Greetings in the Name of the Lord Jesus!
Why have I titled this "How Long Has It Been"? (tell you later!!)
We just returned from our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Finland. This was an awesome time of fellowship, worship, and relaxation.
We had all been looking forward to this time of rest and renewal, and a time of learning from our fellow laborers in Christ.
We met new friends and talked with ones we had met shortly after our arrival in Poland. There have been many changes, developments, and plans for the coming months. Some have gone back to the states and some will be going shortly for trips stateside for short assignments there.
The location where AGM was held, was about three plus hours north of Helsinki (reindeer land!). The land of the "Midnight Sun" was very beautiful, to be sure! However, for those of us used to sleeping when it gets dark, it seemed 'bedtime' never arrived the entire week we were there!
Going to bed with full light was very difficult! Many times I awakened through the night and wondered, "is it morning yet?" Thankfully, we had Allan's cell phone for our alarm clock. We actually forgot our 'world traveler clock' I felt so lost without it..that darling little clock has been all over the world with us! I almost wanted to turn around and go back for it. (I doubt that the bus driver and the sixty-some others would have allowed that)
God blessed us during the trip, as usual. He is so amazing, and I fall more and more in love with Him every day. I delight to do Thy will, oh, Lord!
Arriving back in Krakow (about 3 a.m.) we were all so exhausted, we said our sleepy good byes and headed to our apartments, to fall into bed, hopefully to get some rest and prepare for the upcoming days with the new team in Krakow, that had arrived during our absence.
To me, just thinking about having enough energy to do anything made me tired! When I met them the next morning for a Prayer Walking tour, God blessed us all over again! These folks from Hilton Head, South Carolina, are nothing short of fabulous! As we walked, talked, and prayed, it seems once again, that God had enlarged our 'territories...our family'!!
I thought of the book, The Prayer of Jabez! "Oh, that You would bless me, and enlarge my territory, and that Your Hand will be with me..."
I read that little book a few years ago, and just happened to pick it up again in Finland, and it dawned on me during my Prayer Walk that God was forever 'enlarging our territory'!! Think about it! Since 2003, God has taken us to:
Ecuador, Taiwan, East Asia !!!, Thailand, East Asia!!! (again), Hong Kong, America, (Michigan, Florida, and all the states in between, Virginia (several times), Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Finland, and back to Poland. In October, we will be going to the Czech Republic and to Budapest, Hungary for a good physical, etc. Along the way, God has blessed us with many opportunities to meet some of the most wonderful family of HIS church, family members yet to be!, and many opportunities to share His love and His plan of salvation!
We both pray for more boldness! God has given us both the very strong desire to sow broadly. We hope to get a stamp made with the local church addresses, coffee house, International Fellowship address, etc., so that we can broadly sow seeds for His Kingdom!
Pray for us in this matter, because honestly, I believe God has called us to do this along with the Prayer Walking ministry, and He will see it through! We still have the Roma ministry, and I am still working to develop a Jewish ministry...speaking of which, Avi Snyder (Jews for Jesus, European Director) came to visit here in Krakow. It was wonderful visiting with him, as he shared his testimony with the International Fellowship, and attended meetings to begin preparing for an outreach here for next summer!!! Please be praying for this campaign (Behold Your God!), to reach Jews, FOR Jesus!!! This will be held during the Jewish Festival, so if any of you want to help in passing out tracts, flyers, prayer walk, etc., PLEASE join us!
My dear friend, Dagmara, has invited me to visit at her summer country home. I have seen this little village and it's devastatingly beautiful! There is a beautiful old castle nearby. Her land has all my favorite things in nature, such as; plum trees, apples, cherries, grapes, roses, lilacs, raspberries, and walnuts! She has an incredible view...and as you all know I NEED this fresh country air for at least a week-end! With the pollution and smog in Krakow, and having had laryngitis four times since our arrival in October, I believe this visit would be in order! I shall accept (I have, actually!).
Michael is on his vacation, and though I may not be able to talk about the location for reasons you may know, Please pray for him and for the two co-laborers who have gone along on a surfing vacation. Pray that they will have a relaxed time, enjoy the trip and be safe and that God will surround them with His protection. It's very difficult for us, not being able to even e-mail or Skype for over two weeks (and he's only been gone for two days!!)
These guys work very hard and long hours, and as you know, you are 'on mission' 24/7/365! You are always in the sharing HIM as you walk and talk along the way. If someone wants to meet with you at midnight, and this is the only chance you may have, you must be ready to share and give account for the hope that is in you!
Lora, Jim, Ryan, Ian, and Zane, are in transit right now, from a trip to Alabama. They left on Friday to visit Jim's mom and dad and some of his family who gathered in Huntsville. I'm sure they enjoyed the chance to see many of Jim's family, and for my grandsons to see their Alabama grandparents (Jim and Karen). They are all a great family, and I think we've had the pleasure of meeting most of them. I'm sure they got just a bit more spoiled by grandma Brannon. Please pray for all of them ,the older and the younger Brannons, and all those who will see their son, daddy, brother, and uncle go off to Iraq (we are still praying Kuwait!). We know that God is in control and HE has it all in His Hands!
The team from Hilton Head...well, one reason they are so amazing is that they sing Southern Gospel!! Growing up in Kentucky and Ohio (well Ohio isn't southern, but we had so many 'hillbillies' there that you would think you were in Kentucky!), anyway, growing up in both Ohio and Kentucky; that was my mother's music and so MY music! I grew up on Christian Southern Gospel and I love it! The team played at the coffee house on Friday night, and I was so tired (it starts at 8 p.m. until after 11 p.m.), but I am so glad we went to hear them...every song they sang took me back to the 1950-1980 (my mom died in 1980) era, and oh, what memories flooded my soul..."Precious memories, how they linger, how they ever flood my soul!" and the title of the blog..."How Long Has It Been since you talked with the Lord, and knew that He cares for you, How Long since you stayed, on your knees and prayed....."
They sang, "Put Your Hand In the Hand of the Man from Galilee" and many more wonderful songs. I am so thankful that I went there that evening. They also played for us at the International Fellowship on Sunday night, which again, I'm thankful, because Dagmara was able to hear them and she, too, loves Southern Gospel and 'everything southern!!'
Dagmara teaches at one of the large universities here in Krakow. She teaches English, American History, and Literature. She's a very special lady with a beautiful little girl, Julia. I met her mother, Anna, today, who is also quite good in her English and used to teach English as well (at the university).
Allan is busy with the Roma, and I've been helping him as I am able to go with him. I enjoy working with them, and especially working with Allan, of course! Jerry hopes to move more to the north (Krakow is located in southern Poland), so that he can find more Roma in other areas, while Allan and I will work here.
International World Changers has a team arriving here on Friday. We will do some work near here, in the Nova Huta area of town. Then toward the end of July, another church (from Tennessee) will come to do a Roma camp for the young children.
Well, I must end this blog for this time. Please let us know how we can pray for you! We truly will pray and we truly do want you to make your requests known to us so that we can take them before the Throne of God in Jesus Name.
Please let us know about the blog and what you think about it!
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing! I Th. 5:16-17
Jesus said, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men" Matt. 4:19
May the Creator of the universe, your God, and my God, Bless you and be with you! 'May He enlarge your territories!'
In Christ Alone!
Sue and Allan
Fishermensline
Krakow, Poland
July 7, 2008
