Praying for Poland

Rolling up the sleeves and determined to learn Polish…

Just to catch you up a bit…Debbie left for WV on Saturday and I hang out around the apartment.  Sunday, I went for church at the Krzesinskis and then they were off to pick up Robert’s sister, Ella and son.  They are here to visit for the week and hoping to get time with Ola (Robert’s sister that lives nearby) too.  I enjoyed my Sunday – relaxing.  Monday was my first day of Polish classes…I was a bit nervous.  At first, it looked like it would just be me, then Lara joined me for the 4 weeks of intensive study.  Lara is from Scotland and Polish will actually be her 5^th language!  She is here to study for a month, then off to hang out with friends in Germany for a few weeks before heading back to Scotland.  Classes are going well – just waiting for that light bulb to go on and Polish start flowing out of my mouth.  Yesterday, we had a good planning meeting for River Cities group coming next month…starting to get plans on paper.  We shared our answers from book “Lead Like Jesus” and how what we read gave us an “Aha!” moment.  Today is a holiday – a lot of parades.  No classes…so laundry, cleaning and study….first Eurocup match to be played in Warsaw tomorrow night.

The coffee cup version….

I know Debbie had to go home, but I did enjoy her wisdom and kindness that she showed me.  It helped me deal with some of the struggles of adjusting and things not being what you think they will be.  There were changes that occurred just before I arrived and there were times I allowed doubt to come in.  God was with me, but it was definitely a time of adjustment.  Rachel is letting me borrow a book “Shortcuts to Poland” and this book has given me a good insight on the Polish culture.  They have a quiz in the beginning “How Polish are You?” – I am fairly Polish with great potential…whatever you are doing, do it some more…so I guess I will be eating more fish!  Since the Krzesinskis are spending time with family, I am spending more time reading and studying.  The Lord is showing me things in my devotions and through e-mails from others…that I am making strides forward in faith.  Polish classes – nothing like having the first day of school jitters, it has been a long time.  Jola is a very patient teacher and Lara is well versed in several languages.  Lara is looking into working for an embassy someday and learning as many languages as she can – she knows English, German, Russian, French and soon Polish.  She is here for a month to study & explore and then off to Germany – Berlin, Hamburg & Bremen with friends.  It seems to be the thing for college students to do, travel through Europe and possibly study a language.  Today is a holiday, to celebrate the Christ child – there were parades throughout the city.  Not like our parades, but quietly marching behind banners, a group singing a hymn, or priests are preaching on a megaphone.  Tomorrow, the first Eurocup match will be held in Warsaw tomorrow night.  Some places are blocked off areas to accommodate tons of people watching the game on huge screens.  I am thankful that I will not be that close to all the events and can watch them on TV!  The weather has been more like spring/fall here this past week – cool and rainy.  I get to wear my new jacket…but I wish I would have got those rubber boats….  Today the sun is out and even though there is a cloudy overcast…it will be around 60 degrees today.    The follow verse had helped me this week…

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”  Phil 2:13