REACH Polska
- 3 Ways to support us
- About us
- Events
- Photos
- 2006 Germany Trip
- 2006 Poland Trip
- Brandon & Becky’s Wedding
- Day at the park
- Discovery Museum
- Emma 3 months old, 4th of July
- Emma @ Great Opa’s house
- Emma Eileen Mielonen
- Emma’s Adventures
- Emma’s Dedication
- Engagement pics – Fall ’05
- Fall day at the Park
- Friends
- Good old times.
- Krakow 08′
- Kute Kitty Emma
- Living in Poland 03/04
- Living in Poland 03/04 Part 2
- Los Angeles Zoo
- Misc Pix of Alexis & I
- Misc pix of me (highschool, Campus Crusade, etc)
- Photos of Alexis Mielonen
- Photos of Travis Mielonen
- Poland 2007 Trip
- Poland October 2008
- Poland Winter 08 part 1
- Poland Winter 08 part 2
- Princess Picnic
- Pumpkin Patch 09
- Random Picts
- Seattle Tree Lighting 2008
- Wall Photos
- Wedding 7/9/06
- Why Poland?
Archive for category Poland
Shipping out?
Posted by Travis in Family News, Fund Raising, Poland on August 22, 2010
Some of you might be wondering what our departure status is, and right now the best we can say is that we are in a holding pattern. We’re feeling lead by God to take care of some things on the home front here prior to leaving. There is a lot to address before we depart, everything from fund raising, storage, medical things, employment, visas, language learning (hard to do in the midsts of everyday life), and many other fine details.
We are prayerfully looking at each step, and will keep on knocking, we know God’s promise of REACHing Poland is true, and we look forward to the day we land and start the next book of our lives.
Small Churches = Big Impact
Posted by The Mielonens in Poland on August 9, 2010
Shared by TravisM
Makes sense to us, and is similar to our thoughts on expanding the Church in Poland…
Brandon O'Brien, associate editor for Leadership Journal, has written a new book, The Strategically Small Church. In this work, he seeks to demonstrate how small churches are uniquely equipped for success in today's culture. Ed Stetzer interviewed O'Brien about his book and why being small may be more missionally strategic.
Ed: What do you mean by "strategically small church"? Is this a new church model, like "simple" or "organic" church?
Brandon: A "strategically small" church is one that has learned to recognize and leverage the inherent strengths of being small. Being strategically small means that instead of trying to overcome your congregation's size, you have learned to use it to strategic ministry advantage.
In other words, I'm not advocating a new model of doing church. Instead I'm hoping that by telling the stories of some truly innovative and effective small churches, other small congregations will stop viewing their size and limited resources as liabilities and begin thinking about them as advantages.
Ed: What keeps small churches from becoming "strategically small?"
Brandon: Many small churches try to operate like big churches. The idea seems to be that if we imitate what the megachurches are doing–if we do ministry like them–then we'll grow like them. The trouble is, operating like a big church can undermine the inherent strengths of being small.
Berlin, Vienna cheaper than Warsaw
Posted by The Mielonens in Poland on July 22, 2010
Berlin, Vienna cheaper than Warsaw
Shared by TravisM
Wonder how Kraków compares?
An apartment in Warsaw is more expensive than in Vienna or Berlin
Ready to bid?
Posted by The Mielonens in Fund Raising, Poland on July 8, 2010
See what you can get for your donation!
Below we have linked to some online albums of the items we will have available as your gift for differing suggested donations. To make a “bid” on an item pictured in one of the albums/catalogs below, simply leave a comment (you’ll need a Google account, sorry) with your donation amount, and as long as no one else has offered something higher, by 6pm on the 18th of July, that item will be your free gift for donating! * All donations are fully tax deductible and a receipt will be provided for all donations.
How are we going to do this? Read here!
Not everything is pictured, our home will be open on July 17th and 18th from 10am to 5pm, and refreshments will be served, with many more items (kitchen items, toys, other small furnishings, etc). We will keep each item’s “bids” up to date as time progresses. If you do not want to create a Google account, you may email us your bid and we will make note of it. Be sure to check back regularly to see the status of your items, and we might just add more!
Items for a suggested donation of $3
Items for a suggested donation of $5
Items for a suggested donation of $10
Items for a suggested donation of $15
Items for a suggested donation of $20
Items for a suggested donation of $50
Items for a suggested donation of $75
Items for a suggested donation of $100
Items for a suggested donation of $150
Items for a suggested donation of $300
Items for a suggested donation of $500
The auction is being held at our house and online (sorta, just comment on the pics above, and we’ll count your pledge!):
Get it now!
Speaking at SLOT festival
Posted by The Mielonens in Poland on July 6, 2010
Shared by TravisM
Can’t wait for the day Alexis and I finally get to goto the SLOT fest! http://slot.art.pl
Slot Festival begins in a few minutes. Great to see thousands of young Polish here.
Speaking schedule:
Wed 3pm Eastern Tent. Debbie and I will tell stories of our 3 months in morocco this year and what happened there.
Fri 1pm Under The Tree. The gospel and words. Kenny Mitchell and I speaking on how Jesus articulated the gospel
Sat 1pm Under the Tree. The gospel and skin. Me speaking on how we can embody the good news.
Human trafficking in Poland
Posted by The Mielonens in Poland on June 30, 2010
Shared by TravisM
The more news we read about Poland the more needs we identify. Social justice backed by the full grace and truth of the Gospel is the answer, very carefully orchestrated so that if we disappeared the work goes on.
Experts estimate that several hundred persons are trafficked a year to and from Poland.
When we’re in Poland – no car!
Posted by Travis in Culture, Poland, Travis' Thoughts on June 29, 2010
One of the lifestyle changes we plan on making when we move to Poland is living without a car. I’m sure from time to time we’ll rent a vehicle, but for the majority of our trips, we’ll go by public transit, and/or bike – I just found this web page about a bike sharing program in Kraków, the city we are moving to. This kind of program is a perfect compliment to the non-car lifestyle.
It’s crazy for a lot of our friends in America to imagine, yet we know it’s going to create a new sense of freedom. Imagine just walking our your door, typing in your pin to unlock a bike, and not having to worry about insurance, traffic, gas, parking!
One day, soon!
Schindler’s Factory
Posted by The Mielonens in Poland on June 23, 2010
Shared by TravisM
Can’t wait to visit this new museum and learn more about Kraków’s history. We’ve been near the building many times, glad to see they have utilized it.
Krakow’s Historical Museum opens a new exhibition on the Second World War, housed in Schindler’s enamelware factory.
Gingrich on nine days that changed the world
Posted by The Mielonens in Poland on June 22, 2010
Gingrich on nine days that changed the world
Shared by TravisM
Looks like a documentary we might want to see.
Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich, in Poland for the premier of his new film about Pope John Paul II’s 1979 visit to Poland, says he hopes the movie has a universal message, applicable not just to Poland but the world over.
Beautiful Poland
Posted by Travis in Personal reflection, Poland on June 20, 2010
We can’t explain enough, and we won’t be embarrassed when people laugh at how much we talk about you. You are what God has put on our hearts, and you are beautiful. With history, both beautiful and tragic, and people who have endured far more than most westerners could try to imagine.
Poland, you are God ordained for greater things than we can imagine. Greater things are yet to come, and greater things will be done. For God has called you, we know it, we feel it. May your days grow brighter, your people stronger, and your love of God intensify.
We will grow to see the best of you, and we grow to see the worst of you. We will grow to enjoy you, and we will grow to be annoyed by you. We will grow to annoy you, and you will grow to be annoyed by us. In the end, we come not to change, but to inspire, inspire something of God in you, and out of you. We will sacrifice our family, our love, and our life as “Americans” for the sake of God’s kingdom, love, and power flowing through your people.
Today we see the spark, tomorrow we see the explosion. We love you, and we give our lives to God, the God who calls people to places such as you. Because you are beautiful.
Polish director wins Seattle film fest award
Posted by The Mielonens in Poland on June 15, 2010
Polish director wins Seattle film fest award
Shared by TravisM
Looks like a film we’ll want to pick up somewhere. Hope it’s in English or has subtitles.
Poland’s Borys Lankosz has won the Grand Jury Prize as Best New Director at the 36th Seattle International Film Festival SIFF.
Many bridges.
Posted by Travis in Poland, Travis' Thoughts on June 10, 2010
We have so many bridges to cross in the coming year, currently I can count 11 different “bridges” we need to cross. We’re currently about halfway across the first… and there’s so many details I don’t want to burden everyone with them, just know that we could use a lot of prayer, wisdom, and guidance right now. Stress levels are floating somewhere around 6 to 7, somedays it’s just easier to get through with that one day, but then it’s easy to forget future details.
The good news is that each of these bridges lead to great and fantastic things, albeit the intensity of life has potential to increase 10 fold, but the rewards and character building will increase as well. Every single bridge is a step closer to being in Poland. We know that all of this is to prepare us for the battle in the promise land, Poland will be a new kind of battle, for us personally and for the Kingdom of God. Excited? YES. Ready? Getting there.
Freedom day celerated in Poland
Posted by The Mielonens in Poland on June 7, 2010
Freedom day celerated in Poland
Shared by TravisM
A reminder of just how far Poland has come in 21 years since the first elections after the fall of communism.
On 4 June 1989 Solidarity had an overwhelming victory in the first, partially-free democratic elections in communist Europe thus paving the way for the gradual end of communist rule in the region.
Floods, landslides wreak havoc in southern Poland
Posted by The Mielonens in Poland on June 5, 2010
Floods, landslides wreak havoc in southern Poland
Shared by TravisM
Poland’s isn’t out of flood trouble yet. A lot of our friends are in these regions, thanks for the prayers.
Heavy rainfall in southern Poland has brought rivers back up to alarming levels, with continuing landslides and a bridge collapsing.
Poland’s ‘Generation Y’ becoming more entrepreneurial
Posted by The Mielonens in Poland on May 26, 2010
Poland’s ‘Generation Y’ becoming more entrepreneurial
Shared by TravisM
This rings true for us, a lot of our Polish friends do free-lance work or side business, some of them full time self-employed!
New research shows that depending on generation, more and more Poles want to trade in full-time employment for freelance work.
Zakopane priest arrested on Brazil pedophilia charges
Posted by The Mielonens in Poland on May 24, 2010
Zakopane priest arrested on Brazil pedophilia charges
Shared by TravisM
The widespread accountability issue across the world, not just in the Catholic church but in all areas of the Church goes wide and far. We must fight to remain above reproach, society is far less trusting now, more than ever.The comments on this article are of particular interest to us, gives us some insight into the attitude towards the State Catholic church in Poland.
Polish priest, Father Marcin Strachanowski (44), arrested last week in Rio de Janeiro, is being charged with using a parish rectory as an “erotic dungeon” and sexually abusing a 16 year-old former altar boy.
The good, the bad, and the ugly
Posted by Travis in Culture, Personal accounts, Poland, Travis' Thoughts on May 18, 2010
Poland is a place of many amazing things, good, bad, and ugly. There’s not a shortage of water or food, nor is there an overwhelming need to help in the orphanages, and it’s not a place struggling with war. But it is a nation of 38 million people, 38 million people who, for the most part, do not hear, nor get the opportunity, to know the saving power and knowledge of Jesus.
The bad
Poland’s history is full of tragedy, from wars, near genocide, the Holocaust, to communism and the psychological effects of each. With the recent crash of the Polish delegation heading to commemorate the Katyn massacre, we are reminded of the catastrophes which have spotted Poland’s history, when you begin to study each of the events it can become overwhelming. The consequence of such history has had a great effect on Polish society, underlining many of the characteristics which make it hard for Poles to encounter the living God.
The ugly
When you begin thinking about the effects of living in such a dynamic society, you can imagine the effect it can have on individuals. In our experiences (outside the wonderful personal friendships we have made) we have witnessed a people who are hard to build trust with, who are generally negative about life, and are afraid of being controlled. Even though we have personally witnessed Church splits, church abuse, and seen the damage caused when other foreign Christians attempt to setup Church “the way it ought to be”, we know greater things are yet to come. Because we do not seek to tell people what a relationship with Jesus needs to look like we stray away from concrete numbers (which are very hard to come by as it is). Instead we seek to love people in the power of the Holy Spirit, into a different kind of relationship with Christ. Estimates of protestant, evangelical, charismatic Christians range from 150,00 to 320,00 – or 0.003% to 0.008% of the population.
The good
The wonderfully good news, comes from our own personal connections with people in Poland. While there are big hurdles to overcome, and many things to learn, we believe God has a calling on the people of Poland. A calling not to unlike what the American church has been to the rest of the world, not in the way we may think (with money, resources etc), but in the effect of being Jesus to the world. Of the Polish Christians we know, we see a light which is striving to turn a nation upside, a group of people ready to change not just the nation of Poland, but ready to change Europe and beyond. To be effective both socially and spiritually. The workers are little, it’s estimated there is one born-again Christian work/group/church (both Catholic and non-Catholic) per every 250,000 people, and the harvest is great.
We know reaching Poland requires believing in doing something bigger than ourselves, and picturing that calling with each step. Believing it is just the beginning, walking it out with effect, is why we are doing what we’re doing now. We could write so much more, and we will.
Poles distrust entrepreneurs
Posted by The Mielonens in Poland on May 15, 2010
Shared by TravisM
Seems like a lot of distrust has been built up over the years. The comments on this story say a lot.
Almost eighty percent of Poles believe that Polish entrepreneurs are thieves, cheaters and swindlers, shows a survey by PBS DGA.
Church attendance down in Poland
Posted by The Mielonens in Poland on May 14, 2010
Church attendance down in Poland
Shared by TravisM
Some numbers which may be interesting to some people. Nothing surprising though from our own observations and conversations with people.
Congregations in Poland are falling, says a new report by the Polish Roman Catholic church.
Unique Online Museum of Lost Cultural Heritage
Posted by The Mielonens in Poland on May 14, 2010
Unique Online Museum of Lost Cultural Heritage
Shared by TravisM
75% of art and other historical artifacts lost durring WWII. Poland’s history is full and rich, I hope to explore this online museum a lot even if it’s all in Polish.
The Online Museum of Lost Cultural Heritage will be launched this weekend as part of the Museum Night.
-
You are currently browsing the archives for the Poland category.
The Mielonens
The Mielonens' Adventure
- Misja Polska, Mission Poland -
Releasing, Equipping, Affecting, Connecting, and Helping REACH poland with Jesus' personal work.
Foursquare Missionaries to Poland
Our sending Church is East Hill Church in Gresham, OregonDonate
You may also send a check to:
East Hill Church
Attn: Accounting
Memo: Poland Long Term
PO Box 650
Gresham, OR 97030Subscribe
Random Photos
Recent Comments