Since I've been back...
It's good to be back in the States.
SUNDAY NIGHT we had our Pipeline youth service. It went great. I showed some pictures of Poland and talked about the difference between religion and relationship. I feel like it connected since I shared some stories about teens in Poland.
TANIA SPENCER e-mailed me. She's not a blood relative, but she is a Book of Hope family member. I forgot to mention her in earlier blogs. My deepest apologies. We experienced great food together, as well as a facinating tour of a castle that looked like the TV set of TBN ministries...gold chairs and all. She's the official Book of Hope copy writer, as well as the famous telephone voice for BOH. When I read her e-mail, I can hear her English accent.
MAGDA e-mailed me. She the Polish girl that me and Matt Wilkie too a three-hour train ride with. She's got an incredible story. I shared it with my youth group last night. It's awesome to think I can continue to talk with her and encourage her in her faith even though I'm back home.
Short-term mission trips are great. It's a time to make friendships that last a lifetime.
Interested in Book of Hope trips?
click here
Friday- travel home
After an all-nighter on the train, I didn't but a few winks of sleep before loading up and heading to the airport.
We woke up and it was snowing. We get to the airport and go through all the process. Then we wait to board the plane. It was a 12:15 flight. We load at 12:30 and get situated on the plane.
I sit in my seat, put on my headphones and listen to a little Third Day. About five minutes later I'm in a deep sleep. I wake up 2 1/2 hours later and look out the window...and we're still sitting at the airport. The airport closed because of weather.
At 3:30 we take of for Chicago. We arrive 3 hours late at 6:40 p.m. (2 a.m. Polish time)
We drive home to Mattoon. Home near 11 p.m. (6 a.m. Polish time.)
Good night....
Here's our plane with snow all over it.
This is a view outside the bus window...heading to the airport.
Thursday Night
Book of Hope hosted a wonderful banquet for of the team members that were in Poland this week. It was a very nice restaraunt in Old Town Warsaw. During the evening we shared stories from the week. But the highlight was getting to hear the story of Magda. She is a 17-year-old Polish girl.
About 2 years ago she established a personal relationship with Jesus. She has learned a lot about God in religion classes, but this was the first time He became a personal friend to her. Her life has changed in wonderful ways. She stopped drinking and smoking marijuana. She tells people she is now full of life and joy. Now she is active in Book of Hope distribution in Poland.
She lives in Lublin, Poland...about 3 hour train ride from Warsaw. We were suppose to meet her in Lublin when we visited the Concentration camp. However, because of weather we didn't go, and she took a train to Warsaw to meet us.
Unfortunately she missed her 7 p.m. train back to Lublin. Her mother was upset and very worried about her. Since the next train didn't leave until 10 p.m. she needed someone to ride with her for safety.
Me and Matt Wilkie rode the train with her to keep her safe. The train that night was delayed several times at different stops. Magda's mother called a few times while we were in the train. She was very nervous, mad and worried about her. But I'm very thankful we rode with her because there were drunk guys hanging around causing a scene in front of us. The cops hauled them off at the next stop.
Magda told us about student culture in POland. They don't like authority. They are involved in alcohol and drugs. This generation doesn't get too excited about their Catholic Church. However, Magda is on fire with her personal relationship with Jesus. It's difficult for her to find a group of people in her town that understand what it means to have a relationship with God. She virtually has no support system of encouragement except God.
So at 1 a.m. we got her to a taxi and sent her home. I believe is was an ordained moment for us. We got to pray for her, encourage her in her faith, and encourage her about some issues with her family.
What a night!!!! Here's an at-a-glance look...
7 p.m. - dinner
9 p.m. - arrive at train station
10 p.m. - depart for Lublin
1 a.m. - arrive in Lublin
1:30 a.m. - find a Polish diner near station
3:17 a.m. - find out the train is delayed
3:37 a.m. - board the train
6:30 a.m. - arrive in Warsaw
7:00 a.m. - get to hotel
7:30 a.m. - fall asleep
9:00 a.m. wake up and shower
9:45 a.m. head to airport
This is me, Matt Wilkie and Magda. We're on a train at about 1 a.m. Friday morning.
Thursday
We made it to Warsaw Wednesday afternoon. We have visited the Old Town. This place was destroyed during WWII. Many buildings have been rebuilt into stores, cafes and museums.
It is very rainy and cold here. In fact, today (Thursday) we were heading to a concentration camp in Lublin, Poland, but had to turn around because of the bad weather. I was fine...it reminded me of a good ol' Illinois thunderstom. But, for safety and the fact the entire tour was outside, we have headed back to Warsaw for some more indoor shopping and sight seeing.
We have watched a few parts of a movie called the Pianist. I can't wait to see all of it when I get back the States. It's the story of the Warsar Uprising. This is the only rebellion against the Nazi invasion from local Jews. The movie was filmed here, and we are seeing many of the sites. I've been told the movie has some bad language and violence, but is very accurate to what happened here in Poland during WWII. It has been nominated for many awards.
This has made me appreciate my past visits to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. It's amazing to stand on the streets where innocent people were dragged from their homes and killed because of their race and religious belief.
Europe is rich in history. The buildings we were in yesterday (Wednesday) were built in the 1500s. That's alost 300 years for we were even a nation.
Regarding BOH: One of the teams had a "Teacher's Tea" with a group of teachers. They presented the Gospel and shared with the teachers how they can receive Jesus as their best friend, as well as their hope for their unsure future.
One of the teacher came to the tea with information to hand the team on Catholic doctrine and tradition. At the end of the team she stood up and announced that beofre this evening she knew her religion, but now she knows there is much more for her to discover. She is anxious about knowing Jesus in a personal way, and not just in a knowledgable way.
God is good and working in lives here. It's amazing to partner with the Catholic church to present the Gospel i nthe schools. We simply take what they learn in religion classes and help them make it personal.
Pray for Poland. Pray that student leaders and teachers would help disciple students through Hope CLubs. That's where they will get a better grasp on having a personal relationship with Jesus.
I fly home on Friday. Please keep me in your prayers.
TUESDAY
Today was a day of meetings for me and the other Affect Destiny reps. We discussed vision, 2005 changes, and other stuff. The other teams went into schools again doing school assemblies.
We all gathered at night for a Hopefest. A typical Hopefest is children and their parents from the schools we visited earlier this week.
We had music, dramas, testimonies and a challenge to the students. I was in a drama called Masks. I got to play the part of a partying drug/alcohol user. It was a good drama that really got the students' attention.
Many kids were interested in the altar call, and many signed up for Hope Clubs in their local schools.
Tomorrow we leave for Warsaw. We'll do some sight seeing. The Thursday we head to a Concentration Camp.
I'm not sure about internet access in the next few days. If you don't hear from me...I'll update when I get home.
Again, thanks for the prayers. Students in Poland are excited about Jesus, and you have investment in that!
I love all my family. See everyone soon. Someone give Dakota a hug from dad.
Pipeline youth: I heard you had a great night. Awesome!
Travis
A great group of students who found out for the first time that a relationship with Jesus can be fun. These guys stayed after the Hopefest to hang out with us, ask us questions....and yes...get our autographs.
I posed for a picture with these girls after signing a few autographs. That's how exciting it is for these students that we're here. They so excited they they're willing to ask a 29-year-old over weight youth pastor for an autograph. They asked if I was an actor. I told them no, I just play one on TV. Since I don't speak Polish...they didn't understand a word I said:)
This is Martha. She prayed to accept Jesus as her personal friend and savior for the first time Tuesday night at the Hopefest.
STudents dance to "Evry Move I Make" after a Hopefest rally Tuesday night.
MONDAY review
Today was a great day. Check out all the photos I posted on the page.
We spent the day in one school. We did four assemblies in the school. The age of the students was 1st through 6th grade. We had a ton of fun sharing Jesus to them. This is the first time for many of these students that they hear that Jesus can be a personal friend to them. They learn about him in religion classes...but never hear that he can be personal in their lives.
It's been great working with old BOH friends...Paul, Jason, Kathryn...and Matt Wilkie.
Tonight we spent a night of ministry in an orphanage. These kids were great. It's amazing to think we presented the gospel to a room of kids with no parents in their lives.
God is good.
Thanks for your prayers...
Travis
Me passing out a Book of Hope in Poland.
Matt and me with Polish students!
Me and my incredible friend Matt Wilkie and Jake.
I met these awesome kids at an orphanage. Three of the girls were transwred from an orphanage that was in the Vatican.
This is the framework of a Jewish Synagogue dome that remains after a horrible attack from the Nazis in 1941. The Nazi soldiers surrounded the building with machine guns and then set the building on fire. They shot anyone who tried to escape the buring building. A tragic 2000 jews dided in the burning building this day.
I took this pic in the middle of a group of students.
Boys pose for a picture after an assembly.
My new Polish friend.
Some girls at a school.
Here's a picture of me and a group of student in Bialystol, Poland. This was taken after a BOH school presentation.
Girls at our first school get their Books of Hope.
a building near our hotel
here's a local catholic church
Here's a great self-portrait. I'm in front of a museum.
Hi to the Frownfelters and Spencers
Hey guys...I'm checking my e-mail...thanks for writing.
Michigan Frownfelters...Poland will give you a run for your money on Cold weather!
Spencers....give Dakota a hug for me.
See you guys....
Travis
Sunday
We woke up and had breakfast at the hotel.
I had polish sausage, bread and some cheese.
Then we moved to a room where we had our own church service.
Don Anderson from Fresno Calf. spoke. It was good. He spoke about the blessing of team ministry.
We ended in communion. I believe God has great plans for this week.
Me and Mark Cox (from the St. Louis area) took a walk after church service.
It's nice out today (36 degrees, but sunny)
The buildings are very traditional European look.
Many gray block buildings and apartments.
We are next to a large Catholic church. We stepped in to see it. Many people were there.
It was a giant red brick Cathedral. Very nice. I have pictures, but can't seem to get my camera to work with this cafe computer.
The people are cautious to make much eyecontact with us when we walk along the sidewalks. It's obvious were aren't from around here. And since this isn't a tourism city, they rarely see Americans.
MAtt Wilkie is due in by train today sometime. It will be great seeing him
Pray for Poland...it seems some of the Book of Hope doors may be closing in some areas.
Pray that BOH leadership would have favor with Catholic church leaders in the country.
So much for now....
Travis
I'm HERE!!!!
We made it to Poland. I've been awake for 31 hours.
The hotel is nice, and we just ate dinner at an Arabic restaurant. Go figure.
It's very foggy and drizzly....Typical European weather for this time of year.
We'll be having church in our hotel Sunday morning. There are no evangelical churches here for us to attend.
Monday we'll be in schools working with younger students...Elementary students.
Well...I'm safe.
To Joy and Dakota: Love you and miss you.
The internet cafe is next to the hotel, so I'll try tp check in again.
Travis
Poland schedule
Friday, Nov. 12 - Travel day
Saturday- Arrive in Warsaw, Poland. Then depart for Bialystok by bus
Sunday- Church service in hotel with all BOH teams. Then orientation and training.
Monday- School assemblies and BOH distribution. Orphanage ministry in the evening.
Tuesday - Meetings with BOH Affect Destiny field reps. Hopefest that evening.
Wednesday - Sight Seeing in Warsaw.
Thursday - Visit Magdanek concentration camp in Lublin, Poland.
Friday - Travel Day
Please keep me in your prayers during these days of ministry and travel.
I should post comments and pics ASAP.
This is me.
Catch You Up to Speed
I'm going to post pics and journals entries from my travels. I leave for Poland in two days. That's when I'll start posting new stuff. But to catch you up to speed on my past mission trips, I thought I'd offer a brief history.
1993: Monterey Mexico
I went with a team from Naperville IL and Mattoon, IL to build a school and medical facility. It was my first trip. I'd just rededicated my life to Jesus 6 months before we loaded that bus. It was a life-changing trip for my personal spiritual journey.
1996: Atlanta GA--The Olympics
I went with a team from Joliet, IL to do ministry in the streets during the Olympics. We worked in a neighboring community. We slept at a church, showered in a parking lot in a makeshift stall with garden hoses (very cold). We did ministry at the church and in a parking lot of a large shopping market.
2000: East Boston
This was my first year as youth pastor in Mattoon, and wanted to get involved with leading mission trips for our students. We worked with Central Assembly of God in the heart of East Boston. It was an incredible trip. With did ministry in the parks, on the street, at a metro station, and at the church. There are people involved in that church today as a result of that trip.
2001: Managua, Nicaragua
This was our first overseas trip. Joy and I had a brief discussion as we saw the lights of Managua, Nicaragua from the plane. It went something like this. "What are we doing? We have a group of high school kids with us and we're about to land in some country we know nothing about, and we don't speak their language..." It turned out to be the turning point in our mission trips. We connected with
Book of Hope International, and have had an incredible relationship with the ministry ever since.
2002: San Francisco
We worked with Joy's sister and brother-in-law at City Ministries International. It's a great outreach ministry to homeless, drug addicts, and needy children in the bay area. It was an eye opener in the area of spiritual warfare. Great trip....Great growth in my prayer life.
2003: Quito, Ecuador
This was another Book of Hope trip that wonderful. The team was excellent, and children in the schools (we do school assemblies) were awesome. I'll never forget how Sarina got mobbed by 200 little children and we couldn't get her out of the courtyard area.
2003: Slovakia
Pastor Van, myself, and Evan from Macolm went on a "Vision Trip" with Book of Hope. I took Van and Evan so they could catch the vision for Book of Hope ministry. Slovakia is a post-communist country. Very grey. But the students responded to us, and the Gospel in a wonderful way. This was my first time to Europe. It was great...even if our luggage was lost for three days!
2004: Mexico
I led an adult/student team to
Rancho de sus ninos in Baja Mexico...right outside of San Diego. It was an incredible trip. The team bonded in a great way. God provided team members with incredible testimonies to share to the people. We've continued to partner with the ministry. We'll be sending Christmas gifts their way next month for all the kids in their day care.
And now I leave for Poland in two days.....
