The opening of the museum starts in the last days of summer 1939.  Then after the invasion is announced, the next room was decorated with Nazi flags that you had to weave through.  It is a superb visual to prepare you for the rest of the museum.

I have visited nuerous WW II museums in Europe and I found this to be one of, if not, the best!  The museum did an excellent job of making you feel like you were actually there at the moment.  Here are a few other photos from my visit…

  I apologize for the picture of the hangings. However, I cannot get this visual out of my head.  I find it incredibly interesting that two Nazi soldiers stood to have their pictures made with men that they had just hung.  I think it speaks volumes.

I learned that the Nazis walled in the Jews and there were several comments from Jews living in the ghetto that the wall looked like tombstones and that they were being buried alive by the wall.  As I finished the tour, I walked through this area of darkness and the path was incredibly “mushy” for a lack of a better word.  Then, I walked into this incredibly light room with several cylinders rotating with writings from various languages.  It was a stark visual from the room I had just walked through.

As I was preparing to leave, I met one British man.  I was still processing all that I had just read and seen when he commented, “I expected the museum to be bigger.”  It caused me to stop and ponder that for most things in life, it truly is in the eye of the beholder, whether it is beauty or otherwise.

I would encourage anyone that has the opportunity to visit Krakow to put this museum on your list.  It is definitely worth the visit.  Of course, this is just “in the eye of the beholder.”

FYI: more photos here

Having spent many years living in Ukraine now, it is often called part of the evangelical Bible belt of Europe, along with Moldovia and Romania.  Many new evangelical churches have been started in these countries since the fall of Communism.

At the moment I am in Krakow, Poland, where there must be a Catholic church on every corner, or at least it seems like it!  I arrived here on Friday evening, and while enjoying dinner at the local mall, I asked a couple of Polish teenagers what they would want to see in their city if they only had one day.

Surprisingly, they suggested I see several of the Catholic churches near Old Town that have some historical or artistic meaning.  So, on Saturday morning, I went walking through Old Town and then found several of these churches.  One of them had several stain glassed windows that are spectacular.  I will try to post some photos of these after I get home on Wednesday.  Then I walked to the Dominican church down the street, literally!

When I walked in, the place was packed with people standing up.  There was a mass going on, so I stood in the back but didn’t want to take pictures while people were worshiping, so I left.  I guess I was somewhat surprised by the crowd.  With all the churches in the city, and many in the area, I didn’t expect so many.

I am reading Francis Chan’s Crazy Love at the moment. It has been challenging me to re-think some things in my own live.  Chapter 5 is titled, “Serving leftovers to a Holy God.”  I thought about the many people in America, Europe and all over the world who try to label themselves as Christians because they might have walked the aisle, said a prayer sometime in their live, or were simply born into their family and faith.

Chan equated this to the new “health labels” found on many food products in America.  He said, “It struck me that many Christians flash around their “no trans fat” label, trying to convince everyone they are healthy and good.  Yet they have no substantive or healthful elements to their faith.”

Talk about a stab to the heart! How often have I considered myself “good” because of the deeds I may have done or anything else that may appear righteous.  Yet, I know none of these compare to what Jesus has already accomplished on the cross.

I want to grow past the need or the desire to tell other Christians about my good deeds.  I want to have substance and healthful elements to my faith in Jesus Christ.  I… don’t want to be a lukewarm Christian.

I fed my puppy Buddy and we went for a walk.  I don’t have a set path that we take and most of the time I let it flow.  I usually avoid Puskhina Blvd in the evenings as there are too many people out walking and too many distractions for a puppy.  However, after Buddy took care of his business, we strolled over to the blvd.

As I expected the place was packed.  It is Victory Day as so there were even more people out since it is a holiday.  We walked along the fringes of the blvd when I heard some string instruments.  Of course, I had to see who and how many were playing, so we walked to the center of the blvd and found 3 young ladies playing.

I stayed as long a Buddy would allow me.  It seemed like some of their notes bothered his ears, but definitely not mine.

I decided to walk further down the blvd to see if the break dancers were out.  I noticed a huge crowd where they usually set up shop and so I knew they were dancing.  I went to the back side of where they were dancing and watched from one of the benches.  Buddy did such a great job of sitting with me.

Eventually we went and sat directly behind them and Buddy entertained a little girl while her mom watched the dancers.  After they finished a set, I spoke to several of them and found Ruslan, one of the dancers, and spoke with him for a few minutes.  It is interesting how, whenever I come near, many of the dancers will come up and talk with me now.

So, as you can see, I meant what I posted on FB yesterday.  I am thankful to have such a nice blvd so near to my apartment and now that spring/ summer is here I get to enjoy it even more.

Now, it is early May and we are in a “heat wave” wondering where this will take us in late July and August!  I have been wearing shorts outside for a few weeks now and my bedroom is a constant 76-78 everyday, even at night!  I am contemplating hooking up my portable A/C soon so that I can sleep at nights.

Yesterday, as I was walking the dog, I saw lots of folks wearing shorts.  This is not the usual for us.  But everyone seems to be happy that we are having warm temps.  However, I don’t want to rush spring away for summer.   Hopefully, our temps will moderate and we can enjoy spring for another month!

So, several friends have been helping me replace the flooring in my apartment.  We are putting in laminate and it has been interesting to learn what exactly is under the flooring.  Maybe I will post some pictures in the future.

We worked all day today until 5:30 and then I took the two volunteers to play soccer.  We went to the supermarket afterwards since we were on that side of town and finally got home around 9:30 p.m.

I am extremely tired due to lack of sleep 2 nights in a row and the clock on my computer just turned midnight, so I am heading to bed.

The ladies who work in the park are doing, as usual, a great job of sprucing up the park after a long winter.  With our unusually warm weather coming so early, they have been able to do lots of work and completing it earlier than normal.

Buddy's Flowers

I’m not sure what is stuck to his tongue.  I only noticed it when I downloaded the photo.  I had to move him off the ledge as he was trying to eat the flowers and the worker asked me to move him.

I am a traditionalist when it comes to furniture.  I like simple, nothing too modern and definitely no wild patterns.  It should be comfy enough for me to take a Sunday afternoon nap on occasion.

I found a store that I had never been to before, so I took a look.  It was a big store, with 3 stories of furniture.  On the 1st floor, I found the best couch.  No wild patterns, subdued color (dark brown) and very comfy.  It even had a matching recliner.

She explained to me that the couch did make out into a bed, but not the usual Ukrainian way.  This intrigued me so I raised one of the cushions and found it folded out just like most couches in America.

There wasn’t a price tag on the furniture and that should have been my first clue!   All the other pieces in the area did.  So, I asked how much it was.  She said she would have to look.  She got on the phone and called someone (also not a good sign).  After a few minutes, she came and said 25.  Well, I know enough about Russian numbers that I knew what she meant, but I wanted her to spell it out for me!

So, I asked her again.  She said 25.  So, I asked 25,000 UAH and she said yes.  Then, she said, “I might could give you a discount.”  Does some figuring on her calculator and then says, 24.  24,000 UAH for a great, comfortable couch.  That happens to be over $3,000.

I smiled and thanked her.  Walking away I was already dreaming of the missed naps on that comfy couch.

I knew that if I landed on Buddy, it would not be a pretty sight, so I kind of tossed him ahead of me, hoping for the best.  I couldn’t really break my fall since I had my hands full.  Buddy survived, whimpering a little before getting up.

I, on the other had, laid on the floor for a while.  My right knee was aching and I was worried.  I have arthritis in both knees and I wasn’t sure that I could even get up.  I was reaching for my cell phone to call one someone when I decided to try to stand up.  By that time, the pain in my right knee was a little sharp.

I was able to get up and after trying to put pressure on my right foot, I realized that I wasn’t hurt too bad, mostly just my pride.  Buddy was just standing there, looking at me and he started to lick my right knee when I realized there was a tad of blood on the knee.

The most interesting thing was how Buddy’s demeanor changed from the moment we fell.  He stood right against me as to say he wouldn’t leave me.  That kind gesture caused me to ponder about other situations we find ourselves in.

How often do I fall in sin and God is right beside me ready to help me back up?  How often does He just stand there, like Buddy did, with a look of deep love in His eyes at that very moment when I fall?  How often am I hesitant to get back up due to the fear to fail again?

As I stood up and walked slowly down the last 2 sections, Buddy was patient not to get ahead.  As we made our way out the door to the courtyard, Buddy didn’t take off running like he tends to do.  He waited to make sure I was ok before hurrying ahead of me.

I live near a major road in town.  Almost every time I take Buddy for a walk we go across the street to an area that is more conducive for Buddy to take care of his business.

As we near the street, Buddy has already learned that he usually runs across the street.  However, we only run when there aren’t cars coming, which he hasn’t learned yet.  So, as soon as Buddy sees the road, he begins to take off.  I have realized that I have to shorten his lease before we even get close to the road.

Other times, he sees a person or something of interest and he takes off.  Of course, his lease will come to its end and he will fall or choke a little.  Sometimes the opposite happens.  I get too far ahead of Buddy because he has been sidetracked with some paper or something that has captured his attention.

I was reminded of this today as we were walking.  How often do I run ahead of God because I think I know best or how often I get distracted and not see ahead for what God has waiting for me?  Unfortunately, I’m afraid it probably happens more than I am willing to admit.

Fortunately, as God has taught me, sometimes I have to wait on Buddy to smell something or simply rest.  And other times I have to shorten the lease to keep him out of harms way.  The same is true of God.  God is patient with us and oftentimes, He is waiting for us to make wise choices before we go forward.  And, is often the case, He tries to slow us down so that we can stop and see the beauty that lies just ahead.

I guess there truly is much I can learn from my dog.  I just need to slow down, look and listen.

On my first trip to this particular shop Oksana cut my hair and I thought she did a good job.  She has been cutting it ever since.  She even gave me her cell phone number so that I could call and make appointments.  They work every other day so trying to remember which day she will work from month to month is too hard!

I had a 10 a.m. appt this morning.  The shop is usually not too busy in the morning and today was no exception.  All of the women who work there were sitting in the main room watching TV.  Oksana invited me to sit down and I watched from the mirror the reactions of the ladies watching TV.

They were watching a Russian soap opera.  I laughed to myself as I listened to one of the older ladies explained to the other what had been going on with this one particular couple in the show.  She got very animated from time to time and the others would shush her to get her to be quiet.

Oksana didn’t speak to me much since she was trying to listen to what was going on as well.

It reminded me of the time I was in the hospital in 1994 in Lugansk.  I was in an infectious disease hospital, basically quarantined from the other patients since I was a “foreigner” and they didn’t want me to catch what the others had.

One evening, it was awfully quite in the hall and I looked out my door to see all the patients gathered around the nurses office.  I walked down and too my surprise they were watching Santa Barbara.  After the show they all asked me if life in the US was really like that!  Sadly, I had to tell them otherwise!

As I was leaving the barber shop, I told Oksana goodbye and as I was leaving, she was sitting in her chair, eyes gazing at the TV.  Some things transcend culture…