Third Day and Pillow Crafts!
I am reflecting for the team today. Where do I begin to share the discoveries and excitement?
The stuffing and fuzz was flying as 54 children crowded into our dining hall after formal English lessons to make cut-and-tie fleece pillows. At first, the girls took up two long tables and when the boys joined in it was amazing. The best part for me was having conversations with the children and learning many new Polish words. I’m getting better at the pronunciation, but on both sides I think spelling the word is key. So the English/Polish learning takes place all day long . Judy and I were very amused to learn what the animals say from a Polish perspective. Our dogs say bark, bark, and their dogs say who, who. When they said their ducks say, fok, fok, we quickly told them American ducks say quack, quack.
The food served by our cooks is delicious and traditional Polish. The main meal is at 2:00 and begins always with tasty different soups. Today our cook painstakingly made little dumpling balls stuffed with ground meat. It was called Kuluski something. Did you know that cucumbers and tomatoes are served at breakfast and almost every meal? Dining with Marta, Benia, Lucas, Marysia, Sonia, and Piotr is fun. They tell us the names of all the interesting foods.
The ski village of Bialka Tatrzanska is charming. It’s just a 3 minute walk past small yards with cows, chickens and sheep to the cukiernia (bakery.) I found treasure there in the best poppyseed roll that Judy and I ever tasted!
Tonight’s game in front of our chalet in this lovely spot was “pass the ring cookie with a straw”. Next was the name game where a folded parachute divided the children into two teams that couldn’t see each other. The parachute was lowered by chant of three, two, one, then one child on each side stepped onto the playing spot. Whichever child named the other correctly, got to take the looser to their side to build a bigger team. Pam and I were tricked into facing off against each other. We had Polish names running through our heads like Marta, Julka, Maciek or Weronika and we were almost speechless and couldn’t think of each other’s name as the parachute was lowered!
Worship begins at 7:30. When Piotr had technical difficulties and the children were bored Judy jumped right in leading If You’re Happy and You Know It. Randy sang and recorded many worship songs on a CD as gifts for all the children! During class his CD came in handy as we reviewed the meaning of the words for the children from sheets Pam prepared for us. I was so touched when the girls exclaimed, “this is the best song ever”when You Are Holy came on the screen as they danced and sang.
It’s fabulous to work and pray as a team!
Delightedly by Diane
Oh it sounds like you are having a BLAST!!!! What a lifetime of memories you are building for the children and yourselves! God bless all of you! Thank you for posting everyday. It is the highlight of my day. One day Judy will take me back there.
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