|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| This past Saturday our "coaching pod" from Connect '09 met up again on the Czech-Polish border. Though it was cold, we had a great time hearing stories of what God has been doing in these student leaders since our August training time. We had our prayer time literally on the bridge over the river that is the border. We believe one of our purposes of being in Poland is to be bridge builders connecting others -to Jesus, each other and other like-minded student servants.
You can see a few pictures of our group here. The Opole portion was not able to be with us due to work conflicts. But you can view some pictures from their meeting I was able to attend 2 weeks ago.
We really enjoyed our brief time with John and Anita Koeshall this weekend too. They have been very influential in my life since I met them in Munich, Germany in 1986. They encouraged us by their presence, stories and experience.
| | |
| Yesterday was the day many Polish families give gifts in their remembrance of Saint Nickolas (Polish spelling is Mikołaj). The thing that I like about this tradition is that it leaves the rest of the month to prepare for celebrating Jesus's birth. The commercialization and the over-emphasis on gifts (consumerism) is always so distracting in the States.
The size of the gift in Poland is usually not what matters either. Though there has been a significant increase during our time here in how much advertising and pressure families get about buying a gift for Mikołajki. There will usually also be one gift given by family members on Christmas Eve as part of the marathon Wigilia feast that precedes the traditional Midnight Mass.
May the focus this Christmas season be on Jesus, His amazing birth, and that God is WITH us -Emmanuel. | | |
| I have been working on a web site to help identify some of the identity markers of Polish students -and how they are similar/different from US students or students from other countries. One of my heroes put up some pics on flicker that I thought you might find interesting as well.
What looks similar to your student groups?
What looks different?
If there were no Polish words in the pictures, what country would you think these pictures were taken in?
If you are interested in this kind of study, you could participate by taking the first of 5 phases on the web survey.
My motto for the Polish language seems to apply to the study of its students as well, "The only way to fail is to quit."
| | |
| This morning I had a message in my inbox that one of my "favorite" photographers had posted again. I am often intrigued by his subjects and the views he's finds. Today's topic was mushroom picking. It was a new word to me and I knew it had to do with fungi because the other day when I was at the pharmacy, I asked the pharmacist for something for eczema and she asked me what kind it was. I understood her to ask, if it was a mushroom or an allergy. I am still learning Polish...
Yesterday I was having pizza with a couple of student leaders. We did not have mushrooms on either the Hawaiian with chicken or the kebab (onions, seasoned chicken from a rotisserie). But I remember two separate occasions when I was riding with some Polish pastors and we either stopped to inspect the collections on the road side stands or to find our own collections.
Maybe I should go eat.
| | |
| Zdobywcow means conquerors. This past week I was in the northern lake region of Poland for the National Youth Leader's training conference called Zdobywcow. The have three leadership levels (beginners, intermediate and leaders of leaders). There were also three tracks (middle school, high school and student) of which I showed my bias -students. Click HERE to listen to some songs these Polish youngg people are writing to inspire service to our God. (Ogien -Fire, Armi Krzyk -Shout of the Army, Juz Czas -It's time).
The leaders are Arek and Julita Rachwalski and their assistant Zbyszek Zarozny (pictured below center, seated).
Arek is so TALL, but he is also big in his
leadership, passion and heart:
Julita is a patriotic preacher who believes God has a plan for the youth of this nation and that they can change the  world -maybe that is why I like her preaching!
We spent our free time eating, kayaking on the lake, playing futbol (soccer) and volleyball. Though some were wiser and rested....
The reason I go is to make and develop relationships with students and student leaders. I am convinced the future of Poland is held in these youg people. They have vision for new, innovative and better things. They are not limited by very many things -not the least of which would be passion and vision. Here I am with some of the "Jewels" from Opole and Gliwice student groups and a youth leader from Krosno.
Ola, Wojtech and Iza (back left to right) are in the Opole group while Asia (back right) and Sara (front left) are the leaders in Gliwice.
Judging from the response to this leadership training and conversations for plans for this academic year, I believe God has some significant plans for these leaders and their groups that will change the world of many students.
| | |
|
