The taxi ride wound for 22 miles through lush countryside and took us across the Polish border. The road had partly washed out in several places, so it narrowed to single lane access periodically. As we approached the first Polish village, the driver  pointed at a building on the right. “Train,” he said. Then he pulled over and stopped.

We’d expected to board a train, but our directions told us that our station was in the next town. The taxi driver motioned with his hands and verbally assured us that this station was okay, so we climbed out and whispered a little prayer. Gene stepped inside the station to inquire about tickets to our next stop and was delighted to find that the agent spoke a little English. She, too, assured him that we could catch the proper train at this station. Gene paid the driver, and off he drove, back to Slovakia.

Cold drinks are not always readily available in these countries, but this wee station had a cooler with a sparse supply of Nestea and Coca-Cola products. Cold lemon iced tea never tasted so good. A tiny grocery store across the street had a freezer filled with ice cream, and a good selection of yogurt and bananas. We felt like we’d struck gold! But the best part was the conversation with the train station’s ticket agent.

Her name was Iwona. A beautiful blonde gal, she was, about 24 years old. She seemed delighted to practice conversational English with us. She plugged in a kettle and made me a cup of instant coffee for no charge. I gave her a new cloth grocery bag, a souvenir of Canada, in exchange.

Iwona asked if we were tourists, traveling the world. I said, “No, but we come to your country once or twice every year.” I explained that we bring North American volunteers to teach English at family camps. Her eyes lit up. “This is wonderful,” she said. As we spoke, a thought came to my mind: Give her a Bible and tell her about your book that’s now available in her language.

And that’s exactly what I did. Just so happens that I’d stuffed bookmarks in my backpack before leaving home—bookmarks that show the covers of my four books. I gave one to her and pointed to Moving from Fear to Freedom. “This book has been written in the Polish language,” I said.

Iwona’s eyes nearly popped. “You speak Polish?”

“No, but someone translated it,” I said.

“I must buy this book,” she said.

My husband had been sitting nearby, doing some work on his laptop. Overhearing our conversation, he opened a file containing the cover image for the Polish edition of Moving from Fear to Freedom.

Moving from Fear to Freedom -- available in Polish!

I showed Iwona the picture and gave her the internet link to the Polish distributor that carries the book. Then I handed her a copy of the New Testament (New Living Translation—the same translation we distribute at our family camps here). She gave me a beautiful smile and clutched the Bible to her chest. “Thank you!” she said. “I’m so excited. So very excited!”

Why did the driver drop us at the train station prior to the one our directions stated? I think I know. A young woman named Iwona was working there, and God is drawing her to Himself. What a joy to be part of His plan for her life. Would you pray for this gal? Ask God to give her a desire to read the Word. Ask Him to help her understand it and grant her the faith to believe it.

The train arrived a few minutes later, and off we went. I stood, looking out the window at the station as we chugged past, knowing that the likelihood of meeting Iwona a second time are nil. Then again, I met the Romanian granny two years in a row. Never say never.

The train ride lasted one hour, followed by a two hour bus ride. Well….maybe two will stretch into more because we hit road construction and had to take a detour. The bus on which I’m sitting now reminds me of the buses in Nepal. We’re winding along narrow country roads and chugging at walking pace uphill. Sometimes a breeze blows through open windows, but most often not. There was no cargo compartment, so our suitcases are stacked atop each other beside the driver’s feet. At least they won’t topple down the stairwell when they’re stacked like building blocks (as opposed to standing upright).

Another half hour or so remains. Then we’ll catch another train. That one will deliver us to Krakow where we’ll spend the night in a hostel. We’ve been there many times before, so the owner knows us. It feels like home away from home. Tomorrow we’ll catch another train to Gorzow. This leg will take 12 hours but require only one change. Praying for air conditioning and more divine appointments!

A cathedral within walking distance from my new friend's apartment.

I knew that our schedule was jam-packed, but I also knew that I could slip away for a brief time without causing a problem. And so I agreed. When Chris phoned the woman later that evening to ask if she’d like to see me, she immediately said yes. And that’s how the special encounter came about.

Chris, my husband, and I arrived at the woman’s apartment at 10 AM. She was waiting outside her door. She greeted us with a warm smile and the traditional kiss on each cheek and then welcomed us into her living room.

We chatted about her family and her education, and we listened to her stories about life under Communist rule. Then she got up and went into her kitchen to prepare tea. “May I help you?” I asked. “You can come with me,” she said.

Women around the world share many similarities. One of them is the ability to make a soul connection in a short time. That’s exactly what happened once we were alone. She told me about experiencing a traumatic situation that had resulted in a huge amount of stress (I’m sorry I can’t give more details, but I must respect confidentiality). Everything climaxed during a 10-day period. It was during that time that Chris, who’d been a friend and business associate for many years, learned of her circumstances and gave her the book. “It came at just the right time,” said my hostess, and she gave me a warm embrace. “Thank you, thank you.”

I returned her hug, dumbstruck at how God orchestrated details leading to this moment…

• Moving from Fear to Freedom was published and released in August, 2007.
• Two weeks later, we launched International Messengers Canada. Multiple ministry trips to Eastern Europe followed.
• On one such trip, in late January 2009, I spoke at a women’s event in Slovakia and sold a few copies of Moving from Fear to Freedom: A Woman’s Guide to Peace in Every Situation.
• Ten months later, my new friend experienced tragedy, and Chris gave her a copy of my book. (Funny thing is that he doesn’t remember how he got it. I suspect that someone who bought it in January passed it along. But why would she have given it to him, an unmarried man?)
• Last week, my hubby and I brought a volunteer team to Slovakia. Our team was short-handed, so a week prior to our arrival, Chris volunteered to join the group. On Friday evening, I met Chris for the first time. He recognized my name and knew that I’d authored the book that he passed along in 2009.
• Chris asked me if I had time to meet this gal if she was willing and able. Both of our schedules allowed this.

I look at these details and marvel at how God has demonstrated His love for my new friend. But there’s more. When I told her about the new Bible study and DVD to accompany the book, her eyes lit up. She smiled and said, “Ohhhh…I would like that.”

It just so happens that one of our career staff who ministers in this city is in Canada now. I plan to phone her when I return to home, and to ask her to deliver a DVD and study guide to this gal upon her return to Slovakia in September. I’ll also send a copy of the original book because, when I asked the lady if she still had her copy, she said, “No. I gave it to a friend. It’s making the rounds.” Praise God!

This encounter was one I hadn’t anticipated when I arrived in Kosice. Authors love golden moments such as this, when they learn about how their books are impacting people’s lives in ways that only God could orchestrate. What a thrill! Now I’ll pray that He’ll use the Bible study and DVD to do far more in the lives of women here.

On Wednesday, I’ll tell you about a dream that’s come to mind since worshiping in a Roma (“gypsy”) congregation.

She seemed delighted when we Westerners stopped to admire her handiwork, and she launched into a monologue that left us nodding and smiling at her words. When she finally stopped to take a breath, we told her that we spoke only English and that we came from Canada.

The word Canada resonated with Granny. When she launched into round two of her monologue, I caught a few words that sounded similar to words I’d learned in high school French class. If I pieced them together correctly, she was saying that a family member had gone to Canada and she hadn’t seen him since. Then she began to cry. Long story short, I prayed for her and she seemed to appreciate it.

Memories of this precious Romanian grandma stuck with me through the year. When it came time to pack our suitcases at the end of June, I purchased a fabric shopping bag and a container of Earl Gray tea for her. I committed to walking through the village on the last day of camp in hopes of finding her again. And guess what? My desire came true!

Romanian Grandma

We rounded the corner just as we did last year, and there she was…sitting outside her house, on the same bench, but without her craft project. I crossed the street and greeted her. She gave a little smile and motioned for me to sit beside her. I pulled my laptop from my bag and found the picture of her and I taken last year. She looked closely at the screen, pointed at her eyes, and shook her head. Then she leaned in for a closer look. Her expression changed to one of recognition and delight.

Another monologue. Another prayer. A light kiss on each cheek, and a wave goodbye.

Later, my husband laughed and said, “I can’t believe you actually found her. She could have been at the store, or in her backyard, or at a friend’s house. But no…she was sitting on the same bench as though she was expecting you.”

Only God knows why I’ve been given the opportunity to meet this Romanian grandma twice. I haven’t a clue why our paths have crossed as they have, but I know there’s a reason. I pray that, despite the language barrier, she will have sensed God’s love for her and the surprise visits will have brought her encouragement.

Tomorrow morning, I’ll be meeting with a lady in Kosice, Slovakia. Apparently she’s in her mid-sixties and struggling a bit with her health. She has read my book, Moving from Fear to Freedom: A Woman’s Guide to Peace in Every Situation, after someone gave her a copy in the past. She found it very helpful. Tonight, a mutual friend told me about her and asked if I’d meet with her if she was willing.

She’s willing; I’m available. And so, at 10 AM (Slovakia time), I’ll go to this lady’s home for a visit. Another divine appointment. Gotta love it when this happens!

Have a good Saturday. After my visit with this woman, our team will load up and head out to the camp venue to prepare. This evangelistic family camp begins on Sunday afternoon. Hubby and I can only stay until Monday morning because we have to travel to Poland to host a camp there. It will be a two-day trip via buses, taxis, and trains. Oughta be interesting!

What an incredible team God gave us. Each person contributed to the program either by teaching Bible lessons or crafts, playing games or simply spending time with the campers, and praying, praying, and more praying. We began each morning with a devotional and then spent time in prayer for the campers’ physical well-being and spiritual growth. Presenting the kids’ needs to God as a unified group was a highlight for me.

Today, after the four left, I had to tend to an unexpected task. Two weeks before I left on this trip, I learned that Harvest House Publishers plans to re-release 10-Minute Time Outs for Busy Women under a new title and with a new cover next February.  That meant quickly revising the manuscript to fit the new format. I spent two long days on revisions before I left home because I knew I wouldn’t have time while overseas. The manuscript was mailed back via a major courier on June 24^th.

Scheduled for release on February 1, 2012!

On Friday, July 8, I received an email from my editor asking if I’d returned the manuscript yet. I gasped, regained my composure, and emailed my response. Bottom line—the manuscript had not yet arrived. Nor has it arrived to date. It’s vanished somewhere between Sumas, Washington and Eugene, Oregon. Neither the shipper nor the courier have a clue where it is, and it appears there’s no tracking number.

And so, guess how I spent my day? With my bottom glued to a wooden chair under a gazebo. My editor emailed the original manuscript file and we found an Office Depot nearby to photocopy the 352 pages of script. My job was to whittle it down to 288 pages and update the material where necessary.

I worked for nearly six hours, broke to enjoy dinner with missionary friends who live in Budapest, and now I’m catching up with you. Tomorrow morning I’ll claim the same chair and finish the task. My hubby will take pictures of each page with changes and then we’ll email it back. What would we do without technology?

Spending my day like this wasn’t on my radar. I’m encouraged to know that it didn’t take God by surprise. He knows where that manuscript is; why He’s chosen not to reveal it is anyone’s guess. Maybe someday I’ll find out, maybe not. Either way, I’m glad God’s in charge.

Tomorrow in the late afternoon, our volunteers from Canada will fly into Budapest for the Slovakia family camp. We’ll catch a shuttle bus from here to there, arriving around 10 PM. And so our journey continues. We’re looking forward to seeing what God has in store there.

More on Friday. Night, night!

Meet Janet!

Key Verse: “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:22-24, NIV

As I prayed for a friend who has serious health trouble, the Holy Spirit seemed to prompt me to ask the Father to reassure her that He’d be with her whatever the future brings, but also that she’d know His nearness today.

We all long for some kind of reassurance for the future – specifically that things will be fine – but God asks us to focus on today. That’s the whole “living in the moment” thing I’m still trying to learn.

Definitely, we need a solid faith that God knows what lies ahead and can deal with it, but we’re not in the future. We’re in the present. And as Jesus said, today has enough troubles of its own. (Matthew 6:34)

Father, I’m so thankful that You know what tomorrow holds. Nothing will catch You off guard. Help me to trust the future to You and to live in the present – knowing You’re with me. Open my eyes to what you want to do through me today, who You want to touch. Help me enjoy Your company on the journey.

We stayed two nights in a little house down the street from our IM Canada career staff, Brad and Karla Thiessen. I was able to wash our clothes in a washing machine – yahoo! What a treat to do it this way as opposed to in a bathroom sink or on the floor of a hotel shower. I hung the laundry on a makeshift line and it dried in less than an hour, denims included.

I was glad to have several hours to review my manuscript for the study guide that will accompany Moving From Fear to Freedom. The editor has done her job on it and sent some suggested revisions. She also asked me to check several references – that’s a bit tricky to do because I didn’t bring the Bible from which I quoted. Hmmm…I’ll need to find a fix for that so the production process can continue while I’m away.

We had a delightful surprise here. Our IM Canada short-termers were invited to a “garden party” hosted by a woman named Irena and her husband. Irena was my translator when we brought a team to a Slovakian evangelistic family camp in 2008. She and I really hit it off then and have been friends every since. We didn’t know about the party until we arrived here, and she didn’t know that Gene and I were in Kosice until she opened her door and saw us standing on her doorstep. What fun to see the look on her face and to exchange kisses on each other’s cheeks! We even had a few moments to share from our hearts and to pray for concerns. “Thank You, God, for the gift of girlfriends worldwide who share my love for You.”

It was also a delight to meet our IM Canadian short-termers within hours of their arrival here. They didn’t know we’d be here so it was fun to surprise them and have dinner together. I felt sorry for them – they were heavy into jet lag. One of our women sprained her ankle in the afternoon so Irena set her on a futon with her foot elevated and then found ice chips to place on the swelling. Poor thing! She’s wondering what lesson God plans to teach her through this unfortunate accident. She needs our prayers, as does everyone on the team as they head to the camp venue and prepare for a week of sharing God’s love with campers of all ages.

IM short-termers and interns at Irena's garden party

My friend Irena (right)

Roma (gypsy) church in Lunik IX

We woke in Kosice, Slovakia this morning. Had breakfast with IM missionaries Brad and Karla Thiessen – enjoyed their company as always – and then Brad took us to Lunik IX. This is the name of the largest gypsy ghetto in Eastern Europe. We visited there in September 2007, when I had the privilege of interviewing the pastor for a Power for Living article.

Lunik IX is a collection of perhaps a half dozen Communist-era apartment blocks, housing approximately six or seven thousand people. Windows are smashed out, garbage is heaped anywhere anyone feels like throwing it. There isn’t a single playground toy to be seen. The ground is parched. And yet, there stands a little church. Surrounded by two chicken-wire fences to prevent vandalism, it invites those who are spiritually thirsty to come, drink, and be filled.

This morning a group of 35-40 believers met to worship. The pastor, himself a converted gypsy, is a songwriter who has recorded his music digitally. He pressed a button and the first song began. I wish you could have heard the congregation sing! And wow – do they have a sense of rhythm!

The pastor and his wife

Each time I have an opportunity to worship with believers of other races and languages, I catch a wee glimpse of heaven. Someday people from every tongue and tribe and skin color will stand before God and worship Him in song. And for these brothers and sisters in the gypsy ghetto, and for the Romanian young adults infected with HIV/AIDS discrimination will no longer exist. They are the poor, crying out for justice on earth, questioning why God put them on earth if only to suffer. And yet someday, they will reign with Jesus in His heavenly kingdom. Surely they have a hope.

Before doing that, however, we took a 3-hour tour of Budapest. 

Welcome to Budapest!

 It was wonderful to finally see something other than the airport and train station. Then we met Mike and Nancy Elwood for dinner. They serve with Greater Europe Mission, and Nancy also helped found SHARE, a ministry to help equip missionary parents in the context of their kid’s education. I first met Nancy when she came to an IM conference to provide information and educational testing services for our staff. She later invited me to teach a couple of workshops at a SHARE conference in Hungary in 2008 – that’s where I was when I received word of my dad’s passing. It was good to touch base with them again.

We had a divine appointment on the train to Slovakia. We sat with a college-age fellow who, we learned, could speak English. John told us that he was traveling home to visit his mom, a widow. “She always worries too much about me,” he said. “That’s not good for her. She gets headaches and stomach aches and she can’t sleep at night.” Then he added, “Fear must run in the family, for I do the same thing.”

His speaking the word fear was like throwing a bone to a dog. “I happened to write a book about overcoming fear,” I said. “Did you know the Bible addresses it 366 times?” I mentioned that God’s presence in our lives is the secret to overcoming it. That’s when he said he plans to study theology in Romania after he completes his law studies. The conversation went on to other things, but minutes later he said something completely random: “I read a novel recently. It was about two brothers. The one with a family committed a crime and was sentenced to death. The other, without a family, took his death penalty. He sacrificed himself for the sake of his brother.”

I looked at Gene and he looked at me. We read each other’s minds. Without a doubt, God is seeking John. His words provided an easy and automatic lead into a brief chat about what Jesus did for us, how He sacrificed Himself when He paid our death penalty for sin. John listened and nodded. He said, “Many people don’t understand what Jesus did.” I agreed. Then I offered him my NT in the New Living Translation and explained that it told the entire story. He said, “Thank you for your offer. I will consider it and let you know before our journey ends.”

Sure enough. Minutes before we reached his destination, he said, “I will accept your offer for the Bible.” Yahoo!! I jumped from my seat and dug through my suitcase until I found it. With sheer joy I handed it to him. Now I’m praying for God to continue drawing John to His heart.

“Thank You, God, for divine appointments and for Your great love for mankind.”

Here’s what the Scripture says about this scene: “Some of his disciples began talking about the beautiful stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls. But Jesus said, ‘The time is coming when all these things will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another’” (Luke 21:5,6).

As I travel through Eastern Europe, I see massive stone cathedrals. They’re incredible works of art, designed and built by people with creative imaginations and skill beyond my comprehension. These structures are magnificent to behold. Some are hundreds of years old. They’ve endured centuries of sun, rain, wind, and snow. Some have even suffered bombings and undergone reconstruction as a result. They’ve done well, but their days of glory are coming to an end. When Jesus returns, all manmade monuments will crumble and fall.

Cathedral in Kosice, Slovakia

Herein lies a teachable moment for us. What manmade monuments might be captivating us? Money? Reputation? Our physical appearance? Earthly possessions? Ministry success?  Sadly, for some churches today, a physical building becomes an object of worship rather than a tool for worship. We must be careful to remember that the tangible, and sometimes intangible, things we find so appealing now will someday perish. Jesus Himself says: “The time is coming when all these things will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another.”

Let’s be sure to keep our focus not on what’s temporal and will be demolished someday, but on what’s eternal!