Saturday, September 5, 2009

Party anyone?

It seems that our house has been the party house lately!  I always like a good party and there sure have been a few here lately...

Sunday, August 23
Dan says to Laura at 12:00 (end of church service), "Arci is going to film his music video at our house today.  Nothing will be needed... we're just the 'location'!"  At about 3:00 about 40 people show up, many I don't know, ready to party and film a really fun Christian Rap Video!

Arci! 
He's actually from Armenia but has lived here in Poland for about 12 years and really loves Jesus and sharing him with young people throughout Poland.
His song talks about having a great, enjoyable day... so that's what we did!
Even I had fun!!

Dorota, the background singer singing in the pool!

Zoe wanted to also be a star!  (Mostly she wanted to swim to her ball...)

Arci's song - but will soon be video from our house! (Click on this link if you want to hear Arci!)


A little more than just providing the location was needed, but it was really fun!  And, we met many new people in the process from a different part of Poland.


Saturday, August 28, 2009

There have been many parties out in our garage - birthdays, baptisms, retreats, conferences, meetings, hang out, guests... but never yet has our garage been used for a wedding reception!  One of our dear friends, Jaś Kziążek, married Gosia last Saturday, and they asked if we'd be willing to host a "youth reception" here at our garage!  Traditionally, there is a big reception with family and food and games and dancing that lasts hours held in a restaurant.  Jaś and Gosia wanted something a little different.

So, after Dan performed their ceremony, we attended the traditional family reception at a local restaurant and had some great food!  This time, it didn't last very long.  After a few hours, many of the young family members and us and the Bride and Groom left and headed to our garage.  There waiting were many of Jaś and Gosia's friends and a really fun reception took off!  Earlier some of their friends (youth from our church) came and decorated the garage into a Hawaii Theme.  It was a great night.  Many of their friends were childhood friends, cousins, University friends... many who had never been to our house nor been to a Protestant wedding and reception.  They didn't know what to expect... but had a delightful time.  They sensed there was something different about this whole thing and didn't know what to do with "Priest-Pastor" who hung out with them in the way Dan did!  We've commented that it was one of our best "outreach" events we've hosted in a long time.  And, it really blessed Jaś and Gosia.  We're excited about their new life together.

Here's a few shots:

First Dance...

Bride and Groom enjoying themselves!

Having fun!!!

Even a night swim in a COLD pool!

Kielbasa for all!
Jas, Gosia and us!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Here in Poland, your 18th birthday is a really big deal.  There is lots of celebration and special attention.  A special young lady, Zuzia, from our church had her 18th a few days ago.  Her brother (Jacob's best Polish friend) and a few of her friends surprised her with a party held... in our garage!  It was so awesome to see her surprise and the joy on her face as about 30 celebrated her life!  She's a delight and we're so glad God created her and led her into our lives... and the lives of the young people here in Poland.  She's a member of the leadership team at our church's youth group as well as a part of the worship team.  Thank God with us for Zuzia!!


Zusia with her friends and ours, Lena and Majka.  These girls lead and love on many youth here in Katowice!!
And, soon on Sunday, October 12, we'll have another big party here.  The next baptism at our church!  There are already a few who have decided to take this step but a few other are considering it.  Pray with us for this day for God to receive great glory... and for there to be sunny skies!

Maybe even Zoe wants to be baptized!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Summer Journeys

So, you wonder what the Hashes really do during the summer months? We tell you often that we organize English Camps all over Poland. We host American teams in Krakow (and a few in our home) and also then visit all the camps once they get going. We want to connect with the Polish and American teams as well as help in encouraging and helping with problems along the way. This year, our travels looked like the following:

Hashes (Dan and Laura) First Missionary Journey:

June 26-July 3


From Krakow we went to Germany to speak for a Cadence ministry and to celebrate our 17 years of marriage in Dresden! We then visited camps in Wrocław, Swinoujscie, Ostróda, Żywiec, Burkowina Tatrzańska and back to Krakow for debrief.

Hashes (Dan and Jacob) Second Missionary Journey:

July 6-22


This time Dan and Jacob took off after Krakow and welcoming new teams, to an Art Festival in Lubiąz, and then to English Camps in Nowy Tomysł and Koszalin. They snuck in a day and a half father-son time on the beach! And, finished up with debriefing in Poznan.

Hashes (Dan, Laura and Jacob) Third Missionary Journey:

July 24-Aug 4



We're still in the "middle" of this journey. The final camp is beginning today in Wisła. We were in Krakow once again to welcome the team from Indianapolis and now Jacob is at the camp. Dan and I will visit it later this week and then end up the summer with the team in Krakow for debriefing.

Besides all of this, we have the joy of leading a wonderful intern team this summer. They are in and out of our home between camps and are serving well! They will fly out on August 7. Here they are at one camp... as they are "normally" and as they are when they serve!





If you want to check out more from a few of the camps, click on the links below!

Pictures from Katowice Camp (Jacob was at this camp and Dan and Laura visited on Journey #1!)

American blog from Koszalin Camp (Dan and Jacob visited this camp on Journey #2!)

Friday, December 5, 2008

Then to Denver and Chicago...



The 2x3 campaign meeting in Denver was a little overwhelming with all the special people we were able to connect with.  It was a meeting of all of our worlds... former Malachi friends, special people who have supported this whole thing since the beginning in 1993, interns who have served summers in Poland, family, long-term friends, and even some brand new friends ... the list goes on.  It was an amazing time to rejoice with those we love so much in what God is about these days.  My joy could hardly be contained.


One of the greatest joys for me was to have my assistant, Jola, and her husband, Łukasz, be with us for the meetings.  They are such a part of what God is doing here in Poland that it wouldn't have been right to be there without them.  We sure love them!  Also, two couples who are considering joining our team in Poland also flew out to be with us and get to know us.  Pray for them!  On the far left are Josh and Lora Blair and next to them are Thomas and Stephanie Washington.

We also while in Denver were able to meet with some youth pastors who have led teams of students to Poland in past years and others who are considering bringing a group.  We felt so joined by these leaders who have become so dear to us.  We're encouraging by those who have decided to come... but we're lacking enough groups.  Pray that others would come!  (And, if you know any group that would like to come, let me know!)


My special brother.... how I love my family.  In the midst of meeting after meeting, there were moments of connection with my family.  We were able to remember my Dad (it's already been 4 years!) in a special time gathered around his graveside, have a wild birthday party for Jacob and his cousin, Karri, who are one-day apart in age, and Dan was even around at the exact time when his parents were moving to Dallas.  He and Jacob helped them drive their things down and helped begin the process of unpacking before they flew back to Denver.  Once again we were so thankful for our precious and supportive family.  



We had the privilege of an invitation to join Bill Armstrong, Colorado Christian University President and former US Senator, for lunch in his office.  There are four of us on our team who are CCU graduates and as we pursue a deeper relationship with this university by having students join us for summers and other ministry opportunities in Poland, we were delighted to have the chance to get to know this man and his heart for Poland.  He's been here in the past and desires to do more to be a part of reaching Poles for Christ.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Then we headed to Minneapolis...


We were greeted by hunting season in Minnesota!  That was a culture shock!

The time in the states continued and we spent a few days in Brainerd and Nisswa and then in Minneapolis.  Who would have ever thought we could love so many people in Minnesota?! We've never even lived there.                        

Reflecting


It's hard to know where these past two months have gone.  For sure, I've spent many of those days traveling in all kinds of different directions.  It's good to now be home... and able to just look "back" on some of those miles on planes, trains and automobiles!

In October, I took three ladies from my church in Katowice and we drove 12+ hours one-way to get to Rivne, Ukraine.  The adventure was quite enjoyable for us all (border crossings and all) and we ended up at a Young Women's Conference at a church where my friend and her Ukrainian husband (great to be with you Lindsay and Andrej!) are serving.  I spoke 4 times in two days to these dear women about caring for our bodies and souls.  After each talk, my three Polish friends and I each led a "spa" treatment and spoiled the girls there.  One of the greatest joys for me, besides talking while massaging Ukrainian girls' hands, was to see the Polish ladies get out of their comfort zone and begin using their Russian (studied it many years earlier in school), Polish and limited English to try to talk with the girls.  We also had such a great time together in the car and siteseeing in Lviv on our way home.  What a treat this time was in every way.  I pray that God will use my words to continue to speak to the girls about "being healthy" in all ways.

A few pictures:


A week after I returned from Ukraine, we all left for our trip to the US and Canada for Josiah Venture's 2x3 campaign.  If you don't know what that's about, check out www.2x3campaign.com to learn more.  Basically, we're asking God to double our fruit in the next three years.  It was SO fun to see so many of you.  We were first in Denver for a time with family and friends and then headed to Canada.  A few pictures from there:

Thursday, September 18, 2008

We're still alive!

So, I'm working on updating my blog. I want to be connected with people so I think this is what I want to do. I'm just still not very good with it! So, if I have a different look, maybe then I'll have a bigger desire to update!

The Fall has begun. Jacob's doing well in school thus far. Dan just returned from a trip visiting 3 cities who held camps this summer. He and Jola and Lukasz traveled west almost to Germany and then on up north, all the way to the Baltic. And, back home in just a few short days. It was a whirlwind but awesome for them all.

Next week Dan and I will be at our JV Fall Conference and Jacob and Zoe at home with our friend, Wisnie. He's a wild guy that Jacob really likes who leads our Winter Camp. I'm not sure who will be taking care of who!

And, besides that, we're staying warm. The weather suddenly has changed from summer to winter! All in a few days. Burrr!

Also, wanted to show some pictures of my newly organized home! Kathy and Neal Gaalswyk, friends from Minnesota, were here last week and were the "wind beneath our wings!" THANKS!!!

And, a new rug!

Monday, June 30, 2008