Day 2 @ Camp

Hey everybody, this is Jen Carpenter! I hope everything back in the US is going well. I am going to tell you all about the second day at camp, which was much less stressful than the day that we arrived. We were able to regroup and begin to feel how the rest of the week was going to be. I am rooming in a rather small room above the sanctuary with about 15 or so other girls. It has been fun to meet them all and I really feel like I connected with a few of them last night around midnight before going to sleep! Haha. The Polish students are very kind and open to the Americans and it has been a great experience to meet them, so I can’t wait to see how the rest of the week will play out.

Today, the second day of camp, was also our first day of English class. I am helping Will G. teach the level four English class. Today was a lot of fun and I am really excited to get to know the kids in my class better because they are a quality group. Because I am in a higher class, our English class is more conversationally-oriented, so it is very nice to be able to talk to the Polish students without being hindered by the language barrier. In my class, Will has the students do push-ups if they ever speak Polish or if they speak when we (the teachers) are talking. The leading student is up to 105 push-ups. It is very fun to be in his class!

Besides English class and midnight talks, the rest of the group is connecting with the Polish students through volleyball and fun card games. I would still greatly appreciate your prayer for our group. I feel that I am unable to really get involved in the Poles’ activities at times and I know that other members of the team feel that way too, so prayer for that would be awesome! I can’t wait to see how the rest of English class is going to go, but I am sure I will have many stories to tell you all! If my family is reading this, I love you all!

Thank you so much for your constant prayers!

Communion 6,600 miles away

Hey this is Dan Boyer sending this to you after possibly the coolest experience I have ever had. Yesterday morning we went to church in Zielona Gora on Communion Sunday. It was nothing short of amazing to take communinon with brothers and sisters in Poland. That experience just ministered to my soul. Knowing that God is in Poland and is still the same for the people here as at home is kind of the pinnacle of spiritual community.

The church service was also phenomenal. Hearing Mariusz speak in Polish and then hearing his words translated into English was awesome. Cale got up and spoke about our church. Dan preached from Matthew 1.

Another experience I will take home with me is the music and songs from Sunday. Hearing and singing the same songs with the Poles singing in Polish and the Americans singing in English was just amazing.

These experiences filled me with a sense of how much God is active and not just watching on the sidelines. Which is something I tend to lose focus on in the states but becomes obvious over here. Thank you once again for all your prayers which truly mean so much to all of us.

Will da Beast

Meet the Will da Beast. AKA Will Gosch, one of our trip leaders. Will received this lovely nickname from Tuna (Cale, if you haven't been tracking with the blog). Will has set a new standard for being an English teacher.

If a student speaks Polish or interrupts in his English class they do five push ups. Jacek nailed down 105 push ups on the first day of class which was Monday. Apparently Will's military training is coming in handy!

Later that night, at a random point during the evening meeting, we heard a voice yell out, "NO MORE PUSHUPS!"

I'm sure there will be more from Will da Beast in the next few days!

--Dan

Photo Album 4: 7/2/07

Click here to access the blog and see the slideshow

A night full of bugs

We arrived just after 9:30 pm to camp!

We canceled the evening program because we had dinner and had to find where we were sleeping. All of the guys are in tents out on the church lawn. It was priceless watching everyone get in the tents at 11:15 p.m.

Every guy ate bugs for dessert! Can anyone say bug spray?

Tuna and Boyer had to sleep in the church because there was no room in the tents. They felt like Jesus...no room in the Inn! Tonight we will set up another tent and rearrange everyone.

All of the girls are staying inside the church and couldn't escape the bugs either although they did get to sleep on a bed.

It's fun because many on the Polish guys have never camped so they are really excited.

Both the guys and the girls have two toilets and three bathrooms for 70 campers! Can you say creating spiritual community?!

We are excited for what God has planned for us here!

--Dan

Cale's Polish Accent

Cale is sweeping through camp with his high pitched "singing" Italian accent as he learns to speak Polish! Never before have I heard a student do this. The dude is slaying me, the rest of our team and all the Polish students. Here's a great quote, "There's a party on the plaza (beach)!"

More from the tuna...I'm sure!

Dan

On our way to camp

We loaded the bus at 7:20 am your time and are headed to camp. The bus is packed full of students and luggage. All of what we have done leads to this time, and our team is pumped!

All of the girls will be sleeping in the church, and the guys in tents behind it!

The team is doing great. The families that hosted us were wonderful! It feels like all we did was eat!

This morning we went to church and got take communion. More to come after we arrive!

--Dan

Sweeney's Tums' Count: 37

Hey, it's Matthew. Overall, the trip has been amazing. Jen caught the lody midair when it fell off of the cone today. Eating has been great, due to the mild food and great taste. Mealtime has been the only time during the day where I am able to relax. Every other time is spent with the Poles playing games. They speak much better English than I originally anticipated. Everyone is extremely polite and respectful. They are also much quieter. People talk with an inside voice everywhere. Everyone stares at us Americans when Dan yells. Please pray for the Poles as we hope to share the gospel at camp. I'll see you all exhausted, and on jet-lag, when I get back.

Matt (aka Sweener)

Precamp, day 2

Saturday started day 2 of pre-camp at the church. We headed off into town to see what makes this city unique. We had a great time walking around and eating ice cream! Cale and the rest of us got to eat chicken for dinner.

We finished off the day with a short program and a team meeting. The team is starting to realize the toll this kind of ministry can take on their patience. We are around people all of the time in close quarters.

Tonight we are spending our final night with our host families. Tomorrow is church and the drive to camp.

-- Dan

Collarbone Boy 2

Hello this is Stephen! Let me just start off saying this: I love the food. I've never eaten so good in my life! One of the best things has been the lody (ice cream) - quality stuff.

Today we started pre-camp, we tested the Poles on English (to determine what class level to place them in), played sports, and started to get to know them. Sunday we will leave for the camp in Swinoujscie, which is located in the north-eastern-most part of Poland (by the Baltic Sea) to begin camp. Thanks for all your prayers and support while we are here in Poland, they mean a lot.

Stephen (not pronounced Steven)

Tuna

Hey all you guys back home! This is Cale and Dan asked me to do a blog entry to fill you guys in on some name calling that's been going down here in Poland. On Thursday, we picked up Przemek (Shemek) on the way to Zielona Gora. We were at a stoplight when I asked Przemek if a picture on a billboard was of Tuna. Come to find out, Przemek is a bit of a smart aleck (in a good way, of course). He was quick to respond, "No, but you're Tuna" What seemed like an innocent comment has turned into a nickname that I can't seem to shake. It may even follow me back to the US. Lord-willing the Polish here will remember me as more than just Tuna, but it has made for a good inside joke.

The trip has been a great experience so far, and the hope is that each of the members on the team will get to mention a little story or something that's gone on during the trip. We miss you guys, but are excited to be here doing what God has called us to do. And your continued prayers are what help us through, so thanks.

Cale B.