There is nothing so sure in our world as the passing of time. I have a bent towards believing this statement because a lot of things have been happening for me recently and yet I have not had the time or energy to write of them or to process everything. The end of June was really an amazing time for me because a couple whom I teach with at Studium Szkola Jezykow invited me to spend a few days with them at their cabin near Kutno, which is west of Warszawa. They were really wonderful hosts and I actually got to practice my Polish more as well as to develop a deeper friendship with my co-teachers. As I was traveling meet them, our train hit a man who was trying to commit suicide. It was the strangest feeling to think that the train I was riding on killed a man. It all happened so fast. The engineer blew the whistle. The train came to a sudden stop; so sudden that smoke came rolling up from the brakes in a putrid smog! We must have sat there for an hour until the conductor came through and told us about the young man’s decision. I say “decision” because it was his decision to some degree even though I am not sure how responsible he was. Even though I am not sure how someone could decide to throw themselves in front of a moving train to end their life. There must have been terrible desperation in his life! I am thinking about it. Well, with this experience still on my mind I started my vacation with my friends. They have a little cabin bordering a pine forest on one side and a small lake on the other. We spent our days talking about small things, talking about truth and about God, taking walks together, playing with their big German shepherd, and swimming together. I really feel blessed because our time together bonded us with more than just “happens” in teaching together at school. I feel blessed because they invited me to spend time with them on their vacation.
Now, something very special happened just after I got back from vacation. Lukasz and Magda, two of my very good friends ( Lukasz is my bother in Christ), were married. I got the privilege along with the rest of the team to sing for their wedding. It was really a powerful ceremony in which the priest talked about what really makes a strong home; the rock of Jesus Christ. I ask God to bless their marriage and to give them a deeper desire to know Him; to know truth. I have really enjoyed hearing Lukasz introduce Magda to me like this: I say, “Lukasz, tell me, who is this person you are with?” “Robin, this is my new WIFE Magda. “ Lukasz’ face splits into a grin from ear to ear. I love it. God is really working. 
I also got the privilege of teaching a kids’ intensive English class this spring. It was really a learning experience for me. It was difficult to get the kids to talk in class sometimes. They wanted to listen to a lecture instead, but that really in not a very effective way of teaching concepts; more of the student must be engaged. Cor and I taught two twelve year old guys. One day when while learning about transportation, we put together some Dollar General models of planes and ships for the guys to take home. We talked about traveling with these kinds of transportation. I think that they enjoyed it although we used Gorilla glue to cement the models together. I had not realized that Gorilla glue takes at least a half an hour to set up; therefore, getting pieces to stay in place while the glue was drying posed a real trial:(
During all of the kids intensives, my friend Arlyn was here visiting me. That was absolutely great to have him here, although I felt that I could not spend as much time with him as I would have liked to. He and I went to Majdanek ( a large concentration camp near Lublin) and Kazimierz Dolny (a small resort town on the banks of the Wisla River). Really a perfect day trip and we even got to climb together into the belfry of a large Catholic Cathedral. That was really fun and nerve racking for me at the same time, partially because we went up their without any direct permission and also because it looked as though no one had been up there since the fifteen hundreds (moj zart; my joke)! 
I also really appreciate Arlyn coming because he gave me encouragement that only a man can give; especially one who I went to school with. He really helped me to see some areas in my life where I need to focus more energy and to allow Jesus to give to me. I really value his friendship. Thanks, Arlyn.
