Today, most of the KTS staff and the Faith Church team went to Warsaw for a day visit, and all returned safely to Lublin this evening. It also turned out to be the day that the country of Poland celebrates Corpus Christi, a liturgical holiday that honors the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. As we arrived, a procession of hundreds of clergy, military members, families, and more were passing through the main Castle Square accompanied by instruments,a choir, incense, and readings from the Gospels. At one point, the assembly kneeled in reverence and prayer.
We walked through much of Warsaw’s Old Town as a team and had time to learn more about the historic uprising in 1944. While the destruction of war nearly leveled the entire area, it was later rebuilt to honor the roots and original feel of the area. We noticed the recreation had an odd, almost “too-new” feel for a place you can sense has seen much more history than what museums and generations who followed were able to tell. Some of the KTS staff voiced their desire that soon Ukraine could have memorials commemorating the end of the war.
After lunch, we visited a museum commemorating Marie Curie’s birthplace and life. What a full life she had! We learned she named Polonium from her birth-country, Poland, and were humbled to see her influence on so much of science, cancer-treatment, radiology, and beyond.
More than the walking and bit of history we were able to soak up, sharing the day with our Ukrainian friends was very special. This free day offered them space to in some ways have a day that felt “normal” – eating a leisurely lunch, stopping to get coffee or ice-cream, and time for them to also
explore and see new places. Hearing their laughter on the bus-ride home reminded
us that much more valuable than souvenirs, the KTS staff will carry many new
and deepened relationships with one another in Christ, as they soon return to
Kyiv this weekend.
-Olivia and Jacob Baldwin
