Sunday in Krakow

Sunday night in many ways was a fulfilling completion to our trip to Krakow, Poland. As we were preparing to worship at Compass International Christian Fellowship with our hosts and their families, it delighted us to see several members of the girls basketball and guys baseball teams in attendance. This was their first time in a non-Catholic worship service as far as we know.

As the service began, it was in English, and so we were able to sing with full and grateful hearts contemporary songs of worship to our King. Kayla was asked to share her faith story, and though she did so with an interpreter for those present who needed Polish, it was a dynamic and powerful account of how Christ has worked in her life.

I had the opportunity to preach. It was my second time to do so - my first being last October in Poland. I preached from Luke 18 about Zacchaeus' encounter with Jesus.Â

It doesn't matter what you've done.

It doesn't matter where you are.

It doesn't matter what you have.

It doesn't matter who you are.

What matters is seeing Christ clearly.

The opposite of those first four is also true. (It doesn't matter what you haven't done.) The Lord enabled me to preach as simply as I could about the love of God in Christ, and I urged those present to get above the crowd in their life and get a clear view of Jesus. The wonderful thing about Zacchaeus' attempt to see Jesus is that Jesus saw Him. Just like He does all of us when we turn our eyes upon Him.

That morning we were blessed to attend the First Baptist Church here in Krakow. Though it was a Polish service, two young girls in the church came to sit next to us to interpret and give us the gist of what was being said. As the preacher taught about the family of God, it was appropriate and encouraging for us to realize that these people - thousands of miles away from our Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana homes - were also our family in Christ.

After a great meal at Pizza Hut, we went back to Wawel Castle where the team had the opportunity on this occasion to take the self-guided tour inside the ancient cathedral there.Â

Sunday night after church, we headed to Rynek to eat - and eating is much more of a relaxed event than simply a feeding. You're expected to lounge and visit for extended times during meals here. Sebastian and Erin Vazquez joined us for the first time, and it was refreshing to catch up with them. They had been in Greece this past week and only returned to Krakow on Saturday night.

The gals hung out with members of the basketball and baseball teams, and then beat Tracy, Lou and me back to the hostel. Carolyn had gone back to the castle with the Massengales to take their family photos. She also was at the hostel.

When we got there, the girls immaturely decided to dump water on us from the top floor balcony. It was only my amazing reflexes that prevented me from getting a dousing since I went first. I don't know what I heard first - water hitting the sidewalk all around me or cackling from on high.

We spent the rest of the evening as we have almost every night since our arrival - visiting, laughing and enjoying our God-given and blessed time here in Poland. Again, thank you sincerely to all those who made this trip possible with your generosity. Our Lord really is doing big things through the talents and witness of our tea

Sunday night in many ways was a fulfilling completion to our trip to Krakow, Poland. As we were preparing to worship at Compass International Christian Fellowship with our hosts and their families, it delighted us to see several members of the girls basketball and guys baseball teams in attendance. This was their first time in a non-Catholic worship service as far as we know.

As the service began, it was in English, and so we were able to sing with full and grateful hearts contemporary songs of worship to our King. Kayla was asked to share her faith story, and though she did so with an interpreter for those present who needed Polish, it was a dynamic and powerful account of how Christ has worked in her life.

I had the opportunity to preach. It was my second time to do so - my first being last October in Poland. I preached from Luke 18 about Zacchaeus' encounter with Jesus.

• It doesn't matter what you've done.

• It doesn't matter where you are.

• It doesn't matter what you have.

• It doesn't matter who you are.

• What matters is seeing Christ clearly.

The opposite of those first four is also true. (It doesn't matter what you haven't done.) The Lord enabled me to preach as simply as I could about the love of God in Christ, and I urged those present to get above the crowd in their life and get a clear view of Jesus. The wonderful thing about Zacchaeus' attempt to see Jesus is that Jesus saw Him. Just like He does all of us when we turn our eyes upon Him.

That morning we were blessed to attend the First Baptist Church here in Krakow. Though it was a Polish service, two young girls in the church came to sit next to us to interpret and give us the gist of what was being said. As the preacher taught about the family of God, it was appropriate and encouraging for us to realize that these people - thousands of miles away from our Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana homes - were also our family in Christ.

After a great meal at Pizza Hut, we went back to Wawel Castle where the team had the opportunity on this occasion to take the self-guided tour inside the ancient cathedral there.

Sunday night after church, we headed to Rynek to eat - and eating is much more of a relaxed event than simply a feeding. You're expected to lounge and visit for extended times during meals here. Sebastian and Erin Vazquez joined us for the first time, and it was refreshing to catch up with them. They had been in Greece this past week and only returned to Krakow on Saturday night.

The gals hung out with members of the basketball and baseball teams, and then beat Tracy, Lou and me back to the hostel. Carolyn had gone back to the castle with the Massengales to take their family photos. She also was at the hostel.

When we got there, the girls immaturely decided to dump water on us from the top floor balcony. It was only my amazing reflexes that prevented me from getting a dousing since I went first. I don't know what I heard first - water hitting the sidewalk all around me or cackling from on high.

We spent the rest of the evening as we have almost every night since our arrival - visiting, laughing and enjoying our God-given and blessed time here in Poland. Again, thank you sincerely to all those who made this trip possible with your generosity. Our Lord really is doing big things through the talents and witness of our team.