Though I don’t have internet access right now, I am writing this blog while sitting on the top bunk of a sleeper car on a train bound for Krakow, Poland and will post it as soon as I can.  It’s 10:30pm on Monday, September, 17 and we are all about to go to sleep.  We should arrive in the morning.  It’s been a long day of travel from Szczecin to Swinoujscie.  Swinoujscie is a coastal town on the Baltic Sea.  Today we visited the Baptist church in that town and also visited a light house.  Apparently it’s the tallest light house in all of Europe.  They say that ships can see it for more than 30 nautical miles.  We actually received certificates for climbing the 300 steps to the top.  Only Ashley, Dan, Carol, Tony, and I attempted it.  I thought I was going to have a heart attack! 

This evening we went to a 9th floor flat (apartment) in a former Russian housing complex for a prayer meeting with people from the local Baptist church.  It was wonderful.  We packed about 20 or so in a small living room and shared testimonies and prayed, and I mean prayed, for a few hours. 

We then caught the ferry over to the train station where we boarded the 9:42pm train to Krakow.  This train ride is something to experience.  I love it.  This is my first real train ride and it feels like something out of a James Bond 007 movie.  It’s almost like we’ve stepped back in time 40-50 years on this old quaint train.  We have literally traveled by just about every means imaginable this week – by plane, mini bus, van, car, taxi, train, ferry, and of course mostly by using our feet.  Keep praying for us.

Today was a good Lord’s day.  We prayer walked through town on the way to worship at the Szczecin church which is meeting in a local school gym.  During the service, both Sam and Carol gave their testimonies and I preached the message. I spoke on the topic of missions.  Below is a video clip of some of the congregational singing.

After morning worship we headed out to various homes for lunch, which was another great experience – with lots to eat and more very hospitable families.  In the late afternoon, Sam, Pam, Dan, and I went to a town called Stargard to see a work that is going on in a mission church that is pastored by a man named Christian.  Pam and Dan gave their testimonies and I was called on to preach with about 30 seconds notice (As you can imagine I used the same sermon from the morning – good thing it was a different congregation).  

That evening Ashley and I decided to take twelve of the young adults (early to mid 20’s) from the Szczecin church out to eat for dessert.  We’ve grown close to them during our time here and they have many questions about their Christian walk and about marriage – so we thought it would be a good idea to spend more time with them and have a “young adult” fellowship.  I’m so glad we did because it was an awesome time of Christian fellowship and encouragement.  If these young adults are the future of the church in Szczecin – then it will grow strong and the Gospel will be spread wide in Poland.

Today we had our second day of the marriage retreat here in Poland and everything went well.  We had about 20 additional people come today for a total of between 50-60 people.  All of the seminars were fantastic.  Carol taught two sessions on the Bible in marriage and the home.  Dan and Sam taught two sessions on financial planning for couples and I taught seminars on conflict resolution.  Additionally, Tony, Flonnie, Ashley, Pam and I held a panel discussion time where they were able to ask questions and we were able to interact with them.  I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised at how deep some of the questioning got.  All in all the day was great and a success for the church here in Szczecin.

Tomorrow I will be preaching in the church service and Sam and Carol will be giving their testimonies.  Pray for us.  However, we will be in church while you’re sleeping because it will be 5:00am eastern time. So as Gustaw would say, “pray as you are mediating horizontally.”