Ministry with kiddos

This week our friends and colleagues from Krakow are in Poznan with 3 of their 5 daughters, the Goss's. They are working with a group of volunteers from the states who are here sowing the seeds of the Gospel with tracts and through relationships. We did not plan on being a part of the group as for 6 months we have been hoping to come home. God had other plans.

The Goss's are a wonderful family. They have a sweet spirit and a heart for the people group they work with, the Roma. They originally were planning a Roma camp here in Poznan but, as it turns out, there is not a great population of them here in our city. So, their team is passing out tracts, witnessing through translators and simply plowing the soul for God to move.

Today was the first official day of work with the volunteers. There would be 6 groups, spread out through the city, prayer walking in preparation for the work they would be doing the rest of the week. I decided that Matty and I would join them and see how far we got. With the addition of children to our family, my role looks a lot different, especially with a pre-schooler. Brenda Goss is also here with her youngest, Abbe, who is 8. So, I figured that we would team up and tackle the kids together. And so we did. We joined a small group and headed out. About 10 minutes into the walk, Matty begins to ask where we are going and when we are going to get there. The next thing is that his legs are hurting. I thought "Man, this is going to be a long morning!"

Suprisingly enough, he actually enjoyed our morning walking in the city. He was able to be with his friend Abbe and they had a wonderful time. Let me share my favorite part of the morning. As we began to walk with the kids, with the purpose of prayer walking, I thought that we could all say a prayer as we walked, as to include the kids. So, I began to talk to the two little ones about praying for the neighborhood and immediately, my precious son began to pray. He jumped right in and asked God to help the people know about Him and at the end he said "And thank you for my God". Wow!

Man, we are doing something right! Sometimes, as a new parent and to three kids I wonder how I am really doing at this parenting "thing". When he began praying without hesitation I was so touched realizing that prayer is something that he has already learned is such a natural part of our lives. And at 4! Amazing.

The morning was long but well worth the effort to be out and a part of the work. I may be a little more limited with my pre-schooler but I am still able to be involved. And, what a blessing for our kids to be a part of everything going on also. We are truly ministering as a family. My prayer is that we will find more opportunities to work together as a family and grow closer to each other and God in doing so.