Greetings from Krakow!
December has come and gone very quickly. The wonderful and festive days of anticipation filled with excitement, secrets, and wonder are already a memory. Moments of quiet recall make us smile and sigh, for yet another year has quietly slipped away.
In recalling December (here in Poland, called Grudzien), I have quite a few things to share with all of you back home.
Team Krakow made many plans for the month, one being a Christmas Party in which we would make flyers and invitations to announce our new Compass International Fellowship. In our new fellowship services we will have several worship songs, a testimony at each service, a brief message, scripture reading, a couple more songs, prayer time, and then a team meeting afterwards. The fellowship will have volunteer helpers for the very young children and infants during the meeting. We are welcoming all English-speaking people to attend (or multi-lingual, of course!). You may say to yourself, this sounds a lot like church! You would be correct. Since we can’t establish a church, we have a Christian Fellowship.
We are all looking forward to the fellowship times because it is such a blessing to worship God in our own language. We all love the Roma and Polish church, but of course, just as they need worship in their language, we do, as well.
This will make our already full Sundays, filled to running over with activity, but then we will appreciate Mondays more! You know very well, that no one has ever appreciated Mondays! Right?
We also planned a small Christmas party for the team so that everyone could get involved and enjoy time getting to know each other and having some fun time with games, good food, etc. We had a gift exchange and played the game where you may take another’s gift or choose from the tree. Having children’s gifts in the pot made it a lot of fun (hoping some one would take my gift of little toy cars!!). Thankfully, we have a five year old who eyed my little cars immediately. (wheeew) I chose someone else’s gift of Tabasco sauce for Allan and gee, I got to keep it!! He loves Tabasco on everything. You all probably remember that about him.
In the first Christmas Party for the CIF introduction, we had a lot of fun games, beautiful Christmas carols, and a little nativity play that even our team’s four month old played a part and was the ‘star’. Nathan Dowdy played baby Jesus, and he did a perfect job. The youth sang Silent Night as we recited Luke 2. The children did a fantastic job and I was very proud of them (especially since I was in charge of the play). I did a lot of praying you can be sure. During practice I had thought, “what have I gotten myself into?” God is so amazing!! He is forever glorified!
We did prayer walking around the city square and several blocks on the way there and back. We made a few trips to Zakopane and Tarno’v. These are cities where there are a few Roma villages. We had Bible study and prayer time with the Roma.
Ed and Ann Dayton, the couple I mentioned a few times before, graciously sent a check for the Roma for us to buy Christmas gifts for those under 15.
Allan and I shopped for the gifts and supplies, and the stores were so crowded that it was unbelievable. When it came time to check out, I kept letting people with only a few items in front of me, because we had so much in the carts.
It actually took three buying trips, but Jerry and Allan did the last one (PTL!). I never thought spending $500.00 could be so difficult! (hear that Lora??) It really CAN be difficult to spend money. We had to buy 53 toothbrushes and split them into age groups, etc. There were at least 53 children of varying ages to buy for. FUN, I say. Next year it will be more organized because this was an unexpected donation. Hopefully we can get any donations for Christmas in November or prior.
In addition to the above, Brenda and Jerry hosted their daughter’s wedding here in Krakow. It was quite an exciting time for the Goss family! Tara is getting married, Kristen coming also, from the states. Tara’s fiancée’s arrival, and all the activity going on for Christmas; well you can imagine the coordinating efforts involved.
Allan and I attended the wedding and had a wonderful time. It was in a beautiful hotel in the center of Old Krakow (well all of it is old!) The food was good (it seems all we had done in Dec was eat!!!), and everything was perfect for the bride and groom. They left the following morning for 10 days in Italy. (WOW)
The MK’s had a retreat just after barely recovering from Christmas and the wedding. I understand that it was not only fun for them but very busy as well. They had to get up at four or five a.m. to get in all the fun possible in their three days time.
We had a very quiet Christmas ourselves. Mark, the S.A. for the Baltic Region, had family from the states over to visit. The Goss family were blessed to be together again (except for Tara on her honeymoon!), others on the team either left on trips to visit family or friends.
We had a visitor in town; and not wanting her to be alone on Christmas we invited her here for a small Christmas dinner. She is a missionary from farther north in Poland. We had a good time talking about missions. She had been in Asia in the past, so we had a few things in common.
As for the office work in which I am involved; I’m still learning (trying that is). I will do my best, of course, but I am still not really ‘office material’.
I just want to honor and glorify God in what ever I do and in any way that I can. Please pray for me about this.
The conference in Poznan: I am so excited and looking forward to that! I have learned that Avi, from Jews for Jesus has been invited to speak on two different topics. He sent an e-mail saying that he will talk about how to best pray for his people and the call of the Jewish people. Doesn’t that sound exciting!!! We are truly looking forward to this conference. At the wedding we talked to a guy named Richard (Allan had met him before), and when we mentioned the conference, he wanted information about it, so I believe he plans to attend. For us, that would be yet another blessing. He speaks fluent English and could help us with translations.
Health: although this will bring us into January, we certainly want to tell you these bits of information. Allan is so happy about the shoe inserts he received! His feet are painful most of the time when he walks. He appreciates these gifts so much and so do I.
Since we are already into January; we received the three boxes from FBI Church in Indialantic. God Bless you all! Thank you from the bottom of our heart. I opened the huge box of Charmin and I just about died with excitement and from laughing. You are amazing!
For those who aren’t aware: we got gourmet coffee of every known flavor, Caribou Coffee bars, energy bars, CHARMIN, Peter Pan by the dozens of jars, books, DVD’s, sweet n’ low, long johns, spices, more than I can say. It was so wonderful opening the boxes with all the treats and oh, yes!!! I got Jergens lotion! We can’t thank you enough. We love you, and hopefully, you know that.
Lora sent movies, cards, and sweet n’ low!! We will have enough to last our three years and enough to share with those who love these things as much as we do!
I have just been getting over my third bout of laryngitis. I have been coughing a lot. I went to a Polish Dr., who speaks a little English. He gave me a prescription for an inhaler for use for three or four days to see if it helps. He also prescribed some cough medicine and lozenges. He said if I don’t improve on this, I’d begin antibiotics (they don’t use them here as much as in the states). I had a 102-103 temperature through the day and all night on Tuesday with aches, etc. but it seems to be on the mend. It’s just not a good way to start your year.
Praise Him for His Faithfulness!
Praise Him for His Love, Mercy, and Grace!
Praise Him for Our Family!
Praise Him for our Churches!
Praise Him for our Team here in Poland!
Praise Him for our Missionaries!
Praise Him for answered prayers!
Praise Him for the beauty of the Universe HE created for our pleasure!
Praise Him for His healing!
Praise Him for His Constant Presence!
Praise Him for His WORD!
Praise Him for the Lessons He teaches us!
Praise Him For He is Great and Greatly to be Praised!
Pray for Michael!
Pray for Lora and her family!
Pray for Health!
Pray for perseverance!
Pray for Poznan Conference!
Pray for the Roma!
Pray for this team in Krakow!
Pray for East Asia!
Pray for times of travel!
Pray for the New International Fellowship!
Pray for the Jewish Ministry!
Pray for our churches! Pray for each other!
Pray for our grandchildren!
Pray that we will see family soon!
Pray for Workers in the Harvest!
Pray that His WORD will be spread and the TRUTH be understood and Believed and accepted!
Please tell us HOW we can pray for you! You are so important to us, let us be part of sharing your burdens and taking them before the THRONE of GOD!
In Christ Alone My Hope is Found!
Sue and Allan
He said, “ Follow ME, and I will make you fishers of MEN.”
December has come and gone very quickly. The wonderful and festive days of anticipation filled with excitement, secrets, and wonder are already a memory. Moments of quiet recall make us smile and sigh, for yet another year has quietly slipped away.
In recalling December (here in Poland, called Grudzien), I have quite a few things to share with all of you back home.
Team Krakow made many plans for the month, one being a Christmas Party in which we would make flyers and invitations to announce our new Compass International Fellowship. In our new fellowship services we will have several worship songs, a testimony at each service, a brief message, scripture reading, a couple more songs, prayer time, and then a team meeting afterwards. The fellowship will have volunteer helpers for the very young children and infants during the meeting. We are welcoming all English-speaking people to attend (or multi-lingual, of course!). You may say to yourself, this sounds a lot like church! You would be correct. Since we can’t establish a church, we have a Christian Fellowship.
We are all looking forward to the fellowship times because it is such a blessing to worship God in our own language. We all love the Roma and Polish church, but of course, just as they need worship in their language, we do, as well.
This will make our already full Sundays, filled to running over with activity, but then we will appreciate Mondays more! You know very well, that no one has ever appreciated Mondays! Right?
We also planned a small Christmas party for the team so that everyone could get involved and enjoy time getting to know each other and having some fun time with games, good food, etc. We had a gift exchange and played the game where you may take another’s gift or choose from the tree. Having children’s gifts in the pot made it a lot of fun (hoping some one would take my gift of little toy cars!!). Thankfully, we have a five year old who eyed my little cars immediately. (wheeew) I chose someone else’s gift of Tabasco sauce for Allan and gee, I got to keep it!! He loves Tabasco on everything. You all probably remember that about him.
In the first Christmas Party for the CIF introduction, we had a lot of fun games, beautiful Christmas carols, and a little nativity play that even our team’s four month old played a part and was the ‘star’. Nathan Dowdy played baby Jesus, and he did a perfect job. The youth sang Silent Night as we recited Luke 2. The children did a fantastic job and I was very proud of them (especially since I was in charge of the play). I did a lot of praying you can be sure. During practice I had thought, “what have I gotten myself into?” God is so amazing!! He is forever glorified!
We did prayer walking around the city square and several blocks on the way there and back. We made a few trips to Zakopane and Tarno’v. These are cities where there are a few Roma villages. We had Bible study and prayer time with the Roma.
Ed and Ann Dayton, the couple I mentioned a few times before, graciously sent a check for the Roma for us to buy Christmas gifts for those under 15.
Allan and I shopped for the gifts and supplies, and the stores were so crowded that it was unbelievable. When it came time to check out, I kept letting people with only a few items in front of me, because we had so much in the carts.
It actually took three buying trips, but Jerry and Allan did the last one (PTL!). I never thought spending $500.00 could be so difficult! (hear that Lora??) It really CAN be difficult to spend money. We had to buy 53 toothbrushes and split them into age groups, etc. There were at least 53 children of varying ages to buy for. FUN, I say. Next year it will be more organized because this was an unexpected donation. Hopefully we can get any donations for Christmas in November or prior.
In addition to the above, Brenda and Jerry hosted their daughter’s wedding here in Krakow. It was quite an exciting time for the Goss family! Tara is getting married, Kristen coming also, from the states. Tara’s fiancée’s arrival, and all the activity going on for Christmas; well you can imagine the coordinating efforts involved.
Allan and I attended the wedding and had a wonderful time. It was in a beautiful hotel in the center of Old Krakow (well all of it is old!) The food was good (it seems all we had done in Dec was eat!!!), and everything was perfect for the bride and groom. They left the following morning for 10 days in Italy. (WOW)
The MK’s had a retreat just after barely recovering from Christmas and the wedding. I understand that it was not only fun for them but very busy as well. They had to get up at four or five a.m. to get in all the fun possible in their three days time.
We had a very quiet Christmas ourselves. Mark, the S.A. for the Baltic Region, had family from the states over to visit. The Goss family were blessed to be together again (except for Tara on her honeymoon!), others on the team either left on trips to visit family or friends.
We had a visitor in town; and not wanting her to be alone on Christmas we invited her here for a small Christmas dinner. She is a missionary from farther north in Poland. We had a good time talking about missions. She had been in Asia in the past, so we had a few things in common.
As for the office work in which I am involved; I’m still learning (trying that is). I will do my best, of course, but I am still not really ‘office material’.
I just want to honor and glorify God in what ever I do and in any way that I can. Please pray for me about this.
The conference in Poznan: I am so excited and looking forward to that! I have learned that Avi, from Jews for Jesus has been invited to speak on two different topics. He sent an e-mail saying that he will talk about how to best pray for his people and the call of the Jewish people. Doesn’t that sound exciting!!! We are truly looking forward to this conference. At the wedding we talked to a guy named Richard (Allan had met him before), and when we mentioned the conference, he wanted information about it, so I believe he plans to attend. For us, that would be yet another blessing. He speaks fluent English and could help us with translations.
Health: although this will bring us into January, we certainly want to tell you these bits of information. Allan is so happy about the shoe inserts he received! His feet are painful most of the time when he walks. He appreciates these gifts so much and so do I.
Since we are already into January; we received the three boxes from FBI Church in Indialantic. God Bless you all! Thank you from the bottom of our heart. I opened the huge box of Charmin and I just about died with excitement and from laughing. You are amazing!
For those who aren’t aware: we got gourmet coffee of every known flavor, Caribou Coffee bars, energy bars, CHARMIN, Peter Pan by the dozens of jars, books, DVD’s, sweet n’ low, long johns, spices, more than I can say. It was so wonderful opening the boxes with all the treats and oh, yes!!! I got Jergens lotion! We can’t thank you enough. We love you, and hopefully, you know that.
Lora sent movies, cards, and sweet n’ low!! We will have enough to last our three years and enough to share with those who love these things as much as we do!
I have just been getting over my third bout of laryngitis. I have been coughing a lot. I went to a Polish Dr., who speaks a little English. He gave me a prescription for an inhaler for use for three or four days to see if it helps. He also prescribed some cough medicine and lozenges. He said if I don’t improve on this, I’d begin antibiotics (they don’t use them here as much as in the states). I had a 102-103 temperature through the day and all night on Tuesday with aches, etc. but it seems to be on the mend. It’s just not a good way to start your year.
Praise Him for His Faithfulness!
Praise Him for His Love, Mercy, and Grace!
Praise Him for Our Family!
Praise Him for our Churches!
Praise Him for our Team here in Poland!
Praise Him for our Missionaries!
Praise Him for answered prayers!
Praise Him for the beauty of the Universe HE created for our pleasure!
Praise Him for His healing!
Praise Him for His Constant Presence!
Praise Him for His WORD!
Praise Him for the Lessons He teaches us!
Praise Him For He is Great and Greatly to be Praised!
Pray for Michael!
Pray for Lora and her family!
Pray for Health!
Pray for perseverance!
Pray for Poznan Conference!
Pray for the Roma!
Pray for this team in Krakow!
Pray for East Asia!
Pray for times of travel!
Pray for the New International Fellowship!
Pray for the Jewish Ministry!
Pray for our churches! Pray for each other!
Pray for our grandchildren!
Pray that we will see family soon!
Pray for Workers in the Harvest!
Pray that His WORD will be spread and the TRUTH be understood and Believed and accepted!
Please tell us HOW we can pray for you! You are so important to us, let us be part of sharing your burdens and taking them before the THRONE of GOD!
In Christ Alone My Hope is Found!
Sue and Allan
He said, “ Follow ME, and I will make you fishers of MEN.”
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