I can give an update only on my own travels, as I had the earliest flight out of Krakow this morning. I arrived safely in Kiev and tomorrow will continue on to Kharkiv, in the northeastern corner of Ukraine. This is a "scouting trip" for a possible VISION ministry in the near future, at the invitation of the Slavic Christian Mission director Ron Putnam.
I saw on Facebook that Val White made it safely to her family in Turkey. The other team members are on their way to San Diego and other destinations.
So...
Hey VISION members! Add your comments to this post, telling us how it all went. I'm praying for you all!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
VISION Team Flight Information for June 2
VISION XVII had a memorable "farewell dinner" tonight in a Krakow restaurant that can trace its history back to the 900s. We shared testimonies of God's blessing, as well as appreciation to each other. Then we had the privilege of attending a recital of Chopin piano music here in the land where he was born.
After one last Magnum stop, we returned to our hotel, where team members continued the traditions of revealing who their secret prayer pals were, and singing humorous and warm-hearted spoof songs for each other, based on the funny things that happened during the trip. (The boys sing for the girls and vice versa.)
Some of us had to say goodbye to each other tonight, due to the wide range of flight departure times on Tuesday.
For family members or other interested friends:
We have five different itineraries for our departure from Poland. The following reflect only the flights that occur on Tuesday, June 2 that were booked by Eva at European Travel. Various team members will return to San Diego on later dates after other travels.
These are listed in order of departure from Krakow.
Mr. Wilson:
Dep KRK 6:00a (LO3910) Arr WAW 6:50a
Dep WAW 11:05a (LO751) Arr KBP 1:35p (Kiev)
Valerie White:
Dep KRK 8:35a (LH3331) Arr MUC 10:00a (Munich)
Dep MUC 11:25a (LH3352) Arr IST 2:55p (Istanbul)
Main Group:
(Amanda Graham, Daniel Ciccarelli, Amy Lambert, Lindsey Davies, Teagan Wellnitz)
Dep KRK 10:55a (LH3307) Arr FRA 12:40p (Frankfurt)
Dep FRA 2:15p (LH450) Arr LAX 5:20p
Dep LAX 8:02p (UA6288) Arr SAN 8:54p
Sasha Young:
Dep KRK 10:55a (LH3307) Arr FRA 12:40p (same as main group)
Dep FRA 5:00p (LH404) Arr JFK 7:35p
Caleb Weeks, Colin McDonald, Luke Valenti:
Dep KRK 11:30a (BA2775) Arr LGW 1:00p (London Gatwick)
Dep LGW 3:45p (BA2648) Arr TIA 7:45p (Tirana, Albania)
More photos and information will continue to be posted over the coming days, as time and internet access permit, so keep checking back!
Thanks again to all who have supported this year's team in either prayer or finances (or both!). May God richly bless you for having a part in this ministry.
Larry Wilson
After one last Magnum stop, we returned to our hotel, where team members continued the traditions of revealing who their secret prayer pals were, and singing humorous and warm-hearted spoof songs for each other, based on the funny things that happened during the trip. (The boys sing for the girls and vice versa.)
Some of us had to say goodbye to each other tonight, due to the wide range of flight departure times on Tuesday.
For family members or other interested friends:
We have five different itineraries for our departure from Poland. The following reflect only the flights that occur on Tuesday, June 2 that were booked by Eva at European Travel. Various team members will return to San Diego on later dates after other travels.
These are listed in order of departure from Krakow.
Mr. Wilson:
Dep KRK 6:00a (LO3910) Arr WAW 6:50a
Dep WAW 11:05a (LO751) Arr KBP 1:35p (Kiev)
Valerie White:
Dep KRK 8:35a (LH3331) Arr MUC 10:00a (Munich)
Dep MUC 11:25a (LH3352) Arr IST 2:55p (Istanbul)
Main Group:
(Amanda Graham, Daniel Ciccarelli, Amy Lambert, Lindsey Davies, Teagan Wellnitz)
Dep KRK 10:55a (LH3307) Arr FRA 12:40p (Frankfurt)
Dep FRA 2:15p (LH450) Arr LAX 5:20p
Dep LAX 8:02p (UA6288) Arr SAN 8:54p
Sasha Young:
Dep KRK 10:55a (LH3307) Arr FRA 12:40p (same as main group)
Dep FRA 5:00p (LH404) Arr JFK 7:35p
Caleb Weeks, Colin McDonald, Luke Valenti:
Dep KRK 11:30a (BA2775) Arr LGW 1:00p (London Gatwick)
Dep LGW 3:45p (BA2648) Arr TIA 7:45p (Tirana, Albania)
More photos and information will continue to be posted over the coming days, as time and internet access permit, so keep checking back!
Thanks again to all who have supported this year's team in either prayer or finances (or both!). May God richly bless you for having a part in this ministry.
Larry Wilson
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Update Sunday, May 31
The VISION XVII team has now completed its public ministry, with a well-received program in Jaworzno, near Krakow.
We are now in Krakow, enjoying a clear but chilly afternoon and evening in the central market square of this beautiful city. (It managed to escape the destruction of WWII that leveled Warsaw and so many other Polish cities.)
Several team members are with me in an internet cafe, so you'll probably be hearing from them!
The concert this morning ended with the congregation and VISION joining in "Amazing Grace," sung in both Polish and English at once. How beautiful that was, and how much more so will it be when we are all united around God's throne lifting up His name with one voice and language!
The team will tour some more in Krakow tomorrow (Monday), then fly out to various places on Tuesday! We will try to post the flight information here on the blog, in case any family member is unclear. I'm sure the team members would be happy to see ANY welcomers when they land in San Diego after their long flights!
Thanks for praying, and please keep doing so!!!
Larry Wilson
Saturday, May 30, 2009
VISION Update Saturday, May 30
10 pm in Poland (1 pm in California)
We have only one more concert here in Jaworzno on Sunday morning, then our ministry is over (at least the public part of it). It's hard to believe we are so close to the end!
The team's health is good, with only a couple (Luke and Sarah) having some leftover nagging coughs. We are very united and have enjoyed each other's partnership in the ministry.
I put up some information on Thursday's adventures, but Friday and today will have to wait. (We went to Auschwitz today...). I'll try to arrange internet connection again as soon as possible.
Don't stop praying! Thanks so much!
Larry Wilson
VISION Faculty Adviser
We have only one more concert here in Jaworzno on Sunday morning, then our ministry is over (at least the public part of it). It's hard to believe we are so close to the end!
The team's health is good, with only a couple (Luke and Sarah) having some leftover nagging coughs. We are very united and have enjoyed each other's partnership in the ministry.
I put up some information on Thursday's adventures, but Friday and today will have to wait. (We went to Auschwitz today...). I'll try to arrange internet connection again as soon as possible.
Don't stop praying! Thanks so much!
Larry Wilson
VISION Faculty Adviser
Thursday, May 28 Summary
After the Wednesday night program in the University of Opole, we started Thursday morning with a short tour of the old town district of the city, including climbing 128 steps to the top of a medieval tower overlooking the city.
We then drove on to Jastrzębie (yahs-CHEM-byeh), where VISION X had had the privilege of helping dedicate a church building converted from a barn out in the countryside back in 2002. This time, however, we weren't there to do a concert, but rather to move in for the next two nights in the new dormitory area of a huge add-on, built since that year, that includes a beautiful, large sanctuary.
Our evening concert was in a church in a town called Palowice, on a very rainy and windy night.
Afterwards, we learned that the man who had announced us wasn't the senior pastor. The pastor had had an accident with some kind of tool shortly before concert time, and had gone to the hospital. He was told that he was fortunate not to have lost an eye. As it was, they spent a couple of hours pulling fragments of metal from his eye.
By the time our program was over, the pastor was out and ready to go home. Our host, Jan Tomczyk, arranged to meet him and his wife outside a restaurant along the highway, where we sang a couple of songs for him (since they missed the program). They were both very gracious and appreciative.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Thursday, 6:00 am in Poland
(Wed. 9:00 pm in California)
It's hard to sleep in when you're on the east end of the European time zone this time of year. It starts getting light by 3:30 am, and the official sunrise for this part of Poland is 4:35 am. Since it's a beautiful clear morning and my room is on the east side of a high rise apartment here in Opole, Poland...well, you get the idea.
By being up early, I've have some time to write for the blog and prepare some photos...
Wednesday was another long travel day, as we continued to work our way south. We left Nowy Tomysl after a wonderful breakfast in the church, and proceed south to the next town where the vans made another visit to a Christian mechanic.
Pastor Jan had taken the white van to him Tuesday night after our concert, and they worked on it until after midnight. Then we all stopped there Wednesday morning so he could do some work on the yellow van. (So where's the red van, you might ask? We swapped it out in Piła when Jan rejoined us.)
For all the hours of work, including late into the night, the mechanic charged us only 50 zloty, which is about $17. The least we could do was sing him a song, which he seemed to appreciate greatly. I regret not getting his name, but we trust the Lord will bless him richly for his generosity.
Other than that, the vans caused us no delays as we drove south (at rush hour) through the bustling city of Wrocław (VROHTS-wahf) and on to the almost-as-bustling Opole (oh-POH-leh), (50° 40' North, 17° 56' East) where we presented a program in a modern lecture hall in the Uniweristet Opolski (University of Opole).
The program was sponsored by two small but active local evangelical churches as a community outreach. In addition to our posters, they had made small flyers which were handed out all over town. I was told that there were many in the audience of over 100 that belonged to neither church, and they got a good dose of the gospel, not only from our songs and dramas, but from testimonies by Amy and Luke who pulled no punches.
After the program, Colin and Caleb got into an extended and deep conversation with a university-age young man who is clearly seeking. He said that he related strongly with our dramas that depict the struggles of sin and the release that can only be found in Jesus Christ. The team separated to various homes immediately after, so I'll need to get more information about the conversation later this morning. In any case, the pastor with whom Jan and I are staying intends to follow up with the young man. Please pray for him.
One last note about the concert: I believe it was Sasha who pointed out that, as we joined hands just before the concert to ask the Lord's blessing on it, no one interrupted the prayer with a cough, a sneeze, or a nose-blowing! Praise the Lord for renewed health! We don't take that for granted!
Wait! Here's another note: We had a nice reunion with a young lady named Dorota, who became a close friend with both VISION X and VISION XI, even translating for us in some school programs. She is now married to Mateusz and lives in Wroclaw. The two of them came to our concert in Opole.
Members of VISION X (2002) pose with Dorota and her husband Mateusz
Today we continue south and east to Jastrzębie (yahs-CHEM-byeh). VISION X'ers will remember the white barn out in the country that was remodeled into a church. We got to participate in its dedication service back in 2002.
Thanks again to all who are praying with us!
It's hard to sleep in when you're on the east end of the European time zone this time of year. It starts getting light by 3:30 am, and the official sunrise for this part of Poland is 4:35 am. Since it's a beautiful clear morning and my room is on the east side of a high rise apartment here in Opole, Poland...well, you get the idea.
By being up early, I've have some time to write for the blog and prepare some photos...
Wednesday was another long travel day, as we continued to work our way south. We left Nowy Tomysl after a wonderful breakfast in the church, and proceed south to the next town where the vans made another visit to a Christian mechanic.
Pastor Jan had taken the white van to him Tuesday night after our concert, and they worked on it until after midnight. Then we all stopped there Wednesday morning so he could do some work on the yellow van. (So where's the red van, you might ask? We swapped it out in Piła when Jan rejoined us.)
For all the hours of work, including late into the night, the mechanic charged us only 50 zloty, which is about $17. The least we could do was sing him a song, which he seemed to appreciate greatly. I regret not getting his name, but we trust the Lord will bless him richly for his generosity.
Other than that, the vans caused us no delays as we drove south (at rush hour) through the bustling city of Wrocław (VROHTS-wahf) and on to the almost-as-bustling Opole (oh-POH-leh), (50° 40' North, 17° 56' East) where we presented a program in a modern lecture hall in the Uniweristet Opolski (University of Opole).
The program was sponsored by two small but active local evangelical churches as a community outreach. In addition to our posters, they had made small flyers which were handed out all over town. I was told that there were many in the audience of over 100 that belonged to neither church, and they got a good dose of the gospel, not only from our songs and dramas, but from testimonies by Amy and Luke who pulled no punches.
After the program, Colin and Caleb got into an extended and deep conversation with a university-age young man who is clearly seeking. He said that he related strongly with our dramas that depict the struggles of sin and the release that can only be found in Jesus Christ. The team separated to various homes immediately after, so I'll need to get more information about the conversation later this morning. In any case, the pastor with whom Jan and I are staying intends to follow up with the young man. Please pray for him.
One last note about the concert: I believe it was Sasha who pointed out that, as we joined hands just before the concert to ask the Lord's blessing on it, no one interrupted the prayer with a cough, a sneeze, or a nose-blowing! Praise the Lord for renewed health! We don't take that for granted!
Wait! Here's another note: We had a nice reunion with a young lady named Dorota, who became a close friend with both VISION X and VISION XI, even translating for us in some school programs. She is now married to Mateusz and lives in Wroclaw. The two of them came to our concert in Opole.
Members of VISION X (2002) pose with Dorota and her husband Mateusz
Today we continue south and east to Jastrzębie (yahs-CHEM-byeh). VISION X'ers will remember the white barn out in the country that was remodeled into a church. We got to participate in its dedication service back in 2002.
Thanks again to all who are praying with us!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Tuesday 9:30pm in Poland, 12:30 pm in California:
Today was mostly a travel day between Szczecinek and Nowy Tomysl. It was prolonged by van trouble, but when it happened (again), we were in a good place, just before noon. We were visiting a pastor and his wife in their home/church building in Piła, where Jan was to meet us (and did). In this church, VISION X actually did a concert back in 2002. So, while the van was being tended to, we all went to, guess where...McDonald's. Although we have no complaints about the Polish food, it was nice to have a little taste of home...especially the "frytki" (French fries)!
Colin McDonald welcomes us to "his place."
Because of the delay, we were behind for the rest of the trip to Nowy Tomysl, and arrived at the church 5 minutes before concert time. We did a quick change and set-up and started only 20 minutes late. The program went well, and afterwards the people quickly rearranged the room from church rows to fellowship hall, and we all partook of a wonderful Polish supper, featuring, of course, kielbasa (the real kind!).
VISION XVII revisits Nowy Tomysl, where VISION X stood seven years ago.
As in 2002, the students are staying in the church, girls upstairs, boys downstairs. Jan and I are housed in a nearby host home, and, thankfully, I have internet access again, so you can get this update!
The health of the team is much improved, and we look forward to our continued journey southward over the coming days. Thanks for your prayers! Don't stop!
Larry Wilson
VISION Faculty Adviser
lwilson@sdcc.edu
Tuesday 8:30am in Poland, 11:30 pm (Monday) in California:
We're packing up to leave Szczecinek. We'll re-unite with Pastor Jan Tomczyk in Piła then continue to Nowy Tomysl for a program (in a church VISION X will remember when we post pictures). After spending a night in homes there, we'll continue south and east toward the area around Katowice and Krakow.
Carolyn and Craig Rucin, Katie's co-workers in Szczecinek, helped host us in that city.
It's hard to believe that we're entering the last week of our trip. A week from right now, we'll be at the airport! Don't stop praying!
Monday 8 pm in Poland, 11 am in California:
After a 90-minute trip westward, we presented a public high school concert in Drawsko Pomorskie, and were enthusiastically received by students and administrators alike. As we left, however, the yellow van wouldn't start. The Lord was with us, however, and after some delay, we got a temporary repair and were able to proceed. We are now back in Szczecinek, in Katie Yates' home church for our last night of lodging before beginning to migrate southward.
Lindsey visits with high school girls after program.
Luke gets acquainted with some of the guys.
Teagan and others had opportunity to witness to some of the advanced English students in a reception held for us after the concert.
The students didn't want us to leave, so Colin and Caleb broke out some fiddlin' music for them in the parking lot.
Even the school principal got involved helping his students push our van to the nearby mechanic's shop.
The Sunday evening concert at a local cultural hall, which had the goal of bringing together four churches that haven't been able to cooperate well in the past went quite well, and there is talk of the pastors setting up a follow-up meeting. Any contribution VISION was able to make is a blessing!
The members with colds are getting better, and I don't think we have any new victims, thankfully! We'll fill in details of this and recent days as opportunity permits. Thanks to all who are supporting us in prayer! (See details and photos for last Friday just posted!)
Colin McDonald welcomes us to "his place."
Because of the delay, we were behind for the rest of the trip to Nowy Tomysl, and arrived at the church 5 minutes before concert time. We did a quick change and set-up and started only 20 minutes late. The program went well, and afterwards the people quickly rearranged the room from church rows to fellowship hall, and we all partook of a wonderful Polish supper, featuring, of course, kielbasa (the real kind!).
VISION XVII revisits Nowy Tomysl, where VISION X stood seven years ago.
As in 2002, the students are staying in the church, girls upstairs, boys downstairs. Jan and I are housed in a nearby host home, and, thankfully, I have internet access again, so you can get this update!
The health of the team is much improved, and we look forward to our continued journey southward over the coming days. Thanks for your prayers! Don't stop!
Larry Wilson
VISION Faculty Adviser
lwilson@sdcc.edu
Tuesday 8:30am in Poland, 11:30 pm (Monday) in California:
We're packing up to leave Szczecinek. We'll re-unite with Pastor Jan Tomczyk in Piła then continue to Nowy Tomysl for a program (in a church VISION X will remember when we post pictures). After spending a night in homes there, we'll continue south and east toward the area around Katowice and Krakow.
Carolyn and Craig Rucin, Katie's co-workers in Szczecinek, helped host us in that city.
It's hard to believe that we're entering the last week of our trip. A week from right now, we'll be at the airport! Don't stop praying!
Monday 8 pm in Poland, 11 am in California:
After a 90-minute trip westward, we presented a public high school concert in Drawsko Pomorskie, and were enthusiastically received by students and administrators alike. As we left, however, the yellow van wouldn't start. The Lord was with us, however, and after some delay, we got a temporary repair and were able to proceed. We are now back in Szczecinek, in Katie Yates' home church for our last night of lodging before beginning to migrate southward.
Lindsey visits with high school girls after program.
Luke gets acquainted with some of the guys.
Teagan and others had opportunity to witness to some of the advanced English students in a reception held for us after the concert.
The students didn't want us to leave, so Colin and Caleb broke out some fiddlin' music for them in the parking lot.
Even the school principal got involved helping his students push our van to the nearby mechanic's shop.
The Sunday evening concert at a local cultural hall, which had the goal of bringing together four churches that haven't been able to cooperate well in the past went quite well, and there is talk of the pastors setting up a follow-up meeting. Any contribution VISION was able to make is a blessing!
The members with colds are getting better, and I don't think we have any new victims, thankfully! We'll fill in details of this and recent days as opportunity permits. Thanks to all who are supporting us in prayer! (See details and photos for last Friday just posted!)
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