Warsaw Revolution

Seek and Ye Shall Find

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 09:56:00 +0000

I have this friend. Recently she lost a baby. A little while ago I got to hang out with her and listen to her story. When she was in the hospital a priest came to see her. I still can't believe the words she heard.... basically he told her a 'story' of two mothers, one giving birth to John Paul II and the other to Sadam Hussein. In conclusion of this story she should be thankful for what happened because she doesn't know who she would have given birth to.

I thought about it, and realized how horribly this misrepresents who God is. I have never lost a baby so I can't tell her that I know how she feels. But I know, I KNOW God does. I shared Psalm 139 with her. I told her to read it, and find the Truth for herself. God says that if we seek we will find. I know that He can find her, I know He wants to find her. I also know that dark places are the best places for letting God find us, and for us to experience His care and forgiveness. I know I don't have to do anything else. I introduced her to Jesus, and He is attractive enough to bring her to Himself. I pray that He would 'rain down' on her and convict her of sin. I trust His word that He doesn't want anyone to perish.

Things that make you go "grrrrrrrr...."

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 07:52:00 +0000

I just spent a few weeks learning what condition this country is in. We were on roads in Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary: all countries of the former Eastern Bloc. The roads in Poland are depressing because they are virtually non-existent. Whereas in Slovakia and Hungary (and Czech, but who's counting) they have an actual highway infrastructure that works. It took us 4 hours to drive 150 km from the southern Polish border to Krakow. Then, after we came back from Hungary, I ended up in the hospital. And not just any hospital; A Learning hospital, a university hospital where the future medical establishment of this country is getting their education. The building is in horrible shape. The interiors are in horrible shape. And on the 3^rd day they ran out of medication. Oh, Tim also had to bring me fork, spoon and knife so I’d have something to eat with. Tim also had to bring me toilet paper and paper towel because the hospital doesn’t provide it (unless the inspectors are paying a visit, we are told).

Then I came home only to find out that Kaleb’s hockey club was forced to raise prices because Warsaw (the capital city of a northern nation, and has a population of 2.5 mln people) has ONLY ONE ice rink and the management of this ice rink acts like a mob, they do what they want when they want it. Oh, it’s nearly 60% price increase. I am depressed. I don’t know how to live here.

We came back from great CONNECT, our staff conference. We came home revived, we came focused and hopeful for the future. We have exciting plans to launch spiritual discussion groups in a nearby pub/restaurant and…. I need God’s mercy and God’s grace to get over this very strong desire to pack and leave this country and go live somewhere where I can give my kids the best. I need to hear from God again that indeed we are meant to live here, in Warsaw, in the country currently holds the European Presidency, BUT has decrepit infrastructure, medical system, public school system, while having no programs for kids and seems to offer very little hope for the future.

Unpacking

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 22:21:00 +0000

After three years in Poland, in Warsaw, I am actually unpacking into the will of God. We have painted the walls in our apartment. We will be reorganizing our bedroom and kids rooms. I have bought new clothes for myself for the first time in 3 years. I feel like I am ready to start the mission. And all this because God has taken me back to the days when we were fund raising and reminded me about who He is and who He is calling me/us to be. Yes, I have been intentional about my ‘work’ here in Warsaw but now, I am also relaxed about it. It was an eye opener to hear that I might have to wait for 8 or 10 years before I see ANY results of ‘my labour’. I ceased running after projects and being obsessed with doing and talking…. Being relaxed helps me walk to the beat of His heart and see people more thru His eyes. I laugh with people more, and I cry with them more. I let people inside my walls, figuratively and literally. And amazing things are happening…. Jesus one way or another is always a part of the conversation. When I am not ‘striving’ to work FOR Him it’s easier to live my life WITH Him. I am more honest in my relationship with Him, so my relationships with people are more honest. I have arrived at the place of accepting where I am .... I have accepted “the Truth” and the “Truth” has set me free.

Lucy is born!!

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:58:00 +0000

Hey all, she's finally here. Lucy Ann Constable born on March 15th at 12:25 CET. She weighed in at 3.2kg/7lbs. 9oz. and 50cm/20in. long. She is doing well, doctors are very pleased with her, and she sleeps and eats very well. Both mommy and daughter are scheduled to come home tomorrow (Wednesday). Labor was relatively short, and the actual birth was incredibly fast. Doctors were also admiring how Lucy had tied her umbilical chord into a knot while still in the womb. I am told she tried to take off sprinting when the pediatrician held her up for the "walking test". If she has the speed of her sister and the laid-back personality of her brother...
Maja and Kaleb are both eager to meet their little sister.

Two Things

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:04:00 +0000

Two is the number of the week. We have two children. Maja turns two years old tomorrow. She had her 2nd birthday (for family) yesterday and will have two friends over tomorrow for the "friends" birthday celebration. That makes two parties.
As Maja turns two, we announced earlier this week that we are expecting again and Renata is due on March 21st. She is in her second month and the new one was measured at 2cm long.
In two days we leave for our annual Staff Conference. This year it will be in Muenster, Germany. So we will only travel through two countries this year, as opposed to the 5 we did last year. And we will do the trip in two parts as Maja finds it more difficult to go for too long on the car.
That's what we've been up 2. And you?

Renata Goes To Jail

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:44:00 +0000

The first time I visited the prison I was scared. I was scared that the women would see judgment on my face, or that they would look at me and know that I was wondering what they did to be put in prison. I prayed on the way there: Jesus let me look at these women with YOUR eyes. Then I stood in the hallway, in front of the bars waiting for the guard to open a gate for me to come in and I felt huge compassion for these women. I saw faces of really messed up people, dressed poorly and very often toothless; and then I felt joy and privileged to be there. It was then that I was scared that I was going to spend my time there crying for these women instead of helping them. Well, God took care of that. The first visit was awesome. I met some very broken people. We have a Gypsy lady, we have ‘white-collar’ women, and we have homeless alcoholics coming to meet with me. I met all sorts of women, all of them from the fringes of society, all of them lost, all of them scared. Only now when I meet with them every week do I learn how difficult it is to break free from the lies and psychological baggage we carry around from our childhoods. God is mighty, and only He can break these chains. Most of the women there have husbands in prison too. Their children are in orphanages because they don’t have anyone else to take care of the kids.

Now, when I’m writing, I am realizing more and more how much compassion I feel for them. When I hear the stories from them directly I see how broken they are.

Last Saturday I went with a team from Kentucky to this prison to celebrate “Kids Day” for these women’s children and their families. The team brought gifts, they had a puppet show, and shared some of their life stories. We taught from Ephesians that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against powers and authorities….Then we played with the kids and moms and dads and we laughed, forgetting that we were surrounded by bars.

It was the first time that I saw the moms in prison meeting with their kids. Most of these kids are ages 3 – 7 and some are young teens. It took me a prayer and 15 minutes to get myself ‘together’ again.

Every time I am in this prison I realize that only by God’s grace I am not there. Every time I talk to these women I am fully aware of God’s power in my life. I remember times when I abused drugs and alcohol and hung out with wrong crowd. I remember one time sleeping on the bench because I had no place to go…. It is by God’s love and grace that I have beautiful family, that I am alive and I feel such a strong desire and want to tell these women about His beauty, His love, and how He pursues us (this is my message to them: God pursues us). Oh, how much they need to be told that God cares for ragamuffins.

We pray. We study the Bible and I even had the privilege last week to witness one of these ladies accept Jesus into her life. Something happened in her because only Holy Spirit can produce tears; she cried that day during our meeting and discussion about God’s gift of Love.

I still learn to deal with my emotions when I am there. Two weeks ago I couldn’t put two sentences together because one of the women (Danka) shared her story and her journey (she is in Alcoholics Anonymous and her two kids aged 3 and 8 are in the orphanage and her boyfriend is in prison as well). I pray that God will help me balance compassion with my ability to talk to them, to study the Word with them, to help them.

-Renata

the photos below show Renata translating some teaching and a puppet play into Polish and kids playing games with their parents for Children's Day at the prison (this was the first time the organization has ever been allowed to bring cameras into the prison)

Summer Sundays

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:27:00 +0000

There are a lot of things going on now that the warm weather is upon us. And the last two Sundays we have done a couple of things for the very first time. Last Sunday we went to the airshow and spent some time with our good friends Luke and Marisa and their son Alex. Some some really cool stuff. Looking forward to seeing more next year (we had to leave early for church and missed the MIG-29).
Yesterday though we went to a Knights' Tournament at a castle south of the city. Kaleb, of course, LOVED that. Seeing knights battle with swords and full armor, watching archers on horseback ride by only a couple of feet from us. And they had some great food. That's what I love. I'll put some photos up to our album in a bit so you can see all this stuff.

Summer is here again

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:13:00 +0000

We can't believe that it is already summer again. Not that we're disappointed. It just seems as though the last school year went by way too quickly. At times it feels as though time has slowed to a crawl. The next thing you know, you are down the road 10 months and wondering where the time went. But here we are, enjoying the warm sunshine that we have been enjoying intermittently for the last month and half or more.
Things are alway moving along here. We continue to "press buttons" and "whack the bushes". I am trying to be more intentional about meeting with some of the guys with greater regularity. It's hard to schedule time with most of them each week or even doing the same thing each time. But I am seeing what I can do and what kind of response I get.
Renata has really found some ministerial rhythm with her two newest ventures. She's in a teaching rotation at a moms group at one of the Polish churches here AND she goes to a women's prison each Friday morning. Both of these have really breathed new life into her desire to teach and work with women. It's a gift she's always felt she had, but never had a chance to use or develop it. Now she does. Very exciting.
A more detailed update is ready to go out today. So stay tuned. I'll close this catch-up post so I can get back to a regular post. (-:

Has Summer Arrived in Warsaw?

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:06:00 +0000

I figured I'd jumpstart my long-desired return to blogger today. Renata and I keep talking about it, but never get back to it.
I met a new guy in the park today. He's been in Warsaw now for about a year with his Polish wife. He seems really cool. He's an artist (painter) and was out in the park to take pictures of his art to post online. We talked for a while about where we are each from, what we're doing here, and all the cross-cultural things that people like us talk about. We exchanged numbers and I hope we get together with him and his wife soon as they live pretty close (hence the advantage to meeting people in the aforementioned park). Funny thing is he heard me talking on the phone to my friend R who was asking me if he could come to our church to have communion. His church is not having communion til next week (as Easter is so early in the month) and he's going to be out of town. He's divorced and is "not welcome" in the Catholic Church, much less partake of the Eucharist. Attending church is important to him, but hasn't yet really been introduced to Christ. He often has spiritual questions and it's fun to engage with him on those.
I am finding that people have questions, they just don't feel they have access to anyone with answers or to help them find the answers themselves.
I'm loving our playground in the park.

This is A park near us. Not our playground park where we seem to meet people all the time. This is what the park should look like in a few weeks. Beautiful day.

October in Toronto

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:21:00 +0000

We are in Toronto for the next month. We are trying to expand our support base and also spend time with family and friends. We've had some good fun so far and had chances to connect with a few people. The next 4 weeks will be more intense that way though. Two days after we arrived I went on a roadtrip with my brothers and my dad to celebrate his birthday. We spend the better part of 5 days driving around upstate New York, Vermont, and even a little bit of New Hampshire. We had a really good time on our first trip all together as adults.
So now we are busy scheduling the rest of our time here and getting things we need for the kids and ourselves (that we can't get in Poland-- or at least at a good price).

One thing I wanted to draw to people's attention just in case this would be convenient for you is a way of making financial donations to Christian Associates online via credit card. You can go to www.canadahelps.org to make a donation. The thing to keep in mind if you choose to use this method is that 3% is deducted before CAI receives the donation. Christian Associates deducts 10% for administration after that.

Back in Wa-wa

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:29:00 +0000

We have been back in Warsaw for about 3 hours now. We had a fantastic week in Sopron, Hungary for our annual Christian Associates staff conference. This was our first one since the summer of 2005, so we were very excited to get there this year. First, we had a terrific time driving down there. We stayed for one night in the mountains of southwestern Poland (to which I had never been) in a town called Ustron. While asking for directions, our family was invited to a "garden party" at a restaurant/pub. So after finding our hotel (driving halfway up a mountain) and settling in, we headed back down the mountain for some food. I sampled a bean stew called grochowka (gro-hoove-kuh). Absolutely fantastic! Renata said it was the best she ever had too. I like food.
The next day, after breakfast, we headed back down the mountain and into the Czech Republic (normally just called Czech over here. Sort of like saying "France" rather than "Republic of France"), then Slovakia, then Austria, then Hungary.
It was a really refreshing, rejuvenating, relaxing week (the three R's). It always feels great to be with people that are doing the same thing as you and are often dealing with many of the same life and ministry issues for that reason.
Greg Boyd really challenged us on the fundamentals of how we act towards the world around us and therefore how we do ministry. You can listen yourself to some of the talks we had by clicking here .
It was encouraging for us also in sharing with others what is going on in Warsaw. I told Renata that I was getting excited listening to myself talk about it all. I was thinking "wow! this is pretty cool stuff that's going on." We felt very affirmed by those we talked with.
It was a fantastic week for Kaleb in Kids Club. He was there 3 times a day on most days. A group of volunteers (mainly high school and college age) came over from Maryland to look after our kids while we were in sessions. They were terrific!! We never worried about whether he was having a good time or whether he was taken care of. We also knew that he was receiving a good dose of biblical learning. Each day had a different story and scripture they would work from (Good Samaritan, Samson, etc.).
So the week is over. We ended sessions on Friday night, packed up yesterday morning and headed for the Austrian border. We stayed in Ustron again last night and then finished the drive home this morning and afternoon. We are glad to be home although we already miss our friends. At least now our kids won't be waking up at 5:30am cuz they're sleeping in the same room. Separate rooms. Divide and conquer. maybe we can get a bit more rest now too.

Only In Europe

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:12:00 +0000

We had a good trip on Sunday to complete our journey to Hungary for our staff conference. We travelled through 5 countries in one day. Only in Europe can you do that by car. Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary. The amazing thing too is that, as of last December, all of those countries are part of the Schengen Zone--meaning that we did not go through any Customs or Passport control the entire trip down here. Much fun.
We did discover, unfortunately, that McDonalds is much most countries other than Slovakia. We passed one as we entered the country and passed another on the way out a couple hours later. Disappointing when you depend on McDonalds stops to keep the kids happy and fed while travelling. Oh well, it was a gorgeous drive anyway--with lovely low rolling mountains and a decent speed limit.

On The Road Again

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:59:00 +0000

I'm writing this from our hotel in Lower Silesia (southwestern mountainous region of Poland). We are in fact a little outside the small town of Ustron and well up on a mountain. We are on our way to our annual staff conference, called CONNECT, in Sopron, Hungary. This is our first time back at staff conference since the summer of 2005. We are very excited about seeing old friends, getting encouragement from fellow church-planters, and having a generally refreshing time.
We left our apartment at 10am today and arrived in Ustron at about 3:45pm to conclude a generally good and fun drive with the family.
When we stopped at a bar and grill to ask for directions to our hotel, we were invited back to a "garden party". So we went back after checking into our hotel, dropping our stuff off, and Renata getting her long-awaited and much-enjoyed massage. The food was terrific. I had my standard kielbasa and fries, but this time i also tried, for the first time, grochowka (gro-hoove-ka)--bean and sausage stew. Absolutely marvelous. The kids had a terrific time playing in the very large yard which included a sandbox. Maja's first time in a sandbox. We're still shaking the sand off of her.
Will keep you posted on the rest of our trip.

Grandma Prayers

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:44:00 +0000

I forgot one of the most important things about Renata's grandma getting married. She is a hardcore Catholic who thinks we are part of some sect (much of the country thinks of Protestants as a sect). For as long as I have known her (and likely much longer) she has been praying for us to return to the "true Church" and she has likely been paying the priest to conduct masses for us. So viewing us as apostate, she would never get into anything too spiritual with us. Well a week or so before her wedding, she asked Renata for us to pray that God would give her and Adam at least 5 good years and bless their marriage. Blew us away. We are excited about that. Thought you'd enjoy hearing about that.

Great Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:04:00 +0000

We had a really good time this weekend. On Friday we met with a couple of our good friends for our little guys to play together and for us to talk about the next steps in ministry here in Warsaw. It feels like we are finally making forward progress with our home ministry plans. Our friends are excited about it and together we tend to generate more ideas than on our own. All this while sitting in the beautiful sunny park and eating kielbasa (sausage for the uninitiated) and fries. What more could I ask for?
Saturday morning we were on the road by 9am to drive 100km to the town where Renata was born and where her grandma and some of the rest of the family live. The reason for our trip this time: Her 84 year-old grandma's wedding. Yes, you read that correctly. He's 3 years younger, and they have known each other for 62 years. It was a really fun time. It's hard to explain why that was so fun. But just imagine how wonderful it is for 2 people who don't have a lot of years left to live yet choose to spend it together despite being far less energetic and agile than they once were (when the met). Just a really happy time. It felt so light and free. One of the most amazing things we learned about on Saturday is there was another potential suitor who nearly fainted when he heard that Renata's grandma was getting married. Not bad for an 84 year-old woman, huh? (said suitor, impressively, did attend the wedding)
We had been wanting to have a couple of our neighbours over since we moved back in December, but something always came up and it didn't happen. This is a couple that we have known for 4 years now. So finally, we had them over for breakfast yesterday. I went downstairs to confirm with them on Saturday evening and ended up staying and talking with them for an hour or so. Had a good time talking about life (and tested my Polish pretty good). The very first time we had them over 4 years ago, I cooked bacon and pancakes and had real Canadian maple syrup (you can buy it here, but most people don't. Still a real treat for most Poles. Especially when it's homemade syrup from my mom and dad), so yesterday morning we did it again. We had a great time spending time with them and knowing them more. We started talking about the Euro2008 soccer tournament that started on Saturday and the first game for Poland against Germany last night, so as they don't have the channel that is showing the games, we invited them up to watch the game with us. So once again we got together and spent a good time together. This is building relationship in Poland. We are so excited that we have finally been able to connect with this couple and spend quality time with them. They have been on our hearts for a long time. Unfortunately Poland did not win yesterday. They did not even score a goal (unfortunate depending on whom you talk to--some Poles are glad for the outcome as the two top players on the German team are actually Polish guys that weren't recognized by the Polish Soccer association for their talent and went to play where they could develop. Both German goals came from Lukasz Podolski yesterday).
All the same, a very satisfying weekend for us.

Kaleb's first fieldtrip

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:27:00 +0000

Yesterday Kaleb and I joined the rest of his classmates and some other parents on a trip to the farm. We saw cows, horses (even a couple of foals less than 10 days old), ducks, and lots of chickens. We saw farm machinery and tools--modern and traditional, different kinds of nests and eggs (ostrich, duck, and chicken), and we cooked kielbasa on a big fire. Oh yeah, we even rode in a horse cart, on a horse itself, and chased chickens around the yard while waiting for lunch. Quite a day for 3 and 4-year old munchkins.

Kaleb and daddy riding the horse cart.

Kaleb riding a horse for the first time. (daddy walking behind holding him on AND taking the picture).

Chasing chickens.

back from Toronto

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:29:00 +0000

I"m back. from Toronto, that is. Settling in with the family again after being apart for a week. Got a lot done during my time there. Looking forward to being back there in October/November for our scheduled visit. Of course, next time we'll all travel to Toronto, instead of just me.
So now I am getting back into the swing of things with coordinating worship and arts at ICF for the next few months, developing myself artistically/spiritually/in leadership, building relationships with Christians we could maybe work with in the future, and building relationships with non-believers as we seek to be ministers.
Kaleb is supposed to go on his very first fieldtrip tomorrow with pre-school. We'll see if he goes (and daddy with him) as he was sick during the night last night and for much of today. So we'll see what tonight brings and the morning too.
Maja is a little terror. She moves so fast now, you have to watch her all the time. She actually knows her way around the house now and moves towards destinations rather than just where her curiosity guides her. She actually came and found me in the bedroom this morning. She was so pleased with herself.
Renata's busy as ever as she takes the lions' share of the time with the kids. After a week with both of them by herself, she was pretty tired. But she handled them wonderfully.
I'll leave it at that as I need to get back to cheering Pittsburgh to their imminent defeat of Philadelphia.

Family photo

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:23:00 +0000

Picture we had taken in The Hague so that people in the congregation at Peoples Church would have something to look at while they listened to Charles Price and me talk on the phone. Quick photo, but I like it.

End of April already?

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:56:00 +0000

The last couple months have gone by so quickly. My brother Ben visiting for a couple of weeks, heading of to Holland for two further weeks of training with Christian Associates. We had hoped initially to stay a little longer and spend time with friends and mentors, but by the end of the (not even) two weeks we were all just too tired and wanted to get home to rest and get back into our regular routine. We also didn't want to move all of our stuff AGAIN (moving into another place for the time we'd remain there and then out).
We had a good time there. It was Maja's first road-trip and she did really well. Only a little intolerable screaming in the car. Kaleb is a natural after having done so much travelling already in his life. Since we got home he has constantly been asking when we are going on a trip again.
It was a rather interesting trip. We got away late because my brother's flight reservation got messed up and he missed the flight. So after trying to help him deal with all that, we hit the road trying to make it to Frankfurt on Oder (5 hour drive under normal conditions) before we would have to stop. When we started it was sunny, then dark, then rainy, then snowy, then we hit construction. All of this while getting progressively more tired. The construction under normal circumstances would have been unbearable. But the kids were sleeping well, and then Renata and I both went to sleep. YES, went to sleep. We were standing still for about an hour. So that little respite helped us keep moving. We finally made it to the hotel in Frankfurt at nearly 2am. Boy did bed feel good. Otherwise the trip wasn't bad. Over the last couple of years the length of high-quality motorway has increased by at least 100% which makes the drive within Poland a lot easier.
So we are now back in the city. Following new inspiration for ministry and developing more ideas.
Highlights of the last few weeks: my brother Ben hangin with us for a little while, going something like 200metres down into the earth in the salt mines near Krakow, talking with Charles Price on the phone while 3500 people listened in, hanging out with some of our good friends in The Hague, doing my immigration interview in Polish, Maja standing up easily (not to mention charming anyone near her when we are out in public.), going out to my favorite restaurant in the city for my birthday with Renata. Oh yeah, and the Ottawa Senators going out in the first round of the playoffs.
I'll post photos later today.

I'm Legit

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:00:00 +0000

Today was immigration appointment day for us. Well, for me actually, but we all went. We were nervous going in that I might have to leave the country for a day and then come back. This was because I am within a couple days of the end of the 90 days I am allowed, as a Canadian, to stay in Poland. Things have been complicated with this a little bit now that as of December 21, 2007 Poland joined the border-free Schengen zone of Europe (no border patrols from here to the coast of Portugal). So now rather than simply hopping to Berlin and back, I would have to go to the UK or Lithuania or Russia or some other country not part of the Schengen zone. BUT, that is no longer a concern as my application for residency in the Republic of Poland has been accepted and should, barring some freak occurrence, be approved as EU law stipulates that as a spouse of an EU citizen, I must be granted residency unless I am a threat to national security. As far as I am aware, I am no such threat.
We are very thankful that we had a very nice official at the immigration office and that they accepted the application. We still have to get a couple of more things to them, but they have accepted it nonetheless and I don't have to leave the country.
I'll write more later about what's been going on with us over the last little while, but after today.

Moving Right Along

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 07:41:00 +0000

Things have been changing pretty quickly in our house here recently. In the last two weeks: I have started Polish language lessons, Kaleb has pretty much started and finished potty-training, Maja has gotten her second tooth and has started eating some solid food. I have also started learning the new technical systems at International Christian Fellowship so I can start training a tech team of ICF's own. This coming Sunday I will also lead worship for the first time at ICF in more than 2 years.
We have been reconnecting with friends, both Christian and non as we seek to develop those relationships as well as get a better feel for what is going on in this city spiritually.
Don't blink, things are moving fast.

Happy New Year!!

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 11:44:00 +0000

It is amazing to us that we are already into the New Year. What this means to us is: we have finished moving back into our apartment, we had a terrific and terrificly busy Christmas with 21 people in our apartment on Christmas day (most we've had) for more-or-less traditional North American Christmas dinner, and we have been here for nearly a month.
We didn't plan it, but Kaleb saw fireworks for the first time last night. He was woken up by people setting them off out his window. So we stood in his window watching them go up and burst a little above us (we are on the 7th floor so they don't go that much higher). He absolutely loved it--both the burst and the sound of the explosion.
Things are going well here as we ease into the Warsaw scene. Things change so rapidly here it takes a while to get caught up after a prolonged absence. We've met with some church leadership in the city and will continue to do so in the months to come as we look at what our role should be and what is next for the Church of Warsaw.
We are reconnecting with a lot of people right now that we have not seen--in most cases--for years. We are looking forward to practicing the gift of hospitality and establish meaningful relationships through which we can be Christ to others.
Pray for this city. It is growing very very quickly (1000 people a day move to the city) and there is so little in terms of Christian witness.

We wish you a happy new year and hope it will be even better than the last.

Kaleb is 3

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 22:34:00 +0000

Yesterday was Kaleb's birthday. It's hard to believe that he's been a part of our lives for that long. We had a bit of a party here with his grandma (Renata's mom) and us. He also got a new bike from his great-grandmother. It was waiting for him when he came down the stairs. He's been working hard on riding it.
We are having some of his cousins over on Saturday for a bit more of a kids' party. But I think he had a good time yesterday all the same. He doesn't get to blow out candles that much, so he really enjoyed doing that...multiple times.

Arrived

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 07:39:00 +0000

So we are all now in Warsaw safe and sound. Renata and the kids arrived early Wednesday afternoon. I left on Wednesday morning and arrived on Thursday afternoon. We are working hard to get things out of boxes and into the right place. We're making progress. It's the biggest move we've ever done.
We are enjoying being back in our own apartment as well as seeing familiar places. Today we'll be back at ICF (International Christian Fellowship) as regular attenders for the first time in 2 years. Much has changed during this time and we are eager to see how we can best serve this community. ICF is one of the churches we'll be connecting with as we look ahead and try to determine what is next in this wonderful city. I'll fill you in more later as far as what our time here is going to look like.
In the meantime, I'll eat some kielbasa for you.

Here We Go Now!!

noreply@blogger.com (Renata Constable) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 18:42:00 +0000

I am sitting with boxes all around me; some full, some empty soon to be full. The movers arrive for part two of the shipment tomorrow likely some time between 1 and 2pm. Slowly but surely we will be ready for them. We hand over the keys to our apartment on Tuesday, I start the drive to Warsaw immediately afterwards. Renata and the kids will fly on Wednesday morning after they spend the night at some friends of ours. I am hoping to be in Warsaw by the time they arrive. The movers will deliver our stuff on Wednesday afternoon and we start the process of settling back into Warsaw.
Today was our last Sunday at Crossroads. It was a good time. For me it's good to know that people valued my contribution to the community while we've been here. I must be doing something right.
There is an amazing amount of stuff ahead of us that we will start to navigate almost within hours of arriving in Warsaw. The very first thing is to renew my passport which expires on February 10. This is important for my application for a temporary residency permit. And that's just the start. I'll tell more of what we will be working on later. After we get to Warsaw.
I have to eat something now and then continue packing. Please pray for safe travels. Pray for Renata too as she will be taking the two kids on the plane by herself. It may well be a very tough 2 hours.
stay tuned...