Photos of crafts, after crafts and Bremen

crafts from the last few weeks

boy's sign sample

girl's sign sample

cupcake fish sample



Saturday after kid's craft time



Rachel's birthday

Roland in Bremen

Bremen

Bremen

Welcoming in 2013…

The year started with fireworks that went off from about 10:30 PM New Year’s Eve to about 2 AM!  It was only a few blocks away, so I could just look outside my window.  I was blessed with an opportunity to go visit family in Germany for a long weekend.  It was great to spend time with my family, met the Baptist pastor in their hometown and met their neighbors, who spoke some Polish with me.  Daily Grind has been open for kid’s crafts the past 4 Saturdays and we have been ministering to a few families.  We officially opened to the public this week and we are getting flyers out to the community to make them aware of the EDG, Saturday kid’s crafts and Bible studies soon to begin.  On Sundays, we meet for church service.  My Polish is coming along and I am so thankful for my teacher, who has been giving me new challenges and tons of homework.  Thank you to all who sent cards and packages – it has been a blessing to make cookies with the chocolate chips, peanut butter cookies and sugar cookies!  The craft supplies have been a great help for kid’s crafts on Saturday.  Thanks so much!!

Cup of Coffee version…

The New Year began with a bang – OK, fireworks and lots of people celebrating on their balconies.  Then I had a few more days of the intensive Polish classes, before going off to visit my Aunt and Uncle in Germany.  It was so great to visit them, being able to communicate without much of a language barrier, and get to see some things I have not in the past. It was great to have a low-key birthday with family.  Thanks so much for the cards and well wishes!  When I came back to Poland, Rachel made me a chocolate cake and got to celebrate again.   Then we started with the kid’s craft Saturdays.  These are free events for kids and an opportunity for parents to sit back and relax.  We made paper cut out penguins the first week.  Rachel taught the kids English as we made the craft – whether it was having them say colors, shapes or penguins.  The kids had a lot of fun and parents were able to socialize.  We celebrated Rachel’s birthday and everyone got to try American carrot cake…our baked goods are more moist and richer, than many of the Polish baked goods.  Then started Polish classes with Iwona and she has been teaching for more than 20 years and worked for the Peace Corp.  She has given me a challenge – if I start speaking in Polish, she will come to our church service.  So I am really trying to get the words out…   There are 2 young Christian girls that will be helping us in our ministry, Karen (who is from Kenya and studying economics at Warsaw University) and Ania (who is from a small town north-east of Warsaw and finishing her horticulture degree).  Please pray for Ania this week as she finishes exams and papers.  Ania has been helping me practice Polish and helps me make craft samples for the kids.  Most of January was very cold and snowy, but this past week, it has been warmer and rainy…the snow is gone and with the wind – the water puddles have gone too.  Due to the weather and people being sick, I have not been able to meet with others as I had hoped.  Lord willing, now that the weather is improving and it is light till about 4:30 in the evening…more people will be willing to get together.  I have been sewing the curtains – shortening most and lengthening others.  I had a great time of fellowship this Sunday and we even had communion.  I am so thankful that God has given me so many Christian friends full of wisdom and helping me see things from a different perspective!  God has blessed me with great friends and opportunities to meet others.  God is so good!

“You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: He is their help and their shield.”        

Psalm 115:11

Year in Review…

Wow it is the end of 2012 and what a year it has been…starting the year in prayer and hopes to get to the mission field.  All the excitement and it felt like a rollercoaster ride – selling the house & car, getting rid of stuff, storing some things, shipping others and in May flying to Poland!  Then time seemed to stand still for a while, as I got familiar with my new home…learning the language and culture.  The blessings of getting to know people, participate in English Discussion Groups, joining a Woman’s Bible Study and helping to get the location functional and ready to welcome people.  The Lord has blessed beyond measure.  Thanks so much to you, your prayers, support and contact via phone, skype, e-mails and cards/packages.  I miss you tons, but I am truly blessed by the Lord’s grace and mercy.

Cup of Coffee version…

This has been a year of highs and lows, excitement and times of fear that have been faced.  There was tons of joy about coming to Poland, then I got here and was overwhelmed for a while.  Today I heard a great message, that would have been awesome to hear many months ago…4 Things to Know for Transition.  I would like to share the points and verses with you, because it applies to anyone going through transition. 

1 – To know who you are (not just by your profession) verses: Hebrews 2:11, 1 Thes. 1:4 and               1 Peter 1:1-2. 

2 – To know where you came from (your roots) verses: Eph. 2:13, Eph. 5:8 and Col. 1:21

3 – To know where you are going to (not just the location) verses: 2 Peter 1:10-11, 1 Peter 5:4 and 2 Thes. 2:14

4 – To know whose going with you…verses: 1 Peter 2:10 and 2 Peter 1:3

There are a lot more references, but as many of you already know – it is about the Lord working in you through the Holy Spirit. 

After this message, I realized that I have gone through this transition…probably took longer than most, but I have made it through some really hard times.  I am so thankful for family and friends having patience with me – listening as I had to work through things.  Even though the process of learning Polish has been a great challenge, the Lord has blessed me with opportunities lately to talk with my neighbor, lady at the bazarek, and others.  The Polish teachers have become good friends and we stay in touch.  So slowly, I am making friends and Poland is becoming home.  The Krzesinskis opened their home to me for Christmas Eve and Christmas day.  It was fun to see the kids open and enjoy their gifts.  In January, we will open the new church for English Discussion Groups, Bible studies (in Polish), church service and kid’s activities.   I am so excited about going to visit family in Germany for a long weekend and I am excited about the New Year.  Yes, there will be more Polish lessons, as I hope to continue preparing for ECL exam and be certified as knowing Polish Language.  It would not be the same without a little laugh before the end of the year…well, here it is.  I went to take out the garbage the other day, went into the elevator and then the lights went out for a moment and then the elevator would not move…finally figured out that it was disconnected (see I am learning Polish) and pushing the alarm button only made me for frustrated.  I was able to read through Job, prayed for a way out and tried the doors again…thankfully I was able to open the one and make my escape!  It was the longest trash run EVER!  The good news is – I started my New Year’s resolution early and now take the stairs!  LOL   Today I got to work at the new church and pray that the Lord will fill the place.   Love and prayers – to a great New Year!!!   

 “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”         1 Peter1:7

little bit of Christmas 2012

pictures of Warsaw at 3:30 pm on 12/21

lit present in front of Hotel Bristol

view down the street

bear mug rugs

another photo of bear mug rugs

painting/new church as of today/my tree



painting on week 4



doing the trim

prepping for paint

when you walk in you see the kitchen

wall of faith

seating area

our check in station/business desk

kid's room

bathroom behind the wall

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Our supporters!

my Polish Christmas tree

Opening for friends…

Sorry it has been so long, since my last update.  Well,  we have been busy getting the new church – painted, brick wall built, kids room carpeted/stage built/ toys, kitchen put in place, lighting and so forth.  We had construction crews in there for about a week – there were times I was painting in the bathroom to try to stay out of the way!  Thankfully the Lord has provided and we have been able to get a lot done.  There are some things we still need to do before officially opening to the public in January, but we know God has it all under control.  Yesterday – we had a few dozen adults and kids come to see the new church, hear about the vision, kids did crafts with Rachel and me, and a great time of building relationships (and for me to put faces with names).  All shared how they are excited about the place and looking forward to coming back.  Thanks again for your support and prayers for helping us get to this point. I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  J

Cup of Coffee version…

It is neat to not only see, but to be a part of God’s vision (given to Robert & Rachel) to take shape. The new church is in a great location – near bus stops and there are several apartment buildings within walking distance (including apartments within the same building).  Not only painting most mornings, then changing clothes and heading to Polish classes.  I was able to host an International dinner at my apartment – one teacher and 3 other students from different countries.  We had a good meal with various things to try.  In the past 7 months, I have eaten more duck that I have in America.  LOL  It was a lot of fun and looking forward to doing it again in the near future…like January.  My friendship with Joy has been a blessing.  She shared the other day that she really likes traveling alone, but found traveling with me to be fun too!  Not just because she would have some pictures with herself in them…but having someone to hang out with was nice too.  She is going to the states for Christmas to visit her sister – so I will get to see her again in January, Lord willing.  Past few weeks, we spent a lot of time painting, cleaning, more painting and cleaning…but now we have it about 90% complete.  Some more furniture is needed, toys & books for the kids, some items for the kitchen and curtains.  Oh – one thing I learned this week, it is not a good idea to try to wash windows on the outside in 2 degree celcius temperature.  Not only do your hands get cold, you tend to leave streaks on the window!  Needless to say, a few days later, I was wiping down the windows again with a dry rag.  It was much more effective!   So many people have walked by – either going to other shops along the first level of the apartment building or to restaurant.  So we hope in January, that they will not just walk by, but stop in to check us out.  I have my Christmas tree up and decorated…it is all of 2 feet tall and a few cards & presents from family and friends!  I am so blessed!  On Saturday, we opened for friends to see the new church.  All were impressed on what the Lord has done, not only to transform the place from white walls and beams…but the wall of faith.  Many were surprised to not only see names of individuals, but churches too.  We had the kids make Christmas ornaments and Rachel would have the kids say what shapes/colors/items were in Polish and then repeat in English.  So they would get familiar with the words and for parents to get an idea of what the kids program will be like.  They also played a game of head, shoulders, knees and toes.  One of the moms told me that she takes her kids to several craft activities – through school or community events, but ours was the best she had seen yet!  It was a blessing to hear, since I spent a lot of time putting beads around the rings for the older kids… in an attempt to keep the project easy for the kids and not to lose interest.  The event was a success – many people are excited about the official opening in January!  Thankfully Joy was there, because I was so busy with other stuff – I forgot to check the status of my camera batteries…so when the people came, I had no juice left in it!  Ugh!  Joy took some pictures and they will be added to the blog later.  Thanks again for your prayers and support, as we hope to finish up getting things in place for January opening and enjoying the Christmas holiday.  Prayer request – I will be taking another intensive Polish class over the holidays and then going to visit family in January (for a long weekend).  Also please join us in prayer for a few more workers…as you know the harvest is big, but the workers are few…so we hope to stay healthy and have wisdom as we bring others in to help the ministry.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”          Psalm 127:1

International Night at my apartment

Hungarian, Polish girl, Chinese girl and Tawianese girl...lots of food!