14. Aug 2025

Gniewkowo - Kruswica

Photo 1: The path went through the cornfield. No, this was not the official Way of St. James. Paths like this make you feel like a real pilgrim, perhaps how it was for pilgrims to travel by foot centries ago without GPS, hiking Apps or even so many roads.

Photo 2: Today was very hot and dry with temperature going up to 91 degrees. On days like this I am always happy to have a breeze, shade or a stretch in the woods.

Photo 3: The hot, dry weather is good for bringing in the wheat. There are fields everywhere. The name "Poland" actually means "The Land of Fields". That it is.

Photo 4: I was running low on water. A lady saw me walking through her village and recognized that I was a pilgrim. She asked if I would like some water. I said yes. She brought out a cold bottle of mineral water. That was a real treat and a gift from heaven. I must have looked like I just walked through the Sahara Desert... she insisted that her son drive me the last two kilometers to this church in Kruswica. Why not?

When I got to the church, I met Hendrik from northern Germany. He was wanting to see the church for its historical and architectural relevance. He was not a person of faith. I shared my story and what I was doing. We talked about the ten commandments and the importance of religious thought in society, but no breakthroughs. Had I not been given the 2 km ride, the conversation probably would not have taken place. It was a knock on the heart from heaven.

Photo 5: Kruswica on Lake Gopło...

After I took a shower, I went to Lidl to buy some groceries. When I came out of the store, a man came up to me on the sidewalk and asked me something in Polish. I said that I speak English and German. He then responded in English whether I knew where the bus station was. I told that I was walking through Poland and did not know where the bus station was. He very excitedly said he was also walking and on his way to Krakow. I responded that I was walking with Jesus. Now he was getting really excited and exclaimed that he was walking with Jesus too, and he pulled out his necklace that he was wearing that had a Jesus figure on it. He said that two weeks ago he decided to make a change in his life and asked Jesus to help him. He also said that he had some negative experiences in his youth with the Catholic Church and wanted to find an "evangelic" one. I told him that I was an "evangelic" pastor. Now he started to cry with snot coming out of his nose and everything. I told him I would pray for him and as I did, he knelt down on the sidewalk. People were walking by wondering what was going on. I am not sure I know what was going on other than Jesus was showing both him and me: "I know where you are, and I am there." His name was Adam. Pray that God would continue his work of grace in his life. Adam then took off to catch a bus...