Poland

We were in Poland from June 10-14, attempting to obtain a visa for Justin. Upon arriving at the Ukrainian Consulate on our first morning, Justin was told that another document was needed from the Ukrainian government to prove that the documents he already had were legal. Steve called John and Max (who works for New Hope) and they started organizing that on their end. By the end of Tuesday it was looking pretty bleak and by Wednesday morning we collectively decided that it was going to take a complete and utter act of God for Justin to leave Poland with a visa. Well, it turns out that God likes to show up in big and miraculous ways and with all of John's hard work back in Zaporozhye for us, Justin had the visa in his passport at 1 pm on Friday - when our bus for the airport left at 4 pm! The guy helping Justin at the Consulate remembered him from the first day and even stayed open past their closing time to ensure that the visa was done. 

We are again reminded of how awesome our God is! It seems so lackluster and kind of pathetic to say thank-you to Him - a simple word doesn't seem even close to appropriate for the miracles and blessings He pours on us but that's what His love looks like - lavish and extravagant. It's that kind of love that motivates us every day to wake up in this strange and foreign culture with a language we don't know to love people who don't know this kind of love. Everyone needs to know this kind of love, and to know how valued they are to the One that created them. 

Our first day was rainy which went kind of well with the disappointment at the Consulate but we wandered around the old town part of Krakow anyways: 

 We were able to visit Auschwitz and Auschwitz II-Birkenau one day which was a very sobering look back into history: 

As we headed back to Ukraine, Bobi headed back home to Czech Republic for the summer. We're not sure exactly where God will lead her next, back here or not, but please continue to pray for her. 

It's great to be home again although I personally loved the brief reprieve from the Ukrainian heat!! This week the guys are running a baseball camp with some Young Life leaders so I will update a little later on how that went! Thanks for your prayers concerning the visa - they were heard and answered!!
*Edited to add*:
We had NO trouble at all getting in or out of Ukraine! The customs officials were super nice and the boys even made them laugh a time or two which blew my mind - I wondered if we were at the right place and which country we were actually leaving/entering because usually they terrify me!