Reflexions from Poland


Five interesting weeks in the land of Poland. Some losses and some victories and a lot of fun. I was given a room in the "convent" in Podkowa and also by the grace of my friend Joe a place in Warsaw. Near to everything and far from home. They, whoever "they" are or were promised me a very warm weather and I brought with me only "summer"
clothes. Needless to say often I was freezing, specially in Krakow, until one friendly soul loaned me his winter jacket and from then I was ok. Touching bases in Podkowa was pleasant and entertaining. Contacts with the Rector of the school and the prorectors provided me with some friendly encounters and superb food. Four sermons in 5 weeks....not bad for a stranger. I made sure that after each sermon I departed to the seclusion of friends' house. My burden for Poland was and still is the evangelism.
I am amazed that one man in TED and GC, singlehandedly can hold back the efforts of evangelism in Poland. God has provided the causes for retirement....old age...so that the "pillars of the church" will not be able to "hold up" the progress of the church too long. Pun intended!!! The sinner will die because of his sins, but his blood I will require from the hand of the "watchman on the walls" who did not warn him of the danger.
And now for a lighter side of my visit to Poland. I met "old" friends some were glad to see me others pretended, but wished I had stayed home. Then there were my "younger" friends who greeted me with joy. Just to see them was a good enough reason to visit Poland. The friendly...genuinely friendly...crowd at Andrew's place, the pleasant atmosphere and the delicious food, are the memories that call me back to Warsaw. I stayed at the den of Mr. Smok, and with him I enjoyed the services on Friday evening at the Jewish center, the visit to the museum to the "Niemalowany Żyd",and delicious suppers at the club...I was impressed by his generosity and friendliness and helpfulness. Then, there was "nasza wiara" an old expression in Polish, the students from Poland and the Ukraine at Podkowa. Nadia and Zbyszek, Judy and her Hebrew, Irina and her husband Mariusz, Dolly the director of the school of foreign languages, the beautiful MM, My one and only Gosposia, Adjunct professor Baron and his family, and the new star on the horizon of life Olena,Lena,Oleńka etc, the specialist in computers and the girl of sterling character, dedicated to work for the spreading of the Gospel. Of course there were other young fiends from the time past Victor, Carol and his Agatka, Lukasz (did not see Marysia), Arequ and his cat.
The delicious suppers with the prorectors Tarasiuk and Polok. The unforgettable dinners with the rector Kozirog and his lovely daughter (the apple of his eye)and the evening escapade to the ice cream parlor "downtown" Podkowa. The rare glimpse of Pashka the old and enterprising friend. A friendly talk with director prof. Ples, and prof. Ryback. The friendly "evenings" with close friends at room number 26 at the "convent".In Warsaw there were other and different friends, the more sophisticated and all professionals. Mrs. Maciuszko z ChAT who made the best torte in the world for my birthday party, Danusia from Berlin, Ester the beautiful poetess, Sylvia the linguist, Dorotka (Pępuszek) the globe trotter, with a body like Venus de Milo, but alive(!), Peter the generous and practical soul, plus others mainly teachers. The last Friday in Poland we were joined by Veronica and her little kitten. The one highlight of my visit to Poland was the supper with Prof. and dr., Lyko at their place.My last Sabbath in Poland included a sermon (in Polish) on the topic of evangelism. I am glad that though they uploaded it to the internet...they edited my remarks especially those that referred to Benedict XVI, the bishop of Rome. The juxtaposition of names like "father/bachelor and mother/virgin" make sense only in the contorted theology of the Roman Church. It is true that many popes were fathers, but the church would like to forget and expunge those pages of history. I have kept the best for the end of memories. The numerous feasts at the home of Lazars, my friends since 1995, the company , the food and the atmosphere in their home and their hospitality were always unparalleled. Thank you.