Refugees from Chechen

269 Chechen refugees are living in Katowice - they are spit on, laughed at, or just simply ignored. Why? Because they're different and the surrounding neighborhood is angry that they're sucking up Polish taxes, their taxes. They complain that the children only play "war" and are uncultured that they shouldn't be here. Too bad. They are.

Greg was moved by an article he read in the newspaper about the Chechen's. They're living in a district of Katowice where we used to work. So Greg jumped on the chance to try and help. We both know how it is to live in another culture, not knowing the language, and feeling out of place. So he made a phone call to the journalist and explained his desire to help, who we are, and what we do here in Poland. She was excited about our interest but apprehensive that we might try to "evangelize". He said we only want to help the children have fun: play games, have clowns, make balloons, bracelets... just be with them and make them smile. So after getting the go-ahead from the government in Warsaw we met with the youth from our club and prepared everything.

Well, we thought we were prepared. Nothing could prepare us for the chaos of 100 curious excited kids who want to be the first to receive whatever we were giving out. We had them on top of us trying to get balloon animals and no matter what we did to try to explain you must stand in a line, it didn't work. At one point a guy from our club just got up and walked off. He couldn't handle it! I don't blame him- it was pure chaos! Later, I used the illustration of Jesus in the crowded house in Capernaum teaching and a lame man was brought there by his friends. It was so crowded that they had to destroy the roof in order to get him to Jesus. Now that's chaos! And Jesus didn't seem to get frustrated, he was impressed by their faith.

Extreme Makeover- H2O

At the end of August a group of us from club decided to set out to the camp purchased by Josiah Venture in southern Poland to help with their extreme makeover. The center was purchased in 2006 and is being made ready for summer camps, conferences, leadership training programs, and retreats. This place will be amazing and will be used to impact thousands in Poland so we jumped on board to be a part of it. God miraculously provided the money for our transportation and food at the camp (are we surprised?!) For three days we worked, sweated, bled, and invested our energy by cutting down trees, chipping away tile, picking up rocks, painting fences, mowing grass, and preparing the area for the landscapers who were coming the next week. In the afternoons we kayaked and swam and got to know each other better. Greg shared daily from the "Purpose Driven Life" and challenged our youth to think about the reason for living! Since we were there the soccer field has been completed with a sprinkler system and grass and an amphitheater has been built.

Not only that but many of our youth came to know Christ that next weekend through the drama "Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames". God is so good how he works... I look back over the summer and can now see the foundation He's been laying for our youth to come to Him. RiverTree Church with English, King's Kids Holland with dance, testimonies, and prayer, movie night with The Passion, this H2O camp, Heaven's Gates, and now many have given their hearts to Christ! What an exciting summer full of the work of God! Thank you friends for being a part of this journey in Poland. It wouldn't be possible without you. Please keep in prayer for the new believers: that they may grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our Lord and they won't be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.

Welcome!

We have decided to start a new blog solely for ministry. I hope it will make things simpler for you while trying to keep up with what's going on in our lives and with the ministry here. Some prefer to know our personal stuff and some only the ministry. So here's my solution! Thank you for being a part of our journey and the journey of those around us who we believe we're impacting for the good of the kingdom of God. God bless you!