Break time !!!!

We have finally hit our break for language learning.  I'm thankful that we live in a country that celebrates Christmas.  Although most of the Polish Christmas traditions revolve around family (which is not a bad thing), our prayer is that more hearts would be drawn toward being a part of the Kingdom family.  We know this only comes through a greater focus on Jesus - the reason for this season celebration.

Speaking of school, I found some pics that I never posted from earlier this Fall.

Below is the picture of the opening ceremony at Jagellonian University, where Kirstin is attending the Polish for Foreigners semester course.  This school photo is proof that I was actually there and took my placement test!  (I'm in the center of the pic with the pink shirt.)

After being placed in my class level, I meet 5 days a week for about 3 hours each in this classroom below.

(Mark, Yannick, and I are always the early birds, hence their presence in this pic.)

We have 12 students in our class, from Ukraine, Belgium, Austria, Belarus, Hungary, France, and America.

 

The best part of our school is the view from our classroom window:

 

This is the Wawel Castle !!!  We study amidst amazing views and amazing history!  What perspective............

 

 

 Ok, fast forward to the winter scene...............

As celebration for the kids' last day of school before the holiday break, Arin and I left Daddy and Kaleb at home (while Daddy finished his last Polish lesson) and we went to try out her hand-me-down ice skates !!! 

 

Then Albert and Kaleb joined us for a night in the city center (the Rynek) where we enjoyed the annual Christmas market and all the goodies you find there:

the grill

the candy

Polish pottery

wooden trinkets

Oh, Kaleb found the gummies !!!!

chocolate covered fruit

On our way home, Kaleb and Arin took another spin on the ice.

 

 

We miss all of you, our friends and family, celebrating the birth of our Savior.  But we are celebrating right along with you............loud and clear from Krakow !!!

Wesołych Swiąt = Merry Christmas

 

If you missed our Christmas Greetings sent by email, please write me and let me know -- I'll get you on the list: thehesskews@gmail.com

 

Blessings from Krakow, Poland !!!

November full of blessings !!!!

 

November was full and busy as usual, but with a few specific blessings worth documenting !!!

 

OUR FIRST SNOW !!!!

having fun on the balcony !!! 

our first snowman at our new home !!! 

DADDY'S BIRTHDAY !!!!

 Jasper's part of the family this month -- (dog sitting for our friends)

 

THANKSGIVING 2012

We all had school today (Polish), including taking midterm exams..........but we still managed to get a turkey in the crock pot and a pumpkin pie made to properly celebrate giving thanks to our Lord !!  We miss being with our family on holidays like these, but thankful for the heritage of our home country that reminds us to be thankful for all things..........even the poor timing of midterm exams!!!

 

After the school week was over, we had time to breathe and continue our annual tradition of introducing our Polish athletes to this tradition called American Thanksgiving.   We invited several new faces this year, treated them to our favorite dishes, and had the opportunity to share our faith.

 

 the spread

 the gang

 Piotr is a ham for the camera with his turkey leg!!!

 ready for dessert!!!!

Finally, the tradition of football watching together!!!!  They had this part down pat !!!

 

 

 

I wanted to introduce you to Patrycja.....................our new sister in Christ.  Below are some pictures from her daughter's birthday party.  Zuzia and Arin were in the same preschool class for two years.

 

Zuzia and Arin

 

face painting

 

festive table and the b-day girl.

(Patrycja is in the background !!)

 

candle blowing time !!!

 

Close to the beginning of every school year, there is a special ceremony just for the 1st graders........it is called "Pasowanie".  Since academic learning begins officially in 1st grade for Poles, this marks the "passing over" into "real school" for these students.  Well, Arin is finally in that group this year!!! 

As part of their special cermony, each 1st grader got to introduce themselves in the microphone!!  (Arin had her little speech memorized two weeks early.) 

 

proudly proclaiming that God gave her blue eyes and blonde hair

 

As part of the pasowanie celebrations, Kaleb got chosen to be part of a 3-man skit!

(Kaleb is on the far right)

Here's the 1st Grade:

The 3rd Grade



Look What God is Doing !!!!!

We have some exciting updates for you in regards to what God is doing on Polish soil !!!  He is at work, and we are so thankful to be here !!! We are celebrating a brand new sister in Christ, Patrycja, and two baptisms proclaiming Jesus as Lord !! 

When Kirstin began a mom's group 2 years ago, the vision was to build up believers and reach out in evangelistic efforts to our neighbors.  Patrycja had been on our radar as a seeker since the beginning, but something always kept her from making it to our meetings.  That all changed 4 weeks ago !!!  She came, opened up her heart to us, shared her brokenness, and we prayed over her.  At the conclusion of that sweet prayer time, Kirstin watched from her knees as another Polish believer, Kasia, asked Patrycja if she wanted to ask the Life-changer into her life as her Savior.  Through tears, Patrycja said YES, and in that little Polish living room, we witnessed the sweetness of new birth.  We were sitting on holy ground on that perfectly divine afternoon.

Do you remember Justyna?

She's the young lady that Kirstin met through an ESL ministry, and was able to have some great spiritual conversations with her a year ago when they spent 4 days at Justyna's family home.  3 weeks ago, we had the opportunity to celebrate her public profession of Jesus Christ as Lord through baptism!!

Today, we had the chance to celebrate another baptism.......................Kaleb's friend, Kuba !! 

 

 Kuba's mom is a relatively new believer, but you can see the fruit of this family's devotion to Jesus as their son asked to proclaim Jesus as his Savior through baptism.  Kuba is one of Kaleb's classmates in school....................you've seen him before here on our blog as our sleepover buddy.

 

The spiritual soil of Europe is tough ground, but we see glimpses of the mighty arm of the Lord making waves and sinking deep into the lives of Poles.  And these are just the lives that we have been privileged to cross paths with in this season of life.  Can you imagine all that He's doing that we can't see ?!?!?!  Are you looking for the same where you are?