REPORT FROM POLAND

Dr. Richard J. Henderson August 1, 2004

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Deuteronomy 10: 17-22
Romans 12: 9-13

Introduction

We have just returned from a fabulous trip to Poland. We were warmly received, and the trip was well organized. We felt we were able to accomplish a lot. In Poland, we made remarkable friends and learned about a country that we knew little about.

I

Our main goal was to help children in rural Poland learn English. The young people in Poland who speak English have a much better chance to succeed. Children in rural Poland are restricted in ability to learn English. We were told that probably none of children we worked with had ever heard English from someone who speaks it as their native language.

Using a vacation Bible school model from Faith Community, we taught English to Polish students who were nine to sixteen years old. Although three hundred students wanted to attend the English camp, we were only equipped to teach one hundred. In rural Poland, and more specifically Ostroda, which is three and one half hours north of Warsaw, the children are at a severe disadvantage. The rural people are treated as second-class citizens and looked down on. In the area where we worked, there is an 80% unemployment rate. We heard that some of the children we saw originally came primarily for the meal but stayed for the fellowship and Bible lessons.

II

The centers were set up like Vacation Bible School. We started with singing, songs with good words to learn -- Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes; America the Beautiful, and the Polish national song. We followed up with Jesus Loves me. Their favorite was Alleluia, Alleluia - Praise you the Lord.

Throughout the day, the children moved from center to center, including Group time for the English, lessons, drama, crafts, and dance. We taught them baseball, which they loved, and then served lunch. After lunch the special projects were - cleaning up, walking back to church, and later, more baseball!

III

Another crew worked at a local church doing repairs and painting. They scraped and painted windows which were leaking and badly in need of repair. The construction crew also sanded and painted an old wooden stand which holds the casket during a funeral. This stand, about ten feet long, with wooden globes at the ends of the long handles has a railing which runs all along the side. It is a beautiful piece of furniture. Those who worked on it took special care of it.

Conclusion

We have found that wherever we go - Honduras, Brazil, St. Maarten or Poland, we have met the most wonderful people - a warm, caring welcoming group of people who would do anything for you. (And they just barely know you!)

All over the world, we have found people who take their faith seriously and practice it in their relationships with other people. We have found people concerned for their country and its people.

Those who have gone to Poland could probably talk about it for weeks - we experienced so much. We can tell you all about it, but ask us, we're excited to tell people about what we did.

Amen.

©Richard J. Henderson 2004