food for fish

This kind of stuff happens on smaller scales all the time throughout Central & Eastern Europe, and sometimes on larger scales but never reported. Poland, at least to this point, appears to be more tolerant, however, there is still resistance, mostly from the established church at this point. Legally it is very hard to register a protestant church in Poland, but many non-registered fellowships exist without any government intervention...

Persecution comes in many other forms though, such as propaganda from religious radio stations stating that protestant churches are running Bible camps to brain wash their children... We've been on the receiving end of that one... not too much of an affect though, praise God. When I lived in Poland my roommate lost his job at a college because he was simply accused of "converting" or "attempting to convert", he simply was inviting people to our fellowship, but that was enough... poof he lost his job. Most people in Poland have begun looking other places, pray that they look at a relationship with Jesus.

You just gotta let your hair down. Sometimes, your hair comes down without you asking... With three babies in the house, and none of them in harmony yet, I've had to let go of some things. But we like 'em, and now it helps us keep the house clean.

Today at work, I went to open my lunch, and behold, I had no sandwich. I kind of laughed, thinking Alexis forgot, which was fine, I asked her in an instant message and she said that since we were running late she didn't have time to make one. Okay, that's fine. So I went to our break room and found instant "beef noodle" soup... yuck. It was okay, but, after about 3 min, it was yuck. Anyway, a co-worker asked me what I was eating and I told them what had happened, he came back a few minutes later and offered me half his sandwich... Awesome.

If God will provide my lunch through someone I really don't know too well, who is a good man, not sure where he stands with Jesus, but none-the-less, he is my neighbor, then he'll provide for the next $2,000 and much more for what he has called us to!

Man, sometimes I am so ashamed of myself, in a good healthy way. Let me explain, many times I dodge, withhold, or otherwise avoid talking about Jesus in a real way. Yeah I'll mention what I believe, what I think, and at times give simple encouragements. BUT, it's always in a very politically correct, benign kind of way. He is so real, and he has and does so much for me, I should talk about what he does as if it were my parents doing something great for me. He deserves even more praise! He is great, and his name shall reign the earth. Yet I inhibit myself all the time... this I shall investigate, this I shall dig into. I want him to be apparent in my life.

Hi Everyone,

GREAT NEWS,

God is providing every bit, we've gone from needing $2,860 to just $650 for our airfare which is due at the end of this week. The next chunk is due by June 15th, which is our France piece, and we still need $1500 for that. Quick math, means we need just $22 from 100 people and we are done!

Should not the news be reporting things such as this? This is something that I have heard of only from other service people, friends who have been in Iraq, etc... Apparently if you are actually in the war you can see why to support it, imagine that.

Now, before you sign me off as a 100% Bush supporter, just know that I am in the middle on nearly everything regarding politics. Do I think it's been awfully long? YES. Do I think people deserve freedom? YES. My question is where does our responsibility start and theirs begin? How much of this is a culture issue that we may not understand? Because I do not know the circumstance I will trust those that see it in first person, in 3D, and allow God the control. I wish we were not there, I wish it were over, but it isn't, and I'm sure the families of our people and the Iraqi families all feel the same. The enemy (the spiritual enemy) obviously as a strong hold there... Danial chapter 10?

About ten minutes ago I received an email from our travel agent, final payment for our airfare is due on May 18th (she says she can extend it, I would rather not). We'll see what our faith in God looks like in the next week. We need about $2,050 more for the three of us. I am so happy to know that this is the last time we pay this much for airfare (since we'll be going in the winter from now on), well maybe not the last time, but probably the last time we'll have multiple destinations and an inflexible window. I know God will come through HE HAS ALWAYS come through. It's my faith that is weak.

Father, give me the faith to believe in your provision. Give me the courage, and humble my pride, so that I may ask in your name for prayer from others. Thank you Lord for what you do, what you provide, and that we are 100% partners in all of this. In Jesus' name - Amen.

I hate it when blogger or my computer (in this case) freak out after I've typed at finely worded post. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. So this is take two.

I've been following Polish politics for a little bit, and I'm glad to see that Poland's government is on the road to creating a real identity for their country. Poland has been lorded over, split up, been the battle field for other's conflicts, had her people stolen, killed, mocked, and then "freed" by a regime that controlled her for nearly 50 years. It's good to see that in these two articles that her new leaders, while not perfect, and at times overly proud, do see the importance of creating an identity that reflects Poland and not her past occupants (she'll always have that, but moving forward with a fresh identity that embraces both history, yet removes the things that can are monuments to something which does not exsist anymore).

The first article explains what the government is doing with Nazi and Soviet monuments, the second one talks about Russia's some-what negative reaction.

Here is an article I found when I Googled "missions in Poland", which gives you a huge amount of resources about missions in Poland. The article reflects much of what we have experienced, in my year of living there and our subsequent trips. Take a look, learn, and have God open your eyes to a completely different place, other than the "sexy" mission field of the 3rd world (which is in dire need of God, equally as much, just many people see it as "really" needing God, everyone needs God's grace just as much, it's the same Gospel for all, including the USA).

Alexis and I are at the Dentist right now. I haven't been for 3 years and she for 6; I have two more cavities and most likely need one of my wisdom teeth removed because it has a cavity and is coming in side ways. Overall though pretty good. I was a little nervous about going to a new dentist but I liked him. We'll see how Alexis is in about an hour.

Reason number 80 to get another car. Sitting in a dental office without much to do when I could be working or at least doing something else.

I actually timed that it takes just under 3 min to read this, please do :)

Hello Everyone,

A quick update on our Poland & France mission trip this summer; we are experiencing God's financial provision in his amazing ways, last month we raised another $1000 towards the trip, we now need just $2,860 (donation information below). We praise God for his work in all of this, and for the past two trips we have made with East Hill to the U-Turn summer camp to serve and disciple youth. Our excitement grows stronger with each trip, and our love for Poland, her people, and God's heart for them, grows stronger and more compassionate with each step we take.

This is, to date, the most expensive trip we have made, and in light of this we have done some praying and thinking about future trips. We are currently in the process of applying to be mission team leaders sent out of East Hill. This means that we will be leading teams to Poland on our own, giving us much more flexibility and allowing us to dig in deeper with the relationships we are building. Please pray for us through this process, for discernment in choosing team members, and in casting our vision and passion for our future in Poland. The most exciting part is that we are tentatively building up for a much less expensive trip (currently looks like $1,200 per person, verses the $3,000 per person for this trip) in February/March of 2008. As we plan out the details of this trip we hope to communicate a more focused vision for all of you to tangibly partner in.

Blessings and thanks for your prayerful support,

If you would like to financially support us:
Just $30 from each recipient of this email would pave the way for both of us.

Look to the right for "Poland Mission Information" and click on the PayPal donation button. Sorry not tax-deductible.

For tax deductible donations:
Send a check made out to “Mission Dispatch" to:

Travis & Alexis Mielonen
C/O Mission Dispatch
21911 76th AVE W. Suite 211
Edmonds, WA 98020--

Enemy-occupied territory – that is what this world is. – C. S. Lewis

So last night and this morning I attended a Men’s conference, it was pretty good, put on by our church. It’s actually the first one I’ve ever been to. My heart wasn’t really wrenched, but that’s okay I don’t have to always experience emotions for something to be good. What I really came home with was the fact that I still focus and desire to have approval from others. It’s very hard to get beyond. However, rather than being disappointed and frustrated I am choosing to “just do it” to go forward and take hold of the calling God has placed on my life. One step at a time, little by little the vision will be cast and people will catch. The Lord is awesome, faithful, good, and he is in control.

Also I can feel a new passion coming, a new love of life, and this time the catalyst is me choosing it, rather than a random external motivator. Slowly but surely I know life will line up, more than I could ever explain at this moment. In a way I feel like a character on Lost, accept that I am found, washed clean, and I trust this place that I seem to have randomly ended up on, actually I trust The Lord not this place.

I am so glad it's Friday. Tonight I get to go to a Men's conference, essentially my first, can't wait. I just want to be out of here (work) and get my brain off of troubleshooting and diagnosing... nothing ever seems to get accomplished in this line of work. A few projects, but those are few and far between, it's almost always "maintenance".