I just spent a few weeks learning what condition this country is in. We were on roads in Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary: all countries of the former Eastern Bloc. The roads in Poland are depressing because they are virtually non-existent. Whereas in Slovakia and Hungary (and Czech, but who's counting) they have an actual highway infrastructure that works. It took us 4 hours to drive 150 km from the southern Polish border to Krakow. Then, after we came back from Hungary, I ended up in the hospital. And not just any hospital; A Learning hospital, a university hospital where the future medical establishment of this country is getting their education. The building is in horrible shape. The interiors are in horrible shape. And on the 3rd day they ran out of medication. Oh, Tim also had to bring me fork, spoon and knife so I’d have something to eat with. Tim also had to bring me toilet paper and paper towel because the hospital doesn’t provide it (unless the inspectors are paying a visit, we are told).
Then I came home only to find out that Kaleb’s hockey club was forced to raise prices because Warsaw (the capital city of a northern nation, and has a population of 2.5 mln people) has ONLY ONE ice rink and the management of this ice rink acts like a mob, they do what they want when they want it. Oh, it’s nearly 60% price increase. I am depressed. I don’t know how to live here.
We came back from great CONNECT, our staff conference. We came home revived, we came focused and hopeful for the future. We have exciting plans to launch spiritual discussion groups in a nearby pub/restaurant and…. I need God’s mercy and God’s grace to get over this very strong desire to pack and leave this country and go live somewhere where I can give my kids the best. I need to hear from God again that indeed we are meant to live here, in Warsaw, in the country currently holds the European Presidency, BUT has decrepit infrastructure, medical system, public school system, while having no programs for kids and seems to offer very little hope for the future.
