Auschwitz-Birkenau

Walls of double sided electric fencing...in these walls 1,300,000 people had every ounce of dignity stolen from them.

I am not sure what I find so fascinating about the Holocaust, but I can honestly say as morbid as it is I LOVE this part of history.....like I cannot learn enough.  I can remember learning about it in I swear every year in school after like second grade and it is for sure a lesson that you have to teach all that is appropriate for that age. 

Ashes that were collected of victims killed in the gas chambers

However, there is not a teacher in the teaching system, no book, history channel, or paper that can be written on how horrible this time in history is.  When I was preparing to come to Poland I knew that I wanted to go to the camps if I had time, and Bri made sure I had time to go because its something that everyone MUST see.  Not really to believe, but to understand.  I had no idea what to expect really, I thought it was going to be a guided tour of one big building with things that some artist reenacted, drew and painted. 

Rail Car that transported victims to Auxschwitz-Birkenau

Um....sadly that was far from it.  I got off the

bus and stood on the same ground that 1,300,000 once stood and of those 1,300,000 people 1,100,000 of them were Jews, 140,000-150,000 were Poles (Polish people), 23,000 were Gypsies, 15,000 were Soviet Prisoners of War, and 25,000 were prisoners of other Ethnic groups.  Of these people 90% of people were killed.......I walked through the same dorms were these people were forced to go without food, bathrooms, showers, and where they lost all their human dignity and were forced to become a number.......





Can you imagine waking up tomorrow and being forced to leave everything behind, get split from your families, husband or wife, children, put into a line not knowing that in just a few hours you were going to come to your death by a gas chamber, or at an execution wall....not to mention only getting food three times or less a week.  Then, waking up each morning not knowing if you were going to live or die, where the rest of your family is, nor knowing what has happened to them. 



Gas Chamber and Crematory

I didn't hit me until later on in the day that I was standing on the very ground all of this happened on.  I took pictures and listened to a guide, but seeing all of this with my own eyes was an experience NO ONE will ever understand unless they have gone through it.  Sure, most of the buildings have been renovated and made safe for tourist, but the standing cells, barracks, sleeping quarters, bathrooms, the gas chambers, and the execution wall, the towers, the poles they used to hang people, and the windows all of these prisoners had to look out and watch all this stuff go on was all there.......

Execution Wall

After the tour was over I wanted to go home and pick up my son and tell him I love him, hug my parents, grandparents, siblings and friends.  However, I think what I realized the most and not just after that visit is that life is so full of uncertainties, fear, the unknown that it gets in the way of what we should be doing and that is living......waking up everyday knowing we have freedoms and the abilities to make decisions that we feel is best for us. 

Just a glimpse.....

I know this is as television show as you can get but its as real as I can get....because I didn't make a video....I only took pictures.  

I will be printing every picture I took and I have also made the album available for all to see on my Facebook....  http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150680420098034.416697.603403033&type=3

So, that all of you reading can see what I seen.....

The Penguins...aka PIGEONS!

Krakow has a lot of pigeons.

Danielle calls them Penguins, and she wants to drop-kick them.

Evidence of her hatred....

Kasimierz

Krakow is full of some pretty fantastic sights. Even for those who hate to look like tourists will find it hard to resist pulling out the camera and snapping photos like crazy. It's just full of so much history, so much "old," so much beauty.

One of the most beautiful places in Krakow is Kasimierz. Kasimierz is the Jewish quarter of Krakow. Kasimierz was a Jewish community from the 14th century until the WWII. Currently, the Jewish community is starting to come back to life in Kasimierz after being eradicated after the second World War. You'll find old synagogues, some that are even still active today).

Kasimierz is also home to Schindler's factory, where Schindler saved hundreds of Jewish people during the World War. It is now full of exhibits that tell this history.

Danielle and I walked (a lot!) through Kasimierz and I showed her only some of the great things to see here. Here are some photos of what we saw:

Jewish Synogogue

cemetery outside synogugue



wall made from broken pieces of Jewish headstones destroyed during WWII

Old Hebrew School of Krakow

Schindlers Factory.

We've all seen it or atleast heard of it "Schindler's List" I personally think it is a great movie it pretty much tells the story of how Hitler treated the people he wanted off this earth.  Tuesday, Bri and I went and visited the museum that retells the story of the movie.  Every thing thing that is within the walls of this museum tells the story of how Mr Schindler went out of his way to help as many people in harm as he could.

Hitler

The tiles on the floor.

We think these are actual time clock sign in and out sheets.  We are not sure though.

The Death Wall posters

Each room was full of tiles with the dates which everything happened.

I did not realize until I was here and standing on the grounds that I am that I am standing in the very places that were bombed, where fires we shot and where many people lost there lives just for being the religion that they were.  Touring this "factory" was kind of like a once in a life time event.  Taking in all the imagines I took in is something I will never forget. 



Churches.

Oh my goodness Krakow has some of the oldest and most beautifulest churches.....being a ministry student and taking that ever dreaded IDS class being able to walk into these century old churches made me realize that even though at the time I thought IDS was the most annoying class out there it actually helped me understand what was going on in these places.  They were all full of traditional Catholic symbols, century old leaders, and so much more. 
I can tell you that when you walk into one of these places somehow NOTHING in the world matters.  It like the rest of the world is silent and its just you and the amazing surroundings.  I am not sure if I would ever be able to explain the importance of all the pictures I took.  There is so much history and beauty in all of them that I think it is just best if you get to see a few of them. 

The picture of the Pope is in the bottom of this one.

The Alter......

Jesus...there are so many different replicas of the Cross and the meaning behind it all over the city and in every church.

Stained Glass Windows...my former church had some of the most amazing stained glass windows and these are just as amazing. 

I am not really sure what this is but I thought it was pretty cool. 

One of the confessionals.  I think this was one of my favorite pieces of the church.  I am not sure why I found them so interesting, but I did. 

After I re looked at all of these pictures I realized that everything I learned at Lincoln Christan made this experience one I will never forget.  All the classes, history and small groups prepared for this experience and somehow paying attention when I did REALLY paid off and I am very grateful for both experiences. 

I got Nothing.....

Yesterday, as we were leaving the Easter Market I was looking around and found this guy....

Yes, he was rolling a joint.....



Krakow Findings...

I think its safe to say I am going to be a day behind in posts instead of getting them on here the day of.....unless I get it with it and a little more on top on things!!!

Yesterday we went down town to the city of Krakow.  We took the bus and a tram to get there....I've never taken public transportation at home, so this was a new experiance.  It so far has been great.  The system is very organized and easy to get around.  I know I wouldn't be able to get anywhere on my own, but having Bri with me we are like everyday people of this amazing city!!!!!!

Using the public transportation system though you see a lot of interesting things and of course people. 

Skirts and tennis shoes.

Movie Posters.... Battleship

Waiting on the tram.

Krakow is full of old buildings, trams, buses, cars (that are ONLY stick shifts), many walking people, motorcycles, bicycles, and PETS.  Everytime I turned around something had a dog.  NO leash, but the animals seem to be well behaved and others seemed to be trouble makers;)  Oh and of course.......

PIGONS.....these things are so ANNOYING....I so want to drop kick one.......just to prove a point!!

Because He Lives....

Last week, I scheduled a tour for Danielle to go to Auschwitz. I have seen Auschwitz, and honestly, once is enough for anyone. So, I wasn't going to go, but I scheduled for a tour group to pick her up, take to the Auschwitz, arrange an English tour, and bring her back.

This morning, we get up early to go to old town to the pick-up location. We wait....and wait....and wait some more.

No one showed. She was stood up by our tour group.

Nonetheless, we made lemonade out of lemons. We walked to Schindler's factory -- through Kasimierz (Old Jewish Disctrict). On the way, we saw some Jewish Synagogues and a Jewish Cemetery.

When we got to the factory, it took about an hour to walk through the museum.

Any time I hear about this period in history, I'm reminded -- not just of the evil that happened, but it tells me something about what we are capable of as human beings.

It reminds me of the depth of our sin, and how each an every one of us stand only a short distance away from that kind of evil.

It's why the cross is so important, and not just the cross -- but the empty tomb! Jesus rose again to pull us out of that darkness, and now we have a living hope that will never fade, because all our sin is washed away.

"Because He Lives....we can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. For we know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives."

DOORS and Coffee...

Oh my gosh....I am not sure who designed the buildings around here, but they didn't have ME in mind.  Every door we used today apparently was a "PUSH" door...unlike what I am used to the "PULL" door. Sadly,   I can promise you that tomorrow when we venture out I will do the samething....

I actually thought "Coffee Heaven" was closed until we walked past it a second time and watched folks come out of it....so we went into "Coffee Heaven" and I got a Carmel Mocciatoo....like I ALWAYS get from Starbucks at home...however, it was so much different because the fella missed the part where I said HALF the expresso...

Lany Poniedzialek

Danielle has landed in Poland, and I am really excited to show her around what's been my "home" for the last 8 months!

We'll go downtown tomorrow to hopefully see the Easter Market. It's a market set up right in the heart of downtown Krakow, filled with lots of traditional foods, crafts, etc...

Tomorrow is also known as "Lany Poniedzialek." It's a day where traditionally boys tried to drench girls with squirt guns or buckets of water -- it showed that they liked the girl and wanted to "court" her. Now - it's pretty much a city-wide water fight day. SO....going out before noon is not such a great idea unless you want to walk around wet!

We are going out tomorrow, so we'll let you know if either of us get drenched!

14 hours....and 6 BUCKS....

Is the amount of time it took me to get to Poland.  All in all it was a great trip....no real issues......other then the SIX DOLLAR bottle of COKE I bought...the main flight served a meal that honestly wasn't bad...until the lady sitting next to me decided she was going to take what I didn't eat off my plate...and I made it over the OCEAN!!!

....I was amazed to get off the plane in Poland to 29 degree weather, and of course I only brought a hoodie.....I should have listened my mom when she said to take a coat.......


Getting a taxi from the airport to Bri's apartment seemed to be a scene from the movie "Taken" at first....I of course would have never thought twice about it, but Bri asked the fella to see his taxi license. Which cost 85 zloty (29 dollars in American money).......later of course we learned we were over charged....BUT because it is a holiday it could have been right as well we don't really know. 


We got to the apartment changed clothes and went the church and had a breakfast meal and I got to hear a sermon in Polish, but was pretty sweet.  We partook in communion....and because Bri "forgot to grab a piece of bread"....I shared mine;)  (How you forget to grab bread for communion is beyond me, but it is us that we are talking about.  We sat at the kids table for obvious reasons....and most likely because we demolished the sheep sweet bread's head:D  So, mature!!!!!  I also tried polish soup.......definitely NOT a favorite, but I wasn't rude!!!



All in all it has been a great day.  Tomorrow we are going downtown......and I am BEYOND excited.!.!.!.!. 

Have a BLESSED Easter and remember the season for the celebration....but don't forget to enjoy hunting eggs and eating yummy chocolates:)  MUCH LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!

Tragic Loss.

While sitting in the Chicago Airport I checked my Facebook one last time only to see a post from a friend about a co worker who lost her life in a car accident. 

Stephanie was a 27 year old vibrant, happy, always smiling no matter what was happening.  She had an amazing personality and always fun to be around. She was a Pharmacy team member who made coming into Target while sick a better experience.  She had a joke for everything and nothing ever really seemed to bother her. 

As I boarded the plane I didn't really think to much about it, but an 8 hour plane ride makes one think.  I realized that she told me to have a "great time in Poland, and couldn't wait to see pictures."  That is when it hit me...I will never be able to show her pictures.  It also hit me that tomorrow is never guaranteed. 

As I read the article in the paper I still cannot believe I will never see her again.  I ask all who read this to say a small prayer and thoughts for Steph's family, friends and the whole Target family.  I have never been through losing a co worker and I cannot help but think about the ETL that had to break the news to the rest of our team.  I do know that we as a team will grieve together and remember the smile and the amazing person she was. 

May you rest in peace Stephanie I will never forget your smile, spunk, and the amazing person you were. 

Foxy Asso

Really, I'm not so sure Poland is a good place for Danielle and I to "combine our forces."

Mostly because, this is the type of thing you find in Poland.


I thought I was mature until I discovered this.

I am excited for the fun that I will have with Danielle in Poland.

Bring it on!

My Guy.

Oh my goodness I leave in about 31 hours and I already miss Benjamin:(  I knew it would come and I know its going to stay with me all 10 days I am there but I know deep down that if he were to enough understand he would totally understand and support me. 

Its kinda like when I went back to work after he was born the night before I cried, cried myself to sleep, cried all the way to work, and was pulled off the floor a few times I cry.....but the second day wasn't as bad, the third day....well you get it.  This isn't any better....

Right now in this moment he is singing and trying to juggle.....

Oh my goodness how one little boy makes me smile, melts my heart and someone who taught me all about unconditional TRUE love............he is in WONDERFUL hands as my mom is going to keep him, but I am going to MISS him like crazy!!!!!!!!!!!

And we're back....

Due to my logging out of the first blog and totally forgetting the password I decided to start another one and WRITE down the password and sign in name.  So, NO fear there will be a blog.....just a different one:P