The importance of prayer - by Dave

Hello. Dave here. I'm one of the leaders going to Poland with Southern Gables Church's 180 high school group. This is the first of many postings by the team members going to Poland this summer. I've asked each member of the team to think through what is on their hearts and minds as they prepare for this trip. I will plan on posting their responses over the next couple of weeks. I've also asked them to list prayer requests so that if you, the readers, feel led to support us through prayer, you will have specific examples to pray for.

For myself, I've been thinking a lot about the importance of prayer. Two weeks ago, at our last Poland meeting, the subject of preparation came up. During our conversation, I began to think about how preparation for a trip like this needs to be a very intentional action. We were discussing evangelism and how letting our actions reflect the character of Jesus can lead others to question what is different about our lives. However, it is vital that each of us is prepared for those dialogues. This means that we need to be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit in everyday interactions. For me, this means spending time in prayer. Not just prayer for the rest of the team (though this is important), but prayer for myself: that I would be sensitive to the leadings of the Spirit not just in Poland, but everyday.

For my prayer requests, I would ask that as I prepare, I would continue thinking about how God has changed my life. The cliche aside, I believe it is important for me to really think through this so that I may explain it in a way that sounds genuine, and not as a sales pitch. For me, there is a bit of stigma surrounding evangelism. I often worry too much about how I say things, and forget that what I say is more important. I would also ask that as we travel, the Lord would grant me patience with the rest of the team. As I've already shared with them, I am an extreme introvert, which means there will be times that my patience with others will wear thin, especially after several long days and short nights.

Welcome back!

If you haven't visited this page in a while (and you probably haven't, given that the last posting was February 5th), welcome back! This page will follow the 180 team's trip to Poland this summer as well our process of preparing.

So stay tuned!

Applications are in...

Today I've received all the applications from the students who want to go to Poland! I can't wait to read them through them. The application takes at least 4 hours to complete! It's going to be a lot of reading!

Here we go!

Poland 2007 is coming

Tonight we met with our students to talk about our trip this up and coming summer to Poland!
There will be changes this year, but we are excited for what we believe God is calling us to do with Fala!

More to come!

Dustin's Bag is HERE!

Dustin's bag never made it with us to Chicago and it still hadn't made it to his house as of this morning. He just called me and said his bag is on the way to his house tonight.

One can only imagine the stench of the clothes from the hike in the rain. OH MY!!!!!!!

Have fun washing those clothes buddy!!!!!!!!!!

Pat's Perspective on the Trip

It's been cool to start reading through a bunch of blogs now that we are home! I was reading Pat Roseman's blog and found a post she did on our trip HERE! It's a great post with a great quote from Yancey in it!

Pat's daughter Jen was on our trip as a leader.

It was very encouraging to see one of the missionaries from our church, whose out on the field, showing her concern and interest in our trip!

Thanks PAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lee's Collarbone Doc Appointment

Lee just got back from the Doc! Here's the scoop. He's going to be fine. His collarbone should be healed in six weeks. A ball of calcium should form to connect the bones that are overlapping. He doesn't have to wear the straps around his shoulders anymore. His arm is in a more comfortable sling and he's on some good medication. So the Doc in Poland, who was smoking a cigarette after he set he collarbone, actually did a good job. The most priceless part of our experience with the Doc was as he was setting the bone he heard a pop and says, "Ooops!"

Between the cigarette smoke that filled the hospital and that comment I will never forget my time in the hospital in Zakopane, Poland.

I can't imagine seeing this place in the winter! What a wonderland!

We're HOME!!!!!!!!

After both of our flights were delayed on Tuesday we are all home!!!!! Keep coming back to this site as we will posting post trip stuff and MORE PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!

The trip was great, but the hugs from my wife and kids this morning were BETTER!!!!!

New Photos

New photos from the camp.
Click on a photo for a description.

Previous Slideshows:
Camp Set 1

Denver and Chicago

Basketball & A Close Team

From Kevin Lansing

What’s up ziom? I have had a wonderful experience this second year in Poland. This year’s camp was, of course, spectacular. I was unsure of what to expect being that the camp was in a different location with some new faces but I have been pleasantly surprised by how things have turned out. I made some very strong bonds with most of the Polish leadership team last year and these bonds were strengthened this year, as I was able to spend more time behind the scenes due to my involvement in camp music.

God has blessed me richly this year with many friendships. One in particular, though, has impacted me the most. I have always wondered how God would use basketball in my life to bring glory to his name, especially in a sport where I have learned to play so aggressively and anything but Christ-like. However, its not how I play the game but rather how I carry myself that the Lord can use, it’s the relationships that can be created through common interest which are important. My Father has used both of these attributes on this trip with astounding results as I witnessed a young man, one of my best friends, come so very close to establishing a relationship with Christ.

Our team is very close this year. The Polish and American Christians are very strong this year and closely united. Love is in the house this year, and the house was packed, people heard things they’ve never heard before. They wrestled with things they’ve never thought about before. And they saw hope and love like they’ve never dreamed before. Whether it is from the wild and crazy things that took place or the deep and personal things that students heard. Maybe it was the spiritual battle lined drawn on classroom floors or evening programs, only God knows. But I do know one thing…. Love was in the house.

Our team is very close this year, close to Polish students and leaders alike, and because of this it was very hard to leave…. heartbreaking…because part of my heart will always be in Poland.

Alice, Tori & Mickey In Poland

One of the great joys of this trip is being lived out right now as we get to see Alice, Tori and Mickey from our church. It is awesome to see Alice in the midst of her ministry! She looks great and is doing great! Likewise, it’s great to see two of our former students serving as an interns over here for the whole summer.

I can’t wait to see who from our church will choose to be an intern next year!