THE TAYLOR TIMES – March 1^st  2013

Warmest greetings & all our love in Christ, from the Taylor Clan in Poznan, Poland!

FAMILY 

“As for me & my house we will serve the LORD.”

Joshua 24:15

Growing fast… how time flies!

Usual celebrations… and usual hassles! Family life!

Seeking priorities in a busy timetable…

The girls are quite involved with a Christian Youth Group, the boys into

making models with their Dad, and all into Christian scouting!

Reading, films, music, history, scouting, animals & facebook  – all part of the Taylor household.

‘He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents...’

Malachi 4:6

Our priority and desire as parents is to spend much more time with the children this year.

By the way, a problem with Dale’s knee and a planned minor op. turned out to be much more complicated and serious with currently several weeks off work. He’ll be on crutches probably till mid-April.   Value prayers!

Unfortunately, a busy Asia has had to take up most his workload.

SCHOOLING

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

Asia’s is continuing Home Schooling this year with Sarah & Ben. Sarah is in her final year with Polish GCSEs in May.

Abi & Reuben are attending King David’s Christian School – where both Asia & Dale are heavily involved. Apart from English, Dale is teaching Christian Worldview and organising exhibitions mainly connected to history.

Hannah started at High School / 6^th Form back in September after several years of Home Schooling. Not easy at first, but going much better now.

WORK

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...”  I Peter 3:15

Dale continues to run CELT (Christian Education & Language Training) – teaching English mainly at King David’s. However, he also organises historical exhibitions with schools & libraries with the main goal of outreach.

Asia has been teaching English at home to individuals, however she has now stepped in for Dale at King David’s.

‘NEW LIFE’ CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

The church continues to meet @ our house. Certainly we’ve been encouraged looking back at the areas we’ve pioneered together. Everyone is encouraged to get actively involved in Christian ministry and look for evangelistic opportunities as they arise.

Our Deaf group has been expanding recently & are starting to meet @ 36a. New folks have become Christians, so this is very exciting.

Our teens have also attended a Polish Deaf-Sign course.

Groundwork – we are running an essentials & basic Christian course for our young folks on Sundays.

ROYAL RANGERS

All our kids are in Royal Rangers (Christian Scouts) and Dale is active in running the Model Club as part of this. Winter & Summer camps, hiking, serving churches, helping King David’s.

Dale recently qualified as a Polish Scout Leader.

OUTREACH PLANS

With St. Patrick’s Day coming soon, Hannah is organising an Outreach Event with the Christian Youth Group at the Pentecostal church. Dale is helping out.

At Easter we traditionally organise an outreach Passover. This year we will host another fellowship and show them the Passover, particularly relating it to the Lord’s Supper and Communion.

Historical Re-enactment – we are creating a WW2 Field Chapel at a couple of events in May & July.

Lincoln Baptist Church are helping us run an English Summer Club in July for Polish teenagers.

HOBBIES & INTERESTS

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24

Something we have really encouraged folks in the church here is to use their hobby or interests as a way to reach out to others with the Gospel. Sometimes this is rather colourful!

For us this includes:

Music

Hannah guitar, bodhran,

Sarah piano, Abi singing.

Dale percussion instruments...

Cithara Sanctorum – our Medieval Music Group

Historical re-enactment -  WW2, Medieval events

Model Club – every Friday afternoon @ home

Abi & Ben with Karate @ King David’s school

Everyone reading & Asia cross-stitching & decoupage!

PRAISE POINTS

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”

Jeremiah 29:11-12

Highlights of last year

* Getting closer to the LORD, especially from summer

* Challenges about the use of our time

* England trip, despite problems with the old minibus.

* Getting home after all the adventures!

* Dorking & St. Paul’s – more time spent with folks in the  church than before

* Able to meet up with our family – Dale’s Mum, his sister Paula & her family came down to see us whilst in Dorking.

* The ‘New’ Minibus

* Dale’s November –trip to UK with Tom from our church

- St. Paul’s – Zechariah & ‘Always Be Prepared’

- collecting stuff left behind in summer!

- working with Dale’s cousin Craig, Liz & the family in Brockham at the Children’s Club and with Christ Church

- Remembrance Sunday Parade - 22^nd Dorking (Brockham) Scouts (Dale’s old Scout group!)

* Hannah getting good grades & into good High School

* all our children doing well at school / in home education

* Support from our Fellowship

* Use of our Building

* Outreach at Historical events and Libraries, Museums, Schools

* Royal Rangers

* the Deaf Group in our church

* Cithara Sanctorum – outreach with Medieval Music

PRAYER POINTS

# Use of our time together, priorities

# Family – Sarah doing GCSE equivalent this summer

# Asia – very busy working, plus home schooling

# Dale’s full recovery

# Outreach work

# Summer Plans

# English Club in July

# Historical events & exhibitions

#UK trip in August?

# Hannah – practical work with my old church ‘Trinity’ in Dublin this summer, for 2 or 3 weeks?

# School work – King David’s Christian School

# Medieval group – our first CD to be released shortly

Dale & Asia Taylor

Pioneering in Poznan, Poland…

*Christian Education *Church work

*Home Schooling   *Evangelistic Outreach

THE TAYLORS' NEW SCHOOL YEAR :)

As usual, September has brought in some changes and new beginnings into our lives:

*FAMILY AND SCHOOL

- Reuben (7) - our youngest is now in class 1 of primary school at King David's, enjoying himself and enjoyed by teachers and friends.

- Benjamin (11) - is 'taking a sabbatical from school' for his class 5 - meaning it's home education for him this year. With electronic access to his school's everyday activities we can see how fast learning at home goes compared to learning in class, and we are able to do other things as well; like 'nature studies' in the garden (sowing new grass, weeding, etc.) or focusing on the events of September 1939 - much closer to our hearts than all the Ancients of the curriculum must for his year.

- Abigail (13) - along with all her class from primary school, joined by several new young people, she is a proud student of year 1 in King David's junior secondary school (gimnazjum). New subjects, new challanges, new teachers, yet all within good and friendly atmosphere of her old friends and school.

- Sarah (15) - this year is a year of 'lasts' for her - last year of homeschooling and last year of music school. She's in class 3 of junior secondary school (gimnazjum) which finishes with Polish GCSEs at the end of April. An important year of decision-making about future education.

- Hannah (16) - it's all new for her! After 6 years of relaxed 'taking-my-time' home education she's back into  hectic madness of state school system - in class 1 of senior secondary school (liceum) - 3 years preparing for Polish A-Levels before university. Her chosen subjects are history and languages (English and German).

- Dale (50!) - has become a full-time teacher at King David's. He teaches English every day to primary classes 5 and 6 (11 and 12-year-olds) and secondary classes 1 and 2 (13 and 14-year-olds). Also, - new!- he teaches worldview to classes 4, 5, and 6. He enjoys lessons with kids, but hates admin and paperwork that come along with teaching in a school. :)

- Asia (well,ok-43;-)) - for the first time in family history she is a 'proper stay-at-home mum' - meaning no trips to King David's or else at all this year. Supervising Ben and Sarah in their home education, trying to run the home properly, teaching private English classes at home, hoping to do more translation and cross-stitching, :)

KING DAVID'S SCHOOL

 Comprises now of around 140 pupils and students in 3 levels: Nursery (3 years), Primary (6 years), Junior Secondary Gimnazjum (3 years).

This summer King David's moved location and now we are right in the centre of the city. The building is shared with another school and rented from the city council. We have the use of a small gym building opposite as well.

There is also another building in the grounds that the city are willing to let to us if we have the funds to renovate it. The estimated cost would be around 12-15,000 pounds and it would be taken off the future rent if we went for it. The building would be potentially used as a Christian Education Centre in the city. This would give us the possibility to develop our vision for a location for the Outreach Exhibitions I organise based on History, Polish literature and set books, as well as a place for Royal Rangers and other ministries to develop. We'd value prayers about this development!

***

All else continues at Kordeckiego:

- NEW LIFE FELLOWSHIP meeting on Sundays (whole family)

- ROYAL RANGERS on Saturday mornings (all the kids)

- MODEL CLUB on Friday afternoons (Dale with the boys)

- CITHARA SANCTORUM medieval music on Monday Evenings (Dale and Hannah)

- HISTORY EXHIBITIONS for libraries and local schools

The three girls are involved with the pentecostal youth group and a sign-language course for teenagers.

***

Last but not least :)

Blessed as we are that:

-we are safe home

-our old van was dealt with - paid for and gone :)

-King David's new location is closer to us

-public transport is very good

-the nearby Tesco opened a 'you shop we drop' service - especially for us :)

We are nevertheless looking for a new minibus - big enough for the family and for carrying equipment for exhibitions, as well as being more reliable than our last white chariot.. :)

Thank you... and please remember to keep us in your prayers!

Asia, Dale, Hannah, Sarah, Abi, Ben & Reuben ><>

The Taylor Clan

 

The Taylor’s English Summer

The plan:

1. Drive from Poznań to Dorking, spend several days in Dorking, seeing friends and be in St.Paul’s church on Sunday
2. Drive up to Nantwich, Cheshire to spend time with Dale’s family
3. Drive to Lincoln to visit the Baptist church and plan next summer’s teen mission to Poznan
4. Drive back to Poland in the minibus full of stuff: King David’s School uniforms from M&S, yearly supplies of some English specialities, as well as things for different friends of ours …
    
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Prov.19;21) 

The reality: 

1. On the way through Germany, after several breakdowns, thought and prayed about turning back to Poland. Disappointed, but ready to go back, we knew there would also be many disappointed people waiting for us in England. Asked the Lord for wisdom – if we had to stop one more time soon, we’d be driving back to Poland. Spent the following 5 hours praying and worshipping the Lord and driving smoothly non stop. Took it as the Lord’s yes for our trip. In Holland and Belgium the problems reappeared, accompanied by an ominous sound from the gearbox. Got to see Dunkirk beaches just before the sunset – one fulfilled dream. 

 How we got to Calais, and then from Dover to Dorking, is God’s mysterious doing.
2. As usual on our stays in Dorking, had the privilege of the luxuries of our ‘holiday mansion’ at Rose Hill, courtesy of Nick and Marie Goddard - in their lovely home.

3. Friends started looking after us – David Basset took us to Box Hill,

 

Colin and then Tim Stevens took our poor car to the garage, Jackie Natt from St. Mary’s Reigate came up with a friend willing to pay for the repairs, Paul and Allie Studley and their homegroup organized a barbecue for us.
4. The garage people were very ingenious trying to trace the problem – we all thought they succeeded. 

5. Packed all our belongings, cleaned the house, left the key in the house and at 4 am left for Nantwich. Waved goodbye to the Dorking Cockerel and … here we go again … - decided the best direction was back to Rose Hill and the garage. As we left the key inside, we could not get into the house, so we parked outside till the decent hour 8 am, when we could ask Marie’s dad, Tim to come rescue us with his key. Read 2 separate devotionals for the day. Seemed to have the same theme: “...the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send?'” He definitely sent us back to Dorking. Unpacking time, kids!
6. The garage people continued scratching their heads,
 the bill continued growing, we settled back at Rose Hill, continued praising the Lord for His protection and asking Him for some decent way out.
7. Uncle David B. came to the rescue and sent the bored kids ...

 ... to the cinema. Asia entertained herself doing some decoupaging and cross-stiching, Dale entertained different options for the car as well as met up with some old school friends. Survived a Ninjas' attack in Rose Hill garden.

8. Found out that we could visit Barbara Richardson at the Nower Care as often as we wanted, so we did on several occasions. Realized how much of our girls’ success in homeschooling may have depended on prayers of formerly Kay and Barbara, and in the past couple of years Barbara. 

9. Took a nice walk to Elisabeth Teesdale for tea, where we met two Polish guys working for her, with their young families. Found out there are about 150 Poles living in Dorking, mostly attending St. Joseph’s church. Enjoyed the view of the river and a pheasant in the garden.

 

10. Our friends from Lincoln, Jonathan and Evelina with little Elijah came down and spent 2 good encouraging days with us.

Left their baby cot to take back to Poland and a spade and a pick for the wartime land rover of a friend of ours in Poland. Sure, there is space unlimited in our van to carry such things to and thro.
11. On the eve of the return of the legitimate owners of ‘our summer residence’, we were kindly invited to spend the rest of our enforced stay in Dorking in St. Paul’s vicarage.

12. Continued to attend St. Paul’s on Sunday mornings, surprising some, and surprised at the number of people approaching us and saying they regularly pray for us and our work in Poznan.
13. Dale’s family came down for their holiday just outside Dorking, so had plenty of time together, though in a different setting than planned.

 Attempted to produce a live genealogical tree in the Nower wood.

 

 14. Enjoyed fresh eggs, blackberries and the gate into the woods at the vicarage!
15. Did all the ‘necessary’ shopping in Sainsbury’s. Filled half the van with baked beans, weetabix and big bottles of orange squash. 
16. Filled the rest of the van with all the belongings, ours and others. 
17. On the last night in Dorking felt rather concerned about the state of the van and a thousand miles ahead of us. Prayed frantically for a safe journey home.

18. Our first attempt at the journey home lasted some 15 minutes. Having stopped twice before reaching Reigate, parked outside St. Mary’s in Reigate

and phoned our Polish PZU insurance company. They were willing to take us to the garage. We said the car would make it back to Dorking, but we couldn’t have it fixed – it wasn't worth it. - Scrap it and we’ll fly you home, they said. Bewildered, we hang up and drove back to the vicarage. This time we had the key handy at Shona's the curate. Unpacking time, kids, here we go again!
19. Humbly went to Sainsbury’s asking them to kindly accept back our yearly supply of English specialties we had bought the day before. Stuffed ourselves with wine gums and short bread.
 
The process of elimination began – cheap airlines allow each passenger to take up to 10 kg of cabin luggage, with the size limit as well. The fun began...
20. Necessities: Sarah’s schoolbooks (yes, apparently she studied Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Geography during the holidays! – that’s homeschooling for you); library books – we had some 15 of them, due to be returned on our coming home; King David’s School’s uniforms – no, we couldn’t leave these behind. A monkey and a leopard – no, Reuben can’t sleep without them; Bibles – why did everybody take their full Bibles with them?

21. Can we take the guitar? No. Can we take the table football game and the croquet set? No. Sewing machine? (You didn’t … ?!) Mixer? A football and a basketball? Swiss Army knives? Kitchen knives? Scissors? (why did everybody travel with all these knives and scissors on them?) Cross-stitching needles? Bedding? Mattresses? A tin of sand from Dunkirk beach along with a bag of seashells from the same? The list went on and on. The vicarage study room was covered with things left behind. 
22. Morning 29 August – farewell to our dear minibus, we’ll miss you!

 23. A 7-seater taxi took us to the airport. Several pairs of heavy army boots in a row and a small bag of girly make-up made the security guys think twice before they let us on board.

 

24. 3 hours later we were sitting round our table at home, eating a lovely Polish dinner prepared for us by our friends

 25. Did we get to England safely? Yes. Did we see everybody we wanted to see? Yes. (only Dale’s dad couldn’t make it). Did we see some extra people we wouldn’t have seen otherwise? Yes. Did we spend time together as a family? Yes. Did the Lord bring us safely home? Yes, He did!

("camme back fromm England to Poland!" - by Reuben)

*** 

It may seem that we didn’t have a brilliant holiday and that it was a disappointing time, not to mention the loss of the van and the costs involved in trying to fix it (kindly covered by a friend). Yes, the holiday didn’t go as we envisioned it, there were tears and stress and all the ‘why ?’s. However, throughout all this time we kept praying – asking the Lord to solve our problem as well as to show us why we ‘got stuck’ in Dorking and what could we do while there. Nothing spectacular happened, the Lord didn’t miraculously fix our van and our stay in Dorking didn’t bring any impressing fruit. What we have learned though, is to be thankful ‘at all times’, depend on the Lord deeply – as the situation really surpassed our human possibilities. We also kept reminding ourselves that our ‘hardship' is not that serious, it’s rather a mishap in which the Lord faithfully kept us safe and provided for us by surrounding us with caring people. That alone was worth the experience. Our problems have not been solved – we have no vehicle - however, we were given some money towards a new one; a lot of our stuff will stay in Dorking for a while - some not at all important, some we feel the lack of. Yet – can we really say we lack something when we have God’s love and grace?

 

 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (...) nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom.8;35-39)

Having had to leave our belongings and scrap the van is at the most just awkward. Our lives don’t depend on these things, we just got used to having them at hand. May this experience give us all a renewed trust in the Lord’s sovereignty and a gratitude for what he gives us every day which we so often just take for granted.

***

Last but not least, our stay in Dorking this summer reminded us again how many people in St. Paul’s support us through their regular prayers and how much of what happens in our lives is the result of these faithful prayers, often heard only by God.

"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message,

so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ" (Col. 4,3)

Thank you! 

 

Prayers from the Taylor Clan in Poznań, Poland :)
1. A big praise for Hannah's and Sarah's final exams, they've done really well. For Hannah it's the end of home education, from September she's starting grammar school. Pray for a wise choice of school - still contemplating several options, decision to be made by the end of June.

2. Pray for wise decisions for Asia and Dale for next school year's work and their involvement in King David's Christian Primary and High Schools - decisions to be made by the end of May.

3. Development of history/education activities for Dale as a means to earn a living apart from teaching English - pray for wisdom and open doors in schools, libraries etc. - so far most of this work was really on a voluntary basis.

4. Evangelism among young people in Poznań - Hannah and Sarah and their friends from New Life actively involved in the local pentecostal church youth activities - pray for continuing enthusiasm in young people coming to the Lord and walking with Him.

5. Health - Dale's knee has just been diagnosed as fit for a surgery - pray for choosing the right hospital and doctors as well as the right timing for the operation - between Dale's full timetable and about 4 months standard waiting time for a space in hospital, it may be tricky to finalise it :).

6. 2nd national Christian conference for deaf people in June in Gdansk, involving deaf folks from our fellowship heavily.

7. Summer - busy time:
July: - a week's all day model club for teens and pre-teens run by Dale - Military Zone - 4 days of World War 2 history re-enactment event with most of the Taylors involved - great opportunity for evangelism as thousands attend - 10 days of Royal Rangers' scout camp for the younger part of the Taylor clan - rest for Asia and Dale?
August: - praying to be able to visit English friends and family - which means the resurection of our van or purchase of a newer version - both options rather dim looking :)

The Taylors’ Year 2011 in Poznań, Poland

Traditionally, New Life Fellowship welcomed the New Year with a midnight ‘party’ : thanksgiving for the passing year and praying for the coming one.

January 6 saw the first public concert of Cithara Sanctorum http://www.citharasanctorum.pl/ – a medieval music group specializing in digging out old Christian songs and hymns, singing them accompanied by historical instruments. They started with Advent and Christmas songs and carols, followed by resurrection songs concerts around Easter and Luther’s hymns on Reformation Day (31 October). Dale and Hannah are actively involved with their Irish drums.

In February we were joined by David Cave – a young lad seeking experience in teaching English. He spent 3 months with us, mainly helping Dale teach conversation business classes. He landed in deep snow and Poland said goodbye to him with a heavy snow fall at the beginning of May.

In April we had another big celebration of the Passover, joined by our friends from the Reformed Church, followed by Easter song concerts by Cithara Sanctorum and the 'New Life' Easter weekend away.

Another severe winter made us look closer at the house... We got a loan to put the insulation on the building and in May/June a rapid and radical change took place on Kordeckiego Street. We felt the difference in summer – while it was hot outside, it was cool inside. And now, with winter in full blow, we can finally enjoy a warm house with reasonable heating bills. 

Deaf people continue to meet in our fellowship, and the work on translating portions of the New Testament into modern evangelical sign language goes on slowly... along with recording ‘sign songs’, published online http://dobry-znak.pl/ . In May, we hosted a Christian conference for deaf people from all over Poland, organised by ‘our’ deaf guys. It was a time of great encouragement for all of them and an occasion to wonder on God’s great works.

June – another school year finished. As usual, we were more than happy with our children’s school results, both – those home educated (Hannah and Sarah) and ‘regular’ school pupils (Abi, Ben and Reuben). This year was Asia’s last one with her class who moved on from primary to secondary school. Their 11+ exams were smashing and their farewell gift to Asia was ... an IKEA present card which equipped our bathroom with new cupboards.

The Summer holiday was not a time of rest....

It started with the Military Zone weekend away – a popular event for I and II World War re-enactment groups and fans. Dale and his friends acted as army chaplains running a field chapel and distributing Gideon’s New Testaments to interested ‘soldiers’ and visitors.

While the children were at Royal Rangers Scout Camp, Dale was getting ready for the English Summer Clubs. The first one was run by our American friends. The following 3 weeks of July/August we hosted 2 groups of young people from Lincoln Baptist Church, who worked very hard on teaching English to Polish teenagers. They spent mornings socialising and visiting interesting places around Poznań and afternoons and evenings on language activities and classes at Kordeckiego. The theme of these camps was “Heroes”, pointing to the greatest Hero of all time – the Lord Jesus.

After 3 weeks of Christian heavy metal background music by “Skillet” during the camps we decided our family deserved a week of silence in the Sudeten mountains. We stayed at a XVII century castle run by a Christian Foundation and enjoyed beautiful mountain views, including the Kamieńczyk waterfall – one of the filming sites for “Prince Caspian” (Narnia), we spent time with Asia’s relatives in the area, and took the children to one mountain top full of romantic memories from the beginning of our relationship...

The last week of August we spent in Warsaw at a Christian school teachers’ conference, important especially for Dale, as from September he took on teaching English in King David’s School http://www.dawid.edu.pl/ – with the 11 – 14 year olds. Apart from school, Dale continued teaching business English in Wrigley till December. From the new year the company changed the rules about English lessons so that nearly all his students had to resign from classes. Teaching teenagers at King David's School is a nice change for Dale, although administration related to it is overwhelming.

Dale continues contact with some of young people from summer camps in a weekly English club. Also his Friday model club is overflowing again with a whole new generation of young enthusiasts of figures painting and diorama building.

This year’s Polish Independence Day on 11th November was accompanied by another exhibition by Dale and his gang from the model club – this time focussing on the Navy at War, shown in our house and in schools.

Christmas we spent in Poznań, celebrating Polish Christmas Eve on December 24 with our American friends, including a midnight carol service with 'New Life' at Kordeckiego, and enjoying the rest of Christmas time at home. This was followed by another New Year’s Eve 'New Life' celebration... 

Testing Blog

Things are changing..

Keep tuned for an update that will be on the blog soon! :)
Lots of love,
The Taylor Clan ><>