Category: poland
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First half of 2022
Hey, all. Apologies for having put this blog on hold for so many months. The first half of this year has been a whirlwind! Between re-emerging from COVID hibernation to the war in Ukraine after winter break to then the even busier spring-to-summer camp transition, there’s been tons going on. Refugees fleeing Ukraine Around 2,000…
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2021: Hello again
About a year and a half ago, I stopped adding content to my journal because it was too time consuming and I was adjusting to my third year as a missionary, second year as an English teacher of teens. I hadn’t (and still haven’t) decided on a consistent posting schedule, but I want to continue…
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Zako Summer
Saturday was the end of a long slew of summer camps. Thank God (in many ways)! I love Proem Zako camps. They’re energetic, fun, engaging, and exhausting all at the same time. It’s tough to give your heart week after week, but so worth it for the campers and volunteers who come to experience it…
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Around the Bend
I’ve got some tough news. My biggest financial supporters had an emergency happen last month and are no longer able to give financially to my mission. That’s $500 less a month to live on. The time was coming (July) when their two-year commitment was up anyway, but it still hit hard. And it came with…
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Changes
It’s hard to describe how I’m doing lately. If I had to sum it up, it would be something like treading water with a wave about to take me under. The end of the year is one of the busiest times and while I don’t have quite the same amount of drama as I did…
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First Quarter
It’s been a minute since I’ve updated my blog and so much happened the last 4 months since 2019 started. I’ll try to break it down: Zimowisko/English Art Winter Camp I was tasked with helping some American volunteers from Foundry Church (Kansas City) with running their English Club class every day and leading a singing…
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2019: Relationship
Something I regret not doing more of last year was bonding closer with the people in my ministry. There were several reasons I was distracted from it (a dating relationship, reconnecting with other friends outside of Proem, and my only-child, pseudo-loner spirit), but I want to do better in 2019. The theme for Proem this…
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Happy 2019 and Blog News
Hello everyone! Thank you all for being a part of my experience in Poland, serving alongside Proem Ministries, and following my journey of growth and discovery this past year and half. I’m looking forward to the blessings and challenges that will happen in 2019. The last year — my first full year of missions —…
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School Madness: First Week
Hoo-wee! This week has felt like a month in itself! The beginning of the school year is always a crazy time, but this year it felt like it was twice as nuts. Maybe more so for me because I’m starting to teach in the upper grades at school this year — a whole other animal…
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The CELTA Experience
What a wild, crazy ride this past month has been! I apologize for not posting much over the summer, but in a moment, you’ll understand why. First, I went back to the States for a little while to help my mom and aunt with my late grandma’s affairs and cleaning up my aunt’s house to…
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Hugs from Heaven
Yeah, the title is a little cheesy, but it suits the story I’m about to share. So, last month was pretty rough for me. My mom sent a message on June 5th that my grandma had passed away. It was a lot sooner than everyone expected (although, these things tend to happen suddenly). I was…
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Worthy is the Lamb
“The Lord will fight for you; you must be quiet.” Exodus 14:14 “For I, Yahweh your God, hold your right hand and say to you: Do not fear, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 The past few weeks have been extremely trying. My mind and body are tired, and there’s still a whole summer of challenges…
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Grace in Hardships
” ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ ” 2 Corinthians 12:9a This verse rings so true for me lately. The next few months are going to be very trying time for me. Summer camps in Zako, family affairs in the States, mental exhaustion, and preparing for the CELTA course…
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Expectations and Onward
“Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 It’s been about 8 months since my arrival here in Poland. I anticipated some of my challenges with moving to a new country and embarking on a year…
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z Miłości (with Love)
Tomy church hosted a women’s conference a few weekends ago with the theme of love; how it’s able to transform and heal in relationships through God’s example to us. We had a special guest performer, Agnieszka Dębowska, who was a contestant on The Voice Poland, and amazing speakers from our community that shared their stories.…
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Zimmufka
This past week, I went on a retreat with the youth group to Wisła, a mountain town bordering Czech Republic and Austria. It was gorgeous! And so much fun getting to know the teens and fellow interns better on this trip. Plus, I conquered a fear I’d had for a long time: learning to ski.…
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Christmas Time in Poland – Part 2
(First, I have to apologize for how late this second part is. I’ve had a lot going on in January and just never got around to writing it until now. Enjoy!) I got to Warsaw about 9:30pm Friday night after sitting in a 2 hour delay on the train (always fun). But my week was…
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Journey to Bethlehem
Proem puts on this huge event every December and first weekend of January (around Three King’s Day) where thousands of people come to watch an outdoor walk-through play about the birth of Christ. I mean, they really do it up. It was such an awesome experience to be a part of and go see. Roman…
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Christmas Time in Poland – Part 1
I’ve been so busy this month, I haven’t been able to keep up with my blogging entries as often. Proem is in the midst of Podróż do Betlejem (Journey to Bethlehem) season, which is this huge, outdoor, walk-through play that they do every year with hundreds of volunteers. I’ll have a separate post about…
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November/Listopad
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 It’s difficult to write an update this past month because so much has happened internally for me. November was the first month where I felt some sense…
Renewed by Light 