Polska

On Sunday I'm flying to Wroclaw in south-west Poland for nearly four weeks. I'm going to be a native English-speaking teacher on three summer camps for children from the city. This will be the third time I've been, which gives me more of an idea of what to expect... not entirely a good thing! We'll be staying in a hotel/hostel in the Carpathian mountains near the Czech border (here, in fact).

See the camp website here or my pictures from 2004 and 2005 or the blog I wrote last year.


The village we stayed in in 2004. L-R Sandy, Erin, Jess, me, Lucy

Every day will consist of mostly the same things: 90 minutes of English teaching in the morning, then sports, then lunch, then another 45 minute English lesson, a Bible story/study, more sports, supper and then some evening activities. On some days we'll go out for half-day or full-day excursions in the mountains, which will be a nice break for us :)

If you're a Christian, would you please pray for me? I'll be going as part of a team of 7 foreigners, plus Rebecca our co-ordinator, who works at the Arka school in Wroclaw full-time.

Please pray:

• for safety in travelling for us and for the kids to and from camp every week, and in the activities while we're there (last year I broke my collarbone! I've spent enough time in a Polish hospital for the time being);
• for inspiration and wisdom as we try and teach good lessons and help the kids improve their English (this is the major attraction for parents, and they'll only send their kids back if we do a reasonable job!);
• that we can build up relationships with the kids and other Polish staff-members (some of whom aren't Christians). As we get to know them in a short period of time pray that we'll make the time count;
• for Rebecca, who works her socks off organising us and everyone else
• for the Polish leaders, especially those leading the spiritual times. Pray that they will preach the Gospel faithfully;
• that some of the kids (and maybe the adults!) will become believers (they're all "Christians" already in Poland, of course...);
• for good weather

I think that's it for the moment! I'll have infrequent internet access while I'm over there, so I will try and update this blog every week or so.

All that remains, then, is to pack and cheer on England tomorrow! Serve your King...

PS: if you're feeling posty, then you could send me some post while I'm there! Cheers.

Ośrodek Wczasowy
Pinokio
Marianówka 3
57-512 Idzików
Poland

Great CD

I recently received a CD that I'd ordered from the States called "Songs for the Cross-centered Life" produced by Sovereign Grace Music, and I'd like to plug it enormously. It's a selection of music based on CJ Mahaney's book "The Cross-centered Life". Of the 15 tracks on it, I'd only heard of one (Before the Throne) before I went to Canada. Attending a Sovereign Grace church does broaden one's horizons though, so I wanted some Bible-centred music to add to my collection. Of all the songs on the CD, I like "I will Glory in my Redeemer" and "I come by the Blood" the most.

"I will glory in my redeemer
My life he bought, my love he owns
I have no longings for another,
I'm satisfied in him alone..."

"I come by the blood,
I come by the cross,
Where your mercy flows from hands pierced for me
My every hope rests on what Christ has done..."

My only caveat to this recommendation is the music itself - I find it a little wishy-washy (the same could not be said of the lyrics!) but hey, nothing wrong with a little variety in music. Buy it!

PS: the picture has nothing to do with the post. I just thought I'd make it look pretty - it's Strasbourg, in France.

Leather on Willow

The Motherland

Following a certain tall person's assertion that the Stanley Cup (that's an ice hockey competition to the rest of us) is the pinnacle of sporting competitions, I feel that a little education goes a long way. Here we go, then (courtesy of Flickr):

















It's Pimms o clock!

Italian, Job

Milan

Long time, no update. I've just returned from a few days in northern Italy (as you do!) with the lads from CU where we visited Bergamo, Milan, Como and its namesake lake (pictured here). It was a nice trip, although the pressure to go ultra-low-budget and sleep outside wasn't really to my taste!
Now that I'm back I'm in job-hunting mode. The summer is shaping up as follows:

June (what remains): preparations for Poland, find a job, finalise dissertation proposal
July: native speaker on summer camps in Poland
August: paid and/or dissertation work (I saw an ad for a £12/hr job today! That would be sweet)
September: conferences, fieldtrips, assorted paid and unpaid work

Of course, before we get to all that the World Cup is dominating my schedule. Poland lost tonight :( but England are playing tomorrow against Trinidad & Tobago. Come on England!

Oh yes, one more thing. Welcome home Andrew and Josh!