More from Waplewo

 

Waplewo Community Outreach

 

Here is our team at a community outreach in Waplewo, Poland. We spent the semester teaching English to students, teachers and residents of Waplewo then topped it off with a party at the end of the year. We were invited to take part in the city's Children's Day party. We had a great time sharing the love of Christ, playing games with the kids, singing and giving out Bibles.

Boże Ciało

 

Boże Ciało means God's Body in Polish and refers to Corpus Christi which means Body of Christ. This is a Catholic holiday in Poland and around the world where the eucharist (communion wafer), which in the Catholic Church is believed to be the actually body of Christ, is paraded through the streets of the towns and villages and celebrated by the people in solomn ceremonies.

Happy Birthday Cara

 

Here is Cara at her 10th Birthday party!

English Club in Olsztynek

 

Here are Jessica and Amber teaching English in the afterschool program building in Olsztynek.

Happy Easter from Poland

 

Yep... snow for Easter! Happy Easter from the Stevensons!

Happy Birthday Becca

 

Happy 8th Birthday Becca! We had a big party with all our friends in Poland.

The Girls Prayer Card

 

Here is the prayer card the girls gave out at the GIC at Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Platyny Goodies

 

Most of you know our history with Platyny, it has been complicated to say the least. We have continued on there feeling that truly God is at work. We have felt like we could not let this little village go. They have so many needs. Jesus being the number one need. But, there are so many physical and emotional needs that need to be filled. This past Wednesday was our first day back after a long break. The first thing that was different was that there were lights on in the Swietlica( a sort of after school place for kids to hang at). Secondly, we did not have to search or fight anyone for the keys to get in, and thirdly there was heat!!!! We had a great English time and then the biggest surprise of the night came. We were invited to coffee, tea, and cakes. It was such a precious time. It feels like we have turned a corner. Pleaase pray for this village and pray for volunteer team plans coming together for July. This picure is of our team and Krystina one of the few believers in the village. Imagine being one of five believers in a village of 500. Please pray for Krystyna.

First classes in Waplewo

 

Our first English classes were held on Wednesday afternoon this week and we were shocked and pleased at the turnout! There were 35 kids and 25 adults including 12 teachers from the school! It was an awesome start to this new ministry! We also went to Platyny and two of our team are working today in Olsztynek and in Jemiolowo! Thanks for your continued prayer for our team.

MD's Serves Up Breakfast

 

Thought you would all get a kick out of seeing this ad. Today (Feb. 1, 2008) McDondalds introduced breakfast into the two McDonalds restaurants in the town we live in. We were there, of course, at 9:00 am or so. It was all very exciting.

Waplewo

 

This is Waplewo (Vahp-levoh), a village south of Olsztynek where we are starting new work on Wednesday's beginning in two weeks. Pray for us as we begin planning our work there and prepare to build many new relationships with students and teachers in the primary school in this place. This work is connected to our work with Pastor Marcin from Olsztynek and will be similar to ministry we have in Platyny and Jemiołowo.

Christmas in Jemiołowo

 

We traveled a week ago to Jemiołowo to share Christmas presents with the kids we work with there. The village administrator invited the vice-mayor of Olsztynek and the whole village to this event. The kids prepared a Christmas play for us! We had a wonderful time there and are in the process of planning our spring events in this village. It is winter break right now and so we are not meeting there. However, last week was a youth winter camp up in the Polish mountains and 4 youth girls from Jemiolowo made decisions for Christ! Pray for our work in Jemiołowo this spring. We met several parents at the Christmas party and received invitations to visit in several homes. We will be following up on them this month. Thanks for praying for us!

Merry Christmas

 

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! From the Stevensons in Poland! Thanks for praying for us!

Christmas in Jemiołowo

 

Here is a picture of the kids in Jemiołowo. They are receiving thier presents on the 11th of January when we return from the states. However, it was our turn to be surpised, the brought us each small gifts! It was our turn for Christmas! Please continue to pray as we work in this village in the coming year. We have an open door with the Sołtys (village administrator) who invited us to come and visits with us each week.

Christmas in Platyny

 

Here is a picture of the group receiving Christmas gifts in Platyny last night. Continue to pray for our work in Platyny, we continue to have an open door there for teaching English and sharing the gospel.

Christmas in Nidzica

These are pictures from an Operation Christmas Child type of outreach in Nidzica, Poland that took place tonight! There were 20 kids and their parents along with two of us "missionary" types and the pastor of the Polish Baptist Church in Olsztynek. We had an awesome time and the kids had a blast. Continue to pray for our work in Nidzica, the groups that already meet should continue to grow after this outreach.

Santa Day (Dzien Mikołaj)

Today, we celebrated Santa Day here in Poland (actually it is celebrated Thursday but Sean will be in Prague). On this day kids put their shoes out and if they are good they might jut get a present. The girls received candy and a teddy bear making kit. They had fun stuffing their bears. We have been studying Christmas traditions from around the world, the confetti picture is from a Christmas cracker, a tradition from Great Britian. We also made straw ornaments from Sweden today. It has been interesting learning about different countries and their traditions. As we study more countries I will include pictures.

Please pray for Sean and for us as he tavels to Prague tomorrrow for a conference. He will return Saturday just in time (hopefully) to do an Operation Christmas Child outreach in Olsztynek. Pray for safe travel on the train (over 12 hours on trains) and pray for us girls while he is gone. Please pray for the outreach on Saturday that many lives would be touched as we give out presents, food and tell many families about Jesus.

English in Jemiołowo

Here is our team member Amber Dykes teaching English to some of the kids we work with on Wednesdays. This is in a small village of 400 near Olsztynek called Jemiołowo. Pray for us as we work in this small village.

Alethea had a B-day

Our newest team member, Alethea, had a birthday!!! Happy Birthday Alethea! Send her a greeting at... alethea_thomas@yahoo.com