Warsaw to Budapest

Gosia and her husband, Shamack get us settled into the train for Budapest….thanks Gosia!!!

The train ride was such fun! We were all in one room with three bunks and we fit! It was a little like camping out, but you just didn’t have to go so far for the rest room and they served you coffee in the morning. I felt pampered.
Last view of Warsaw from our train bunk room.
Harrison has the “Hatcher blood”…can sleep anywhere.

The ride into Budapest was beautiful and I knew I would like this city before we even got here. After debarking at the train station, we checked our luggage in the storage. The man told me it would be three thousand five hundred and I almost fell over. The dollar value of that is about $21.00, but it sure sounded a lot more expensive.

We took the city tour and were constantly astonished by the beauty of the city. Every corner we turned seemed to hold a new beautiful view. It also helped we were on a double decker bus. The boys loved it. We hopped off at a stop and as God would have it we ran right into a bookstore. The bookstore had great children’s Bibles in Hungarian for about $13.00 American. We purchased 10 and found a Burger King to fuel up.
After lunch we stood next to a bus stop and started offering Bibles. It occurred to me as we started that each time we do this I start off a little nervous, almost anxious because I know we will be turned down. And we always are. Then I start praying in the Spirit….
We gave all our Bibles away and several people were thrilled to get them. One group of young girls listened attentively as we shared the Gospel. I knew they spoke little English, yet they seemed to want to know more.
Ali, from France actually came back and asked if we had a Bible in English he could have. I promised that I would mail him one, if he would email me his address. We prayed for Ali to find the right job and for God to draw him closer to Him. I felt we had made a fast friend with him.
Ali teaches Hatcher, pray for Ali to recognize the gifts God has given him
Andrew is Hungarian and had just lost his wallet. We prayed for God to return his wallet and Hatcher beautifully prayed for the thief to feel convicted and confess his sin. We gave Andrew some money and it was difficult for him to take it. I could tell he was really interested in Jesus and asked if he wanted to ask Him into his heart now. “I really need to think about this.” I know God will work His way into his heart and life.

Please pray for Andrew to come to know the Lord

Our last Polish Bible went to our new friends from Krakow. When we heard them say yes in Polish, we knew they were from Poland.

Stopped By The Police In Warsaw!!!

May 9, 2008
Our last day in Warsaw, Poland
Stopped by the Police
We slept in this morning. We decided we would need the sleep due to our travel schedule the next two days…Budapest in an overnight train and then Tel Aviv the next night arriving at 3:45 am.
After schoolwork we headed to the local commercial area by foot to eat and give out the remaining Bibles and Passion films. We stood at an intersection to give out Bibles. Hatcher and Reid went across the street to reach more people. At one point I looked over to check on Hatcher and Reid and noticed two policemen were talking to Hatcher. My “mom alarm” sounded full blast. I decided I may need to go check on him. Continued…

10 Most Wanted in Warsaw!!!

Stopped by the Police continued...
Harrison and I ran across the street as quickly as possible. I didn’t think we would be in trouble, but knew that Hatcher would probably be a little concerned being interviewed by a policeman (especially one who probably did not speak English). I whispered a short prayer of protection as my mind envisioned a paddy wagon carrying us all to jail.
As I walked up I overheard the policeman saying, “Where are your parents?” I smiled brightly and offered my hand. He was very warm and wondered what we were doing. I explained that we were on a mission trip and were giving out Bibles. His only question was, “Are the people nice to you?” I loved him for that.
Needless to say this had drawn a small crowd. I offered him a Bible and he said he could not accept it because he was on duty. I then offered a salvation bracelet by explaining all the colors to him. He smiled and patiently listened. He accepted the bracelet. Continued...

Witnessing in Warsaw…

Witnessing in Warsaw…
One of the men nearby asked a question in Polish and the officer spoke back to him. I then offered a Bible to this man. He spoke to me and the officer translated, “I don’t believe in God.” I asked if he would allow us to pray for him. After a little discussion with the policeman, he agreed. ( I would love to know what the policeman said to him.) The boys and I gathered around him, laid hands on him and prayed. I prayed for God to make Himself very real to this man that very day. The policeman translated our prayers and then the man accepted not only the Bible but a copy of the film as well. We gave him both bracelets…his name was Jared.
Don’t you love how God will take something that appears to be “bad” and turn it into good for His kingdom?
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
For the remainder of the time we were there, the police officers were in close range. I felt like they were keeping a watch over us. They were God’s workers here on Earth, whether they knew it or not. God bless the police officers of Poland and around the world.
We also met a delightful German man and prayed for him. He happily took our Bible and The Passion Film.

Kuchnia Polska ~ Polish Lunch May 9, 2008

Polish Lunch!
Our lunch at this great place was delicious….here are our chefs. They each took Bibles and bracelets. The lady on the left came to us later and asked for two more Bibles to give to her family.
Please pray for all those we witnessed to in Poland and pray for revival in Poland.
Thank you and God bless you!

God, Please Heal Him

Warsaw, Poland
This morning Gosia picked us up. We returned to Alexandria’s flat to pick up our postcards that were left there yesterday, then went to the grocery to buy lunch. As we were loading the groceries in the car, a homeless man walked up to Gosia. I knew he was asking for money or food. His face was covered with scabs and my heart went out to him. Gosia handed over several items of food to him. I asked her to ask him if we could pray for him.

We gathered around him. The smell of alcohol was very strong and he leaned against my hand as I laid it on his shoulder. The boys prayed one at a time and the man’s emotions overtook him. When it was my turn to pray, I felt called to pray for him to be re-united with his family. I stood against his addictions and asked for God to cleanse him and make him whole. He was very grateful and spoke to Gosia in Polish.
As we walked away, my heart was very heavy. It is one of my main struggles right now with the Lord. I pray often for the answer to this. I want to see this man’s life changed. I want more than his emotions to be overwhelmed. I was to see the scabs disappear from his face. I was to see his teeth reappear in his mouth. I want the spirit of addiction to flee. I want his whole life to change. I want him to know God in a deep and intimate way. I want him freed from his captivity. I want him to dance joyfully down the street, praising God for the miracle He has performed in him.
I know God can do all this. Even though my heart feels much love towards this man, I know that God loves this man more than I do. I also know that God wants this man freed from his captivity too. So why is he not freed and healed?
I desperately wish I had the answer. I know that God is God. He is God of all. It is His ultimate decision of who He heals miraculously. I also know that God has set in place boundaries, laws and consequences. We all reap the consequences when we do not follow the laws God has laid out. He has given us free will to make those decisions. He also often uses our consequences to help us learn. He has given us the Bible to make sure we know what the boundaries and consequences are. The more I read the Bible, the clearer His direction is.
The law of gravity has a consequence of a hard landing when you go against it and jump off a wall. “Do not be drunk on wine, but be filled with the Spirit” ………. has consequences too. These consequences are not as immediate as the jump. But the consequences are there and real….as this man proves.
What will it take to change this man’s life? I don’t know, God does. I pray. I do my best to be obedient.
Maybe God puts this man on my heart to pray for him…maybe He will use my prayers to eventually heal him. Maybe we drove away and suddenly his scabs disappeared and he danced down the street telling everyone he met how God had healed him.

It is one of the many things I look forward to about heaven. To learn the rest of the story of those I meet and witness to or pray over. What an exciting eternity…to hear their stories of how God changed their lives and to share how God has changed mine through the acts and prayers of others….like you.
Thank you for your prayers!!

Fellowship at #7 Slotsky Flat Warsaw, Poland

Kasia, her nephew Tomek, sister Alexandria (due to give birth in two weeks ) and brother-in-law. Joseph. Please pray for Alexandria’s health and the health of their new baby. The boys and Tomek played legos…no language barrier with legos.

Statue in Old Town Warsaw

The statue in the center square of the old town area in Warsaw

May 8th, 2008

Kids with Bibles, Inspiring Gosia in Warsaw...

I had shared with Gosia how we had purchased Bibles in Czech Republic and had stood on the street to give them out. The next day Gosia shows up with a box of Bibles! She asked someone where we could get Bibles and her friend produced the box.
Don’t you love how God provides?!

We went to a wonderful park and the boys could not get over what great play ground equipment they had. After a couple hours of play, we struck up a conversation with some teenagers. As Gosia translated, we shared the Gospel. All but one of the kids took a Bible and several took Polish copies of The Passion (many thanks to Calvary United Methodist Church for your generous support for this!).

I am always amazed how kids really listen to the Gospel. Even though my words were translated, they all listened attentively, answered our questions and responded to our message. When you speak the Truth, it has a way of penetrating hearts. Thanks be to God!

Please pray for these young people that God will use them in a mighty way to share the Gospel in Poland.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me". John 14:6

Samuel School, Warsaw Poland

Our dear friend from IHOP, Gosia and her family met us at the train station yesterday when we arrived in Warsaw. They have found a delightful flat complete with kitchen and all the necessities. Again, we are blessed.
Today we spoke three times at a local school. The ages were pre-school to 5th grade with a total of about 80 children. I was very impressed with the amount of English the children knew. The principle of the school, Jack and Lucas, the public relations administrator translated for us.
What struck me the most of the entire day was the love of the Lord the staff have at the school. Each class was started with Lucas playing the guitar and all the staff and children singing praise and worship. The adults participated with gusto and genuine praise. What a great role model they are for their children!
This school is very blessed with Jack, Lucas and many others we met. Their love for God and their devotion to the children was very evident.
Jack, the school principle is enthusiastic about the Lord! Ok, so am I!

We ate lunch with the children and the boys were thrilled to join them for recess. The soccer balls we brought got lots of use! Thank you Samuel School, for your warm welcome and for blessing us with the opportunity to be there. May God richly bless you!
Poland as a nation is mostly Catholic. There is a need for more to come to know Jesus personally. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to be poured out here in a mighty way and that more would have a personal relationship with the Lord.
Thank you for your prayers!!!!!