Passport Problem #1

We arrived in Poland! We touched down at 5:57am Denver Time.

First passport problem: Molly's passport expired in May!

They will not let her in the country without a current passport. Dan Hash is negotiating with them now! The dude is working his magic! He is trying to let them take her to the consulate.

Denver and Chicago missed this and it's a good thing because she would still be in America. she can get a passport here. We are in the office right now waiting to see what will happen. It looks like she will be able to get it and not have to go home!

We are trying to figure how to get the picture. Stay tuned.

Lift off

From Dan's cellphone camera...

I guess we found out why the tickets were cheaper!

No, no dogs are on the plane. Just trying to keep the blog interesting during the team flights.

Kelly and I (Jon tC) drove the team to the airport this morning, with zero flat tires, no luggage left at the church, no accidents, and very little crying.

Unlike last year's repeatedly delayed flight, the team has just taken off from DIA and is headed to Chicago.

I'll add more info as I get it.

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I Can't Hear You

Our theme song is "I Can't Hear You" by Matthew West. Here's a link to the song and the dance we will be doing at camp. This is the video we used to learn the song. You don't have to wait for Poland Sunday! We are hoping and praying the lyrics to this song provide a great way to start up conversations at camp!

I Can't Hear You Lyrics

This world is making me dizzy

I can’t seem to keep it from spinning

This life is screaming so loud now

I can’t escape from this crowd now

It’s like I’m climbing up on the shoulders

In a room full of strangers

And then everybody walks away

Chorus:Fly high, jump and touch the skyHigh,

bring me back to life I

know you’re there when I can’t hear you

Down now at the speed of sound now

When I touch the ground now

You’ll be there when I can’t hear you

I am a classic case of dysfunction

I talk and talk and still I say nothing

Am I the voice of my generation?

Is everybody having the same conversation?

We’re all climbing up on the shouldersIn a room full of strangers

When we should be reaching for you

Do you ever get the feeling that you’re not alone

No matter who you are, no matter where you go?

Feel like you’re climbing up on the shouldersIn a room full of strangers

We’re all reaching

Our Schedule

Here's our schedule for our trip! We are gone June 25th - July 10th! It's going to be a wild ride!

June 25 - Fly to Chicago & Krakow, Poland
June 26 - Arrive in Krakow, Poland
June 27 - Krakow
June 28 - Auschwitz & Travel to Zielona Gora
June 29-July 1 - Pre Camp in Zielona Gora
July 1-8 - Camp in Swinoujscie, Poland
July 8 - Night train to Katowice, Poland
July 9 - Day & Night with Dan & Laura Hash at their home
July 10 - Fly to Chicago and Denver

"My favorite country!"

Today I went to Kaiser to get medicine for my Streptococcal pharyngitis. Strep throat for the lay person! As I was checking in I told the lady that I needed to get medicine in me before I flew to Poland with a group of students from our church. The lady sat back in her chair and said, "That's my favorite country. My family is from Poland and I went there on a cruise 2 years ago. We went to a city off the Sea." She couldn't believe someone in Kaiser today was going to Poland on Monday!

It was cool to see her joy for me and our team going to a place that she loved. There was someone behind me ready to pay so I was off to see the nurse. Now I am off to take my medicine pictured above.

Underground

Our camp this year is centered around the theme "Underground." Here's the logo! It's going to be an awesome week!!

Long lines

Today United Airlines was down for two hours at DIA. I am so glad they are working out the kinks before we show up around 9:45 a.m. on Monday morning.

You should stay tuned to this blog and get ready for the potential travel hang ups!

We are off to Krakow on Monday, June 25th!

Student Thoughts: Rachel M

This will be my third time going to Poland. I am looking forward to getting to know our team better. I have learned that a special, common bond is created within the team, especially after spending two weeks together. We work together through the challenges, but also get to be outside of our normal lives.

There are many people that I am looking forward to seeing again. It brings me great joy think about the memories and picture their faces. I don’t feel very nervous about this trip, but the first year I went I was very unsure of how everything was supposed to happen and the details of the trip.

I am preparing spiritually by praying for the team. I have also been praying about my role for this year. I’ve been thinking about the previous trips and the friends I have made. I would like prayer for getting through the rest of this school year and finishing well. Already the time has gone by fast, but currently, I have a major school project that is causing stress. I also want to be mindful that the next few months are good preparation for showing God’s love to people at school.

Student Thoughts: Jen C.

As our Poland trip approaches, I am really excited for the whole experience. I cannot wait to meet and build relationships with the Polish students. I also can’t wait to see how God will use me in this trip and I hope to successfully show his glory to the Polish people we will meet. I am also looking forward to improving my own relationship with God. I’m excited to see what he will teach me while I am there and I hope to fully live my life for Him. I look forward to building stronger relationships with the students and leaders of the Poland team as well. Lastly, I am also excited to see God’s creation in another country as well!

While in Poland, I am most nervous about putting myself out there. By that, I mean that I am worried that I won’t be accepted by the Polish students because I tend to be a shy, introverted person when I meet new people. I just hope that I will be able to be open up to the Polish students I meet. I know this is really important because the friendships I build in Poland will help me spread God’s kingdom. Of the stops we are visiting in Poland, I am really scared and apprehensive to go to the concentration camp, Auschwitz. Even though I’ve learned about it in school, I know it will be so much harder to actually visit the camp. I am also a little nervous to leave my family. I am worried that I might get a little home sick but I am predicting that I will be having too much fun to miss my family!

Well, I would really appreciate it if you all would pray that during the trip I will fully rely on God and be a willing servant. I tend to like to be a leader and I am sometimes a control freak so I really hope to be able to fully commit my life to God. Once again, I just need prayer that I will be open to the Polish students I meet and not hide behind my shyness and insecurities. Also, since this will be the first time I have ever left the country (Yeah!) and my family for more than a few days, I hope that I will be comfortable during this trip and I will not become too homesick. I mainly just hope that God will help me spread his Word into the lives of the Polish students.

The President Beat Us

The Presiden of the United States of America beat us to Poland. He was there on June 8th! Check it out here!

I can't wait to get to Krakow and hear Alice say, "Welcome to Poland!"

Final Training

We had our final official meeting yesterday (05.20) for our trip to Poland this summer. We had a great time eating bread and toppings. We nailed down who's teaching English and we're getting ready for theme night already!

It was fun to sit around the table yesterday and see the anticipation in the eyes of our students. We also talked about our flight troubles from last year and we'll be leaving Denver earlier to get to Chicago earlier so we don't miss our flight to Krakow!

Are you getting excited?