Storm's-a-brewing

Sunday's concert was spectacular! It was a benefit concert and several amazing artists played. We enjoyed a great dinner, pasta and baked chicken. It was so nice to do something out of the ordinary, and music really does something for the soul.

Monday we went to the neighboring kindergarten. It was full. We had so much fun with the kids. The weather has been great and we went for walks and played at various playgrounds. Ola invited us to her flat Thursday to play games with her fiance. It made us feel so good. She was the first person outside of those we work with to invite us to do something with. The team meeting went well, detail discussion for the week and more TAG items.

Tuesday we opened the shop. Nothing too exciting. It was a beautiful day again. 

Wednesday we travelled! All the way to Malbork castle. It was built in the 1300s by the Crusaders and still stands today. Of course it has gone through many reconstructions because several wars took their toll on the place, especially WWII. The castle is a museum, hosting several main displays of art, amber, armor, and just rooms displayed for their use many years ago. 

Thursday we opened the shop. Our two ladies came for tutoring. They are so pleasant. We're really thankful to have them. After we finished, we headed to Ola's flat. She had finger foods prepared and her fiance Karol taught us how to play Catan. The game took a long time to play but it was great! We played twice and then looked at pictures from their engagement. When we looked at the clock it was 11:15 pm! Time flew, it always does when you have fun. They asked us to come again next week : ) Karol even took us home. It was wonderful.

More to follow...check back in 5 hours for the rest of the week's post.

Ok...so much for 5 hours, more like 24! Sorry.

Friday we went to the local kindergarten. The talk of the school was Jordan's new haircut. We had a team meeting that went well and preparations for the evenings concert. We worked for the concert making coffees and pastry treats. The quartet was fabulous, a pianist and three string players. It was beautiful music. 

Saturday was our spring cleaning day at our flat. Blind by blind, after nearly 4 hours and the windows now look sparkly. We popped into the shop for the afternoon, had a coffee, and visited with Dawid. The weather was wonderful, sunny and a warm breeze. 

Sunday was the same kind of weather. People were out barbecuing in the neighborhood. We went on a date in the evening and it was so nice to walk outside. It must have been 70 and again a warm breeze.

God is doing great things in our hearts, revealing his will to us. Continue to pray for us in these last few weeks. We want to be sensitive to how God would use our time here. Pray that our energy stays up as in one week the TAG team will arrive. Pray for them, that they would be moved by a real encounter with the living God. Pray that they will be Christ to the students they stay with. Pray with your whole heart and believe. God is able!

The calm before insanity!

This week has been a slow recovery week from the Easter holiday. On Monday, everything was closed, which made life interesting because our cupboards were nearly bare. We had interesting meals to say the least : ) We took time to walk around a nearby lake. It was a beautifully sunny and warm day. And there was one tiny shop open for us to buy ice cream!

Tuesday we went to the neighboring kindergarten. Only six children were there because the rest were still on holiday. It was very nice to have more one on one time with them. We left early to get to the shop to open. It was uneventful and no one came for tutoring. Jordan went to aerobics that night.

Wednesday was a homework day for Russ and a study day for Jordan. We met Dorota at the shop to visit. She is a teacher at Kolbudy who we are trying to get closer connected to.

Thursday we went to the local kindergarten. The children were excited to see us. We opened the shop and had a couple clients. We made 4 zl in tips! (equivalent to 1.25 USD, oh yeah, totally rich) Jordan got her hair cut, really short, but it's summer and was becoming a necessity.

Yesterday we got up early and went to Auchan (Walmart) and Leroy Merlin (Home Depot meets BB&B and Joanne Fabrics). Our mission: price landscaping materials for the coffee shop. All in all, a success. We had a team meeting that night, lasting nearly two hours. We've been so out of touch because of the holiday there was much to get caught up on.

Today we're venturing out on a date after our studies are finished for the week. Tomorrow we're going to the Methodist church. Thea invited us to go with her to a Jazz jam session to scope out potential musicians for the coffee shop tomorrow night and we plan to go. 

Beginning Monday we'll hit the ground running with events nearly everyday at the shop or with the kindergartens until the TAG team arrives. And when they're here, no stopping until the plane leaves the tarmac. Then it's not even one week more until we return to the states. Can you believe it's gone so quickly? Incredulous!

Pray for our guidance and direction. Pray that details fall into place and get smoothed out. Pray for strength and energy and a positive spirit. Just pray. And take time to thank God for all his many immeasurable blessings in your life and ours. He is so good to us all!

Palm Sunday Week

Praise the Lord, for He is risen!

What a week. Monday we went to the neighboring kindergarten. They were so pleased to have us again. We stayed until nearly 1 in the afternoon. We got to meet Ola's sister who was helping her. It was sunny and we spent much time out at the playground. The kids chased us and we chased them. Russ played for nearly a whole hour. It was such a blessing to see their smiles and hear their laughter. 

Our team meeting went well. It lasted two hours because we were busy preparing the details for our Easter service which is less than an hour away. Five prayer stations have been prepared, all involving the theme of hope and new life. We plan to have a time of fellowship afterward.

Tuesday we opened the shop. The weather was so nice and many people came in for ice cream. It was fun! No one came for tutoring. Jordan went to the women's aerobics class again.

Wednesday was a free day and we spent it resting, doing household chores, and catching up on homework.

Thursday we rose early to go to the local kindergarten. They were having their Easter celebration. All the kids had bunny ears and faces painted. We went in search of the Easter Bunny and his eggs, which we found! It was great! Then we were off to the shop to open. Several customers, but no students. Perhaps we might rethink of a new outreach for that age group. Jordan went to ladies aerobics again.

Friday was spent on homework and preparations for the Good Friday service at the Methodist church we attend occasionally while here. The service was nice. That night we recorded Daniel's voice for one of the prayer stations.

Saturday was a day of rest and reflection. We traveled to Sopot, a local tourist beach town. It is famous for having the longest wooded pier in Europe. It was pleasant, the sun even peaked out. We also saw the Crooked House. It looks warped as though altered by a camera lens, but it was built that way. That evening we prepared our part of the Easter lunch we would share with the team.

Today we celebrate our Lord Risen! We gathered together to share Easter lunch. It was a blessing to share in one another's company for the celebration. The food was excellent. Afterward we prepared for our service. 

18 people in all participated which is far more than either of us anticipated. People really spent time at the stations, reflecting and meditating on the presentations. We shared homemade goodies afterward and people stayed for nearly two hours just visiting with one another. What a blessing! Even though we come from different cultures and have different expressions of worship, we all serve the same Lord. Amazing!

Be blessed and know that the Lord is working, raising up His children all over the world.

It's a Beautiful Day, don't let it get away...

Your prayers have been answered! The Lord has encouraged us and uplifted us in ways we never dreamed!

Thursday evening we contacted Igor's family about the Easter Family Hour. We have had several other families show interest for attending the Saturday before Easter. So we offered to have one special just for Igor so he wouldn't miss out. 

His father responded right away and this is what he wrote:

Thank you fro your email.

We are very surprised and very happy that you could like to arrange a time special for Igor. Igor is much satisfied after playing with you. He is still waiting for the next meeting and every day he is asking us "when will be Saturday?"

If it is not big problem for you to play with Igor on Saturday 4th of April, Igor will be happy. We can invite on the Family Hours Igors cousin, his name is Wiktor (5,5 years old) with his parents.

See you on Saturday.

What interest! Of course we said we would have one for him, the Easter Hour early. We told Dawid immediately and he invited the others who showed interest to the early event this weekend. They all agreed to come. Wow! 

Friday was gorgeous here, as is today. Clear blue sky and nearly 60 F. We broke out in no jackets and flip-flops. We spent the early afternoon downtown being tourists for a change. It was so nice to walk and see the beautiful architecture and explore new areas.

We had our team meeting at 4, talked on conference call to the TAG members at their meeting, and prepared the crafts for Family Hour. This week we're making mobiles of the salvation story. Very fitting for Easter.

Today we awoke and set up the shop. Daniel came early to help and prepare the story: Veggie Tales Easter Carol. Three families came! Igor, Julia, & Ola. Ola was extremely shy, but he opened up before we finished games. Julia is 8 and understands English well. They all were intrigued by the story. The parents even helped with the craft. What a blessing! We feel so privileged to be able to show Christ's love to these families. 

God is so good and so faithful. He only asks that we plant seeds and harvest them when ready. He grows them in his perfect time.

Sunny Skies

We're early!

This week went well. Sunday's game night of Bunko was a complete success. It was competitive and full of laughter. Not to mention we sold lots of coffees.

Monday we went to the neighboring kindergarten. They were so pleased to see us. We missed last week because we were ill. The kids were hesitant at first to see us, but quickly remembered who we were and it was like always. We made lamb crafts. The children at this school are so sweet and such a blessing to the soul. So are the teachers. 

Our team meeting went well. We discussed our Easter service and it is going to be so nice. We're having a prayer station service. Pray that people will accept our personal invitations and participate. Fellowship to follow the service.

Tuesday we got up and opened the shop. It was a slow day, but we did have one family, a young mother with her son. The neighborhood advisory board had a meeting at the shop and completely packed the place out. No students came for tutoring. Jordan made homemade lasagna and nussmilk cookies. Delicious!

Wednesday we got up and had a meeting at the music school to further discuss the TAG team trip. The concert is going to be in the theme of a Greek Tragedy. It will be a huge event! They are hoping to have the media and potentially very important officials of Gdansk attend. The TAG team will also help in updating the outdoor sports fields. The school leaders were so quick to jump in and involve other teachers and departments. This project is really going to make a lasting impression. Please pray for the details to work out, pray that the hearts of the students and faculty will be ready to receive Trevecca students, and pray that the TAG team will be prepared for what God has in store.

Today, Thursday, we got up and went to the local kindergarten. The kids lit up when we came in. Several teachers commented to us how the students really love it when we come. We make their day. This is our purpose: to love on the kids; not necessarily to get the families to our family hour events. We had to leave a little early today to open the shop. Two guests for ice cream. The weather is so pleasant today; sun, blue sky, and some warmth. No students today, but the weather is so nice who wants to be inside!

Pray for strength and energy for us. Pray that we might be encouraged in our activities, and pray that we don't miss the real reason of why we're here.