Ten Fun facts...Poland

1. Poland is the 9th largest country in Europe.
2. In Poland the name day is considered more important than the birthday.
3. Amongst all the members of the European Union, the residents of Poland marry the youngest. 4. Poland boasts 17 Nobel prize winners, including four Peace Prizes and five in Literature.
5. 90% of Poles have completed at least secondary education.
6. Marie Curie (born Maria Sklodowska ; 1867-1934), the first and only Nobel laureate in two different sciences and first female professor at the Sorbonne University.
7. Polish born astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was the first person to propose that the earth was not the center of the universe.
8. In Wroclaw there is an annual city-wide medieval festival, including jousts, horse archery, medieval dances and other activities.
9. Natural resources include: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land.

10. Pizza in Poland does not contain tomato sauce. The waiters bring sauce to the table in a pitcher, and you pour it on top. Sometimes the sauce is just ketchup.

...and we're running

I wanted to share one of my goals for 2010....

One of my roommates and I wanted to take up running and actually enjoy it. So we decided to start training for a 1/2 marathon. Our end goal, whats keeping us going during these cold Poland days is knowing that in May we will head to Ireland to run in the Bay Race. I am so excited to think that in May I will have the chance to go to Ireland and to run in a 1/2 marathon. It's going to be so cool to say that I have actually ran a 1/2 marathon!

God's people and your support

December is here and so is the LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERING. Every penny given to this offering is used to support the 5,600+ Southern Bapt. missy’s as they share the Gospel overseas. This year’s goal is $175 million and the theme is “Who’s Missing, Whose Mission?” It focuses on overcoming barriers to hearing and accepting the Gospel in various parts of the world and the mission that the Great Commission gives all Believers to “go and make disciples of all nations.” The shortfall in last year’s offering has resulted in large reductions to the number of new workers that will be sent to the field in 2010. Petition that Southern Baptists will give generously this year, so that those called can go and that the Good News will continue to be proclaimed to those who need to hear.

who said "black Friday" was only in the States?

Since here is Poland they don't celebrate "black Friday" the ladies on the team decided we would create our own black Friday shopping trip. We loaded up and left at 5:30am to head down to Warsaw for a day of shopping and big city life. Below are some pictures of the day.

* Stacey and I on the bus to Warsaw

* First stop: Starbucks!

*Polish Pottery shopping!








It was a very long but good day! Its a new team NEP tradition!....I hope:)

some kind of crazy

Hey everyone! The last month or so has been crazy busy! Between moving into a new apartment and going to Germany for a company conference along with new ministries that have started up here in Olsztyn I can easily say I have/had a lot on my plate. However, through it all the Lord has been amazing and I thank Him for all the new ministries going on here and getting to reconnect with both American and Polish friends. Below I attached a link so you can see some of the pictures that I took in Germany. I still have not posted the new apt. pictures but once I do I’ll make sure I post the link to that as well. Hope everyone is doing well.

Prayer request:
· The big coffee house launch this Thursday-please pray that people will come and that through coffee house we can meet new contacts and share the THRUTH with them.
· Alfa Groups- This is a Polish discipleship group that meets in our apartment. Pray that those coming to seek would find salvation is Christ alone
· All saints and all souls day (oct.31-nov.1)-This is the day that people will go and place candles and flowers on loved ones graves and pray for them in hopes to get them closer to heaven. Pray as we prayer walk the cemeteries that Christ light and hope would shine through us.


Pictures of my time in Germany:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2058058&id=55500445&l=8d4be4a353

Polish Christian Rap

To end the week of GROM (evangelism training) in Olsztyn they brought Kola in to share the TRUTH through his awesome talent of rap. Below is a clip of Kola preforming in old town. He was able to stand on stage and promo for his concert later that night.

Update...

Things have settled down since my last month of travels. This next month’s big ministry event will be the 9th-21st when I work with the local believers as they learn and develop new discipleship strategies. Along with helping the Poles I am also very excited about revamping our existing coffee shop ministry. At the end of this month I will travel down to Krakow (south Poland) where I will meet up with another M who runs a coffee shop ministry to share ideas and ask questions. The hope for the new ministry is to meet weekly in a hotel conference room. Each week we will host a different theme (ex. Movie night, game night, bring in live artist/musicians). The draw of the place will be offering free coffee and English conversation along with the scheduled activity for that evening. All this of course is to build new relationships and share the gospel.

Prayer request:
*We can find a place to live in a new area of town which we hope to start ministry projects come fall: We are hoping to find a big enough place to allow all the Journeygirls to live together as well as have discipleship groups meet in our home.
*pray as we collaborate as a team to create new ministry projects: projects like bible distribution and starting a new church
*For our new revamped weekly coffee shop ministry: pray we continue working out logistics such as location, advertising and weekly themes
*GROM: for two weeks in August (9th-21st) Poles will be training Poles in street evangelism and discipleship techniques.

Praises:
*We have had over 15 people request a bible and a monthly discipleship program.
*weekly new people are coming to church
*The weather has been warm and sunny!