Category: proem
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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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Rozpoczęcie roku szkolnego (Start of the School Year)
First day of school this year was a little different than years past. Students went to their classrooms, had time to meet their homeroom teachers or be welcomed back by their previous homeroom teacher last year. (Students keep the same teacher from grades 1-3 and another through grades 4-8.) Before the pandemic, there was a […]
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Intentionality
This word is my inspiration for the coming year. The first half of 2021 was crazy difficult, one of the hardest experiences I’ve ever had to face. Between financial challenges, dreams put on hold, ever-changing schedules and unknowns, my mental flexibility was seriously put to the test. As a result, a lot of my updates […]
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 […]
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Week 1
This past week was challenging for a lot of reasons. The first day on Monday was a little crazy with all the kids coming back from summer vacation and a the teachers not really having a full-out plan for what subjects to do in the preschool. The świetlica was totally overwhelming the first two days […]
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Day 2: Mushrooms
My body woke me up at about 3 am. I scrolled through my phone a little before exhaustion hit me again and I fell back asleep. Żaba’s voice woke me next. She was going to pick me up at 11am. It was already 11. I groggily opened the door and said I would be ready […]
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Bon Voyage!
Today is the day I leave for Poland. I’ve had a hard time figuring out how to word what I’m feeling. There’s a lot excitement and anticipation for what’s to come, but I’ll definitely miss home. My last weekend at Mosaic was emotional. I definitely cried after the last song, and had to fight my […]
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Pure joy
My departure is coming close. And the closer it gets, the more annoyances (aka. thorns of the flesh as Paul called them) keep showing up. Some are self-inflicted by my lack of trust and insecurity, but some for sure are results of the spiritual warfare going on over my decision to go on a mission […]
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Still
Twenty days until I get on the plane. There’s a lot of emotions that I’m not sure how to process yet. I’m anxious about leaving home and being on my own. I’m a bit concerned about how people there will receive me. I’m nervous about communicating daily with kids who don’t know English. And whether […]
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Milestone #1
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. Matthew 8:26 God pulled through at the last minute. I bought my plane ticket. Poland is officially a-go! The reality of this hasn’t totally sunk in yet. The […]
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Waiting Game
I’m not a fan of patience. I don’t know a lot of people who are. I’m so used to instant gratification that anything that takes longer than I expect it to makes me antsy. Especially if I’m not able to control the outcome and I really, really want it to happen. Like this mission. I […]
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Kontakt Piotrków
My last visit to Poland was for Kontakt Piotrków, a week-long community service festival in Piotrków Trybunalski. It was the first time Proem had hosted Kontakt in that city and the officials were nervous. By the end of the week, though, they absolutely wanted us back. I’d never done a Kontakt Festival before and wasn’t […]
Renewed by Light 