, answered questions that she had, I laid out the Roman Road for her. She told me that she was going to start reading the Bible and I am meeting with her again on Thursday.

Bottom line: The Lord is good and I was able to share the path of salvation and the Hope that we can find in Him! Three times in one week!

Christmas Blessing

Well Christmas has come and gone and it’s now January 13th and I am just getting around to writing about my adventures in the States. (My bad)

From the 19th of December to the 3rd of January I was back in the great state of Texas *(All Texans reading this just broke out into large cheers)* to celebrate Christmas with my family and friends. It was a time to reconnect with friends and my sending church as well and spending some special quality time with my family. My two weeks in the States was very busy getting everything checked off my “to-do” list and seeing everyone that I wanted to see, but I loved every moment of it!

(picture: my mom, me, sister Emily and T.C. on Christmas morning)

It was a very special blessing from the Lord! Now I am back in Olsztyn and my vacation is over. I’m once again hard at work. Back to ESL in the villages and weekly English conversation at the coffee shop. Along with helping orientate new team members and meeting with nations.
The Lord worked in and around me in such amazing and mind blowing ways the last six months I can’t wait to see what the next six months will bring.

(picture: my college roomies and I while out to dinner at Salt Grass)

1st Thanksgiving in Poland

I didn’t have my traditional garden ridge trip after Thanksgiving dinner or getting up at 4am to go shopping the day after but this thanksgiving was still a blast!

Thursday we ate Thanksgiving as a team, watched movies and played games. Friday we had Thanksgiving part 2. The team from Warsaw came up and we enjoyed having Thanksgiving with them. We also played games and had a time of praise and worship. Saturday I went with the Warsaw team to The Wolf’s Lair (Hitler’s headquarters while he was in Poland) it’s only about 1 ½ away from Olsztyn so it wasn’t a bad drive at all. Afterwards we ate lunch near the castle and headed back to Olsztyn.

(picture: our 33 pound turkey)

(picture: Hitler's bunker)

Once back in Olsztyn we took the Warsaw group to me new favorite place…The chocolate café! After warming up by the fire and our tummy’s were full for chocolate we all headed over to other teammates apt. to watch the Cowboys Thanksgiving game.
This year’s Thanksgiving was a blast!

first snow...

I just wanted to post some Pictures of the first snow here in NE Poland. Since in Texas light fluffy snow, snow at all for that matter is not common and bascially non-existent I wanted to make sure I had plenty of Pictures to remeber the event. Enjoy!

*View from my balcony over looking the tennis courts

* A little look at the snow

Mr. Golden Sun

Who knew once my constant complaining over the Texas summer heat and sun would soon be something I dreamed of? This time of the year the weather in Poland consist of mainly dark, cold, and rainy days. We will go several days without seeing the sun and it now gets dark by 4pm.

Today, however, was not a typical polish weather day. The sun was out and shining bright! Since the day was so beautiful staying inside all day was not an option. So Alethea (a teammate) and I took a beautiful walk around one of the lake that is located by old town here in Olsztyn. It was so nice to have nowhere to be and just had the chance to take in the beautiful sights of the city.

The rest of the week is supposed to be cold, foggy, and rainy. So even though the nice weather is over..it was so nice to have a day that just warms your heart and gives you another reason to praise the Lord for his blessings and gifts

lights in a dark world

Tonight the team went and spent some time prayer walking through one of the cemeteries in town. Today is November 1, which is All Saints Day. I’ve heard one of our team members says it best. It’s the most beautiful darkness even. After seeing the sights I would have to agree. It’s a beautiful sight to see and at the same time heartbreaking. To see people praying to Mary, parents teaching their children lies and the plan fact that people are putting their faith in something other than Christ. It shows the totally darkness that is here. While at the same time you saw how the light of the candles cut through the darkness just as we are to be lights of the world and cut through the darkness. I found this and thought it explained some aspects of All Saints day nicely:
-Participate in the tradition light candles at and visit the graves of deceased relatives. The candles, znicze, of All Saints Day are uniquely designed to burn for hours to provide light to help the souls of the dead find their way. Cemeteries are also decorated with small lanterns. The metal covers of the lanterns help to protect the flames from the wind.

-People bring fall flowers or wreaths to place on the graves. In Poland yellow and white chrysanthemums are traditionally used to decorate graves as are asters. Kwiat and znicze (flower and candle) markets are set up outside the gates of some graveyards.

-Silent crowds revel in the lights. The thousands of candles lighting the cemeteries creates a glow which can be seen from far away.