Sunday in Poland from Kristine Kottke!

Sunday in the #PL2K16

Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.  Psalm 115: 1.  It is our fifth full day in Poland, our third full day in Skoczów and our second day of English Camp.   To say we are overwhelmed by the glory of God in this place would be an understatement.  This morning we were graciously given additional free time in the morning so that we might enjoy extra sleep, get in a longer run, have a more leisurely breakfast or catch up on devotional reading and time with God.  With all the buildup to camp, we have had many late nights of preparation followed by restless sleep due to jet-lag, lightening storms, animated late-night conversations outside our windows, overzealous dogs barking early morning wake-up calls and beautiful birds chirping melodious songs that could only be gifts from God. 

This morning we attended church with our Polish friends and we were graciously welcomed in and loved.  The church body was so friendly it felt good to know we could worship our great God together, even in different tongues.  We worshiped together through prayer, scripture and song and Abby was able to thank the Polish church for taking care of us this this week.   I think it is important for Timberwood Church to know that the church here is so prayerful….praying always and in all they do!  They are praying for the English Camp, the Polish youth, our youth and leaders as a church body every day and that is just so comforting to me.  Someone from the Polish church has made a meal for us each night as well and we share it with the Polish youth as we reflect on our day.  What a blessing.  After church we took a short walk in the sunshine with our Polish friends to have Lodi (ice cream) and my day felt full, even before noon! 

Our English Camp schedule was shortened today due to morning church but that didn’t take away from the fun we had.  I think I speak for our entire team when I say that teaching English to the Polish youth is NOT easy and it is daunting, even though we have help and those who are willing to translate.  But, I also feel confident that we are prepared and we all trust that God will provide us with the strength, energy and patience we need to teach and build relationships with the kids, despite the language barrier.  We played games, danced, shared a meal, did workshops, worshipped through music and heard Angela’s faith story.  I felt so proud of her as she shared her powerful story and I truly feel it was one that resonated with many. Tonight, Abby (our fearless American leader) gave a talk on Genesis 3, the Fall of Man and dug more into the Gospel while Domi (our fearless Polish leader) translated….heavy right?  But what a blessing it is that God has given her this talent to speak into the hearts of youth and I know it won’t be a surprise to you that this talent also translates to Polish. After the talk we watched the testimony of Lecrae, the hip-hop/rap artist who authored the song for our Camp Dance.  His testimony was real and down to earth and I pray it softened the hearts of some of the campers who seem to be less open to the good news of Jesus’ love.  Camp closed with Cell Groups led by Polish students in their native language and a time of constant prayer for those small groups in those moments by our Timberwood team. 

We closed our evening as we did yesterday: dinner and reflection on our day at camp as a united Polish/American team.  It’s so crazy to think of the close bonds we have formed with this group in such a short time!  A few of us talked this morning about how easy it is to connect with others who love Jesus because of that common foundation, even when we can’t speak the same native tongue! I know I take that for granted sometimes because of the huge family we have in Timberwood Church…we are so surrounded by those who praise the same God and that is a true gift.   I pray I can remember that gift when I come back home to my everyday life.

Domi shared with us a verse on our first day in Skocków that she has prayed over her preparations for this English camp.  Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.  Psalm 115: 1.  Those words have resonated with me every morning and night since and it is my prayer for our time here as well.   That we rise with the strength of our Father and his grace each morning, move through our day sharing the story of God’s love and the debt that has been paid for us by Jesus’ death and rest each night knowing God will provide us with the words to glorify the kingdom….for His glory alone.  Amen.  

Saturday, Camp Day 1 from Mr Mac Nagy

            Cześć. Dzien dobry. Dziękuję. These are a few of the Polish phrases that have become commonplace throughout our team. Despite our minimal (at best) comprehension of the language, the Polish students with whom we began camp today have a much more expansive understanding of English than we do of Polish. Today, after the months of preparation, we began English camp. We walked our soon-to-be routine route from our hotel to the school to kick off the day. We continued with making banners and chants with our color teams that we will compete in throughout the course of the week. After the presentation of our chants, we preceded into English class. Despite the relative quietness that comes with the first class of the week, we had established a rather relaxed atmosphere by the end of the day as most of us played “Toothless Fruit” with our classes.

            After our classes, the camp dance was presented to the camp. This gave me an opportunity to show off my 45-year old dad dance moves. This combined with my lack of physical coordination probably provided quite the amusing sight for all present to see.

             After we all nailed down the dance, we entered the evening program, which we started off with a strange competition based off of a strange handshake that we learned in Poznan. We proceeded as Abby gave a message that ended on a cliffhanger on what happens in the events of Genesis 3. After this, the campers were divided up into their small groups (or “cell groups”) with which they would discuss the evening program while we prayed for the evening.

             After ending the day at camp, we all headed back to the church where we enjoyed very expansive servings of spaghetti. I doubt there was a person between our two teams who had an empty stomach tonight. We concluded our day by having our daily camp debrief at the church, which has always been one of my favorite parts of this trip. Copious amounts of Mint LifeSavers and Prince Polos were ceremoniously consumed during this meeting.

            Despite the extreme weariness that comes with the first day of camp, I think all of us are pleased with how it went. We are beginning a process that I hope and pray will be transformative for the young people here. There is a sense of optimism among our team that will certainly be justified within the next week of camp.

            I figure I should probably head off to bed soon, as the sun will likely wake me up the joyous hour of 3:30 A.M. tomorrow morning.

Peace and love.

God bless.

Friday in Skoczów

            The first Friday in Skoczów, the day before camp begins, has always been one of my favorite days of this trip. It is the day when two halves of a team become one whole team. It is the day when the American side of the team and the Polish side of the team, come together for a day of final preparations. This included going through each day of the camp schedule, working through the music for day one, setting up some of the school where camp will take place, and ending the day with a bonfire. For me, it is fun to sit back and watch two groups of people who many just met last night or even this morning, begin to bond and come together- all because we share one thing in common- our love of Christ and our salvation that is found in Him. It is something that I do not sit back in awe and praise our Father enough for. We have a good good Father.

            Tomorrow begins the 6^th camp that Timberwood and the church in Skoczów has teamed up to be a part of together. As having had the privilege to be a part of all of them, I can’t help but sit here, in a hotel I’ve sat in countless nights before, and reflect on all that God has been doing through these camps and relationships. I’m humbled to be able to start camp 6 tomorrow and to get yet another chance of seeing God move in the hearts of all of us there. I’m praying big for God to shake this place. I’m praying that He would move in such ways that at the end of the day and especially at the end of the week, so many things would happen that could only truly have happened by His power. Please join me in this!

            Today was a day of planning and preparing; we’ve done what we can and it is with open hands and open hearts that we enter into camp day 1 tomorrow. Expectant of our God. Expectant that He is bigger, that He is worthy, and that it is with HIS power the changes lives.

            Side note:: As I’m sitting here writing this blog, I feel like you have been shortchanged in not getting to hear from each and every one on the American half of the team. I have had 6 people from the team sit down and have conversations with me while I was writing this blog post to tell me about their experience today and how great it was to meet the people they met and have the conversations they had. The joy in their hearts is beaming through their smiles. I wish you could see them!

Goodnight from Poland...

Thursday from the heart of Leah Wiczek

Hi All!

I am so thrilled to say we have arrived in Skoczow, Poland!

Today was another great day. We were able to start the morning with a lovely Polish breakfast before continuing on with our English camp training. In training today, the leaders from Josiah Venture went over some tips and advice on teaching English in our classrooms at camp. We also learned a bit about some of the differences to expect between the American and Polish cultures.  I think I speak for the whole team when I say it was great to have some advice from the Poles prior to going in to camp. After a morning of training and worship all of the teams packed their bags to head off to each of their respective cities where various camps will be held throughout Poland. It was sad to say goodbye to the other teams and all the Josiah Venture crew as we formed new friendships with them over the past 2 days, but we were also anxious to be on our way to start our mission in Skoczow. Timberwood loaded up in a van along with one other team and drove 7 hours south (With a pit stop for some McDonald’s of course J) where we arrived in Skoczow and were so graciously greeted by Dominika and Ania.  After getting all checked in to our hotel they we so kind as to host our team for a late night snack and ice cream where we were all able to reunite and meet some of the fellow Polish camp leaders.  It was great to be able to bond with our Polish team and spend time building relationships in Christ as we unite as one to put on the English camp which starts on Saturday.

It was a long and exhausting day, but the love of Christ that exudes from everyone we come in contact with everyday is truly amazing and I continue to thank God that we are all able to be a part of this opportunity to share the Gospel.

We thank you for the continued prayers and look forward to updating you as the journey continues!

God Bless,

Leah

Wednesday Post from Angela Gudahl!

Greetings from a hotel room in Poznań, Poland!

            It has been three days and two nights since leaving the parking lot of Timberwood Church; however, with the time difference and all sorts of other activities, I think some of us here have lost track of time. Besides the fact that 7/9^ths of the team woke up at 3:00 A.M. (ready to run four laps around the hotel) we all seem to be adapting well enough to the time difference. At the same time, it’s not necessarily rare for us to fall asleep the second we sit down in a vehicle.

            The day started at 8:00 this morning with a beautiful breakfast buffet at the hotel, which was eaten with our team, interns and staff from Josiah Venture, and three other teams (two American teams and one Canadian team, all with the same mission as us). After this, all of us teams spent the morning training on things like “How to share the gospel”, and “How to build relationships well”, etc. We also were taught the camp dance, which got us all pretty toasty. But we Minnesotans have a knack for bringing cool weather along with us when we travel, as the typically 90 degree weather in Poznań adapted to our presence with a whopping 68 degree breeze.

            After a morning of training, all of us traveled to a museum where we got to learn more about the history of Poznań. Our team then got a little bit of free time to explore a mall. To no ones surprise, we all unanimously agreed to hit one shop, the lody shop (Polish ice cream shop). I think all of us have nailed how to say two things in polish. 1. Lody (ice cream). And 2. Nie mowie po polsku (I don’t speak Polish).

            Our day finished with a delicious pasta dinner and some more training.  We learned so much today, and it is truly amazing to be around people who have such passion to share the love of Jesus Christ with others. Whether it is a 19 year old intern from Ukraine, or an adult leader from Canada.

            I wish I had the time and the ability to keep my eye lids open to explain exactly how much I believe God is going to move here in the next two weeks. I don’t know how He will do it, and I don’t know if I will even be able to witness it with my eyes; however, already I know He is more than okay with all of us having high expectations of our faithful Father.

            Sometimes words fail, but there was so much truth and peace in the words of a worship song we sang together:

“Oh God, the glory is Yours.

Your kingdom has come.

The battle is over.

Jesus, we raise Your name.

The glory is Yours, the glory is Yours”

In Jesus name, may our hearts, actions, and words proclaim that. Please pray and expect big things, I believe He will far surpass all of our expectations.

Dobranoc! (Good night!)

Angela Gudahl

We made it!

We have arrived in Poland!!

We were greeted at the airport and brought to the hotel in Poznań we will be staying at for the next two nights. Everyone is currently taking a moment to breathe and freshen up a bit before dinner!

Everything is going great! Thanks again for your prayers- our next posts will be more substantial- just wanted to put your hearts and minds at ease that all is well and we are so excited to be here!

Made it to Germany!

We've made it to Germany!

The team is in good spirits- feeling the effects of jet lag and ready to be in Poland!!

I'm not sure how quickly we will have Internet or be able to update the blog when we first arrive so I wanted to let you know we've made it this far!

One more hour in the Munich airport and we'll be on our way with the last leg of the trip.

Thank you for your prayers! Everything has gone incredibly smooth.