Carl and Carol Brown from Ketchikan, Alaska, spent 12 weeks serving with Team Warsaw. The Browns, both retired, were looking for something to do as a long-term volunteer project, when God dropped Poland into their laps. God used a number of people to lead them to Poland, including two Polish boys who worked with their son at a fish processing plant. After a few meals together and hearing the boys tell how Poland needed Christ, a series of events started leading them to ask, “Lord, are you trying to tell us something?”

The Browns came as team support and helped in on-going work. “We prepared lessons for English Club, prepared the volunteer apartment and user manual, helped with the Christmas, New Years and a pumpkin pie party among other things,” said Carol. After working in disaster relief efforts in Gulfport, Mississippi, painting and minor repairs to an apartment was an easy task.

However, their time was not without its challenges. Their main task was to build relationships with whomever they came in contact. “Carl and I have given as a couple in this experience,” said Carol. “It’s been very humbling.”

Preparing English lessons and then spending 2 hours talking with Poles about those topics was one way they worked to build relationships with nationals. “The point was to build relationships and that takes time,” said Carl. “We want to build on those we started when we come back.”

The Browns plan to return to Warsaw and continue working with the team this September for another 12 weeks. They agree that staying 12 weeks is perfect because you don’t need a visa, but you need more than a week to meet and get to know some of the Polish people.

As the Browns returned home, they not only took a love for the Polish people but many blessings and a new understanding of God’s love as well. When they prayer walked with Team Warsaw and their national partners, “some would be praying in Polish and others in English and I kind of wondered, ‘God are you still with us?’” said Carol. “I’m almost embarrassed to admit, but God is much more universal than before I came here. I kind of thought God only spoke English, but I got a whole different picture of who He is.”

Although the Browns didn’t understand the language, while they experienced worship in a different culture, God still moved in their hearts. “I worshipped God better in Poland than in my home Church,” said Carl. “And I can’t even understand what the pastor says but I’ve heard some of the most moving services here. Their worship is true.” Because they had an open heart and listened to God’s calling through two Polish boys in Alaska, the Browns have found a place God can use them.