Seeking His Face in the Nations

Update January 2009

2009-01-22T03:07:00.000-08:00

hello everyone!

Since this is my first update in 2009 I have to start off by saying that I hope you all are having a great year so far. We had a good time hosting our contacts at our Christmas party and also at our little get together for New Years Eve. Both holidays were good, interesting and new to witness in a different country especially for New Years. Here people love to shoot off fireworks everywhere and not just in a local gathering place. So you can stand outside on your balcony atleast for an hour and see big fireworks (like a 4th of July) and see them all over the city for as far as you can see. Then you'll see people shooting off fireworks in the street next to you and they come like 10ft from you. It was pretty fun and got exciting at some points! So anyways, my team and I appreciate your prayers!

Anyways wanted to let you know about things that are going on and some things that you can be praying about. I am finally having time now to really start working on the internet website. So please pray that everything would come together nicely in the next couple of months and also that it would really serve it's main purpose to mobilize people like you for prayer for Team Warsaw and also to get out information about how volunteers could get involved. Also in the next couple of weeks I will be going to a conference in Prague which all new people go to once they'll been on the field for a year. So January 28th thru February 5th I will be in Prague. Please pray that this will be a time of refreshment and encouragement. Please also continue to pray about building and deepening relationships. Thanks for all you do and I hope that you all are doing good!

Pray Requests:
- internet website creation to go smoothly and come together in the next couple of months
- internet website used to mobilize others
- refreshment and encouragement while in Prague for conference
- building and deepening relationships
- spiritual walk -- that I would stay grounded in the Word daily spending time with our Father

Praise the Lord!!

2008-11-26T05:50:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to let you all know that I am feeling way better though I am not at 100% yet but on my way. I just wanted to express my deep appreciation for all the prayers that you have sent up to our Father for me. Thanks for the notes that some of you sent as well. I am pretty sure that I was diagnosed with acute tonsillitis. As most of you know, the first antibiotic didn't help me at all and then I started throwing up and getting dehydrated. I ended up going back to the clinic and the 2nd antibiotic that they prescribed to me has helped. I have been able to keep it down and the nausea has been gone for 4 days now. I will finish up the antibiotics taking my last dose thursday morning.

As of now I am taking it easy and trying to regain my strength back up. The swelling in my throat has almost completely gone away. I looked through the mirror with a flashlight this morning and my tonsils seem to be slightly swollen but way better than they were and also the white spots are also gone from what I can tell. So just continue to pray that I would make a full recovery and regain strength back. Again I just wanted to let you all know how I was doing and also wanted to express my thanks for all the prayers that you all have lifted up for me in this last week and a half. Thanks soo much!

walking with the KING,
John Mark

I have a computer now!

2008-09-26T05:10:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

Again I want to say sorry for not being able to update you all after July because my computer was being fixed in the US. Wow, we had such a busy summer and saw God do some awesome things while we were seeking after Him....i don't know really where to start so I will give you the highlights.

The second group that we had in July came in to restore and pour a new foundation for the wall. It was very hard work as we had to dig out the rest of the brick foundation which was 10 layers deep and deal with some pretty big stinkin roots. It was kind of cool to me to think about the spiritual sense of that as it symbolizes us dealing with the spiritual roots and weeds in order to prepare the field for harvest....the second group also continued to clear the cemetery and clean bricks that we would need in the 3rd group. This second group was also part my brothers group was it was good to see him and be able to spend time with him a little.

The third group that we had come in the beginning of august was to rebuild the wall. They did a great job in doing that even though they didn't get it all done but they definitely got a good chuck of the week completed. They were also able to finish the clearing work in the cemetery which was a huge task. During the third group there were some very significant things that happened that I want to share with you all. First, the tv crew TVP (news station in Poland) came out and did a story on what we were doing in the cemetery and we were able to share why with them (we got to see it on tv too!!) . The second thing was that with each group, we took him to the Jewish Friday night service in Warsaw so that they could experience it. During the third group, we were invited and danced with them around the ......... while they sang songs in hebrew. It really was something great. Jews and Gentiles together worshiping God...kind of a glimpse of what heaven will be like I think.

After the third group left, Steven, Aaron and I worked with 3 polish bricklayers to finish the wall. It took us about a week and a half but we were able to finish the wall and I have to say that it looks great considering that we had never laid brick before. I put together a video of the work that we did this summer so that you could get a better idea for what we did. Here's the video:

the quality isn't very good but if you want a better one or to download it go to http://gallery.me.com/jmfolker#100030

Here is also the pictures that I used to make the video and some additional ones that I had as well.

http://gallery.me.com/jmfolker#100020

I want to thank you all for your continued prayers. During the next week, I am going to try and put an email together about why we are doing what we are doing in the Spiritual sense so that you all can more understand why we are doing this and so you can better pray for the Polish and Jewish people here in Poland. Here are some things that you can be praying about in the next couple of weeks. Thanks. Love all you guys!!! Miss you too

Pray Requests:
Pray for smooth transitition with my SC (the Reece's) leaving on October 15th
Pray for fast settlement for new journeygirl Kaylin joining our team October 3rd
Pray for Susan's english club and Joe's university class that is about to start back up that we would see new faces and new contacts would be made
Pray that I would stay grounded in the Word daily spending time with our Father

THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS....LOVE YOU ALL!!

computer

2008-07-26T10:03:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that I dont have a computer becuase it has gone to the states to get fixed...so bear with me and I will keep you all updated as much as I can. Thanks

Never Cease to Praise

2008-07-06T02:58:00.000-07:00

Here's a new song that I learned from the praise team at AGM and the lyrics are just awesome so figured I'd share it with you all. I will be getting an update out soon! Hope you enjoy this song as I do:

May we run this race, may we keep the faith; May our eyes be fixed on Jesus-
That we'll not lose heart in our struggle with sin, And through suffering know endurance.

May we arm ourselves with the mind of Christ-To rejoice in trials and be not surprised.
May our hearts be so consumed by You That we never cease to praise!

May the words we share be Your grace and peace; May our tongues speak Your proclamations-
That the many parts of the body of Christ Be affirmed in their right relation.

As we long and wait for the groom to come, May we learn to love, and spur each other on.
May our hearts be so consumed by You That we never cease to praise!

When that day arrives, and the race is won, When our griefs give way to deliverance.
We will fully know as we're fully known, All our groans will end as new songs begin.

And a multitude from every tribe and tongue, Wearing robes of white, will stand before Your throne,
And our hearts will be so consumed by You
That we never cease to praise!

Update before group

2008-06-12T13:43:00.001-07:00

hey everyone!

It's been a busy three weeks since I last sent an update about how everything was going here. We have been getting ready for our first group of the summer that I will be directly working with. They are on their way and will be here tomorrow. We will be starting new work in a town called Pruszków. Also these past couple of weeks, I have finished up my language classes until the summer is over. And I am also waiting on my 2 year visa decision as well. So you can definitely be lifting those up to our Father.

I want to share a couple of things that God has reminded about today. We went to Pruszków to tie up some loose ends with the government office (since they own the cemetery instead of the Jewish community) and also to confirm some things. Well one praise at first is that Steven was able to meet with the Vice president of the town and was able to get a set of keys to the cemetery and gave us permission to do what the Jewish community was asking us to do. When we got into the Jewish cemetery, we were trying to open one of the doors to a building there. I'm guessing it hadn't been opened in a while because the key wasn't wanting to turn the whole way. So anyways after some time we just started praying to God that we would be able to get it open and maybe a couple of seconds later it was open. That just really reminded me about how God is with us all the time and cares about everything that we are doing to the detail.

As we were looking at the wall that we are going to be repairing, the neighbors to the cemetery show us and started talking to us about the cemetery. They live right on the other side of where we would need to be working. If you don't know Polish culture, that in itself is huge because most (high 90 percent) are closed off. Anyways, long story short they have given us permission to come on there property to work if needed. So we are praising God for that. I am also praying that we will have more contact with them and that they will be able to see something (Christ) in us as we work and serve the Jewish community and maybe that we would get a chance to share Christ with them in a more personal way as well. God is so so good!!

Prayer Request:

Continued language
New work in a new city and that God would be all over it as HE has so far
That locals (nationals) would see Christ's love in us as we work
2 year visa decision (that they would have everything that they wanted/needed) and that I would be able to stay with no problems (i call for that decision on June 25th)

Thank You for all that you do for me in the Spiritual realm here as it means so much to me and also does soo much as well. Thanks. Look forward to hearing from some on you and hope that you all are well.

walking with HIM,
JM

p.s I will be without internet while the group is here but I will get back to you if you have any questions or comments. Thanks ya'll.

_____________________________________
John Mark Folker
al. K.E.N. 53 m 68
02-797 Warsaw, Poland

Cell: +48-518-520-541
Skype: john.mark.folker
www.folkerinpoland.blogspot.com

Story Time

2008-05-14T01:11:00.000-07:00

Ok so here's a pretty funny story from last week and about how culture can make some things pretty difficult and aggravating. One of the first things that is good to learn when you go overseas or atleast here is that things take longer than you think they will. Anyways so here's the story:

Day one (wednesday):
Ok so a little background information if you dont know. I am on two different medicines which one is for Cholesterol and the other is for acid reflex. Ok so anyways I wake up on wednesday morning and get a call from my SC saying that they had made a doctors appointment for me that morning and that he would be here to pick me up in about an hour. So I go to the doctor and end up getting a prescription for both of the medicines that I take so that I can get them here.

So then we leave the doctors office and head to the Apteka (means pharmacy in Polish). So we get there and we are waiting in line. And then its my turn and I hand the lady my prescription and to shorten it up a little bit she says that one of them is not manufactured in Poland anymore and that she would have to order the other one. So we dont get either one of them now. So I go and call the doctors office then I speak with the doctor and tell him that the one for Acid Reflex needs to be changed because they cant get it here.

So we head back to the doctor's office...which by the way takes about 20 minutes to get to one way. So I pick up another prescription from the front desk because he wrote me another one and start heading back towards the Apteka. We decide to go to a different Apteka to see if they have what I needed since the other one was going to have to order it. So we go in and give my prescription to the man and he gets this strange look on his face. Come to find out...I got the two medicine names mixed up. I told the doctor that the Acid Reflex one was bad which really the Cholesterol one was bad. So now I have two prescriptions for the same thing (Acid Reflex) and a Cholesterol one that isnt manufactured in Poland anymore. So I end up going ahead and getting one the medicines I need which was the Acid Reflex one.

So I have to call the doctors office AGAIN! By now they are probably thinking "whats with this stupid American"...but I dont know. Anyways so I call the doctors office again only to find out that he is done working for the day and is gone. I think to myself ITS ONLY 1:30pm...what docter gets off at 1:30...so anyways I have to now wait and do this tomorrow.

Day two (thursday)
So after my polish language lesson, We drive back over to the doctor's office and pick up another prescription. And then we head back to the Apteka to hopefully get the Cholesterol medicine that I need. So once we get to the Apteka, we have to wait in line again and then we get to the counter and I hand my RIGHT prescription this time and come to find out they have to order that one...So again I will have to do this again tomorrow!

Day three (friday)
So i cant do it today because my polish is in the afternoon and I have to work on the website stuff in the morning

Day four (saturday)
So I travel to the Apteka with my little ticket that they gave me and FINALLY pick up my medicine. YAY! Hopefully next time it wont take so long!

Anyways hope my story gives you a little laugh and insight as to how things work here. I hope that everyone is doing good. And remember things are always slower in another cultural and there are always unexpected bumps in the road...the only thing you can do is to not let me get to you and take it in stride.

Apartment in Warsaw

2008-05-01T02:23:00.000-07:00

This is my new apartment...wahoo!! where i will be living the next 2 years...sorry but i had to splice some of these picture together from a couple but you get the basic point and what it looks it and where I am living

First up this is the view from the door that cames in...

OK so now i will go left to right with pictures of each of the rooms....

Left: this is my half bathroom...one for guests to use I suppose...first door on the left as you can see from the front door picture

Above: this is the first view of the kitchen...2nd door from left

Left: Part of my pantry sort of...so you know I atleast have some food...better stuff in Refrigerator

Below: View from the other side of the kitchen

Left: this is my living room and then you can see the door that goes to my small balcony and you can also see that I have the joy of drying clothes without a dryer... Gosh I need to start using fabric softener

Right: this is the view from my balcony....the way it works is basically that this area can only be gotten to those of us that live here because its enclosed by a building...similar to a courtyard I guess...anyways you gotta have a code to get through the gate which is kind of the black dark spot towards the middle left of the picture

Left: Next room is my bathroom...which is also the laundry room...its a really small washer but it works and gets the job done...then i just hang them on a rack in my living room which you might have seen...still working on getting used to that

Right: this is my room...pretty basic...some good books though on the bookshelf and also some pictures of the family and then a pretty comfortable bed even though its a single size....might fold one of my couches down and use that later but it works for now

Left: this is my office room...this is the view from the door into the room

Above: this is the opposite view of my office which includes my closet...not sure why thats in the office

Right: and this is the view out the window of my office into the big spiritually dark city that I now live in hoping to bring the bright light of Christ ...but right down the street i have something to do if I ever have nothing to do and get bored...a movie theater!!

So thats my place for the next 2 years!! Just so you know I plan on sending out prayer updates and maybe a story or two about what's been going on tomorrow. I had planned to do it today but this post took me a lot longer to make than I thought it would. Anyways, Hope everyone is doing good. Miss you all!

God holds us together is his hand...

2008-04-28T02:37:00.000-07:00

Psalm 33
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
     he commanded, and it stood fast.
       .
       .
13 From heaven the LORD looks down
     and sees all mankind;

14 from his dwelling place he watches
     all who live on earth-

15 he who forms the hearts of them all, and is
     intimately aquatinted with everything they do.
       .
       .
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
     on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.

2008-04-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

Well I've been here about a week and a half now. I wanted to send an email earlier when I first got here but I never got the chance. But anyways, the last few days at FPO were good. I got to see some of my family as they came up for the commissioning service which was good.

I got here to Warsaw friday the 4th and my bags didn't make it with me. But need less to say I got them the next day thanks to our Father so it turned out alright. Since then I have been moving into my apartment, getting settled in, doing orientation, starting with ministry, meeting with Poles and figuring out how to work the appliances in my apartment! So at least now I know how to keep clean clothes, cook some food and get around a little bit.

This past week I was able to participate and help with an English club as well as visit with a pop culture American class with some of our team members. I was able to meet and talk with several students through those 2 events. And I was also able to meet and talk with some Poles as they took me around part of Warsaw. As I walked around Warsaw, I could feel the darkness and lostness of this city. But I also see that growing and younger part that is searching for something else and something new. As I think about that, I can't keep myself from seeing that it is Jesus Christ who they need to find as they search. I know HE can give them a hope, future, joy and many things that they wont find anywhere else. THANK YOU God for everything you give us!!!

Pray Requests:
Pray for me as I start language lessons Tuesday morning this week

Pray that I would stay spiritually grounded in the Word everyday

Pray for the relationships that have started and pray for new ones to begin and also that those relationship would deepen into talking about Spiritual things and sharing of the Gospel

Thanks for all that you do. As you pray, know that you are just as an important part of this ministry as I am.

2008-04-03T11:47:00.001-07:00

I headed to POLAND!!!!!

Last Update from USA

2008-03-31T11:41:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

So the last of my days here in the ILC are coming to a close. We have two more days of class and then commissioning on Wednesday and then I will be leaving to go to Poland on Thursday morning. FINALLY!!! I am so excited to dive into what the Lord has for me there and can't wait to get settled into the culture and start learning the language.

But anyways wanted to share some things that I have learned about over the past couple of weeks. Most of these last two weeks were spent with our region, Central and Eastern Europe and then we had some contingency training, interrogation and capture situations, and then some other type situations. So it was good and now have the confidence about going through that if it ever comes. Poland though is a very secure country so I really don't think it will come to anything like that. I come across another new song this week that I want to share with you. I love music so you might get some more of these in the future but anyways. The song though has a very important message. The basic message of the song is that God's Love is the most important thing and is what gets us through everything that we go through. Through the ups and downs, through the very tough times, through the times we think we are nothing and through the times that we think we can't do it anymore, GOD's LOVE is what gets us through. So we have to stay grounded in Him and in His word daily. We will always have God's love and it's something no one can take away from us. But we can take it away from ourselves by not spending time in prayer and with Him in His word. So I will email it to whoever that wants to listen so just send me an email. It's a beautiful song called "Loving me" by Jon McLaughlin. I am also attaching the lyrics of it at the end if you want to read them.

Prayers Request:
That God would allow my car to sell soon!
That God would keep me safe as I travel and make my way to Poland!
That God would help me learn the language and do it faster than I could by myself!
That I would stay grounded in HIM and in His Word Daily!!

Hope that everyone is doing well and that you all are staying grounded in His Word. I am praying for you that God would open your heart and open your eyes to what He has for you. Next time you hear from me, Ill be in Poland across the sea!! Hope you'll have great weeks and until next time, Be still and know that He is God.

going with HIM,
John Mark Folker

Here's the lyrics if you want to read them:
Loving Me by Jon McLaughlin

Open up the center of my being
There's gotta be some room inside of me
I’m tired of trying to find a way to make it through these endless days

Complacency is not enough for me
Constant thoughts of where I ought to be plague me
How could I be a fool so long when the only way I live at all

You’re loving me
You’re grace is so amazing
You’re loving me

I’ve tried to push distractions from my head
Oh, I try and try but find myself mislead
I need Your hand to clear this road
I know I cannot bear this load

I run until I run right out of breath
And only a fool would run from what he knows is best
Without Your hand to guide I know
There’s loneliness there’s never growth
But still I try, I fail all on my own
But through it all

You’re loving me
You’re grace is so amazing
You’re loving me

So open up any door for me
And watch me walk again
I give up all fear and reluctance to depend
And when I fall down, Your rules they never bend
You pick me up anyway

Cause You're loving me
You're grace is so amazing
You're loving me

Update FPO

2008-03-16T22:13:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

Well I only have about 2 and a half weeks until I am done at FPO and leave to go to the field. I am getting more and more excited each and every day that goes by. These past two weeks have gone by so so fast. This past week we talked about subjects that included strengthening relationships, doctrines and spirituagful thing that was presented to us was the spiritual warfare session that were given by the president Jerry Rankin. We talked about all the ways that Satan came come against us through pride, unforgiveness, doubt, anger and many others. BUT Christ already has the victory!! God always gives us a way to victory over Satan because He has already won. Throughout Romans, we are called to pick up our cross daily, die to our self-centered flesh and walk filled in the Spirit. Another thing that we can do is to praise him in everything that we do good or bad. “God finds ways to chip away from us everything that doesn’t reflect Christ.” Even though we may not want to, we are to praise God in those situations because it makes us look more like Him. It’s ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Pray Requests:

*Continue to pray for the people of Poland and that God would continue to work in their hearts

*Pray that my car would sell pretty fast because I only have a little over 2 weeks left

*Pray that God would fill me with HIS spirit so that I could be a bright and shinning light for HIM!!

You know I am reminded about a song from Shane and Shane called "Embracing Accusations." The basic message from this song is that Satan is singing to remind us always that we have all sinned and fallen short. That we are no good, don't deserve anything, that we are cursed and gone astray BUT he's forgotten the refrain....JESUS SAVES

I hope that you all take time to listen to it. It is a really great song about how Christ has saved us. I hope that everyone has a great week and you remember that Jesus has already won the battle!!!

walking with HIM,
JM

Summary/Update

2008-02-24T18:49:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

Man there's so much information that I could share!! But I am going to keep it short cause I know that everyone is busy. These past 2 weeks we have done so much. The first week all we really talked about were church planting movements that grow exponentially reaching hundreds for Christ. If you want to know how they work, its basically house churches planting more house churches which is how they did it in the new testament church through the book of Acts. This past week we focused on Anthropology and cultural issues (cultural shock, MKs and that sort of thing). We also had a day where we split into the different main religions we were going to and that's all we talked about. So I went to the Roman Catholic one and got a better understanding about it and how to witness to them and turn them towards Christ. Also got all my legal stuff done (will, living will, power of attorney and all that good stuff). OH MAN and I got 4 shots in less than a minute...It was pretty crazy....2 in each arm!! And we have another immunization clinic next week. But thats it in a nutshell. If you really want the long version that me know and I'll send it to you.

Pray Requests:
*Continue to pray for the people of Poland and that God would begin to work in their hearts

*Pray that my car would sell pretty fast

*Pray that God to continue forming me into HIS image to look more like HIM!!

Anyways I hope everyone is doing great and that the Lord is blessing you in a way that only HE can. I miss you all....Let me hear from you sometime. If you know anyone that wants to be added to my list or if you want to be taking off just let me know. Love you all. OH and I got some prayer cards ordered so I should be getting those in about 2 weeks and also I have started a blog....not sure how much I will be able to update it but I'll do as much as I can. www.folkerinpoland.blogspot.com

walking with HIM,
John Mark

Psalms 104

2008-02-21T21:03:00.000-08:00

Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.

He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight. The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them. You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth.

You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills; they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart.

The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. In them the birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees. The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. You make darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep about. The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. When the sun rises, they steal away and lie down in their dens. Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.

O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.

These all look to you, to give them their food in due season. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.

May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works, who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the Lord!

*****************God is soo big and awesome!!*********************