Proverbs 4:11, 13 -- "I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths... Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life."

Rounding off the summer...

You're almost all caught up on what took place this summer.  :) You've read about activities we had with the youth this summer, you'll see more special guests we hosted in the below post, and here you'll read about a wonderful opportunity Krzysiek had to share about God's work in his life.  But first, I want to you to meet two very precious people God's blessed me with to help me stay healthy in full-time ministry.

Meet Joyce & Darryl Henson (InSTEP Ministries International)

On August 18th, I took a short trip with Florence and Krzysiek to Warszaw to meet with my ministry mentors, Joyce & Darryl Henson. They're from Pennsylvania but they spend most of the year in the Ukraine and in addition to ministering there, they also serve in Russia, Moldova, Albania, and Poland. I caught them in Poland before they were to return to Ukraine. :)

meeting up with Joyce & Darryl in Warsaw

In every season of my life, God has blessed me with mentors to help guide, grow, and nurture me spiritually. In November 2013, InStep became my official mission organization affiliation, and since then, Joyce & Darryl have been fulfilling this role in my life. Regular contact with them has helped keep me along a straight path. I'm glad I don't have to face the challenges of full-time ministry alone.

Joyce has so much joy and is always ready to offer a word of genuine encouragement. Her smile lights up a room and she projects so much warmth and love that at once, you know you're in the presence of someone who has the heart of Jesus.  An encounter with Joyce is an encounter with Christ's love.

Darryl is full of God's wisdom and might, but this is embodied in gentleness and quietness. He demonstrates Christ's meekness-- not weakness, but meekness. He knows who he is in Christ, how God has gifted him and how to use this effectively for service and building up the Body of Christ -- but he does this in humility and in awe of the Lord. To be in Darryl's presence is to know that even when the storms rage, we have a God who is Sovereign and we have nothing to fear.

Their ministry emphasis: "...to provide spiritual and personal guidance and care to pastors and church leaders.  Our intention is to help church leaders stay “in step” with the Holy Spirit.  We believe that as we help the leaders to grow and be strong in the Spirit, they will lead well and their churches will be spiritually strong." (from their website)

I see this being lived out in their relationship with me and I'm deeply grateful to God for them.


Krzysiek's family hears his testimony (10 Aug)
As you know, there's a very very important person to me by the name of Krzysiek ("Kshish-ek").

preparation of the heart before the service

Last month, he had the opportunity to share his testimony at a church in Tczew ("Tchev") about a half hour drive from here -- about a 2 hours drive from his brother's place.  As you've read in previous blogs, we've really made a point of investing time into his family.  His brother, Tomek has really begun to search for answers and desires to see his life changed.  This hunger drove him along with his wife and two kids, plus his (and Krzysiek's) mother, plus Tomek's mother in law all the way out to hear Krzysiek share his testimony.

Krzysiek sharing his testimony
at the Pentecostal Church in Tczew

Praise God for how He used Krzysiek that day.  So many hearts were melted.  Most of his family was in tears as was a good number of people in the congregation.  The timing was also really perfect because the church really was beginning to lose heart in prison ministry.  And as a few of you know, prison ministry is something very personal to Krzysiek.  It was there in the prison that he himself met the Lord.  So in a sense, it was the very fruit of their ministry that God used to touch the hearts of those serving in Tczew who were discouraged.

Krzysiek's spiritual grandfather,
Mirek

One of those serving in prison ministry who really needed the encouragement was Krzysiek's "spiritual grandfather", Mirek.  Mirek has suffered a great deal lately because he's seen some of his brothers that he ministered to fall away from God this past year.  To see fruit of his ministry that has not only remained faithful but has borne another harvest of fruit did his heart good.

Mirek's wife, Jola (in white) prepared a wonderful lunch

which we enjoyed in their garden

After the service we had the privilege and joy of spending the afternoon with Mirek & his lovely wife, Jola.  Not only our stomachs but our hearts were full!

Despite having a huge lunch,
less than 2 hours later we had a BBQ !!
We love meat!!!

Tomek & his daughter, Oliwia having fun in the sprinklers