Trip to Budapest!

Budapest, Hungary
Sept. 2008
Modern Building Downtown
The "Walking Street"
Very European!
See the difference where renovation is being done!
This along a side street...no matter where you go in Budapest, you'll find this wonderful archtecture!

Budapest, Hungary

Sept. 2008
One of the many beautiful buildings!
Along the Danube!
The River Danube

Sept. 2008
Parliament Building, Budapest

This is only a very small portion of the building!The other side, and each of the four sides are just as exquisitely beautiful!!

Greetings from Krakow,

May the Lord Bless you as you praise Him in all things! The past few weeks have been very hectic, to say the least. We have been in a virtual whirlwind of activity. Expecting things to slow a bit, we made our long put-off trip to Budapest for some medical work-up. Little did we know that our one week trip would turn into three weeks! Had we known, we would have made sure the potato and onion bin was emptied out!!!

You know though, that even the little things turn out ok. When we arrived back at the apartment-the veggies were still alive and well....no rotten veggies to be found!

Ok, now for the trip itself and to update you on the medical tests, etc. We left Krakow on August the 31st, on the night train to Budapest. The trip was un-eventful, and we were even able to sleep a little on the way down. We arrived at Kelety Station at about 0830 and were met by Glen Borders.

Glen took us to the Eden House, where we were met by his wife, Cile. As we were settled into our room, Cele took us to buy a few groceries for our 'weeks' stay.

This was on Sunday morning. On Sunday evening we attended the church service at Eden House. The music (led by Robert Rierson) was beautiful. The message given by Alvin Doyle was also a wonderful message from the Gospel of John.

Monday morning was our 41st anniversary. 41 years...wow! 41 years...wow!

It seems only yesterday, that Allan and I met, and just days ago since we held our precious Lora and Michael for the first time. Time truly does have a way of slipping away. God has so richly blessed us, that words fail me in trying to thank Him enough.

We had so many tests and labs drawn, that all I can tell you is that most things were good, some unchanged, and some new things going on.I know that most of you want to know about our health, so here's the brief summary:

Allan is now on blood pressure medication.Our doctor told us that he can only have kielbasa once a month for dessert! He must watch his salt (he's been told that by R.N. Weaver for years!!), yet she says that I may have his salt, because I need sodium.

He had to be fit for orthotics for his heel pain-we are calling this "transfer technique" it transfers his pain from his heels to his arches!!

He also needs to use lotion for severely dry skin...can you believe she recommended MY favorite-if he can get it (Hmmmmmm, maybe I can sell him some of mine-ha-ha!)- Jergens!!! A couple of his labs were abnormal, but then he is 61 now. Anyway, he seems to be in pretty good health for a kielbasa, salt, fat, buttery pop corn, ice cream,Frito-loving guy!

As for myself: my colonoscopy showed the (known ) collagenous and lymphocytic colitis with inflammation. There is a new thing, though-an ulcer in my stomach, which will be treated with antibiotics and prevacid for a couple of months, then re-evaluated in four months (H. Pylori +).

After avoiding anti-cholesterol meds for all my years.....I now must take meds for high cholesterol! Now, isn't this just life; I am long term vegetarian, no meat/dairy (but an occasional egg or cheese-rarely), and he eats every fat-laden thing he can find..and I have genetically high cholesterol, and now have to take meds for it. My doctor said, "you have done everything humanly possible and you have done all the right things, and I'm so sorry, but you must do this now." Ok. I am.

My Ophthalmology exam for Glaucoma (since 1999) was also not as good as I had hoped- pressure high in both eyes. He was amazed at my good vision though. He did write an Rx for reading glasses (he doesn't seem to think Wal Mart glasses are as good, for some reason!). Anyway, I will need an additional eye med added to my current med.

My stress test was abnormal-and still not determined as to why this is so. They did a Coronary PET scan, in which the results were good. PTL for that, as we have a strong cardiac history in my family.

Now for that beautiful city; Budapest! We were able to see a lot of the city between appointments, labs, etc.

Budapest is divided by the Blue Danube River. What an enchanting city! The architecture is awesome. The detailed beauty of each building seems more delightful than the one we saw before it. The old Parliament building was one of the most beautiful man-made creations I've seen anywhere. God has certainly blessed man with an incredible gift for design, detail, and craftsmanship! We took a lot of pictures during our time there, and I hope some of them will give you an idea of how lovely this city really is.

One of my most memorable times in Budapest was at the Budapest International Fellowship Church. The pastor spoke one day of the praise and worship of our God. As I had just begun reading a book by Tommy Tenney called "Finding Favor With the King" (highly recommend it, too!!)I was very interested in this particular message. As I listened to this parallel to the book I was reading, I began to think about what he was saying.

The pastor was talking about God inhabiting our praise and worship. Just as the book was talking about how much God loves our worship, and how He responds to our worship far more than anything else we can do. This message made an impact on my thinking. Many times we hear pastors preach about our sort of making God out to be our "demands of needs and wants" supplier. To be honest, it's so good to know that our Father really does care about every small and great detail of our daily life. Yet as parents, we know how special it is to be appreciated and loved, and obeyed.

How often we'd love to have our children (at any age) tell us how much they love and appreciate us, and to not only speak the words, but to show us through their actions! Just as we feel taken for granted and not appreciated at times, so does our Father!

Can you imagine that He would just love for us to come before Him just to worship and adore, praise, thank, and glorify Him without a long list of do's and dont's! How often do we do that? I have decided to make it a point to NOT ask for things every time I come before Him. I have usually used the ACTS form of prayer in the past (A for Adoration, C for confession, T for thanksgiving, S for supplication), but I am re-thinking my prayer life!

Adoration, Adoration, Adoration!

I will always continue my supplication and intercessory prayer, of course! I am a committed prayer-walking warrior. I am a committed down on my knees and flat on my face prayer warrior. I awaken in the early morning hours, and I am and have been for years, and worship God with adoration and praise-before I even get out of bed warrior......but I want a new level of closeness with my Lord. I want Him to inhabit my praise and worship! I want Him to whisper things to me and tell me things that are "great and mighty" (Jer. 33:3).I want to dwell in his secret place (Ps.91:1).

I am telling you all of this because I desire that you will pray for me, as I have such a desire that God will hear me when I call, that He will tell me what He wants me to do/know/see/understand and learn from Him and His Word!

There is a desire that God has placed in my heart, for America, for Poland, and for China, as well as many other places....a desire to see these countries united in a common goal- God first in their governments and people and churches...to know WHO Jesus is! I also have come to love and have a very deep burden for the Hungarians during our three week visit there. They, too, have been victims of WWII and the dictatorship of Communism. They too, need to know God and His free gift of mercy and grace, His gift of salvation through Jesus Christ!

I am praying about some things that I feel certain that God is wanting me to do. I have been asked by a Great Commission Church here to speak one Sunday, and share my testimony. I am thinking that God is leading me to also share Prayer-Walking for this city, with this church. Please be praying for me about this!

Another prayer request is that (last year I did the children's Christmas play), this year I am hoping to do a drama with the teens...please pray about this.

Back home, Jim is away again, so Lora an the boys are working toward getting homework, chores, etc. all taken care of. Jim is working very hard and is tired. Michael is happy in his new apartment in his city. He's in language school, and staying very busy. Ryan is hoping to come to see us and now he has yet another delay: he has injured his knee and is having physical therapy-so please pray for him, for healing...14 is too young for bad knees! Ian is getting good grades and very proud of that! (so are we!!). Zane is in "Top Dog" at school and hopes to win a trip to Traverse City this year. Ryan is in swimming, soccer, and Civil Air Patrol...so he really needs his knees! Lora is doing some ladies book studies and one of them is with my niece, Betty Sue (online). Pray for these precious souls, along with us! Thank you so much for these prayers for our family!!

In summary, we have had teams here all summer. The Clear Vision Drama Team, Hilton Head S.C. Team, IWC, Summer missionaries (Kate and Stacy), a team of football coaches, Hixon Church from Tn., Women of Hope with Paula Hemphill, Harvest Baptist Church, Sally Klein O'Connor, and numerous others. God has richly blessed the International Fellowship with wonderful, spirit-filled messages and music, testimonies, those who came to faith in Christ (and planning baptisms), services for the children, new people coming (so that we'll need a new building!), and just so many blessings altogether!

He has blessed the prayer -walking trips, the day camps, the over night camps, sports, English classes, Bible studies in homes, coffee house ministry, and we have all grown in our personal walk through the willingness to obey Him. Pray that we all keep the team spirit, through coming changes with the company, over the next few months. God is working and we need to be listening to where, when and how, so that we are in His will and not our own!

Please write to us and let us know how we can pray for you! Thank you all once again for your faithful prayers!! May God bless you, so that you may bless others, so that HIS name may be glorified in all the earth!

The Fishermensline

Matt. 4:19

I Th. 5:16-17

Eph. 4:30

Sue and Allan in Krakow

Rest and Renewal in the Polish Countryside

Isaiah 40:31 says, "They that wait upon the LORD, shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint." I remember a wonderful sermon once that told about not only waiting FOR the LORD, but waiting ON Him, as one who loves and serves Him out of that overwhelming love for Him. "Delight thyself in the LORD, and He will give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD, trust also, in HIM, and HE shall bring it to pass"

I'm sure I quote this quite often, but it's because I find such power in His truths! The verse above (paraphrased) says to trust in the LORD and do good, and you will feed (be fed by) HIS faithfulness! Psalm 37:3-5.

Father, I thank YOU for Your Faithfulness, for Your rest, for all that you do, and for WHO YOU ARE! I thank You, that You fill my heart with desires to serve, wait, and please You, as one who loves You with an overwhelming love. I thank You for giving such good gifts, as only You know how, when, and what to give according to what is best. I trust in You and Your Omniscience! I thank You for salvation in Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, The Savior of the world (John 14:6)

Below are pictures taken on my two day trip to have some badly needed rest. Dagmara invited me to visit, and it was such a blessing to be able to go there for a brief time. The air was pure and the weather perfect. As I looked out over the hills and valley's, I felt so rested and so close to God, I could almost see Him, painting the sky, setting the sun for the evening, and sprinkling the stars across a vast, beautiful night. I could almost feel His arms reaching toward me, and pulling me close to Himself. I could almost hear Him saying, "I Love You!" LISTEN, Can You Hear HIM? (Psalm 46:10
"be still, and know that I AM GOD.")


Dagny and Julia:
A Wonderful day for a walk into the nearby village!



Dagny, taken at the restaurant where the "best pierogi in all of Poland", is served, with a warm smile. Taken August, 2008

Beautiful Old Church Near Dagny's Country Home.
A View from The Hillside, Looking Toward The Village. This was the most peaceful time, and the most beautiful country that I've seen, since arriving in Poland! Isn't God Truly The Master of Landscapes?
One of the Oldest and Best Preserved Gothic Style Churches in all of Poland! The First Church was constructed in 1141, in the same location where a Slavonic Pagan Temple once stood. The inside walls are elegantly and artistically, painted with scenes of the Stations of The Cross and various other angelic and saintly scenes. It's quite beautiful and serene.
One ancient 'pole' from the pagan temple has been preserved unto this time, and the building is now part of UNESCO'S World Heritage List of The World's Most Precious Historic Sights. Certainly worth seeing, when you come to Krakow!


Singing In The Rain by Julia and Dagmara. Filmed on location at Dagmara's Country Home. August, 2008

Pictures From The Fishermensline in Krakow, Poland

Trees at Dagmara's Country Home.
Anna and I at Dagny's Country Home.
A Beautiful Castle near Dagny's Country Home, about one and half hour from Krakow, Poland
Some of the team from IWC, working in Nowa Huta in Krakow, Poland.


Joe and Elizabeth. Joe is with IWC and works with Life Way. Elizabeth is a team member, who came here with IWC for Ministry in the Park at Nowa Huta, in Krakow. July, 2008

On The Lake in Finland: Allan and Sue at AGM-June, 2008
The Jewish Synagogue in Krakow: One of Many, but the Only One Still In Operation! Notice The Ten Commandments at the Top Center of the Building!! It is so Beautiful Inside and Out.

Allan at the local Thai/VietNamese/Chinese Restaurant in our neighborhood. Taken the Day Avi left for Germany. The Great Hail Storm Day!!
Avi Snyder at the Same Restaurant. We had a nice, but short dinner, before Avi had to catch his flight back to his home, in Germany.....after The Great Hail Storm! Below:
Dagmara's Mother at Dagny's Country Home. It was a beautiful day and a great place away from the city heat and pollution. Dagny's home has dozens of beautiful fruit and nut trees, berries and beautiful roses, trees, and is quite a lovely retreat!

Rejoice Evermore!

Greetings From Krakow, Poland!

This evening, as I sit here in the apartment, trying to recall the many wonderful events of the past several weeks, I am overwhelmed with memories of so many faces, so many smiles, hugs, prayers, and of course, good-byes!

As I mentioned in the last blog, we had a wonderful time with the team from Hilton Head, S.C. We had camps, prayer-walking time, and of course, the wonderful music filling the air at the Compass Coffee House.

We had just had the pleasure of hosting a team from Clear Vision Drama. The team did the Resurrection Drama, and as many of you may recall, this was the drama we did in 2003 in Ecuador with IWC. Of course this particular drama brings back many memories of FBI church and my awesome mission trip. Many memories of this trip involve Michael, my son, who is far apart from us now, physically (as are all of our precious children), yet we are all together as one in spirit!

The Clear Vision team did several different skits while they were here, and we, along with many nationals, were so blessed to have them, as they witnessed and gave glory to God, through their talent.

Shortly after the Clear Vision Team left, International World Changers arrived! The week was an awesome display of how God can work through us all, as we ministered to the neighborhood children! (II Timothy 3:15 and that from a child, thou hast known the Holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through Faith, which is IN Christ Jesus). We shared His love and His word with so many children, their parents, grandparents, and friends, that we could not number them. Yet we know that God knows each one of them! We were able to share the gospel with a young couple, many young adults, both men and women, and at least some grandparents! Please pray for these, whom God has placed within the sound of His Word. His Word will not return void, but will accomplish that for which it was sent and it will prosper. (Is. 55:11) paraphrased by me...Sue

IWC teams played basketball, soccer, frisbee, we did rope jumping, face painting, story telling, hop-scotch, ping pong, sang songs, and played games.

The big surprise came on the team's last day at the park, soft gentle rain, then down pouring, then soft again, gave us the desire to brave what ever came, go back to the park with umbrellas in hand, and say good-byes once again to the children, or whoever would brave the rain as well. As we arrived near the fence surrounding the park, we saw balloons! They were painted with cute little smiles and said "bye" in English. As we gathered around a little table, where we had been directed by the children (nationals), we were overjoyed to see the little party (in the rain), that they had worked to prepare for our last day! They served US this time; cookies and juice, hugs and smiles, tears, and last minute prayers for them to know Jesus more and more. We all sang Jesus Loves Me and held hands, and hesitated to leave the park.

We met many new family members once again, God has "enlarged our territories" Thank You, LORD! Your Love endures forever and You give good gifts to Your children!

The same day IWC left, we had a new team arrive! This team is from Tennessee (Hixon Baptist Church) and are here helping out to support us as well as a family here from their church (our team members Shea and Rachel) It's so good to see our local churches in America, sharing their heart for God with the people of Poland. This team is amazing! Lisa is a very energetic, kid-oriented, talented, and 'not too shy' young lady, who has worked along with all of her team to bring a fun and exciting time to the Roma children in Day Camp last week. The children (and all the adults!) love her wonderful antics, and her way of sharing Jesus through her ship the 'S.S. Krakow', the many songs she taught them and her desire to know their songs of Jesus' love, also. They all have a true heart for serving God through their children's ministry, and we all appreciate them! By the way; this was a very rainy week also! PTL!! the earth needed a good bath, we suppose!

This week, the Hixon team are busy once again, sharing here in the city of Krakow, right here in our neighborhood park. Yesterday, it seems that most of the neighborhood was there having fun, singing, making stencil pictures and doing the hokey pokey, singing songs, and just having fun.

My friend, Dagmara, had an opportunity to share with many of the neighborhood ladies, in their own language! She was thrilled to be able to do this for HIM! She's a university teacher, so teaching is her thing, and when she does it for the glory of God, she is thrilled. You can just see the love of Christ in her face and shining in her eyes.

Allan is at a Bible study at this time. He really enjoys this time, every week. The Roma children are at another camp with the local Baptist Church. They are in the mountains nearby, well, about an hour from the city. They were so excited to go, jumping up and down and carrying their little backpacks...they all jumped into the cars and van as soon as they could to make sure they got a seat! We didn't even leave for about an hour, but they wanted those seats!

Please pray for the teams as they minister in the many ways God has led them, and gifted them to do. Pray for us, as we host the many teams, that we will all be a strong witness and light, and that God will be glorified in all that we do!

Kate, one of our summer team members, just left this morning; bright and early! Stacy, our other summer team member, will leave us this Friday. We are all so sorry to see them go, yet we understand their family misses them terribly and are anxious for them to come back home!

We had a surprise going away party for them on Sunday after church. They were here for the entire summer, so we all got to love and appreciate them so much! We will truly miss them!!

Ryan is presently on his mission trip to New York, so please be praying this week for him! Pray for safety, fun, sharing Jesus with as many as God calls to them, and for God to use him, and for God's will in his life, always!

Lora, Ian, and Zane, are enjoying some time together this week (missing Ryan and Jim-since Jim is in Boston this week), but I'm sure they are having a good time being 'just the three' together.

I want to personally thank everyone who helped Ryan with his funding for the trip! Thank you so much, and may God bless you, and continue to bless you, SO THAT you may bless others, so that HIS name will be glorified!

Allan and I will be going to Budapest for physicals, the end of August.We will also have another Roma camp the week prior to that.

One very important thing; please pray for a lady named Sally, who will be coming to Krakow in August. She does an evangelical outreach through concerts. Pray for many to attend so that she can reach all that God is calling. The really wonderful thing about this is that Avi Snyder, whom you've heard us mention in many letters/blogs, has been putting this together. Avi is the European Director for Jews for Jesus. He and his wife, Ruth, live in Germany. Sally will be doing a concert in Germany, after leaving Krakow and Warsaw. Please ask God to help us with helping Sally with all the logistics, flyers, promotion, coffee house concert, or wherever God leads us to have the concert. We are very excited about this and want to make her visit here just as exciting for her as it is for us!! Most importantly we want God to be glorified and to see lost souls come to know Him!

Thank you so much for your prayers. Thank you for your faithfulness! Please let us know how we may pray for you! We love each one of you and thank our God for you!

I simply must add that may the Lord Jesus Christ be with the churches at Portland, Michigan, the First Baptist Church of Indialantic, Florida, and The RiverTown Community Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I also pray the Lord be with all of those who are praying for us in the many other churches throughout America and the many across the globe who are faithfully seeking His will for all Fishers of Men, for the Kingdom!

May the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all and may you walk by Faith and not by sight!

I Thessalonians 5:16-17 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.

Matthew 4:19 Jesus said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men!"

The Fishermens Line

Krakow, Poland

Allan and Sue Weaver

Ul. Modrzewskiego 8/5

Krakow, Poland

31-216

How Long Has It Been?

Sue: Finland Lupine!

Brenda Goss: Mmmm Good!

Allan: Finland AGM-2008

Sue and Allan:

Beautiful Lake!

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

Music to HIS Ears!

Some of the Krakow Team at the Krakow Compass International Fellowship. (left to right are: Shea, Susie, Mark, Jacqui and Kari.

Krakow, Poland

Pictures During Prayer-Walking. Praying for Poland!

Allan on a Prayer Walking trip. We pray wherever we go and cover the people with intercessory prayer.

Dawn over The Space center. Is not our GOD so AWESOME in HIS Beauty!
Gee, I have not Prayer-walked here lately!!!

Visiting surrounding Churches in Poland...how wonderful that you can meet people from all over the world! God's Family is Faithful, because HE is faithful. He gives us GRACE and JOY Unspeakable!

Allan sitting in a service in a village about two hours away from where we live. Notice all the International Flags!

Allan is never without "witness" by the clothes he wears! He truly lives what he wears!

Inside the Temple Synagogue in Kazimierz. This is the Jewish section of Krakow. Not many Jewish people left here since WW II. Pray that they come to know the PRINCE of PEACE, Jeshua, the MESSIAH of the World!

This is the outside of the Temple Synagogue. If you are able to zoom in closely, you will see the "Ten Commandments" near the top of the building.

"Bind them on your foreheads and as fontlets between your eyes, and on your doorposts...

Sue (me) in front of the Temple Synagogue. This is the only synagogue still in operation here in Krakow. There are several others being used as museums, book stores, etc., however.

We hope you enjoyed looking at the pictures. IF you decide you want to come visit this historic city to PRAY for POLAND, Please let me know, and we will do everything we can to make it happen. Just ask the Lord to show you His will and be willing to listen and obey. Psalm 37:4-5!

May God richly BLESS you, so that you may BLESS others, so that HIS NAME may be GLORIFIED!

In Christ Alone!

The Fishermensline in Krakow

Fishers of Men:Matt.4:19

(Lives Are on the Line!)

Pictures taken in Krakow and Wieliczka

Prayer-Walking day in Wieliczka! An Old Synagogue; Destroyed during WWII. Taking a lunch break. We usually walk for about four hours, around the town, praying for anything God brings to mind!
We (I am the Prayer-Walking Coordniator),have divided the city into sections, each team has two large areas in which we pray for the city and the people of Krakow and all of Poland.


Greetings, In the name of the Lord Jesus,

I finally decided to just take the day off to write a newsletter. Today is Mother’s Day, and I will be spending most of the day alone. Allan is making his bi-monthly trip to a Roma village about two hours away.

I want to wish all of you mothers a very Happy Mother’s day! If you are not a mother, then as Chuck Swindoll has said recently on 99.7 Family Life Radio: You make a wonderful contribution just being a Godly Christian woman, aunt, sister, etc., so happy day to you, also! May God bless you all in your raising Godly children, because they are HIS! We are only His stewards of these precious little ones!

I am expecting a call from Michael today. He wants to call me on Skype, and I am hoping that he will be able to get through. There are usually about 9 million people on Skype on a slow day! I was able to talk to him for a little while yesterday, so if I can’t today, then I will soon, again, Lord willing!

Michael seems to really love his new team. He is very busy every day, and that is what he wants. God has met his need for a national translator, who is also a believer! He is so amazing! To GOD be the glory! Thank you all for your faithful prayers for him in this.

You know, Allan and I have been doing our personal Bible study online. We found the most wonderful program. It’s called Audio Bible. The narrator is very dynamic in his readings. We have gone through: Jeremiah and Lamentations, recently. We are now in Ezekiel. The thing that really brings me to tears is how very much God loves His people, and how His chosen people (which includes us!) continue to reject, turn from, and refuse to walk in HIS ways and obey Him, trust Him, and listen to Him. Listening to Ezekiel (and all of the Bible), in this way, reveals a heartbroken, loving, ever forgiving, just and Holy God, Who gives and gives, blesses and blesses, and loves us so endlessly, yet as in one of Michael's favorite songs, "Come Thou Fount", we are all so 'prone to leave the God I love". It makes me wonder why are we so prone to lean on man and our own ways, than to lean on the Maker of heaven and earth and all that is in it! He is always so ready to forgive us out of that deep, never failing love! Why do we ever grieve Him (Eph. 4:30)?

I am so awed by His faithfulness, forgiveness, and willingness to take us back, when we stray from His ways.

As we read in Ezekiel, I said to Allan; “Aren’t you so thankful that we live in the period of Grace?” I am so thankful that we have the Holy Spirit, to lead us, guide us, and teach us! I am so thankful for the written Word and the Living Word!


Now, if I can do such a task, I’ll try to catch up on the news! I just read my last newsletter, written in February! I am so very sorry that it’s been so long!
I am thankful to Linda Adrian, who has graciously shared some of my letters with you. I feel as if I’m back in Paul’s day, when the letters were shared among the churches! Thank you, Linda.

I thank my God for all of you. I thank you for your prayers, and for your letters. I think about all of you and pray for you and for our church family, the body of Christ.

As I recall the past couple of months, my mind is a jumble of many things happening. I’ll do my best to tell you all that’s going on here in Krakow.

We have had some pretty terrible weather, but like a birth, when it’s over, you tend to forget what it was like, and only remember the best of things about it. The weather is now much warmer, sunny, and the days are getting longer.

The early morning sun awakens me about five a.m. I awaken with God in my heart and mind, always. I lie there for a time, praying for my family, and just worshipping Him, and praising Him for Who He is, and for His many blessings. I am so thankful for the sunshine because it has brought many beautiful flowers and budding tress to life!

The dismal black, and very dark days are a distant memory. The city is bustling with thousands and thousands of tourists. The sidewalks are filled with cafes. The streets are lined with art, music, and people selling their wares.
Balconies are open to diners, and there are horses and carriages to take you on the many tours of the city.

I suggest to anyone who wants to come here, make it summer! The lilacs are in full bloom, and the parks filled with tulips and flowering shrubs and trees. It is a far more enjoyable sight than the long cold winter!

God so blessed me in March! I was able to make a very quick trip back to the states. It was for the purpose of doing our taxes for 2007. The best thing was that I was able to see my precious grandsons, Lora, and Jim. I enjoyed every moment with them. I could not get over how they’ve grown in the past six months! They are all taller than I. I had tried to surprise the boys, but Ian found out when the tax accountant called their house to verify my appointment! So much for secrets! I am the one who was surprised at the airport. I didn’t think Ryan would be there because he had a swim meet, but when he found out I was coming, he wanted to be there to surprise me!

We each had a day together, plus several days with us all together. I was blessed with the opportunity to see two of my dear friends and sisters in Christ, during my visit. I had coffee with Ellen at our favorite coffee hang out, The Chocolate Mousse, in Portland. I had tea with Lora and Cathy, one of my friends from the hospital, where I worked in Michigan. Cathy has been a faithful supporter and prayer warrior from Michigan. Ellen, if you remember from my letters, was my prayer -walking partner, during my time in Michigan. She is still one of my most faithful supporters from the Michigan area. My time with my family there was such an awesome blessing, and I thank God for the time we had together!

Our Strategy Associate, Mark and his wife, Susie, and their children are in America right now. They have 'company' summits and meetings to attend. They will return here soon.

The regional leader, based in Prague,(Rodney) will be leaving the region soon. It seems as if Mark will be taking on those responsibilities, as well as his own, for a time. What will that mean in terms of my work? I am praying for him to have a truly qualified secretary! As you know, I am a Registered Nurse, and although I have been assisting Mark with several things here in Krakow, I believe he needs someone who is more qualified to help him more in office management, and all the details of his ever-increasing responsibilities!
Please pray about this with me!

I am interested in helping Allan and Jerry with the Roma ministry more than I have been able to do in the past. I ask you to please pray about this also.

We have had several teams come help with the various ministries. There was a team of eight football coaches, who helped with the Sports Ministry. They also had a camera guy along with them. They were a real blessing to our team here!

We presently have seven here, and a team who are sharing His Word through drama, coming soon.
There will be a team of two coming on the 16th of this month. In June and July, we will have two large groups, one of them being International World Changers. They will help with the Roma Day Camp. Please pray for us during the AGM in Finland in June-July. Pray for our Prayer-Walking Seminar!! Please also be praying for the Jewish festival here in Krakow in July. I am not sure if Jews for Jesus will be bringing a team, but pray for their work throughout the world! If I hear more about a team coming for the festival, I will let you know, of course.

There have been a couple of small groups also. They do prayer walking, help with the coffee house ministry, and they participate in helping in the ministry at the International Fellowship, among other things.

Ryan, our oldest grandson, is trying to raise money for a mission trip to New York, this summer with the First Baptist Church in Portland, Mi. He is supposed to send out ‘mission letters’ to family, friends, churches, etc. This is part of his responsibility to raise the money himself. Please pray for Ryan, his trip, and his fund-raising efforts, and most of all, that he will be a shining witness for Christ!

Ryan, Ian, and Zane will be attending church camp at Lake Ann, Michigan, again this year. I am so thankful for the opportunity for them! Camp, to me, is priceless for these young children! I can still remember my own camp days!!! A long time ago, indeed! My grandsons have become very good friends with the Johnson boys, and love to get together when they can. They are hoping to share the same rooms at camp again this year. I hope they can! I love those boys!!! (And their entire family, of course!) They are all such beautiful children. Karlene and John are very blessed, as are Jim and Lora!

Sarah, one of our team members, recently had an emergency room experience. One that could be written about! We learned; that we need to put together an emergency kit. I am planning to see if I can locate, or have sent to us, some scrubs, a couple of hospital gowns, and a few other things. We discovered that they do not supply drinking water for the patients! She had no gown, no soap, toothbrush, toothpaste; she was given absolutely nothing! If you want something to drink, you must go to the nearest store to buy it! I wondered why I had seen patients walking down the streets! Well, now I know.

They don’t give antibiotics often, even with infections, they rarely give pain meds, you have a small curtain that only goes about half the length of your bed, for privacy, and you may have men and women in the same room, we are told. Sarah had nausea, but had no emesis basin, in case she needed it.

I prepared a small bag for her and took it to the hospital. They only kept her overnight. Thank God that she didn’t stay longer!! The staff was friendly, and tried to answer questions as best they could. It's just very different than in the states...which is ok, once the surprise is gone.

Allan, Janik, (a Roma believer) and Eva, our Polish Baptist translator, and I, went to Charnow’ on Thursday. We met another Roma family there. We visited with them for about two hours and shared the gospel. They say they are believers, already. They do seem to know about the Bible. They also offered to help with a plan to show the Jesus Film to a large (hopefully!!) group of Roma this month.

We have another team coming at the end of May, so we plan to rent a facility to show the film to anyone who will come. We plan to pass out flyers a few days before the film showing. Please pray that there will be many seekers, and that they will come to know who Jesus is and desire to follow Him!

I will close for now. I hope that my next letter will not be so far apart from this one! I appreciate your patience with me. If you don’t get mail often, please forgive me, and just know that you are all still in my heart, mind, and prayers!

I thank my wonderful God, always for you!
Please let us know how we can pray for you! I Th. 5:16-17-Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing!

In Christ Alone, Our Hope is Found!
The Fishermensline
Krakow, Poland
P.S.
Shelby, if you read this, please send your e-mail address! Thank you for your comments! My address is: fishermensline@yahoo.com OR you can send to: allwea@everyheart.net

Fishermensline-March 2008

Allan In The Village of Chrzanow

Greetings In The Name of Jesus!

I hope this newsletter from Krakow finds you all well and prospering in the grace of our Lord.

As February nears its closing days, we are enjoying some sunny days, however the March winds are early and often cold and severe in intensity. Even so, we have had much warmer weather here in Krakow than in Michigan, where our beloved daughter, son in law, and grandsons are living.

Michael is enjoying the sixty –plus degree temperatures after more than a month of forties and below! I think he was not prepared for those forties and below, by the comment “I wish I had known, I’d have brought heavier sweatshirts!”

God has been working here through the new Krakow International Fellowship worship services! Not only are we blessed with worship in our own language, there have been some Poles come to faith in Christ, and I am praying for (and ask you to join me) a lady that I have become friends with. She is Polish and is Catholic. She is a wonderful, kind, and friendly lady. She and her daughter have been visiting almost since the new services began. She and her daughter both made a comment that they feel like crying during our services. Last Sunday, before the service, as we were talking, she said to me, “I am truly questioning my faith in the Catholic church, when I go there, I feel nothing, yet when I come here, I feel such joy and want to be so close to God!”

Please pray for her and for me, that God will help me to share the personal walk that Christ calls us to, and that no one comes to God, except through Him, and that there is no more sacrifice for sin; that He paid that price as the perfect and final sacrifice for the sin of the world and how He is the only mediator between man and God. I am here to share His love with any who will listen and with whom He is calling to a saving faith and walk with Him. Please pray for this lady and her family!

Allan has been very busy with Jerry and the Roma ministry. They are constantly having meetings, Bible studies, and outreach days, where they go to a new village and seek out the places where Roma live.

In the past couple of weeks, they have gone twice to a village where there are many Roma, and none of them know about Jesus. Please pray for this village of Charnov.

Allan wants me to go there with him on a day that we can just go prayer walking around the village. He talked (through a translator), with a man who had survived WWII and he told Allan and Jerry that the village used to be the home of over 15,000 Jews. This was half of the village population at that time, now there are none. How sad when entire villages are wiped out because Satan was given a foothold in people’s hearts and minds!!

The coffee house ministry is still making efforts to reach out to the young people of the city (young or not so young!!). There have been several who have come for the music and snacks, conversation and games, etc., but so far none seem to be very interested in the gospel, but thank God, He tells us His Word will not return void. Therefore, we have faith that the seeds planted will bring forth fruit in due season.

We must continue in the planting to have a harvest, so pray that we will faithfully continue to plant, even as it seems sometimes that it is not fruitful at the time, after all; how many of us can plant a seed and the same day see the fruit?

We are waiting on the Lord for many things. I, for one, must learn what I know to be true. Walk by faith and not by sight!
I am praying for so many people and so many things, and events, that I truly know the meaning of my signature verse; pray without ceasing! I Th. 5:17

Lora and Jim are in the midst of many concerns and changes in their life and the life of the children. As many of you may already know, Jim will be deployed this fall for, possibly Kuwait. Please pray for them as they make plans for this. The heartbreak of their dad leaving is one that I ask my Lord, daily, to help them through, as with Lora, seeing her husband leave again, and her left alone to care for the three boys. They are the age, where support and encouragement from their dad is crucial. Please pray for Jim, also, as he has to leave them all behind. Our God is able to do the most amazing things, and nothing is too big for Him to accomplish!!

Please also pray for Michael. He is seeking God’s will in finding someone to travel with him, someone who is a believer and who speaks both languages, and someone he can trust. I know that God will meet all his needs.

Pray for Allan as Jerry and his family go to the states for two months for a turn-around time. Pray for the Goss family as they go through the process of going state--side, physicals, travel, and all the many stresses that come with the paper work and plans to return to Krakow.

During the two months that Jerry and his family will be in America, Allan will take on the full responsibility of the Roma ministry. There will be IWC teams and another team from Romania coming to work here during that time. It will be Allan’s responsibility to find lodging, transportation, and all the logistics of the teams, until Jerry returns. Jerry has a lot of responsibilities and we (from our past work history!) know about the un-seen, behind the scenes responsibilities that a strategy coordinator has to do, in addition to the Bible studies, travel, meetings, etc.

I am in the process of doing a newsletter for the Krakow Team, Baltic Field, and one for the churches in America that Mark has asked me to do. If you like, I will send the Krakow letter to you each month. This would give you more information about the families here in this city. Each month, I plan to do a “Spotlight on…………..” using one family unit per month to share information about the family, their ministry, a bit about their history, etc.

A funny thing about the Weaver’s: remember when we were in East Asia and we occasionally shared a bit of humor about the funny (ridiculous!!) things that happen when you don’t know the language or other little incidents? Well, here goes!

Allan and I have been shopping at the little store nearby. As we were looking for detergent for the laundry, we saw an advertisement (all if Polish, of course!!). It was a promotion. We know that from the word “promicija!”

We happily made our purchase for the ‘detergent’ and washed our clothing for two months. Our clothes didn’t seem to be very clean, however. When you get older you often don’t connect the dots (my phrase for you just don’t get it!!) W ever rationalized the lack of suds by saying, “well, maybe it’s the environmental protection kind of detergent” (well that made no sense with black air in our lungs!!!)

Finally I went online (the dictionary has no word translation for brand names) to see if I could figure out what this stuff is.

I started laughing aloud. Allan said ok, “what’s so funny?”
I said, “well we have been washing our clothes for two months in fabric softener!”
We had noticed one good thing about the ‘detergent’ was the clothes were very soft! Isn’t that scary!!!!

Lord, help us as we age! I have to tell you we did have help in choosing this ‘detergent’! A friend’s daughter told us this is what her mom uses!!

Well, dear friends and family, I will close for today. I pray that the Lord will richly bless you and yours. If there is anyway we can pray for you, please let us know. We faithfully remember you each day, but if you have a specific request, please let us know. It’s an honor to pray for you!

“What does the LORD your GOD require of you, but to revere the LORD your GOD, to walk in all HIS ways, to love Him, and serve the LORD your GOD with all your heart and with all your being.” De.10: 12.

“For by your words, you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words, you will be condemned and sentenced.” Matt.12: 37.

Choose your words carefully and wisely and wait for the LORD’S Blessings!
The Fishermensline in Krakow, Poland
Feb.24, 2008


Two building in the Village: Old and New

Why God Chose Israel

Pictured Above: Allan, Sue, Isabella, John, Zosha, and Valdi. This is the wonderful, gracious, and loving family who hosted us as guests in their home in Poznan, during our time there for the Conference.

God chose Israel to be a ‘Nation of Royal Priests’ to be a witness and light to guide all the nations to God. When Israel failed, and broke the covenant with God, He took them into captivity. In their captivity, and in their redemption, His heart and His plan was always to show Himself as a God of great love for all His children, to lead them all to Himself and to salvation.

When God told Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him, he became a world -wide missionary, to carry out God’s plan for Israel and the nations of the world. The blessing God would give to the nations, including Israel, and through Israel, would be the written Word, and THE LIVING WORD! (The WORD became flesh and dwelt among us! John 1:14)

The law was given to the Jewish people to convict of sin, to show God’s character, as a testimony and a witness to the world.

When the Jewish nation broke God’s covenant, they broke HIS heart! The ones chosen to be a witness and light to the nations became idol worshippers, and like the pagans, the people did not want their God! They cursed God rather than desired to know Him. God sent His prophets again and again, to warn the Jewish people of their great sin and abominations toward God. He continually forgave them each time they repented. His love is boundless and His forgiveness is endless.

When Israel continued to disobey God, He told them, you will live in darkness and in exile! The consequences of their disobedience, was to be a lesson to the nations and to the Jewish nation, as well.

God keeps His promises to us, even when we fail to keep ours. When Jesus was crucified, the Jewish people thought it was all over. No! It was just beginning!! God’s plan to redeem the nations and the Jews was just beginning to teach salvation and eternal life to all who will believe and repent! Jesus told the Jews that they would be His witnesses through out Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world!

We must preach salvation to the Jews and the Gentiles! We must pray for the peace of Jerusalem, not the peace of the world, which is a good thing to pray for. Not for military peace, not through a peace treaty, nor peace policy, but the peace that ONLY comes through the Jewish nation knowing WHO JESUS really is. Jesus said, ‘you will not see Me, until you say, ‘blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the LORD!’”

The Jews MUST know Who Jesus is! Israel still needs to fulfill God’s call to them!

Pray for: Peace of Jerusalem, the peace only found IN the Prince of Peace!
Pray for: Behold Your God! Campaign in May being held in six cities in Israel.
Pray for Jews for Jesus in this campaign, for their protection and for the Jewish people to hear their words and believe the WORD of God, Jesus, the Messiah!
Pray for: Teams for this historic event!
Pray for: teams for Krakow Jewish festival this summer.
Pray for: The Christians to be in constant prayer for the Jews to come to know their God and His HOLY ONE, JESHUA!!!
Pray for: ‘Life from the Dead’ a group in Europe, involved in missions.
Pray for: the Catholic church here in Krakow and Poland.
Pray for the Poles to love their Jewish brothers and for renewal of relationships! Pray for the Jews to love the Poles, also!
Pray for: The Poles of Poland to have a personal relationship with Jesus.
Pray for: the Jewish festival in Krakow this summer, for open eyes, ears, and heart of understanding.
Pray for: team Roma and for team Krakow.
Pray for: all the missionaries of Europe.
Pray for: support from home, both prayer and financial.
Pray for: the Olive Tree Organization, here in Poland, a group of believers who have a ministry to the Jewish people.
Pray for: Sue, and desire to serve God in a new Jewish ministry here in Krakow, or wherever he may lead.
Pray for: Allan and Jerry and their work with the Roma.
Pray for: the families of the missionaries, both here and those back in the states.
Pray for: Michael in East Asia, that God will bless his work there, for his traveling, health, and a trusted worker to come along side him to help with the work there.
Pray for: America, that our country will never forsake Israel!
Pray for: The president, both current and future, for God’s will in their life, to seek Him for His leadership and direction.
Pray for: Godly leaders in our government!
Pray for: God to prepare the soil of people’s hearts and minds.
Pray for: Mark and his leadership role and for his family.
Pray for: The Baptist Union, here in Poland.
Pray for: God’s perfect will in our life and ministry.
Thank Him for: Blessings, salvation, family, finances, prayer supporters, His WORD, for the missionaries, for the Jewish nation, from whom the Messiah came, for Lottie Moon, for so many wonderful and awesome blessings!
Thank Him for the young people who came here to join us here in our work!