Pray for New Team Members

Please pray as we look for new team members to join us in Poland! I will be attending a conference from 3rd-8th Jan. and am hoping for good meetings with new PI candidates and mobilization staff. Please pray that I will represent the area of Eastern Central Europe well.

Thanks!

Team

Please pray that the Lord will raise up a team in Rzeszow. There is so much potential here, yet it seems no one is interested in coming to Poland. Pray that the Lord will raise interest in this needy country and that Poland will not be overlooked as a field of ministry. Pray that the few believers here will be encouraged in Christ and that, together, we can reach out to those who have never heard.

Thanks!

Last week a team from Across Ministries came to Rzeszow to run an English Course for children. The kids had a great time learning English, playing games, and hearing Bible stories. On the last day, we had special evening program for the kids and their parents. When we thanked the director of the school we used for the course, she was very happy. Her daughter had attended the course all week and was very happy with what we did. The director invited us to return next year to hold another English course and hopes that more kids can come. We do too! Please pray for these kids and their parents. Praise the Lord for the good connections He made this week between the Baptist Church and the city and school director.

English Camp 2009

English Camp was incredible! By the end of the week we were all exhausted from playing crazy games, having English classes, and meeting new friends. Praise the Lord for a new believer and for those who would like to begin studying the Bible. Please pray as we begin follow-up at the end of the summer, kicking off fall programs with a party where we'll show the camp video. We've invited the kids to join us for a weekly meeting to practice English for their high school exams and are in the process of planning a youth group meeting. Pray for wisdom as we work out the details. Pray that what the kids learned this week will stick with them and that they will desire a relationship with Christ. Thanks to the Canadian team and Fala team members for putting on such a great camp!

The Canadians Arrive Tomorrow!

Please pray for the team from Canada that will be coming to Rzeszow to lead English Camp. They will arrive Thurs. evening and spend a couple days in Rzeszow. Then, we will meet the campers Monday morning and head to the mountains. They have lots of great stuff planned for the camp. Please pray that they will get good rest after their travels, adjust quickly to Poland, and will have willing hearts to do whatever is required. Pray also for unity between the Canadian and Polish teams of workers and that we have many opportunities to share the love of Christ with the Polish youth. Please pray also for safety during the camp, energy for the workers (and campers), and that strong relationships will be formed.

Thanks!

Amber

Praise for God is Good!

Yesterday and today (June 16 &17th) we welcomed Tom and Beata to Rzeszow to discuss the English Day Camp (Course) that will take place in Rzeszow at the end of July. Pastor Adam worked hard to find a school for the event, but when the first school found out that we're with the Baptist Church they decided not to let us use their facilities. So...we had to trust the Lord to provide another location. He did! We had meetings today with the school director and passed out fliers inviting the children to come. The director was very helpful and will likely attend the camp herself to see what exactly we'll be doing.

Please pray that many children will come and that the American team will get great opportunities to show love in a practical way.

Pray for wisdom for me as I serve as "camp coordinator" during the week of July 20-24.

Pray that we will find 10 volunteers who speak Polish and English who can help the American team and who will be responsible to help care for children.

Praise the Lord for what He is doing!

Thanks,
Amber

Hostetlers on Furough

Please pray for Paul & Sherilyn and their children while they are on furlough this summer in the US. Pray that they will re-adjust well to life in America, that they will be greatly refreshed, and that all of their appointments, meetings, and plans will be successful. Pray that the Lord will encourage their hearts, give them the rest they need, and provide His wisdom as they continue to follow Him in ministry.

Baptism, English Camp '09, and Beyond

After returning to Poland from the PI Eurasian Conference, we traveled to Krynice the following day to witness the baptism of a new church member and others from our sister church in Tarnow. It was a moving event, especially for Tomasz, who was baptized and his wife, Agnieszka. Please pray that the Lord will continue to grow their faith and that He will protect them as young believers.

We began promoting this year's English Camp on Friday. We are hoping to visit all (or most) of the jr. high and high schools in Rzeszow. We met with the secretaries or directors of about ten schools on Friday and will be returning to several schools this week to visit classes. We will prepare a lesson for the kids including games and concluding with last year's camp video and an invitation to attend this year. We will also visit 24 more schools in the coming weeks. Please pray that we will have good reception in schools, that God will provide strong contacts with teachers and administration that will lead to further ministry, and that many students will come to camp this summer. Please pray also for the Josiah Venture team coming from Canada to lead the camp.

For more on English Camp, check out:
http://www.englishcamp.pl/rzeszow2009/Galeria/galeria.html for photos of last year's camp.

Thanks for praying!

Amber for PI Rzeszow

Praising Him!

So much has been happening in Rzeszow lately! We are praising the Lord for working above and beyond what we can imagine. Thank you for praying. Here are some highlights:


Last Wednesday Paul and Pastor Adam met with the city president. He has been very supportive of the Baptist Church here and is in the process of helping us find land on which to build a church of our own. To this point, we have been sharing a store front-style room with another church. When informed of our summer plans, including an English Camp for teens and a day camp for children, the president offered the free use of a school for the day camp.


Several additional meetings with the city president will need to be arranged, so please pray that the church will continue to find favor with him and the city council. Pray also for Adam and Paul as they lead the church.


Recently, Sherilyn and Amber attended a Women's conference along with three other women from the church. The focus was on learning how to pray. The ladies were very encouraged and enjoyed spending time in fellowship with other believing sisters. Five women in attendence accepted Christ. Pray that the lessons learned at the conference will continue to affect our prayer lives and will have an influence on the church. Pray for Sherilyn as she leads monthly women's meetings and that the Lord will further the friendships of the ladies in the church. (see photo)


The Lord has opened doors for Amber to teach English several times in a local high school. She has been able to gain experience in teaching and has gotten to know several teachers. Pray for continued favor with this school and for wisdom in maintaining professionalism while knowing what to say when asked questions about why she chooses to volunteer in such a capacity. Pray also for clear direction as she continues to pursue this opportunity.

On Wednesday (Apr. 22nd) the team will be traveling to Croatia for PIONEERS' bi-annual Eurasian conference. Please pray for safety in travel, that the Lord will teach us much from this conference, and that we will have a great time of refreshment with other teams in our area. Pray for the kids, that they will enjoy their classes and will be able to catch up on school work once they return to Poland.

English in Schools

Please praise the Lord for opportunities He has provided for serving the community. I have been invited to visit two high schools in Rzeszow and am hoping for more such opportunities. As a team, we will be starting a group to help students prepare for their English exams. Please pray that we are effective in helping these students practice their English and also that we are able to build strong friendships with students and teachers in Rzeszow. Thanks! AS

Return to Rzeszow

After a restful furlough and many happy meetings I have returned to Rzeszow.

In the next week, I hope to meet with several contacts here and am planning to observe some English classes at the University of Rzeszow on Tuesday. Please pray for these meetings as they may help determine what my ministry will look like in the future.

I met a lady today who would like me to tutor her neice in English. I am expecting to do a good amount of tutoring, but want to balance that with other teaching opportunities too. Please pray for wisdom in determining where the Lord would have me serve. I want to serve the community and the church and desire that whatever I do will work towards church-planting here in Rzeszow.

Thanks for praying! Amber

Am I the Only One?

Recently, a story I wrote for PI was featured on the "front page" of the January edition of The Bottom Line. Check it out at www.movefurther.org

Amber

Story '08 and other Great News!

The Story '08 Conference has ended, but I am praying the results will last a long time. The seminar on the "Unreligious" people groups of Europe (focusing on Poland) went very well and many afterwards told my teammate and I that they learned a lot and had never realized that Europe has such great needs.

I was so blessed during the conference to meet a young couple who are absolutely excited about coming to Poland. They are hoping to use this summer to survey both teams and discover whether God may be calling them to join one of the teams long-term. Please pray for them as they seek God's will and begin preparing for their time in Poland this summer.

Saturday, I will be heading to the Tampa area to visit a church there. I am looking forward to re-connecting with a family there, speaking at the church, and am hoping to encourage the believers there.

Sunday, I will be returning to Orlando as a representative during Pioneers' Candidate Orientation. This will be one of the largest groups to come through orientation and many have not yet determined where they would like to serve. Please pray for the candidates as they spend time here, that the Lord will give them His peace and work in their hearts. Pray that even more people would be interested in Poland.

Praise Him for what He is doing in Poland!

Amber