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.

The tale of Multi Media

So the time had come for me to renew my cable and internet package here in Poland. Sean asked me and I took the task on willingly to go and handle, or at least try to, on my own. Now between lack of time and the cable companies’ computer system being down it took three days before I could finally get into the store. Once I did I figured my game plan would go as followed. [Walk in and after greeting them in polish ask if the person helping me spoke English] The plan seemed full proof. And I must add it was going well. The costumer care person even said she spoke a little English…..

But that’s about as far as I got with my “full proof” plan. I very soon found out the “I can speak a little English” really meant that she couldn’t. Now, I had waited in line and now that I finally had a person’s attention I wasn’t about the just walk out. So we spent the next 15-20min. going over cable plans, filling out paperwork and renewing my contract.

That’s right folks… all done in Polish. Afterwards on the way home I couldn’t believe what had just happened. God is so good and so faithful. He always amazes me! He truly answered my prayer. Even if was for cable and internet;)

Tuesdays in Olsztynek

Every Tuesday another lady on the team and myself go to Olsztynek (about 30 minutes from Olsztyn) and teach ESL (English as a second language) to children in an after school program for about an hour. For the next couple of months we are going to be using heroes of the Bible to learn English. So far we have gone over Noah and Abraham. We plan on going over key figures from the Old Testament until we get the main man JESUS. (below: the childern working on their Abraham craft)

The kiddos enjoy coming each week and behave well. Actually this week was the first week without the help of the other two Jmen (gotta give a shout out to my Jessica and Amber!) However, flying solo went very well! Even with no national there the language barrier didn’t cause a problem and I was actually able to communicate everything I needed to.
Along with learning about Abraham this week the kiddos were also excited because I brought candy corn, cupcakes and we made a pumpkin craft in honor of Halloween which it just around the corner. The kids are a blast to be around! Please be in prayer for them.

(left) Łukasz being a little ham for the camera