11 Maj, 2013 – Bielsk Podlaski

Today we traveled from Białystok to a church in Belsk Podlaski - about 90 minutes south of Białystok - where we assembled 8 Ikea tables and 32 Ikea chairs that were purchased for the church with some of the funds that we raised for our trip.  The tables and chairs will be used for a fellowship hall that was built in an attic space above the church.  After we got done, we were treated to coffee, tea, and fresh punchki, a traditional Polish doughnut, usually filled with a small amount of jam and covered with melted sugar, powdered sugar, or chocolate.  We then arranged the tables and covered them with hundreds of articles of clothing that had been collected by the medical university students to give to those in need.  Afterwards, several families came by and went through the clothing, taking what they could use.  On a dare, Dr. E. tried to slip on a pair of four inch stilettos – let’s just say that his feet and legs were not meant for walking in high heels.

When we were done at the church, we went to the home of the pastor, where we were treated to an incredible spread of salads, sausages, chicken wings, slabs of thick bacon, and at least four different desserts.  So… we are not wasting away while we are here.  Jasmine and Tom played soccer with one of the pastor’s daughters, and  a bit later Jasmine, Hope, Tom, Ezra, and Dr. E. got out our American football and tried to teach a few of our new friends how to throw the ball – rumor has it that there were even a few field tackles and interceptions.  Rachel checked out the rabbit and hamster with another daughter of the pastor.  Ezra managed to slice two of his fingers with his Swiss army knife while trying to cut sausage – the first aid kit and a few Band-Aids took care of that.  Hannah enjoyed using power tools to put together chairs at the church.  Erin took charge of a video project for Don, filming Ashley and Rachel interviewing some of our new friends about how Don and Betty’s work impacts their lives.  Skylar talked about youth ministry with Basha, the pastor’s wife.  Dr. Harris had a long conversation with the former pastor of the church, whose father was the first person in the village to start attending the church in the 1920s.  And – proving just how small the world is – Ashley discovered that her home church helps to support the church that we were working at today.

It is now a bit after 8:30 p.m.  Don and Dr. Harris just returned from doing some shopping, the students are watching a historical movie about Poland, Jasmine is organizing our laundry (THANK YOU!), and Dr. E. is catching you all up to date via the blog.  Tomorrow we will return to the church, where we will have the primary responsibility for the service.  While we are singing, praying, and worshiping here, we will be mindful that many of our friends and family will follow suit several hours later, singing and praying to the same God, perhaps divided by language, but united in Christ.  Pokój niech będzie z tobą – peace be with you.