Birthday Parties Galore !!!

In the past month, the kids have been to 3 birthday parties for Polish friends..............all at the same playplace !! I thought it would fun for you to see how well our kids blend with Polish kids.........they are not all that different.......until they open their mouths (ha ha). Although, their Polish accent is getting so good..........sometimes they blend in VERY well even in speech!!!

Actually, I have been accusing Kaleb of turning to the 'dark side' !!!

Let me explain..... In Polish, the word for 'yes' is 'tak'. The word for 'yea' (informal yes -- how do you spell that?) is 'Na'. 'Na' sounds very similar to 'no'. This has always been very difficult for me as an English speaker..........you just can't use 'no' when you mean 'yes'. It doesn't compute !!!! Well, as I was picking up Kaleb from school the other day, his friend asked him in Polish if it was time for him to go home............and Kaleb responded "Na, tak jest. Pa pa!"="yea, it is...bye!" I COULDN'T believe my little American boy had intentionally used a word that sounds like "no" for "yes"!!! He's becoming more Polish as the days go by !!!

I also want to share a God story with you...........in light of these b-day party pictures. For us, these pictures represent some of the 'family ministry' that God has brought to the Hesskews as a result of our kids. Although we are technically here doing sports ministry, God has shown us that He has plans for us to also invest in Polish families.............afterall, our kids are missionaries too. One of the boys in Kaleb's class, Kuba, has needed prayers lately. His home life is a little difficult right now b/c his mom is pregnant with another man's baby (her boss, not Kuba's dad). Unfortunately, Kuba has overheard some conversations at home about this baby and his Mom's desire to divorce his Dad. Szymon's mom (from the b-day pic above) and I have been praying for this family......and for Kuba. Szymon's mom is a believer, but needs to grow in her faith. She has been very burdened for this family......and has been searching for ways to get them help like counseling, new jobs, etc. Last week, Symon's mom and I had a good talk about the power of prayer......and how our prayers for them could be even more effective than finding a good counselor or better jobs for this couple. Well, 2 days later, she got a phone call stating that Kuba's Mom is withdrawing the divorce papers and is willing to reconcile with the Dad !!! God showed Himself VERY big to Symon's mom and I in regards to the power of prayer !!!

I love it when He gets so much glory.............simply from our willingness to get on our knees before Him in prayer !!!

Do you have anything in your life that you are trying to 'fix' right now? Maybe He's waiting to show Himself big to you.................once you bring it to Him in prayer!!

Don't wait............the blessing is TOO big to miss !!!

Krakow Baseball !!!

We had our first baseball game here in Krakow !!! Well, ok, it was really just a scrimmage, but it was a fun "first" nonetheless !!! These guys have decided to call themselves "The Krakow Kings", and they have been working hard to establish themselves as an official team in the Polish baseball league !! There are many hoops to jump through, so they are not quite there yet, but they did find another fledgling team just an hour north of Krakow -- the closest yet !!! So, they invited them to Krakow for a fun scrimmage !!! They had to creatively convert a soccer field into a baseball diamond........but they did a great job !! They asked Albert to umpire..........because no other officials know this crazy American game! He was honored.......and had a ton of fun getting to see these guys enjoy their first game on their home soil !!!

The kids and I joined the fun after church that Sunday.........here are a few shots we captured:

looking pretty official.........
well, maybe not......but it worked !!!

can you tell we are proud of our daddy?

enjoying our picnic lunch in the glorious Krakow sunshine! (thanks for the Cheetos, Nana !!!)

The Krakow Kings

Pray for European Peoples !!!!

Have you ever dreamed of a European vacation? There is much to do and see on this vast continent. Hiking in the Alps, relaxing on a Mediterranean island, and biking through a scenic river valley could all be included in your itinerary. Attending a soccer match is a must for the sports enthusiast or perhaps an afternoon of surfing or paragliding. Big cities beckon with shopping, dining, and entertainment. Quaint villages offer a slower pace and a chance to see and purchase traditional handicrafts produced in local shops. Outdoor cafés provide the opportunity to relax and converse with friends over a cup of rich, steaming coffee. Museums and ancient ruins give a glimpse into history and culture. Magnificent churches and cathedrals are the centerpiece of nearly every town and well worth a visit. Although sometimes crowded on weekdays, most of these buildings are empty on Sun. mornings. They stand as symbols of the important role that religion once played, but today few Europeans are interested in what the traditional church has to offer.

There is a desperate need for aspiritual breakthrough among Europeans and thus the European Peoples Affinity Group has set aside Oct. 17, 2010 as a Day of Prayer for European Peoples.

Will you join us in petitioning our loving Father to open the hearts of these people to the gospel? Intercede that He will overcome the various barriers that prevent Europeans from realizing that He wants to have a meaningful, personal relationship with each one of them.

Visit http://imbeurope.org for more information and a prayer guide.

Final Days of Summer

As the days have begun to get cooler, I remembered our most recent family day where we celebrated a day with GREAT weather !! It was a picture perfect day here in Krakow, so naturally, we took some pictures!!! Hope you enjoy these moments captured from a fun day in the life of the Hesskew fam:

Finished Strong !

Our visiting mission team from Oklahoma has arrived home safely! They were a great encouragement to us as a family this past week. They listened to our passions for reaching the Polish people God has placed around us. They shared visions of how our home church can possibly partner with the work here in Krakow in 2011! We look forward to seeing what God can do through us together! Here area few more snapshots of our time together: