The Final Night
My apologies for not posting in a couple of days. Things got kind of busy around here! We are nearing the end of the Holocaust Survivors’ Camp, and I was determined to get them each a copy of a picture disc. In the past, they have always had a photographer with them and enjoyed slideshows at the end of each day of their activities. This year they didn’t have a photographer, so several people took responsibility for taking pictures throughout each day, and I put them into a slideshow for the evening sessions. I have always heard that they would get a disc at the end of the camp, but discovered that they’ve never actually followed through on that promise! So I became quite set on making it happen. This meant a deadline to get about 2000 pictures down to about 150 that would fit on a disc and to the photo shop that would mass burn them for us. They should be ready in the morning. Mission accomplished! Ben has been working hard on building a huge wardrobe for the upcoming Narnia-themed children’s camp. I love that God gives us opportunities to use our skills in unexpected ways.
Tonight I had the chance at their final session to thank them for letting us be here to love and serve them. I told them that sometimes people are surprised that we are going back…. again, but that we have just grown to love them and this country and have developed a passion for being here. Several other from among the “Americans” have said similar things, and it was encouraging to hear one of the ladies comment on that later. She came to the mic to say that she has had a great time here, and that she was happy that there were people from other countries who would come here to be with them and love them. Even beyond the Holocaust, these people have been so often looked down upon and hated because they are Jewish. Please pray with me that the love we (Christians from the US, Ukraine and Poland) have tried to show this week will be a spark in their hearts that grows and grows until they see Christ for who He really is.
I told them that I had made a bracelet for each of them that they could pick out in the dining room. When the session ended there as a flood of ladies (and a few gentlemen), who gave lots of hugs and kisses and “Спасибо” (thank you). I now have a heavy perfumed scent about me that I’m not sure I’ll be able to shower off!
The next few days will be continued craziness. We leave tomorrow for Warsaw, where we will attend the Festival of Hope and March for Jesus. Ben is going to stay at the camp grounds in Ostroda (along with Ethan) to allow Andrzej and April to attend without leaving the camp unsupervised, but he will join us on Sunday for the final day. Then we return to Ostroda to continue preparations for the Ukrainian Children’s Camp that starts Wednesday. Ben is going to travel with Sandy, as well as two couples arriving from The States, to Auschwitz. This is something he has wanted to do for a long time, and will deepen his understanding and knowledge of the history and the culture of Poland. Please pray for safe travels through all of this craziness and as our family is separated from each other for a few days.
I will try to post updates about the Festival of Hope soon! Oh… and say a prayer for Cindy too. She leaves us in just 3 days. She will be missed.
The Journey Back 