The Brownds in Poland

Experiencing God in Krakow

2011-02-13T14:04:00.002-05:00

We have been in Poland for almost two years, and God has blessed us in so many ways. We are making progress in language and enjoying relationships with our Polish friends. One of the things that God has allowed Ken and I to be a part of are Experiencing God classes. Ken has had the opportunity to teach two Experiencing God classes, and last Wednesday night started a third class. It is a privilege for us to help people understand how to hear God’s voice and to know His will. Not only adults, but teenagers have been a part of these classes. Last Wednesday night Ken and I prepared a light snack supper for those interested in participating in this semester’s class. It was so much fun to watch people’s faces as they came in, sat down at the table, and we served them this small dinner. We were also amazed as more and more people kept coming in and we had to keep adding chairs and tables! Our prayer is that all of these people will commit to doing the course. Ken and I continue to see the need for people to be taught the Word of God in their own heart language, as well as the joy we receive as we serve people here. God continues to be faithful in teaching us through His Word, and our desire is to be able to take that Word and to teach it to others. We are also challenged as we go out on the market square and share with people about the free gift of God’s salvation. This is a new concept to many people. It leads to all kinds of conversations, but we are always amazed at the number of people who will talk with us. Our prayer is that God will continue to be at work in Poland, and that He will continue to lead us to people who are searching for spiritual truth. We also pray that the churches here in Poland will be strengthened through the teaching of His Word, and will be encouraged to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those around them. Thank you for your prayers, and continue to pray for God to open the hearts of the Polish people.

Members of our Experiencing God class enjoying time together.

Polish Thanksgiving Program

2009-10-27T16:21:00.005-04:00

Matthew took part for the first time in a program at our church Sunday. (He is to the right of the boy in the red shirt.) We were really touched and surprised by what happened. Afterwards, we all had a lunch together, with some wonderful Pumpkin soup!

You can watch the same video in higher quality at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNqyfmQNTNI

Camp for Children

2009-09-21T01:26:00.004-04:00

In late August, our family was blessed to help with a children's camp in Narewka, Poland, along with other Americans and a group from Ireland. Here is a video that Elizabeth made.

Concert on the Square

2009-08-15T14:23:00.006-04:00

This past week our family went to a concert on Heroes of the Ghetto Square. This was the main square of the Jewish Ghetto during World War II. Many Jews were deported from here to concentration camps all over Poland, including Auschwitz. Many were also killed on the square itself. But on this night a concert took place that was sponsored by our Polish church. I thought how ironic it was that in a place where so many people died, people were hearing the name of Jesus Christ lifted up in worship. Please remember to pray for the people of Poland, that they will come to know the grace and salvation of Christ.

A polish believer waves both Israeli and Polish flags. The chair is one of many that dot the square as a memorial to the Jews who were killed there in 1941-43.

Pray for Joni

2009-08-03T14:26:00.003-04:00

We are asking all of our friends to pray for a 10 year old boy who is the nephew of some Polish friends of ours. This past week Joni was diagnosed with leukemia. As you can imagine this has been devastating for his family. Our friends, Basia and her brother Slawek are believers. They told us last night that Joni will need a bone marrow transplant and they will start with his siblings to try to find a match. Joni was visiting relatives here in Poland when they found the leukemia. They will try to take him back home to Berlin soon. Please pray for healing for this boy and grace and strength for this family.

2009-07-28T14:36:00.008-04:00

Janet: Now that we have gotten settled in I am going to try my hand at writing on the blog. This will be more or less our family blog, and Ken will continue with his blog. Last week we had the privilege of going to Krynica, a town about three hours from here that resembles Hot Springs. Some members of our Polish church were there for a retreat and our family was able to join them for the day. We had a great time with the pastor and his wife, as well as getting to know some of the church members. Our pastor, Krzysiek, showed Ken that if he poured a great amount of cherry syrup into his hot tea that it tasted very good. Ken is not a hot tea drinker but most people here drink it every day. Maybe we will make a hot tea drinker out of him yet. Krzysiek and his wife speak great English, but many of the church members speak little if none. With our little bit of Polish and their little bit of English we were able to communicate quite well. Matthew made friends with one of the boys there. We also were able to see three young adults baptized. Though we could only understand bits and pieces of their testimonies it was very touching. We love our little Polish church and look forward to becoming more involved and building good friendships there. They have welcomed us warmly and seem very excited to have us as a part of their fellowship.
Today Ken and I went to the mall. This is always a strange experience because the mall is very modern and much larger than anything we have in Oklahoma. We don’t really feel like we are in Poland, except of course when we try to converse with people. We are making strides in the language, though it is still very difficult for us. We went into a store that sells many different kinds of teas. You can ask the ladies behind the counter and they will get the box of tea you would like to try and let you smell it. Then they will measure out for you however much you want. This particular lady behind the counter was very helpful and very kind. She let me smell several different ones before I made up my mind. Fortunately, we were able to converse all in Polish. When we were leaving with our purchase she told us in Polish how very dear it was to her when foreigners tried to speak her language. It warmed our hearts, and makes us want to try to learn Polish so that we can converse effectively with people.
Last of all, Matthew met some boys in our neighborhood who we hope will become friends for him. They came to our apartment and were amazed at his LEGO collection. Thank you for praying that he would find friends, and continue to pray that these relationships will develop into friendships for him.

Krynica, Poland, where our church had it's summer retreat.

Arek (22), Dominika (18), and Karol (20) after their baptism.

Baptists in Krakow

2009-07-24T08:49:00.006-04:00

Several weeks ago, we were happy to be able to attend a meeting of all the Baptist churches in Krakow - four Baptist Union churches, one independent church, and one International church. This was the first meeting of it's kind in the city. We all met in a hotel meeting hall on a Sunday morning. It was such a joy to see the believers from all parts of Krakow worshipping together. Though not many in number in a city of almost a million people, they enjoyed great fellowship. Below is a sample of the worship, led by the praise band from the Polish church we attend in Krakow.

Join us in praying that God will strengthen Baptists in Krakow as they share His love with the people around them.

I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Toto...

2009-05-22T10:43:00.030-04:00

We are finally settled into our apartment in Krakow. Here is the view we wake up to each morning. Though our neighborhood looks very different from any we've lived in before, we have adapted quickly and it is quickly becoming home. We can look off of our balcony and see people almost all the time. We are thankful to live in a place where we have the opportunity to encounter so many Poles.

In fact, we are actually enjoying the convenience of the whole thing. Here is a picture of our building. Each of the signs on the ground floor is a different business - breadstore, bookstore, convenience store, and many more. They are small, but we are amazed at what they have. On the other side of the building is a small grocery store that has even more. Matthew and Elizabeth love being able to run downstairs to the store when Mom needs something. (OK, maybe they don't love it, but Dad does!)

Most of our furniture won't arrive for a couple of months, so we are living pretty simply, but God has provide everything we need for now. The white folding table is our borrowed dining room and also our classroom, where we study Polish three hours at a time. (Yes, that is a long time to sit on a plastic trunk. Our teachers sit on the wicker loveseat.)

We are so thankful God has given us the chance to live here. Though there are lots of adjustments, we already love this city and the Polish people. As a rule, Poles don't greet strangers on the street like we do in Oklahoma. We have found, though, that when we greet them with a hearty "dzien dobry" (good day), they may be surprised, but they almost always respond with a greeting and a smile. We are asking God to help us shine His grace and joy everywhere we go.

How It All Began

2009-02-22T08:16:00.004-05:00

It started as a growing conviction that God wanted every follower of Jesus Christ to be an active part of spreading the good news of grace to every group of people in the world. It grew with a love for Slavic peoples. It culminated when God opened the door for us to return to Eastern Europe as "ambassadors" of grace. As we prayed about the possibility that God might send us to Poland, He confirmed our direction in so many ways. As the conviction grew in our hearts, he brought books across our path that challenged us to boldly follow Him. Verses seemed to leap from the pages of the Bible. The burden in our hearts increased. As we prayed, we were reminded of a plate on our wall, the gift of a friend years before. It was from Krakow. A polish cross hung on our wall - a memento from a visiting missionary. As we rummaged through a used book store, we stumbled on a book in Polish - in Edmond, Oklahoma! Cleaning out a closet, Ken came across a long-forgotten coin he had found in a box of cereal when he was in college. Yep, it was from Poland. All the while, the burden was only growing stronger. Like Luke and his companions, we concluded that God was calling us to share the good news - specifically in Poland.
So, we sold our house (What a God story that was!), packed our things, and set out. We are spending the early months of 2009 at the International Learning Center of the International Mission Board. Here, along with over 200 other missionaries, we are learning lots of things about transitioning into another culture.
We hope you'll follow along with us, and pray for us, as we follow Christ. Pack your bags and meet us back here. We'll all go together....
You can read more about the Learning Center at: http://www.imb.org/main/page.asp?StoryID=4483&LanguageID=1709