Today was a Czech holiday, and we were invited to join the Madrysz family for a day trip—one that turned out to be exactly what our tired bodies and foggy minds needed.

We left the apartment around 9:00 a.m. and reached the mountain a little before 11:00. Our goal was the tallest peak in the Polish part of the Beskyd range. We took a gondola partway up, then hiked the remaining stretch. It was a well‑traveled path, but new to us—and made better by being with friends.

Everything was lush from recent rains. Green plants crowding the trail, forest stretching out in every direction, water still pooled in places where the ground hadn’t fully absorbed it. From the ridge we could see Lysá Hora—the tallest mountain in the Czech Beskyds, the one that towers over Malenovice. And farther still, deep into Slovakia, the jagged, snow‑covered peaks of the High Tatras rose up like a postcard, beckoning us toward more adventure.

As is the custom in this region, we spent time at the top in a mountain restaurant—think ski chalet—before heading back down. Plenty of time for conversation, fun, and laughter. These are the moments that remind me how much relationship shapes ministry.

Before reaching the bottom of the gondola, several of us took a ride on a personal roller coaster—basically go‑carts on rails. I operated the brake sparingly while Chris and I corkscrewed and whirled down the track at high speed. Great fun, and a perfect ending to the hike.

Tomorrow it’s back to the practical side of things—utilities, agencies, and hopefully getting internet set up by day’s end. Please pray for our electricity situation. Although the company is legally required to provide service, they’ve been unwilling so far to put the account in our name. And please pray for health as Chris and I are both slightly under the weather.

Caio for now,
Pastor Doug