Grace Fellowship

The whole team arrived safely and due to trouble at the airport, we immediately jumped into the vans and drove for some hours to Opole. Currently we are checking in in the hotel. People are tired and go to the rooms. We might or not have dinner and tomorrow is a new day.

Seems everybody is refreshed and had a good night's rest in the hotel.

After a lovely breakfast we came together to receive the instructions for the day. We heard Kevin's testimony and will hear many more, listened to Jess introducing herself and the plans.

On our way to buy all the things we need for kids ministry. Later in the day we will have kids and later the youth group in the church and do dinner after that.

Around 2:00 we entered the church to prepare for children's ministry

Maddie was leading us in some jumping, dancing and clapping to tell us we are a masterpiece of God.

…professionally supported by our impressive devotion team.

After a great introduction about the 7 days of creation, it was time to start working. Later they were treated with a little book about the 7 days in Polish .

Like the kids, the youth started off with nine ball, and it was a great success.

The lady that usually cooks for us was not able today. So a handful went into the kitchen and did a great job, making real Polish food.

After dinner we had ice cream and several people of the team were giving their testimonies. It was a great success.

So this is Alicja, from Ostoja church. She translated everything we said into Polish. Tomorrow we will have church and after that we will explore the city of Opole.

And this is Jess, our team leader.

Pastor Mariusz called us forward to introduce ourselves. Our pictures were sent before us, and projected on the screen. Including the Praying Pelican.

I am. And this week: I am the bread of life. Pastor Mariusz had a nice way of explaining to the people with a lot of humor.

We all are hungry for love, attention, safety. And the only answer is Jesus.

We split up in groups and found eachother again at the ice-cream shop.

We saw signs of need, signs of hope, and plenty cultural clues. And also the food was delicious. Tomorrow we will go to a new ministry that we were asked for instead of House of Hope. We will learn about this when we get there. God is opening new doors in Opole!!

Today we were blessed to see the show that they performed on the harvest festival. We were guests in a Rehab Center for mentally handicapt. We were invited by Father Dariusz. He translated for us when they performed and sang songs.

We were shown around and treated to coffee and cake. And after their show we were asked questions and we did some American songs in which they could participate. It was a pleasure.

We were allowed to pray for them and gladly we took a picture all together. On the way out we had to go through the shop where we could buy crafts they had made. These people play an important role in society.

Before the program we played Nine Ball. That is again big fun. A challenge to not be eliminated or by accident eliminate someone you love.

New songs and new moves with Maddie and the crew.

Karen went deeper with this group in what the snake, the deceiver, did and how Adam and Eve fell. How does it apply to our lives today? Are we faithful?

After the (confronting) message, the young people could release their energy on the appel and the snake.

Immediately after the youth, we had a men's group. It was a blessed time. We talked about challenges in life and storms and how Jesus comes to us.

Including sharing pizza. The men stayed and we had good company together. It was a full day. Tomorrow is going to be early again. Seeing yet another new ministry.

Last Sunday we had the privilege to pray for the pastor, and his family.

120 women live there and about 80 people come to care for them. Today we came with half the team, while the other half was preparing for the children's ministry.

For the rehab part they also use horses. We were shown around and saw that there is an open door to do ministry here.

The women were so happy and it was noticed that there is a positive atmosphere in the place.

In the meantime in the kitchen food was prepared for cooking and the tables were set for the ministry.

Jess prepared us a traditional Polish meal. It smelled like Christmas. And pierogi’s belong.

Borsjt is red beet soup with all kinds of ingredients.

The food was really appreciated

It was such a great idea to add the mice.

This time again it were the Teen Agers.

We also played card games with them.

As Cassie explained the gospel she poured out sin in a bottle and made it disappear. By the blood of Christ.

Of course we dance again and of course we play nine ball again.

And of course we make art and there is time to connect again.

It is family evening. Translated: American style evening. That will be including all kinds of American traditional food.

In the afternoon, part of the team went to yet again a new place where women that were abused could stay for a while. This might be again a new opportunity to share Jesus as we did today, also in the future.

People started to come for the family evening and there were many parents of the young people.

Although there was no program, we had the opportunity to meet some great brothers and sisters. And so another day was fulfilled for Christ.

We found a good spot right in front of the University. We prayed for people, town, country and whatever came in mind.

After the prayer we had some time to explore the town. And we did, as you can see.

Some made a beautiful walk along the river Idee.

Sure we had Nine Square ball and we danced.

After Matt explained the gospel and how to share it, it was time to practise it

The kids had a great time, but this was our last day serving for now. We were so happy that we could spent some time with them and could encourage them

The women came to together and had a great intimate time sharing testimonies and praying for each other.

In the meantime the men had a hard time sending some young people away. We could have played forever.

Some real Polish food.

We came together to evaluate and go through the plans for tomorrow. We will pack our stuff and leave Opole and go to Krakow. We listened to another testimony, from Gabe and the women had their dinner.

We had to say goodbye for now to Alicja and we were happy to pray for her.

It was impressive. And underground they carved a whole cathedral.

All carved out of saltstones

They held official weddings in this cathedral as well.

It was the longest operative salt mine in the world.

After checking in in the new hotel we went into the old town of Krakow. It used to be the royal residence.

We found this place with fantastic Polish food

After dinner there was still time to explore.

A little time to research the area.

Krakow is known also for a story with a dragon. We saw him. He is still out there somewhere.

It was a perfect depressive day for it.

It translates: work sets you free. A depressive lie.

It was impressive. Difficult to describe. Let it never happen again. This is where the trains arrived.

After Auschwitz we all had some private time and now it's time to go home. We loved our time here and are grateful to been used by our Heavenly Father. And even it was encouraging to us, to practise skills and gifts. Bye bye Poland. Until next time.

And we love the Grace Fellowship team.

Jess

And Jonathan

God bless you all.