Gifts of the Season

“I will cause showers to come down in their season; there will be showers of blessing."   Ezekiel 34:26

My gifts this season were too many to count!  I was surrounded by my Polish family and friends and received so many loving gifts.  I learned Christmas traditions of this culture that will always stay in my heart.  Of course, one of the best parts was discovering traditional Polish foods served at Christmas.  My very favorite was Usczka – which means ‘little ears’.  Here we are making over 200 of them in Lila’s kitchen:

They’re like Pierogi, but little ones – dough wrapped around meat, onion, and sometimes mushrooms and cabbage, and they do look like little ears when you fold them correctly (I got better with practice).  They go into Barszcz – beet soup, and it’s SO good.  The most popular Christmas dish is Carp.  I had it fried and it is delicious, but a LOT of work because of so many little bones.  We also ate Pierogi, Bigos (another favorite), potatoes, cabbage, and lots of sweets, including Makowki, which is like poppy seed bread pudding. 

So I guess gaining weight during the holidays may also be the same all over the world.  Although, it’s also common for us to take long walks after the main meal here!

Rachel trying to control Misiu :-)

 

The week before Christmas, we had a party for the Zaleze Youth. Several of you sent boxes of gifts for this party. I can’t put into words what this experience was like; watching them open their gifts was one of the best Christmas presents I’ve ever gotten! First of all, they didn’t even know they were getting gifts. Last year, they received only chocolate. Then, when they found out they got gifts from the US, they were SO excited. It was just precious! There is one girl in the group that I swear, I haven’t seen smile since I met her in September. That night, I caught her smiling at me about 4 times. It was the sweetest thing!

Paulina

Gosia gives Wiktoria a hug

Nikola and Patrycja

 

 

 

 

 

 

 







 



Maria and Kinga

Nikola and me

 

The whole group with their gifts

It's sinking in that I have 5 months left here in Katowice.  What will I leave here?  Will this city, this country be changed in any way because I was here?  I pray it’s not only that someone speaks English a little better; but that someone felt loved, someone felt valued.  Did the woman who works at the corner store and the one at the post office feel God’s love from me?  Did the people on the street find warmth in my smile?

I know now that the fog settling in to my little woods is as much a part of me as the Texas sky.  I'll have to say goodbye in May, but it will only be temporary.  I’m in love with this place and these people.  I have family here now and I know I'll be back.

 

The greatest gift God gave me in the last seven months is more complete trust in Him.  I’m not afraid of what lies ahead.  In the verse above in Ezekiel, the word ‘season’ literally means ‘opportunity’.  God gave me an opportunity – this is a beautiful season in my life and He has showered me with blessings!

 

 









 

 

 

Lessons Learned

The last few weeks have been difficult.  I’ve done a lot of short term missions, but the longest period of time for any one mission trip was 10 weeks when I was a summer missionary in college.  I’m learning a lot about what it takes to be in a more permanent position of ministry.  There’s nothing like ‘on the job training’ sometimes.  The lessons might be hard, but I’ll never forget them.  Here are some of the more important things I’ve learned.

1.     Know Who You Are 

My identity is not in what I can do.  I’m not Niki the Missionary, or Niki the English Teacher.  I’m not who I am because I can write poetry or cook, or even because I’m a mom.  And I’m not who others say I am.  My identity is solely who I am in Christ, and who He says I am.   Everything else changes – how good I am at things, what people think, and even how I feel.  But who God says I am will never change.  It is the only truth. 

People can take you to extremes in either direction.  They can admire you and make you think you’re special, and they can criticize your every word and make you question who you are.  It’s a fight sometimes to remember who I really am.

     2.     Learn To Let Go

Whether I’m at home, or far away, things happen in my life that are out of my control.  But when I’m far from home, it seems to be a lot harder.  I don’t know why, because I was no more in control of things when I was closer to them.  I was just fooling myself.  There have been moments in the last few weeks that I’ve thanked God for doing for me what I didn’t have the strength to do for myself – get me out of the way.  It reminds me of an old quote:

“Good morning, this is God!  I will be handling all your problems today.  I will not need your help, so have a good day!”

     3.      Surround Yourself with People Who Encourage You

We don’t get to choose the people we minister to, so ministry can be emotionally draining and sometimes even painful.  It’s not just a good idea, but I believe God’s will that we set appropriate boundaries in relationships, for our protection as well as those that we minister to.  But we also need those around us who feed us when we’re drained completely dry.

I want you to meet two friends who do that for me.

 



This is Basia Rembieliński  and Iwona Cygan.

Basia was born in Myslowice.  She is married to Artur.  They have two daughters, Zuzanna and Marta.  She loves movies, swimming, jazz, and the music that Artur plays J

Iwona was born here in Katowice.  Her husband’s name is Grzegorz and they have a daughter named Paulina.  They also have a dog named Nana, who I think is Obie’s Polish twin!  Iwona also loves movies, swimming and jazz, but she also likes rock music. 

Basia and Iwona are very close friends, but they make room in their hearts for me.  They love me warmly, pray for me faithfully, and joyfully encourage me.  I love them because they always make me laugh.  I always look forward to seeing them because I know they will bring a smile to my face.  I’m so thankful for their friendship and their ministry of encouragement to me!

Share the Blessings of Thanksgiving

As I told you last time, I hope to introduce you to someone new with each new blog update. This time, you get 2 for 1 and there’s a special reason why, which you’ll see later!

First, meet my dear friend Ewa Scieszka:

 

Ewa started out as my private English student, but quickly grew to be my friend.  Now she’s my very dear friend, so I think I might be taking advantage of her because she still pays me, but sometimes we just meet and talk for a couple of hours J.  Now we’re such close friends that I have no doubt we’ll always be close, even after I go home, and I look forward to her visiting me in Texas someday.

Ewa was born in Katowice and her parents still live here.  She went to medical school, and is a Radiologist at the Children’s Hospital.  She loves windsurfing and travelling.  She took me on a trip to the beach in September.  We went to Jastarnia and also visited Gdansk.  Ewa has a passion for finding God’s will for her life and her favorite scripture is Jeremiah 13:11.  I also love her because she gets my sense of humor!

Now, meet some of the young people of Załęże!

Paulina, me, Nikola, Wiktoria, Kinga, and Wiktoria

 

I started teaching English to these young people in September.  They’re all from the neighborhood of Załęże, which is where I live (where the church is located).  They are from homes with difficult circumstances; alcoholism, neglect, abuse, unemployment, drug abuse, etc . . .  Every Tuesday afternoon, the youth leaders here at Betania invite them from 4 pm to 6 pm for games, snacks, Bible Study, (and now English lessons).  Some of them have been coming here for years.  It’s a safe place for them.  I have fallen in love with these kids.  They’re a challenge, but they’re so precious.

The first day I met them, I asked them their favorite part of coming to Betania.  One of the first things they mentioned was Christmas.  I realized that some of them can’t expect supper when they get home, much less Christmas gifts.  When I asked Gosia, the Youth Director where she gets gifts for these kids, she said from different sources, and they don’t yet know where the gifts will come from this year.

So, I'm ON THIS.  I want to ask my friends to consider sending one gift, or the money to buy one gift to help with Christmas for these kids this year.  Of course, money is easier to send, but the kids get SO excited about American stuff.  I had some American candy and gum that a friend sent me and you can’t believe how fast they identified it as American.  There are a total of 2 boys and 10 girls in the group; all between the age of 12 and 15.  Please think and pray about this.  If you have any questions, message me on Facebook or email me at niski@aol.com.

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for Me.”  Matthew 25:40

Happy Thanksgiving!



 

Autumn and Friendships

I am loving autumn in Katowice!  Being a native Texan, I’ve never lived any place where this season brings such color changes.  So far, the weather has been beautiful, but I’m still nervous about the coming winter!  I took this picture yesterday at a park near me where we go some Sunday afternoons.

I am often asked the same question by people here, especially when they find out I came to live in Poland for a year.  “What do you like most about Poland?”  Even though my mind goes through the whole list of things I love; the beauty, the food, the way of life, the food . . . I always end up with the same answer:  the people.    By far, my favorite thing about Poland is its people.  If you judge the people by strangers on the street, you’ll be fooled.  This is not the American South.  People don’t smile and acknowledge everyone they see.  This is a country with a painful and complicated history and they are sometimes guarded and cautious.  But the minute you engage someone in conversation, or are introduced in some way, you discover the real heart of the people here.  They are as warm-hearted and giving as anyone you will ever meet.

When I first came here, I quickly found out that as soon as someone in a store realized I didn’t speak much Polish, they were more than eager to help me.  (Ok, there was one girl who wasn’t real happy about my lack of language skills, but there was a big line behind me.)  Having made real friends here has led me to a deeper understanding of Polish people.  They love me unconditionally.  They are immeasurably patient with me, and they won’t hesitate to help me if I have a need.

I would like to start introducing you to some of my friends.  Each blog update, I will try to choose someone new for you to get to know.

This is Krzysztof Sokołowski.  Krzysztof is one of my (best) English students, and now a good friend.  He and his wife, Bogda have taken me to see some beautiful sights around Katowice.  By the way, Bogda is an amazing cook!  Krzysztof was born in Siemianowice Śląskie, which is just outside Katowice.  He was a police officer and a detective/supervisor for 20 years.  He is retired now, but does some work in security.  He and Bogda have one daughter; Agnieszka, and two granddaughters; Zofia – 4, and Alicja – 2 months.  They also have a beautiful German Shepherd named Sonia.

Krzysztof likes coffee and beer J  He enjoys travelling, reading, and picking wild mushrooms – which is very popular here in Poland.  He has a great sense of humor, and keeps me laughing in class.  Krzysztof is one of my favorite people here!

Prayer Requests:

Continue to pray for my student Teresa and her health problems.

For Dawid, a new student in one of my classes, who is not a believer.

For continuing progress for me to teach a women’s Bible study at the jail.  I’ve been told how to go about getting permission, and we’re working toward that now.

Most of all, please pray that nothing that happens at home distracts me from my purpose in being here.  I know God is ultimately in control, and I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Perspective

James 1:2-3

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Life is all about perspective.  I just got home from a trip to the beach with my friend Ewa.  One day while we were there, Ewa said, ‘I love the beach so much!  I love finding sand in my suitcase when I get home.’  I’ve never heard anyone say they loved finding sand anywhere away from the beach.  But I started thinking.  Why does it have to be so bad?  It’s going to be there, no matter what.  Why can’t I see it as a lovely reminder of everything I love about the seaside?  The smell and sound of the ocean, the way the water and sand feel on my toes.  How it’s the only place I go without a care about how I look or how dirty I get.

When we read James’ words, ‘consider it joy when you face trials’, it sounds like a joke.  And I think it takes a lot of spiritual maturity to look at tough times as joyful ones while we’re going through them.  When I look back at most of the last 7 years, I don’t see much joy.  I see a lot of pain, loneliness, and confusion.  But I know, without a doubt, that I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am if I hadn’t gone through those times.  Those were hard lessons that I didn’t seem to able to learn an easier way.  It was a fire burning away the ugly parts of me that I was blind to.  Did I like it?  NO.  But I have thanked God over and over for loving me enough to come and find me and do what was necessary to bring me back to Him.  And I have told Him that if I ever start to get that far from Him again, to please do what He needs to do.  I would gladly go through it again.  I find joy in the fact that it served such a joyful purpose.

Take a look around you.  Do you feel like you’re going through trials?  We all go through them eventually – sometimes those trials seem to last a long time.  But there’s a reason for the trials.  And one day, you’ll understand why.  As for me; I’m starting to like the sand in my suitcase.

From Katowice to Hel

Yes, there really is a Hel, Poland.  But of course, in Polish it doesn’t have the same meaning.  Ewa and I took a night train from Warsaw up to the very north part of Poland to a little peninsula that is the farthest northern point of the country.  This is Ewa:

 

We stayed in Jastarnia, a beautiful old fishing village.  It’s really tiny and picturesque.  We spent a lot of time being lazy on the beach, which was really pretty.  A pine forest runs all along the beach.

 



Our little hotel had bicycles for free use, so we rode them a lot.  We took rides through the trail in the pine woods and all through Jastarnia.



One afternoon, we took a bus to the end of the peninsula, to Hel.  It’s a pretty little town.  We walked out to the beach on the very tip of Hel, and I took my picture so I can say I stood on the edge of Poland.  When I looked at the map later, I was amazed at where I was.



One night we met an old man named Miroslaw who had lived in Jastarnia for a long time.  He owned the building where the restaurant was where we were eating.  The next night we met him for tea and just to hear his memories.  Born in 1932, you can only imagine what he’s seen in Poland in his lifetime.  The last night, we met him again and he brought some of his old photographs.  He was so sweet, and has no family left.  I talked him into taking a picture with me.

On our way back home, we stopped very briefly in Sopot.  Then we spent a few hours in Gdansk before our train left for Katowice.  Gdansk was on the top of my list of cities to see this year.  It’s so famous and I’ve never been to the northern part of the country before.  I got to see the shipyards, which are so famous from the 1980’s.  You may remember Lech Walesa, a shipyard worker who helped start the Solidarity movement which eventually led to the fall of communism in Poland, then Europe.  Walesa went on to be elected the first President of Poland after the fall of communism.  Gdansk is really old and beautiful.  We walked around the Old Town and had dinner on the canal.

Now, one of the things I have dearly wanted to take home from Poland is a piece of amber jewelry.  Poland is known for mining amber and it’s fairly inexpensive here, but not something I’ve been able to afford so far.  I read that on the north coast, it used to be common to find amber on the beach.  Now it’s rare, but I was pretty excited.  I searched every day; but no amber.  I was so disappointed.  The night we were walking in Gdansk, we passed a jewelry shop and stopped to look at the amber jewelry.  The man came out of the shop and started talking to us.  Ewa told him that I was American and we had just been on vacation.  She laughed and said all the money we had left we had spent on train tickets (this was true; we ate soup for supper), so we had nothing to buy his nice jewelry with.  He talked a couple of minutes and then said to wait, he would get something.  Ewa said, ‘Oh no, he’s going to get something’.  So we thought he was going to try to sell us something cheaper.  He came out with a little blue envelope and poured out 7 uncut amber stones.  He said something and Ewa just looked at me.  She said, ‘He said they’re for you.’  I have no idea why he gave me some of his amber.  Even if he had given me one piece, it would have been an amazing gift.  I got tears in my eyes.  I told Ewa to tell him how much I love Poland and how much I had wanted some amber.

Prayer Requests:

First, a thank you:  I mentioned wanting a bicycle in the last blog, and two of you offered money so I have enough to buy a bicycle, and a lock (and maybe a basket)!  Thank you!

Continuing financial support.

My preparation as we go into Fall English classes.  I’ve realized there are a couple of things I’m doing wrong, so I need to adjust my teaching.  It’s difficult for me not to be hard on myself when that happens.  Sometimes I’m too much of a perfectionist.  I want to learn from mistakes and just move ahead and do better.

For new challenges ahead; the English classes for neighborhood youth, a couple of new private students, and the new flyers going out soon.

Teresa, one of my sweet students who is having some health problems.

A Great Adventure

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”    Jeremiah 29:11

Sometimes we’re afraid to trust God with our lives because we think we can do a better job of making decisions for ourselves.  The truth is that when we get to a place of throwing up our hands in complete surrender and let Him take control, that’s when we actually live the best life possible.  Our way always ends up in frustration; when we let God do it His way, He gives us more than what we ask for.  I knew before I came to Poland that I didn’t know all God had planned for me.  That was an understatement!

My friend Nancy Leatherland, from Houston, just left after a 10 day visit.  It was wonderful having her here!  We had SO much fun.  We had some great - and some not so great – adventures; but adventures nonetheless.  The day after she arrived, we took a train to Prague, Czech Republic.  Prague is one of my very favorite cities in Europe.  It’s medieval, yet very international.  It sits on the Vltava River.  We spent two days there (not enough!) and walked for MILES.  We visited the Prague Castle, dating back to the 9^th century, walked along the Charles Bridge, and shopped in Old Town.  Here is a view of Prague Castle as we walked down a beautiful street toward it.



We then took a train from Prague to Dresden, Germany and spent two days.  Dresden is beautiful.  It’s very old and sits on the Elbe River.  It’s full of history.  We toured the Zwinger Museum and saw unbelievable treasures from past centuries including jewels belonging to kings and queens.  We stood inches from works of Rubens, Raphael, and Rembrandt.  The most famous painting in their gallery is Raphael’s ‘Sistine Madonna’.  You would recognize it by the two little cherubs at the bottom that have been copied many times.  This is the entrance to the area where the Zwinger Museum is.  Love the two guys guarding the entrance!



Finally, we took a 7 hour train ride back to Katowice and you can’t believe how happy I was to hear Polish again!  I’m so grateful to Nancy for paying for a large part of our trip, because I wouldn’t have been able to see so many beautiful things without her!

Autumn has arrived and everyone is getting back into the regular routine.  School started this week for the children.  Several new ‘adventures’ have presented themselves for the coming months.  My friend teaches English at a university here on Saturdays.  He told me there are some days he can’t make the class and asked if I could fill in as a substitute for him sometimes.  I will get paid for this :-)  Never thought I’d teach at a college!

One of my private students’ fathers asked me to edit a couple of papers for him.  It turned out to be something I really love doing.  I’ve always been good at spelling and grammar, so it isn’t hard for me.  It’s really good money for an hour or two of work.  He has two more papers for me.  Hopefully, I can find some more editing to do!

I live on the edge of a low-income neighborhood with a lot of problems – alcoholism, drugs, gangs, parental neglect, etc...  On Tuesday nights, the youth here at Betania Church invite young people from the neighborhood to come to the church for games and Bible Study.  They’re kind of a rough group, but they come!  Their leader Gosia asked me if I’d like to give them a 30 minute English lesson every Tuesday.  So, next Tuesday will be my first one.  I met the kids this past Tuesday.  They were pretty excited and funny about finding out I was from Texas.  They were also amazed that I knew some Polish.  This will definitely be an adventure . . .

Less than four months in, and I'm totally amazed at my life here and what I've experienced so far.  I have wonderful friends, a built-in family, and a loving church.  I have a busy life and new experiences all the time.  I've already done things I never imagined myself doing - especially at 53!  I've been able to travel some and see beautiful and historic places.  I'm so thankful for this time and I'm looking forward to the adventures to come!

 

A few prayer requests:

For the neighborhood kids that I’ll start teaching English to next week.  That we can meet some of the needs their families aren't able to.  That they will see the love of Jesus in us.  That I’ll handle them with the right balance of love and firmness - and that they’ll have fun!

For good response from the flyers we’re getting ready to pass out advertising English classes for people outside the church.

For my Polish!  I have a tutor, but it’s harder than I expected.  I am motivated to learn, but this week, 8 year old Rachel literally begged me to learn more so we could play games together.  That’s even more motivation!

I’m being told I should get a bicycle for the coming months – it will be easier for me than walking.  Pray that I’ll have the funds for a bicycle and a good strong lock.  (Theft is an issue around here)

And finally, some more things I’ve learned about Poland/Europe:

Sunday dinner is an event.  Relax and enjoy it.

It’s customary to offer food or drinks to your guests at least three times until they tell you whether they really want something or not J

Not everyone in the world gets the importance of ice.

You should always allow more than 6 minutes when having to change trains - trust me on this one.

Germans make the best Apple Strudel.  Period.

Stare i Nowe (The Old and the New)

I have always loved old things.  Old books, antiques, old cities and churches.  Poland is full of old things and lately I have had the opportunity to experience some of them.  My friend Louella and I spent the day in Bytom at an antique/flea market.  It was just like Heaven to me!  I found some wonderful treasures.  One of my favorites is a little wooden piggy bank:

I also got to visit Krakow, the old capitol of Poland.  It may be the most beautiful city in Poland.  It has a wonderful castle called Wawel.  The Vistula River runs beside the castle and there is a legend of a dragon who lived beneath the castle.  Along the top of the castle are gargoyles called 'rzygacz', which is also Polish for 'vomit'  :-)

As you can see, they are designed to disperse rain water.  Hence the name rzygacz.

As for new things, we are praying and planning for new English classes in the Fall.  We are planning to pass out flyers in the city, hoping to interest unchurched people to come and learn English and, in turn, learn about God's love.

Last week was Missions Week for the Youth here at Betania.  They had missions projects all week.  On Thursday, they visited the city jail, and I got to go.  We had an hour with a group of men and an hour with women.  The youth did dramas, gave testimonies and asked me to speak as well.  It was a great time with both groups and at the end of each time, we gave out bibles and talked one on one with the men and women.  I met a sweet young woman named Aleksandra who spoke almost perfect English.  I promised to pray for her.  She reminded me that not everyone in prison is a hardened criminal.  Some people just make really bad choices and face the consequences.

Thanks for your prayers and support.  I'm having an amazing time!

Finding Peace

I've been in Poland exactly 2 months, and life has been so busy I almost forgot about my blog!  Honestly, I can't remember the last time I was this happy. It's strange to come halfway around the world and find peace of mind.

I love living in Katowice, love teaching English, and love all my friends; new and old.  This is me with Ania, who I've known since she was a teenager.  She's now married to Norbert, who is one of my favorite people here, and she's the beautiful mom to 2 children.

And I must admit, I've fallen in love with her kids, Rachel and Joel, but I'll warn you; Rachel has the sweetest smile, but don't let her teach you Polish :-)

Life is good here; no hurry, no rush.  So different from the life I'm used to.  I miss my kids more than anything.  But I'm incredibly grateful for Email, Facebook, and especially Skype for helping me feel like I'm really only a text or phone call away.

English lessons are in full swing.  I have five classes each week:  2 Basic, 2 Advanced, and 1 Conversational.  They are all different in their own way.  Different people, different levels of skill, different personalities, and I love each one.  Thursday night Advanced class is definitely my most challenging.  The students in this class know English quite well, and asked to learn things like sentence structure, verb tenses, and new vocabulary.  They keep me on my toes!  I have some students who actually attend 2 or 3 different classes each week, and quite a few 'senior' students.  I'm inspired by their hard work and desire to learn.  I also love my students' sense of humor.  I have one student, while learning numbers, ask 'Is it six or sex?'  And I have one student who told me he needs classes because he always gets two phrases confused; 'Goodbye' and 'I love you'!

In addition to the classes, I have one private student named Ewa.  I can already tell that Ewa is going to be a lifelong friend.

Life here has definitely been an adjustment.  With no car, I walk almost everywhere I need to go.  Sometimes I take the tram.  I haven't tried the bus yet, but I will soon.  Most everyone has a washing machine, but not a dryer, so I hang dry my clothes.  This is no big deal except it requires planning ahead!  The one thing I do miss is television.  Clay helped me figure out how to watch most shows online, but I kind of miss just perusing through channels to see what's on.

Most days are busy with classes.  I'm also taking Polish lessons on Wednesdays along with 2 missionaries from the Phillipines, Edwin and Louella Ricardo, who are becoming good friends.  Our teacher Gosia, is great.  We also have an English speaking home group on Wednesdays, after Polish lessons.  Edwin is leading our group, and I really love his teaching.  Sundays are church and 'relax' days and Tuesday evenings we have Bible Study at Betania.  I love the schedule, but I've also come to look forward to Friday.  It's my day to do what I want, and I usually take the tram downtown (centrum handlowy).  I walk around, explore, shop, have a snack or lunch, and watch people.

 And finally, a few things I've learned about Poland so far:

There is always time for coffee or ice cream.

A walk around the lake after supper is a good thing unless you're caught in a sudden thunder/hailstorm.

You shouldn't buy a hamburger from anyplace called Ararat Kebab and expect it to be like an American burger.

It's a good idea to carry your Polish/English dictionary to the grocery store.

Some things are the same no matter where you go:  Humor, sarcasm, french fries, good wine, national pride, athletic competition, wildflowers, a mother's love, worship, and friendship.  Home really is where the heart is.

More Than I Could Imagine

"He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us."   Ephesians 3:20

I have long imagined that I would go back to Poland.  I've asked for that opportunity many times over the years.  But I never dreamed that I would be invited by Betania Church, who I have worked with before.  I couldn't imagine that I would be offered a free apartment in the building with the families I know and love, in the city I am so comfortable in.  That I would be able to live and work there for a whole year.  I couldn't imagine that God would give me so much at such a lonely and confusing time in my life.  But here it is; laid out before me like a wonderful gift.

Since I first visited with Ryszard Wolkiewicz in September and began to pray about this journey, every single detail has fallen into place, many times before I even asked.  I'm so thankful for the friends who have prayed for me and have so generously given toward my support for the year.  I'm going to Poland!

I am overwhelmed with the possibilities of the coming year.  My plans are to leave in May.  For now, my first focus will be teaching English classes for those in the church.  Eventually, we will expand those classes as an outreach to the city.  But I think I have no idea the opportunities God will present to me while I'm there.  I am open to His leading, and confident that whatever task He gives me, He has already equipped me to do.

This blog will be a way for me to share my life in Poland with all my friends, especially for those who have partnered with me in this mission.  I have to give credit to my friend Dana for coming up with the name 'Home Is Where Your Heart Is'.  I get teary eyed every time I think of it.  I'm a Texas girl and I've got the accent to prove it!  But since 1993, a part of my heart has been in Poland, and that makes it a joy to make it my home for a year.  Please visit the website for Betania Church - it's in Polish, but you can get an idea of the people and the ministries there.  If you check out the 'Contact' page, and zoom in on the satellite image of the church, you can even see the apartment building where I'll be living.  I look at it often, and get excited every time I see it!  Here is the link:

http://www.betania.katowice.pl/

I would also like to share prayer requests with you in this blog.  For now, will you please pray for the following:

     My physical, emotional, and spiritual health; that I'll be the best I can
     be before I leave.
     God will continue to work out all the details of leaving here for a
     year.
     Continued progress in Rosetta Stone Polish.
     I will raise all the support money needed for the year.
     God will even now prepare the hearts of the people of Katowice for
     the gospel.

Only three months to go - I can't wait!