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| thinking spring... |
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| kid's handy work |
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| sneak peek at Saturdays project - 4/20 |
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| girls hard at work |
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| finished craft! :) |
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Spring…I think it may be here…
It is great
to say that the weather is finally cooperating and we are getting more
sunshine, snow has finally melted, crews are out raking and sweeping, flowers
are peeking through and we even had a rainbow this weekend! Things are going well at the Daily
Grind. More people are starting to stop
in and check us out. The past few weeks,
we have even had Dads bring their little ones to play and enjoy having a snack. The past few Saturdays, there have been
almost a dozen kids participating in the crafts. Thankfully we will be starting two sessions
soon, that way we can do a little more one-on-one help for the little ones and
let the bigger ones do more on their own.
This past Saturday, I was very encouraged, one of the older boys
actually wanted to make the craft – CD fish!
This Saturday, we will be making candy bar clowns…so if you want to
come, you better hurry! LOL Please join us in prayer that our Tuesday and
Thursday evening groups grow like the Saturday craft time. Since the weather has gotten more pleasant,
there are more people out and about, so they may stop in more often. Sometimes in the afternoon, I sit behind my
computer and pray for the cars and people going by…that God will burden their
hearts to come to know Him and that He would allow us to be a part of
that. The meetings with Ewa (pronounced
Eva) are going well. She brightens my
day and thanks me for helping her with her English – yet God is the one working
to draw her closer to Him. Continuing to
work on my Polish and so thankful for my teacher’s patience. God has also allowed me opportunities to do
things with Anna, if she opts out of coming for cooking in Polish nights. Activities are growing as summer is drawing
near…next week, Lord willing – we will deliver the baby blankets to the
hospital, Kim and Sarah are coming to visit me, then Debbie is going to visit
the Krzesinski family and in July there are a group of teens coming (possibly
18 people). Please continue to pray for
our ministry here, opportunities for God to use us, and wisdom & strength
as we prepare for events in the near future!
J
Cup of Coffee version…
There is not
a ton to expand on, but here are some fun facts that I have learned while I
have been here. A Polish woman
explained to an American woman that Americans are like peaches – warm and
friendly to anyone they meet, but only have a close knit group of people that
really know them (or are invited into the pit).
She went on to say that Polish people are more like walnuts, you have to
get past the tough exterior and then you will be welcomed into their inner
circle and see their softer and friendly side.
Another thing I learned is about brown eggs. They always need to be washed, rarely the
same shape, and to access the most nutrients, leave them out at room temperature,
especially if you bought them at the Bazarek.
Also a side note, it is best to wash the egg, crack it in a separate
bowl before adding to your dough or pain…need I say more. LOL I
am so thankful that God has brought some special ladies into my life, I am able
to help them with their English or teach them the differences between Catholic
and Baptist beliefs – not only at the Daily Grind, but in my Polish
classes. My teacher and I have grown
closer and she has shared some personal things with me. We have not only had great conversations
(half in English) and to share Christ’s love with her. She often teaches nuns that come to learn
Polish and study here, so my faith is giving her some food for thought. Also giving her some baked goods. LOL
Please continue to keep all these ladies in prayer, as they seek God and
grow in their faith. Not only am I
excited about people coming to visit, but there may be an opportunity for Joy
and I to see each other in July! Thanks again for all your prayers and
support! J
“You who laid the foundations of the earth, so
that it should not be moved forever.’” Psalm 104:5
Monday, April 1, 2013
photos from Palm Sunday to April Fool's day
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| kid's colorful paper palms |
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| Old Town looking more like a ghost town |
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| blessing of the baskets |
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| Easter Sunday |
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| April Fool's Day |
Polish Easter celebration…
This is a different spin on the blog
this time…I will share what I have learned about the Polish Easter
tradition. On Palm Sunday – they make
bouquets of pussy willows, some with holly branches and/or dried arrangements. The kids made colorful paper palms this week
(picture will be posted). They have
parades (no big bands – just people in procession) celebrating the triumphant
entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. They
carry their palms and banners.
Holy Saturday (day before Easter) –
decorated baskets are taken to churches to be blessed. Here are items that are in their traditional
baskets are hard boiled eggs, ham, sausage, salt, horseradish, fruit, bread,
cake, Easter lamb (molded out of butter or sugar) and colorful pisanke (traditionally
colored eggs). Many of the items have a
specific meaning: eggs – symbolize life and Christ’s resurrection, bread –
symbolizes Jesus, lamb – represents Christ, salt – represents purification, horseradish
– symbolic of bitter sacrifice of Christ, and ham – symbolizes great joy and
abundance. Blessed food is untouched
till Sunday morning.
Sunday –Easter – there is a sharing of
the eggs with the family for good health and happiness for the rest of the
year. Many families have recipes that
have been added down from one generation to another – where hard boiled eggs
are prepared and fried in a special way.
Easter soup is Zurek or white barscz – traditional Polish soup served
with hard boiled eggs and kielbasa.
White tablecloth on the table represents white swaddling cloth of Our
Lord. Polish women do not cook or work
on Easter Sunday – it is a time with family to have a spirit of joy and good
will.
Wet Monday – kind of appropriate this
year that it is April fool’s day – people sprinkle water on each other. It brings good luck all year
through…apparently the tradition started by guys sprinkling water on the girls
they wanted to marry.
Ironically this year, we had more snow
on Easter than at Christmas…so Merry Christmas everyone! I was blessed to be able to go to the
Krzesinskis new home and had dinner with them.
Then hurried home through the snow to be able to Skype with my
family! I am so blessed!
Cup of Coffee version…
Sorry no cup
of coffee version… Have a wonderful day!
J
“But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You
seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.
He is risen! He is not here. See
the place where they laid Him.’” Mark
16:6
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