Dzien Dobry (Good day) everyone,

I hope that this newsletter finds each of you well.  I have about two and a half months left of my field trip here in Poland.  While the temptation to count down the days is here, I know that doing so would only make it go longer and would negatively affect the work I want to do here.  I do not want to worry about tomorrow because I know today truly does have enough of its own worries.  Some exciting things are happening, and so are some not so exciting things.

First the not so exciting things, at the beginning of this month we (my roommate and I) received our winter electricity bill.  The bill is 3,000 Zł (PLN), or about $770 (USD), this is an issue of dire need.  I currently have $50 to put towards our phone bill and food.  The rest of the money I have will go towards paying for the European conference (more on that later) airfare ($320) and a part of my car insurance ($100) back home in Seattle.  As I have mentioned in just about all my other newsletters if each person who received this sent only $10 I would receive over $700!  Currently I have never had a month with over $400, granted this has been enough for living off of, I have also used some of my personal savings to pay for things for people here and transportation needs when traveling.

The good news, the Foursquare European conference was an amazing time.  During this time, God really spoke to me about building a more permanent connection here in Poland, while I do not know exactly what that will look like I plan on helping with the work here for many years to come.  Of course, this may raise the question of what Alexis thinks, to say the least, she's on board with me.  I was also able to hook up with someone who comes from my church back home (Mill Creek Foursquare), he is working in Norway and training to plant a church in Denmark.  I had a good time talking with him about cultural differences, what God is doing in Europe and reminiscing about Seattle.  The workshops were very informational, but one in particular got me thinking.  Andrew Jones from tallskinnykiwi.com spoke about the emerging church culture and how we as the church need to see what gets the current generation thinking about God and his kingdom rather than trying to get people to conform to the current church culture.  Andrew's workshop was certainly my favorite it made me think about all the things which really got me into church, with the biggest one being relationship with people not the show-like atmosphere I've seen at some church services.

Yesterday a team from Thousand Oaks, California left, they were here for a week.  They have probably been the single most important blessing to come since I have been here.  It was the pastor of Thousand Oaks Foursquare, Bob Ware, his secretary Lyndee, Fabio, and Gene, each of them had very specific areas of blessing and encouragement to many of our people here.  Bob and I had some great conversations where I was able to discuss some of the areas I needed to improve.  I have wanted to hear and discuss those areas for a long time.  While they were here they shared their hearts with the people here, helped start the garden project at our new office, and most importantly answered questions and showed people the love of Christ.

I am now beginning to see growth in a few of the young adults that I have been befriending since my first day here.  One young man who I met on my first Sunday here was a self-claiming Atheist, now it appears he will be giving himself the Lord any day!  I really think that back in the fall, it was a time of planting seeds, throughout winter it has been a time of hibernation, and now with the coming of spring those seeds are beginning to grow, all I can do is water and let God do the rest.  However, it is not just these people who are growing I am too, and I know I have a lot more to improve in.  I am excited to see what God has in store for me.  I know that I can't focus on the circumstances anymore, otherwise I will sink (just as Peter began to, when he walked on water he looked around at the storm and lost focus so he began to sink).  I need to put full faith in Jesus to help it is his hand that always reaches out, circumstances will not stop his work.

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