It's a rainy day and this seems to match our moods. No one really wants to leave Poland, but we must return home or go on to our next destinations. Our team has worked through challenges and obstacles with fortitude and perseverance, and they are understandably tired. Yet, all are fullfilled and happy to have built well and helped the Habitat families realize their dreams of home ownership are soon to come true! We received a note from our friend Asia who met us in Krakow and escorted us to Gliwice: My dear Team :) I just want to say THANK [View Full Entry]

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Our team consists of quite a few runners who actually enjoy getting up in the pre-dawn hours to run a few kilometers before breakfast! Where do they get the energy? Saturday dawned cloudy and humid with a promise of rain. It was lightly sprinkling when we boarded Miroslaw's bus for our last ride to the jobsite, but the skies cleared somewhat and the temperature was comfortable by the time we arrived. It's a bittersweet day -- a half day of getting as much done as we can and yet take time for an important celebration of incredible accomplishments this week with [View Full Entry]

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We were blessed again with a beautiful day for working on the jobsite. Sunny skies and eager workers! At the end of the day yesterday, we had mixed and poured 8 batches of concrete. So, Damian started the day by ordering more supplies to keep up with our incredible workers. Our cohesive team has worked well together from the beginning and was looking forward to another great day on the job. By mid-morning, reporters from the local television station arrived to ask the same question that the newspaper journalist asked a few days ago: "Why do you come to volunteer in [View Full Entry]

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Thursday brought another sunny and awesome work day. Our team has developed into cohesive subgroups that have learned to function more smoothly. Laughter is heard frequently, and our production is among the highest of any of the teams volunteering in Gliwice. Our interaction with the families is energizing as we daily work side by side to help them build their new flats. The cultural experience that comes with this kind of trip adds a new level of appreciation for the many blessings we have in our own homes. We continue to be motivated to do the best we can, as quickly [View Full Entry]

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It is amazing that we are already half way through the week. In addition to our assignments on the jobsite, we have experienced a lot of the culture of Gliwice. As we bus to the jobsite, we see locals going to work, potential drivers practicing at the local driving school, and students enjoying their last days as summer break comes to a close. We have mixed and hauled, spread and smoothed, laid and leveled, measured and cut, sanded and fitted, and even came up with all kinds of other tasks to get our jobs done today. It's more of the same, [View Full Entry]

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Today went smoother as we began to gel in smaller team groups and work on various tasks. We began to improve our efficiency as we learned from the local workers and Inspektor Damian, our site supervisor. Our 'wall team' made great progress and the 'cement team' poured a lot more today. The 'lunch team' purchased a real Polish spread from the local bakery, meat market and grocery store. Participating on the 'lunch team' means you experience shopping like the locals, going to various sklepy (shops) to purchase different items. With this additional 'fuel', we accomplished a lot more [View Full Entry]

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Our team arrived bright and eager Monday morning to begin the work we traveled 5,000+ miles to do. After an important safety and security briefing, we met with the site supervisor, Damian, to receive our work assignments. This year's work will include pouring cement floors in each of the flats (apartments) and building the interior block walls according to the new owners' floorplans. We mixed cement, carried blocks, and distributed supplies for all 19 members to begin work. We worked side by side with several of the family members who were accruing their "sweat equity" hours required b [View Full Entry]

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After a sobering start to this Sunday, we arrived in Gliwice and checked into Hotel Sezam. A few minutes later, we met a few of the families for whom we would be building. We split into smaller groups and were entertained with a delicious afternoon meal in their current homes. Upon our return, we shared our experiences and observations during our evening team meeting. Without exception, we each experienced a very warm reception and appreciation for our being here. You can communicate without words (hand gestures, charades, facial expressions and drawings). We used them all. [View Full Entry]

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An early morning departure ensured that we would arrive on time for our tour reservation of Auschwitz Concentration Camp and Birkenau Death Camp in Oswiecim. Our guide, Kasia, provided us with a factual yet passionate tour of a very difficult place. As she related the history and many specifics surrounding the events and circumstances, we were all overwhelmed with the immense evil it represented. In spite of this painful experience, we witnessed butterflies flying freely that helped remind us that this kind of imprisonment and extermination must never happen again. We heard church bell [View Full Entry]

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Saturday morning was sunny and warm and a great day for a city-orientation tour via electric tram. We boarded outside our hotel and proceeded to explore the beautiful old city of Krakow. The architecture is wonderful and the people amazing and warm. Rod (Wisconsin) Very different from Waukesha yet the same in many ways - architecture old and interesting, very different; people friendly and carrying on many of the same activities as folks at home; we are very much the same except for language. Janet (Wisconsin) Krakow is a city of immense interest, numerou [View Full Entry]

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