Sorry!

I'm out of time ... will post more later (hopefully tomorrow). This needs to be done at Dave's office, because our home internet is not fast enough. I'll post more as soon as possible.

A "Surprise" Going Away Party

Wednesday evening, they had a 'surprise' party for us. After spending time in worship, we all sat around a large table and ATE!!

A Wednesday Treat

Wednesday began with a spontaneous visit from Irmina & Marysia. They stopped by to deliver some beautiful parting gifts, but the greatest gift was the conversation we shared. Over the course of a few hours, Marysia shared her testimony, we discussed Irmina's possible extended stay with us in the U.S., and we all re-confirmed our appreciation for the newly found friendship we'd developed over the past month. It was a blessed time together.

Tuesday

Levi & Daniel enjoying a little 'good buddy' time. On our next-to-last night in Poland, Levi FINALLY had the courage to spend the night at Daniel's home!

Bernatka & her daughter, Veronica

This picture of Dave, Bernatka & Piotr is a perfect example of the informal and wonderful times of fellowship we enjoyed in Radom. We were saying, "Who would have ever thought we'd be in a small yet delightful Polish kitchen, enjoying jazz music, eating h'ordouvres, and enjoying great conversation with such awesome people??? God is good.

On Tuesday we spent the evening at Steve & Bernatka's, along with Piotr & Beata. We enjoyed tacos, Polish tea, and jazz music. In this photo, Piotr & Steve are teaching Dave a 3-person Polish card game. So here are the three Polish men playing cards! While the men played cards, the ladies went out shopping for goodies.

At last!!

Hello, curious blog-lookers! Sorry it has taken me so long to get back on here. There have been many adjustments upon returning to the U.S. Resuming 'life as we know it' has taken longer than expected! We are finally feeling at home in this time zone, and all traveling illnesses have subsided. Some of the boys got very sick upon returning to the U.S., so we're thankful for their recovery.

Spiritually, we continue to pray for God to help us apply all that we experienced and learned with our Polish friends. Our month with them was unforgettable, and we are so grateful for all the love that was shared. We're sort of at the stage where we're asking, "What now?" We eagerly await the Lord's wisdom in determining our daily steps with Him as we move forward from here.

It has been an incredible privilege to serve in Poland. It has also been a great joy to return and see our families and our church family. We missed everyone greatly. Now we're on the opposite end of the spectrum, missing our friends in Poland! The Lord united NewLife with one awesome group of people in Radom, and we hope our journey continues to deepen the relationships for all of us ... "One Church, Two Locations."

Throughout the next two days, we will be posting some final pictures from the trip ... so enjoy!

Sherri asked me to let everyone know that they have landed and are home safely. She will post the pictures she took the last day as soon as she gets a chance. -Darcy

Sorry, but we don't have time to post any pictures today. We're almost all packed up and ready to return home. We spent a wonderful evening with many friends. They sent us on our way with much love and many gifts. We're packed full! Our travel begins at 7:00 am tomorrow. What a blessed experience this has been. We will be forever grateful for this wonderful journey. Thanks for your prayers ... please pray us home!

This is our last day in Poland. We are very ready to come home, but we will miss these people incredibly. They have taught us much about love and about enjoying life. We've shared so much together ... conversation, laughter, ministry, tears, prayer, music, and good food! Our plane is scheduled to leave Warsaw tomorrow at 12:10 pm (6:10 am Ohio time). We would appreciate your prayers for safe travel. Because of the busyness of this day, we might not be able to post any more blogs. We'll try to post something if there is a good picture to share. However, our time will be crunched today and we want to enjoy every moment we can. Undoubtedly, this will be an emotional day. God bless you all ... we are looking forward to seeing you!!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sherri taught the boys how to make chocolate chip cookies (at their request). The girls enjoyed watching!

American Hamburgers & BLT's

We enjoyed Tuesday afternoon with many teens ... we fixed them 'American' hamburgers & BLT's. We had a blast together!

Piotrek & Nicole

Levi, Luke, Piotrus, & Sam

Marek ... DEVOURING a BLT!

Dave & Mikolaj

Filip & Jola

Piotrek, enjoying a BIG bite!

An evening for the ladies

On Monday evening we had a few ladies over for dinner ... and the guys served. They helped prepare the food, they served the food, and they cleaned the entire kitchen. They were very gracious hosts. Notice the khaki shorts, collared shirts, and comb-over hairdos!

We served an American meal: BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, corn casserole, American salad, Polish bread, and lody w/ fresh raspberries. We had a marvelous time.

Pictured are (left to right around the table): Natalia, Irmina, Sherri, Agata, Gosia, Lucyna, Edyta, and Marysia.

One big happy family!

Sunday Afternoon in the city of Kazimierz

The town square

Polish bread (Tytus, Beata & Piotr)

The ladies, by the river

The dip ... woo hoo!

Dancing ... Jola K. & Dave

Great food & fellowship

Beautiful orchestra music ... Chopin, Pachelbel, Mozart

Artists galore ... exquisite art

Dave & Irmina ... gallery hopping

The Pamaranski family ... Peter & Lucyna (Mother), Marta sister ... with Sherri & Dave

Sunday ... our last day together

Szymon praying for the offering (left)

Elders praying for us (right)

Vojtek and Tytus preparing for communion (left)

Marysia (Irmina's mother)sharing testimony ... She has become a friend, and her testimony was very meaningful to us.

Sunday's Message ... Ten Lepers

Tytus spoke about the ten lepers. These ten lepers were outcasts, and none of them wanted to be living outside of town, shunned by society, suffering from physical deformity and pain. They would rather have been living with their families, in comfortable homes. Yet they were all 'united' by one common bond: leprosy. Jesus healed all ten. Only one said thank you. This is because he was focused on the Giver, rather than the gift.

Steve, Tytus, and a few men from the church go to the men's homeless shelter in Radom every Sunday evening. They also distribute sandwiches at one or more of the local parks. By going to the shelter and spending time with these men, they have learned that many of them once had successful professions -- economist, lawyer, store owner, etc. These men are now all 'united' by one common bond: alcoholism. Alcoholism has led them to homelessness, and it has separated them from their families and from society.

NONE of these men want to live in the homeless shelter. They hate the place, they hate their situation, and they often hate each other. They would rather be healthy and living with their families. As Steve, Tytus & others share Christ and food with these men, they don't want them to just look at the gift. They want them to see the Giver, Jesus Christ. Only He can offer them the ultimate healing: clean hearts & minds living in restored relationship with God the Father. Only this relationship can give them the strength they need to fight alcoholism.

Although God will always forgive our sin and heal our hearts if we ask, He may not always choose to quickly resolve our difficult situations in life. As a matter of fact, these difficulties can provide a greater opportunity for us to experience the power and strength of Christ on a daily basis. Only by trusting in Him can we make it through.

May we recognize the Giver in all good gifts, and may we remember to be thankful through all of life's difficulties. Knowing Christ IS the greatest Gift.

The church in Radom

Kristi, this is for you!!

Good Friends

Tytus & Dave

Sherri & Beata

Marek & Luke

Old but Amazing Technology

The roof on this hay storage area (to the right) can be raised and lowered.
Old looms (left)

A cantilevered well

A most amazing windmill ... there were several of these at the Old Village. The engineering was phenomenal.

Home of the Priests in Old Radom Village

Frogs!!