Monday, July 2, 2018

Packing up and heading home

Hey all back home!

Just wanted to let you know that we are all in our rooms and packing up to be in the lobby of the hotel tomorrow morning at 4am to head to the airport!

We spent part of our day traveling by train to our current location, Wrocław, followed by some food, sightseeing around the city, debriefing a few things about our camp, last minute souvenir shopping and saying our last goodbyes to the daylight hours of this beautiful country.

I'll let the team tell you about their tear-filled goodbyes, their changed hearts, and their experiences. Please ask them. If they give you a one word answer- push them to tell you more. There is so much that each person on this team has to share! Don't let them get away with just telling you that the trip was "good." We would call that an American answer- and I guarantee that they have so much more in their hearts and brains than that one word.

If they are your family member- be gracious to them- they may need a few days to adjust before the stories will come- but they will.

Love to you all. We can't thank you enough for your support and your presence on this trip through prayer.


Sunday, July 1, 2018

A Recap and Sunday by Will Just


Friday
As Weronika finished her faith story I saw Michał and the rest of the worship team walk up to the front. Realizing that I hadn't stood up yet, I jumped out of my seat. As I jumped I felt a blunt pain in my head. Seeing the window that I hit and hearing surprised gasps from the Poles and the Americans;  I smiled and motioned that I was OK. I walked up and put my bass on, and got ready to play. I felt something wet on my neck and reached up, touched, and saw red. I showed the crowd and muttered something akin to "Umm, Umm." Domi and Maciek pulled me out and ran me to a chair. Getting a first aid kid and paper towels they worked together stopping the bleeding. After stopping it, I was ushered into the side room, and the debate started. What to do, what to do. As Domi texted her friend, I dealt with the reality of a sudden lack of hair. Domi's friend answered, " if his father's bald, let it heal by itself, if not take him to the hospital." Didn't go to the hospital. Sitting on a chair, with a large piece of paper underneath Abby came with a scissors. Snip, Snip, Snip. Watching my hair fall to the I sighed and thought about for the next couple months my head will be colder than I would like. Eventually we got steri-strips on the wound and gauzed it up and I read until we went to McDonalds, where a Big Mac awaited me.

Sunday
Last night we had overnights at some of the youth group's houses; Guys at Michał's and Maciek's. Girls at Gaba's. I woke up to rather than snoring, a parakeet squawking about. Having breakfast and taking a quick shower at the place we soon got ready to leave. We then went to church in which we took communion and listened to the sermon. Walking back to the hotel, we decided to go for some lody (Polish Ice Cream). For me I got the Tiramisu flavor and then walked to the church a had lunch. Thus started the goodbyes. After which we started packing and getting ready for the dinner we would soon have. Then we walked around in Cieszyn and saw the oldest building in Poland and stood in Poland and the Czech Republic at the same time. We ate at a fancy restaurant, acted like dumb Americans, and had a good time. I wanted the beef cheeks but had to settle for a pork with mushroom sauce; still very delicious. Then, after paying, we walked out and started home. The car trip home was one of the more sobering experiences I've had in my short life. We didn't want to talk about leaving, or saying goodbye. But we eventually got to the hotel and tears were shed. It was the definition of a minnesotan goodbye, most of us crying, and having Abby say "Nine O'clock", we all knew what that meant. Eventually Nine was reached, hugs were given, again, more tears, and hopeful "Ill see you again". Tomorrow we leave for Wrocław and will soon start our journey home, it is sad but it is what it is.