Away for a while

Wow...it's been forever since I have been on here!

It's crazyness...and I am glad to be back!  

Lots of things have been going on in the life of alex...and i can't even explain all of it in one post!

And sadly, I am getting ready to leave my house...so I will be back later, and I can't wait!

enjoy the stories of real life!

alex h.

Starbucks and Stress...

Life has been extremely busy lately...so naturally I have been under a little bit of stress...okay maybe more than a little bit...maybe a lot of stress.

There have been a bajillion things going on lately...stuff with family, friends, work, school, church, BDTV, and just life.

But over the past few days, there have been a few defining moments for me...a few defining moments that have allowed me to being to release some of this stress I have been building up.

One of those moments happened today in my car. I went out and picked up a new outfit for our choir concert tonight...also I needed it for BDTV. That's beside the point. After I got my clothes, I ran into Starbucks (a.k.a. a small slice of Heaven!) I got myself a venti white chocolate mocha and a slice of coffee cake and I was on my way.

I get back to my car, and take a sip of my delicious creation...and for the first time in a long time...this sense of just calm came over me. The only thing I can guarantee about this situation is that God was in control. He was telling me it's time to let it all go.

As I just began to relax, I put the car in reverse, and pulled away. And I just drove home...listening to a John Mayer mix CD. I didn't change the song, I just sat there and drove and listened and relaxed. And everything seemed to become a little bit brighter...even those it was raing and gloomy outside.

This is just a testament to what God can do in your life. He is in control, and it may seem like he is far away, but he is there to relieve you and make you feel calm...He rocks you to sleep in His arms, and says to you "Child, you are mine...and I will never let you go."

That's may Father...the bed father I could ever ask for...

Stories of real life

alex h.

The Weekend!

I LOVE the weekends...they are my favorite part of this week!

This was a pretty good weekend.

Friday night, I went and shot the Ben Davis football game with BDTV...and it was a lot of fun. High School Football has never realy been my thing, but I had a very enjoyable time anyways! Almost got run over, but I kept the camera rolling and GOT THE SHOT! That shows dedication!

Saturday, I walked in the Quaker Day parade with Belles et. Beaux. It was a pretty good time...we sounded pretty amaizng! Saturday night, I worked...from 4 to close...I can't say I had an amazing time, but I made money.

Sunday, today, I went to church...late...spoke about Poland, and came home and slept. I pretty much enjoyed that part throughly! The sleeping that is!

So yeah, that was the weekend. Cant' wait till the next one rolls around!

Stories...real life happening before your very eyes...

alex h.

Back to the writing...

So, it has been quite some time since I have actually wirtten about anything importatn on here...and I have decided that I need to get back to it!

So, I'M BACK!!!!!

And things have been crazy lately...

As you may know, I have a job...at Ritter's Frozen Custard in Plainfield...and it's okay. Im making money, so that is all that matters!

But life has been very exciting lately. We are getting ready to move the High School Ministry into our gym at church, and it has kept us all busy. It is going to be such an awesome experience and we are so excited about the move! We know that God is going to be able to do some amazing things through it!

School is school...not really enjoying my PHS classes...but I am loving BD! I have been getting some great experience and I hope to get a ton more before I leave!

Well, time to go. Olivia is on her way to pick me up...we are going to breakfast and then going to sing with Belles et. Beaux in the Quaker Day Parade...so yeah...kind of a busy day.

Enjoy the stories...

alex h.

My Body IS A Wonderland!

So, I am sitting here with Jake and Zach and Danny and Kayla and Krystal in Mike's basement (thats a lot of names!) We just got done watching a very stupid "horror" flick, and we are now sitting here doing nothing.

I just wanted to let you all know that my body IS a wonderland!

Enjoy your day!

Work...

sucks...

I can only say that is one of the most powerful videos I have ever seen. Watch and be moved.

Thanks to the guy at BigStuf for thinking outside the box and producing something so amazing!

Love At The Core

We want love, love at the core
The cold of the flesh always seems to creep inside of my chest
And I need te pulse of You, God
To fill these veins and touch my heart
So I can start living again
We've seen the dark of the night
Sun won't you come shine some light on our lives

We want love, love at the core
So much more than what we're living for
We want love, we want love, love at the core

I'm numb to the cries of this world
As I lie holding on you with all of me, my everything
I need You, breathe into me
Sun won't you come shine

Love, love at the core
So much more than what we're living for
We want love, we want love, love at the core
So much more of this life that we're reaching for
We want love

Sweeter than wine you are, you are
We've seen the dark of the night
Sun won't come shine some light on our lives

We want love, love at the core
So much more than what we're living for
We want love, we want love, love at the core
So much more of this life that we're reaching for
We want love to bing up tonight
Leave behind your own disguise so love can find you and I tonight

by: run kid run

Changes.

Hey everybody...

So this has been a very crazy week! There has been SOOOO much going on.

The biggest thing...Zach is leaving...yeah...

It all happened last minute...and it is just crazy! I am so excited for him, but I am going to freakin miss him.

He has been like my big bro for the past two years...something I will never forget.

So this goes out to Zach Baker...the coolest kid I have ever met!

I love ya buddy!

so exhausted...

halo

so...it has been a while since we have last spoken...my apologies

i have been extremely busy

and now i am very tired

so i am just saying HELLO

and i hope you are all doing wonderful!

talk to you in depth soon

alex

Back on Track...

My goodness...I was hoping to come home and relax...haha...like that was going to happen!

But...I am very glad to be home!

I am still adjusting back to American food (I can understand why foreigners hate to eat American food) and getting back on the correct sleeping schedule. I go to bed and wake up at normal times, I just get exhausted about half way through the day.

Life is moving on though. School starts Monday...booo!

More stories to come through out the school year. Exciting stuff happening!

stories...some short...some long

alex h.

Delays, Luggage Problems, and SO Much More..

I don't know how you feel about Satan, but I can tell you he is not very happy with out team!

He has tried so many different times on this trip to cause problems and mess things up. It all started off with us being there for the wrong week, and hasn't stopped since.

Last night was a perfect example of that. We were delayed in Poland, as I told you before, and we missed our connecting flight to Indy. There were not more flights out of Neward to Indy last night, so we were stuck there for the night.

Right as we walked off the plane, they gave us our hotel vouchers and food vouchers, and even our reservation for our flight the next day! It was all looking pretty good.

We get to the hotel, and begin the whole check-in process. They give us our food vouchers for dinner, but none for breakfast. When we got off the plane, they said they would have vouchers for both dinner and breakfast...didn't happen. So, we made sure we had a photo copy of our vouchers so we could send it to LOT Polish Airways and be re-imbursed for breakfast.

Well, the lady at the desk just threw a fit. She said there was no way we could just got a photo copy for our records. NOT TRUE. She walked away, and the guy next to her said he would do it for us.

We get our rooms, and have a very nice dinner together in the restaurant in the hotel. Got up this morning and had a very easy trip to the airport.

Our new flights were with Continental, instead of United. We got to the desk and started to do check-in. The knew we were in a group, so they asked how many bags we had. We told them we had eight. They kind of freaked out and said that we would have to pay for the extra four, that they only gave us one bag free.

This was just stupid...we had been delayed and missed our connection so we didn't have a choice of who we booked with.

Bob went round and round with the lady, and finally we had to walk down to the United desk to get a voucher for the extra luggage. They said we would have to call LOT, but because we were transfered, that they would cover the cost. LOT of course was closed until tonight...so we just had to pay it up front, and they will re-imburse Bob for it.

We finally get it all worked out, get checked in, eat breakfast, and get through security. For some reason our tickets had some special code on them, and we had to have our carry-on's wiped down and myself and Ayla got the pat-down treatment!

After all of this, we get to our gate, and our plane has been delayed by a half an hour.

The time goes by, and we get on the plane...only to wait in a long line before taking off. We take off pretty smoothly..with an awesome view of NYC.

We are almost home now, and the flight has been very bumpy so far.

Satan really didn't want us to have a good time on this trip...and yet we did!

We had such an enjoyable time, and we can't wait to touchdown in Indy.

This whole trip has made us realize how real the powers of Good and Evil in the world are. Even through the tough times, God will prevail....always...never failing...it may seem like He is not there...but he is...faith was so key for us on this trip, and we have all become stronger in our faith because of it.

We are so thankful we are finally coming home...even with all of the troubles!

Talk to you all when we hit the group in Indy!

Real stories about real events...

alex h.

The Plane Ride Home

So...today has been a very interesting day so far. We were supposed to leave the camp for the airport at about 3:30 in the morning. There were three groups flying out today, and the camp didn't have enough transportation to get everybody there at different times.

Out team had the latest of the flights, so we would have been there just over seven hours early...crazy.

Daniel, the director of all camps, felt bad for us, so he said he could personally take us to the airport. This was amazing...except for the fact that we each had two suitcases (thanks to all of our production gear) plus at least one carry-on. Daniel had a station wagon...with a very small back end.

Let's just say it was a very tight ride to the airport!

We get there and get through security...no problem. Hit up the last minute gift shops and then head to our gate.

We clear immigration within about thirty seconds....everything is pointing towards the face that it is going to be an awesome day!

That is...until our flight leaving Warsaw is delayed...by two hours. This means that we will also miss our connecting flight in Jersey...so yeah...didn't start off too well.

We finally get on our plane, and head to the runway. As we begin to accelerate, I hear this noise behind me. Come to find out, the lady behind me has a cat with her, and it is going a little bit crazy!

Thankfully, the cat shut up as soon as we got into the air. The takeoff was a little rough...the roughest of any we have taken yet.

So, we get going...about twenty minutes into the flight, the captain turns off the "fasten seat belt" sign. Without even missing a beat, the guy in front of me leans his seat back all the way...jerk.

It normally wouldn't bother me, because the flights I usually take aren't that long...but this is a nine hour flight. And I am about six foot four inches....not a very good combination. Let's just say I haven't gotten any sleep on this flight.

We are just now flying over Canada, on our way to New Jersey. We don't know where we will be flying too next...or if we will even make it home tonight! Ahhh!!!

I WANT MY BURRITO! (I called my parents last night and asked them to bring me a chicken burrito from Qdoba...I have been craving one of those things like crazy the past week!)

That is all I really have for now. I hope you have enjoyed and been able to share my experience in the beautiful country of Poland.

I hope to have all 2000 of my pictures up in the near future...may take a while to upload all of them!

Real life stories will continue. You will hear about some of the different experiences that I have not shared about yet. The things I needed time to reflect on before I wrote about them.

I would like to thank all of you for reading my blog and supporting me on this amazing journey. God did some amazing things with our team, and we are so thankful we have been able to use our gifts that He has blessed us with to spread His message.

Stories...all real...all the time

alex h.

The Stars...

Last night was the closing nigth for camp. All of the diferent groups got up on stage or showed their final project for the week. It was a very cool experience....that lasted about three and a half hours. Don't get me wrong, we needed to honor all the groups, but it was the longest session ever!

We got out of the session at about 11:30, and got all the campers off to bed. Our team came over to the office/studio and started the clean-up process. We got all the Media Challenge equipment put away and packed up. We had to say many of our good bys last night because the team from Arizona was going to Krakow to spend the day, and then they were staying the night. (The don't leave until Monday so.) We also had to say good by to Tomec and Archie because they are gone all day and for the evening as well.

So, after all this was over, a group of us headed out to the basketball courts at the back of the camp to go star gazing. I took the camera and got some really awesome shots. I will have them up later.

We laid there for a little over two hours...just talking and laughing and enjoying each others company.

It was amazing just to look up at the stars and see what God had created. How could anybody deny the face that Jesus was real? Who could have created something so amazingly beautiful...other than God? It seemed simple to us, but the world doesn't seem to understand.

We have had an amazing couple of weeks, and I am sad to have to leave. We have built new friendships, partnerships, and memories that will last a lifetime!

Our team has learned a lot while in the beautiful country of Poland. We have fallen in love with the people here, and the work that PROeM Ministries is doing. The only thing we really haven't fallen in love with is the food...well...some of the food! We have had some deliscious dishes...and we have had some not so deliscious dishes.

Poland had taught us a lot about who God is to each of us...and it's different for everybody. All we can say is this has been an amazing experice. We are truly blessed that we have been able to journey and do life with each other for the past two or so weeks.

The stories will continue...but until then...HALO!

alex h.

Gorski's!

Once we completed tear down last night from the outdoor concert, out team loaded up the cars with Tomec and Archie. We were on our way to Gorski's. It is an authentic polish restraunt, attached to Gorski's Hotel. The best part about it is...it's open 24/7!

The food is amazing, and at a great price!

The drive over there was pretty boring. I rode in Archie's car, with Katlyn, Joe, and Victoria. Joe and Victoria both feel asleep, so Katlyn and Archie and I just had a dandy little conversation. We got there, and once we get out food...the team woke up! It's amazing what good food does to you that late at night/early in the morning.

We were also celebrating J.T.'s birthday yesterday. He turned 20 while being in Poland! Tomec and his wife bought some cakes while they were in town. Tomec brought them with us. They were deliscious!

Once we finished partying it up, we loaded up the car and headed home. The drive home was much more exciting. We got the music blaring, and we were rocking it out. Poor Joe...Katlyn and I squished him like crazy all the way home.

It was a good night. I am very tired now, but it was totally worth it!

Well, time to get ready for the morning workshop.

More stories to come...

alex h.

Poland...Thursday #2

It is hard to believe that it was two weeks ago that we showed up in Poland. Man, times goes by so fast!

These past two weeks have been amazing, and I am going to be very sad to see them end. But, I can't wait to come home and hang out with my family and friends!

Today was a very active day. I met with my team this morning, and they planned to shoot their music video for their final project. For some reason though, they didn't understand the concept they had given to me! So, we got Tomec over there, and he talked with them for a few minutes, and we developed a whole new story. Much simpler to do...making my job a heck of a lot easier!

We got out and started shooting, and finished up right before lunch. They will be able to edit it all tomorrow, and produce a great film.

The majority of my afternoon was spent setting up for an outdoor concert that is going on right now. Trust me, I am not missing much. It is all in Polish, so I don't understand most of it!

Tomec and Katlyn and I were setting up the giant video screen, and a huge gust of wind came and knocked it down...broke three of the corners. Duck tape solves EVERYTHING!

Once we tear down after the concert, we are going to head over to Gorski's...an amazing Polish restraunt. It is open 24/7! It's going to be a long night.

Only a few more days of stories from Poland, but the stories will continue...wherever my travels take me!

Enjoy the stories of life...

alex h.

Poland...Wednesday #2

Pure exhausting has hit out team square in the face.

We were all lagging this morning when we got up. Not really what we wanted to do. We stayed up last last night, so that didn't help, and we are going out to Gorski's on Thursday night, so we are in for little sleep once again.

But...WE ARE IN POLAND! And we are gonna party like the Polish!

It was a very busy day today, but a good day. Poor Bob. His wife left us on Saturday, and wasn't feeling well. She left the sickness with Bob. He has a very sore throat, and is starting to lose his voice. Poor guy...

But, out teams are all working well. This week has been a much different week. Because we all have our own teams, we haven't seen each other as much as we usually do. Kind of weird. We go from spending a week non-stop with each other, and then we only spend a few hours a night with each other. Crazyness.

The whether has been much better this week. It hasn't rained at all. It's been pretty hot, but that is okay. It's better than rain! I bet the basketball camp we had last week is wishing they hadn't switched the dates of their camp!

More stuff to come as this week continues. Keep reading the stories.

Real life happening in every story...

alex h.

Poland...Tuesday #2

If you can't tell by now...I have lost count of the days we have been here. It seems like an eternity, as well as a minute! Crazy how time works.

More workshops with our groups today. We showed the "chase scene" they did yesterday, and edited those down to a final product...then converted them so they can be put up on the blog (check out the blog for the camp this week. it is being kept up by one of the workshops. you can go to it at fishart2008.blogspot.com)

My group of guys has been amazing so far. They did a killer job on their chase scene, and have some really good ideas coming for their final project. I can't wait to see what they come up with.

The sessions this week have been much different than last week. All the speakers and stories and EVERYTHING last week related to basketball...which makes sense. It was a BASKETBALL camp! The stuff was good, but sometimes hard to connect with because out team doesn't play basketball like those kids so. We are all "techno weeny's"!

This week though, the messages have really hit home for all of us. The connection is there because we are in our element. We all know why God has created us, and we are able to show that through our work!

God has revealed some amazing things to us while in Poland. He has shows us the importance of community, relationships, and trust. Without having these elements, out team would be in shambles right now. There have been some rough spots...but nobody is perfect. We have worked through them as a team.

We have one final project we need to complete for the team here at PROeM before we leave on Sunday. It is a promotional piece we put a good amount of work into last week...but we still need to edit it all down and create a final project. None of us can seem to find the drive...the initial drive, not the hard drive (thanks for the joke Bob!)...to work on this project.

Be praying for our team, that we can finish up this project and put our best foot forward with it.

Enjoy the stories...


Alex H.

New Campers!

Today was an early morning. We had an all staff devotional time, at 7:30. Breakfast for us at 8:00. Got us right back to the grind.

Our first session with the video team was this morning. We divided up into the advanced group (those who have been through the program before) and the beginners (those who have not). The advanced team got right to work on a few different videos, after a quick refresher course.

We took the beginning team downstairs and held the first workshop. Myself, Joe, and Victoria, all have a team of beginners.

My team ROCKS! They all understand English, three of them speak okay, and one is pretty fluent in his English. They are a sweet group of guys...awesome attitudes...really cool kids.

More workshops to come. More good times!

Enjoy the stories...

alex h.

Closed Doors...

On Thursday of last week, we went into Tomaszow to shoot for a project we are working on. One of the biggest things we are trying to show with this video is that we want people to have a personal relationship with Jesus. It amazing, but about 98% of Poland is Christians...most of them being Catholic. A very few are evangelical Christians...those who have a personal relationship with Jesus and are following his message.

There was an old Catholic cathedral in the city...it has been closed for a while now. I took the picture below...a moving piece in my mind. It shows the transformation in Poland. It shows going from old to new...a movement from the Catholic church to Jesus.

The picture itself tells a story...enjoy...be moved...remember...Jesus

stories of life

alex h.

Poland...Week 2...Day 1

Today...once again...was an awesome day...except for a few minor glitches.

We got up this morning and headed to church at the TOMY center. It was an awesome experience. Today's message was all about service. Next week, the TOMY center as well as PROeM is going to be taking part in a thing called Real Action Week. This is a week where they will go out into the community and just serve the people. An awersome week.

One of the interns here at PROeM came up to sing a song. It's called by "God of Justice" and it's by Tim Hughes. Absolutely amazing song...so powerful.

I just want to share the lyrics with you...

God of Justice, Savior to all
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served
Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will go
We MUST go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We MUST go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We MUST go

To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in everyway
Walking humbly before You God
You have shows us what you require
Freely we've recieved
Now freely we will give

We MUST go life to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We MUST go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We MUST go

Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out Lord

Stories...

alex h.

Poland...Day 8

Yesterday...I don't remember much of the day...a few key points...but a few things.

We shot some more people...with the camera of course. Dumped footage...did a few other things. Went to the basketball game...made a last minute video.

That was basically my day. Today...I dont know yet!

Enjoy the SHORT stories...

alex h.

Last Minute Video

Bob got the idea for this video...it started off as a joke...and ended up as a real video. Ayla shot it, and I created it in about two and a half hours...enjoy!

More stories to come...

Alex H.

Ukraine Music Video

Last night...was a very long night. Around eight or so, Tomec comes in and tells us that if anyone from our group would like to help shoot a music video with a guy from Ukraine that we were more than welcome to help. We were supposed to meet in the studio at 10:00...we ended up meeting at 10:30. This was only the first of many long delays...

We get all the gear from the studio we needed...cameras, tapes, batteries, the screen for the background, ya know, the basic video equipment.

We get over to the chapel, begin the set-up...which takes about an hour and a half...should have taken twenty minutes. We keep changing the design, location of the projector, camera dolly's...all kinds of stuff.

We finally get a decision on how we want the lights, we add the smoke and the intelligent light for affect, the video in the background is rolling...so we begin...at about 1:00 a.m.

We go through the song twice, Bob running the center camera, and I was running the "crazy" camera, as Tomec called it.

We do the song a few more times, then Tomec says..."One more time, I promise!" This was the first of many false promises! We ended up doing the song five more times!

AHHHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

In the end, we got the video and clean-up wrapped up at about 2:15 a.m. Tomec is editing the video as we speak. Hope it turns out well.

Here are a few pics Ayla snapped during the shoot! Awesome shots!

Enjoy the stories...

Alex

Good News!

We just got word from the airline company...and we have been able to change the group from Zona's tickets to leave...ONE WEEK LATER! They not get to stay with for the Fishart camp! Can't wait!

More stories to come later...

Alex

Poland...Day 7 (Filming in the city)

We leaded up the van this morning at about 11:00 and headed off to the city of Tomaszow. We are working on a promotional video for PROeM Ministries. It is basically an encouragement to get American to come and serve in Poland with PROeM.

We have done many interviews, and today we got a lot of b-roll footage. We got some of the childrens program at the TOMY Center. We then headed to lunch...we ate at Pizzeria Capone. AMAZING PIZZA! We got a pizza with ham, mushrooms, cheese, and peppers. The peppers were very sweet...not hot. Very good food.

After lunch, we went to the town square and got lots of shots of people, old Catholic churches, and the movement of the city.

We then met Rafal at the new location for the TOMY Center. It is an old theater...a very cool location. The front part is going to be a coffee cafe that will be open to the public from Monday through Saturday. Once all the construction is finished, it will be a grogeous facility.

We then made out way back to the current location of the TOMY Center to film the women's program. Along the way we stopped at the grocery. Most kids would go it and buy all kinds of junk food. Our group headed straight for the fresh fruit! It is something we have been craving all week. The cold cuts at breakfast have gotten pretty old...and we still have another week of them!

That is our day so far...oh yeah...we just got back from a sausage roast. Not the greatest sausage ever...oh well...I ate my fruit!

We have a video shoot tonight. The group from Ukraine is going to be preforming for the entire group, and from what we understand, we are going to help fim a music video with Tomec and the crew! Should be fun.

More to come from Poland later tonight!

Enjoy the stories...

Alex H.

Haircut...

Wanted to share a quick story with you all before we get out of here for the day. (We are heading into town to work on our new PROeM Promotional Video)

At the end of every week of camp, the show a huge highlights video of the week. In one of those parts, the show footage of the staff going around and waking campers up with a flashlight. The reactions are very funny!

This week, they decided to raise the stakes. They began at about one in the morning...got to our room at about one thirty. One of the guys in our team from CCV, Joe, was asleep on the top bunk. Apparently the came in with an electric razor and shaved a chunk of hair off of Joe's head!

Joe now has a patch of his hair mission...kind of offset from center...but very funny! Joe was a good sport of the whole thing...witch made it even better!

Enjoy the story...

Alex

Poland...Day 6

Today was an awesome day!

The video that we ended up scratching yesterday, we re-shot last night and I got the cut this morning from Rafal. (It was in Polish so I needed it to be cut for me!) I went to work on it about 11:00 and had it all done by 4:00. Tomec then took it and put sub-titles on it for me!

So yeah, that was again my day.

But, the best part of the day...

I got the new graphics for THE ANDY PROJECT. So, basically, I am going to stop talking now and show you the new graphic! Enjoy.

the stories of real people...

alex h.

Auschwitz...The Whole Story

This has been one of those stories that I have been dying to tell...but I wanted to wait...wanted to let the experience sink in before I wrote about it.

This is the story of a place they call Auschwitz...to many...this was a living hell during World War II.

When you think of Auschwitz, I am sure you think of it as a Jewish concentration camp, and you are correct in that thinking...but there is so much more to this place than that. The Jews were the largest population of the concentration camp, but they were not the only population.

Auschwitz I was created originally for Polish political prisoners...the high ups of society. As the war began to progress, the phrase "political prisoner" became a very broad term...meaning that anybody who was Polish could be brought to the camp.

Auschwitz began to then expand, and more and more prisoners began to arrive. This is when the Jewish population became so large at Auschwitz.

Auschwitz II (Birkenauf) was established about five kilometers from Auschwitz I. This camp was approximately six times the size of Auschwitz I. Much bigger scale, much more destruction...death...crulity...fear.

The way the Auschwitz camps (three in all) worked was very disturbing. Jews would arrive, they would be sorted. The strong and able to work in one group, all others in another. Those who had the ability to work were taken off...never to see their families again. The rest were hearded into a gas chamber, where they were experienced a slow and painful death. Their bodies were taken then to the crematories, where they were burnt...never to be seen again.

The master minds behind Auschwitz were pure geniuses...in a very disturbing way. They had one of the greatest cover ups of all time for these Jewish people. Many of the Jews thought they were stepping off the train into a better life. They thought when they walked into the gas chamber they were going to get showers. They even had some of the Jews pay for their train tickets to Auschwitz. They paid to die...

What you have just read will probably disturb you...it should. The lives of these people were changed for ever...many lost their lives. For those who survived, I dedicate this post to them...to survive hell-and-back...yet that is exactly what these people did.

All of the pictures you will see from Auschwitz will be from the outside. Photography was not aloud inside, but we managed to capture some video footage, which I will hopefully have up later this week.

Real life stories...

By Alex H.

Poland...Day 5 (Video Production SUCKS!)

Hello to all...

Hope things in the states are going well. Sorry about not getting this blog up last night, but the internet here went down for about two hours so...didn't get it back until about 1:25 in the morning. What a day!

The whole day was spent editing...I worked on a video from about 10:30 until about 3:00...only to break for lunch. We decided we needed some more b-roll footage of the guy we had interviewed. I grabbed a camera with a tape and battery, and headed over to the basketball courts to get a few last shots.

I got what I needed, and when I got back, the decision had been made that we needed to re-shoot the entire video. Mind you that the video I had been working on was due for that night. We had even gotten most of the translation done...which takes FOREVER!

The head video guy here sat down to watch it while I was gone and noticed a slight high tone frequency in the audio from the mic. It was only for part of the video...the battery died about half way through the shoot, and we had to replace it. We decided this was the cause of the high tone frequency.

So, there, my whole day...gone. I guess you can say that is video production for ya. It happens...all the time.

We had gotten the re-shoot all scheduled for the same night, got it set-up, and got the shot. I began dumping...finished about 11:30. The only problem was...it was in POLISH! If you haven't figured it out by now, I DON'T SPEAK POLISH!

The only guy who could cut this (he did the interview...spoke the language...and knew how he wanted to story to go) for us...was about to leave! I had to get the footage all sunk for audio purposed, get it onto a hard drive and get the MacBook Pro all set-up. As soon as we got it together...about 12:30, he headed home to cut this video, along with another video!

Crazyness all around. So, now...the next day (today for me, but for story purposes, the NEXT day for you) I am sitting here in the office/studio waiting on the man with the Mac to come back so I can get the video done for tonight. The endless game of waiting...waiting...waiting! AHHHH!

More stories and pictures to come tonight...assuming if I get this video done tonight! HAHA.

Enjoy the stories my friends...can't wait to share more!

Alex H.

Auschwitz

The gate that leads to Auschwitz II (Birkenauf)...very moving...very disturbing...very...

Poland...Day 4 (Part 2)

Yesterday was a very busy day...part 1 and part 2. When I left you from my last post, we were on our way to dinner. Dinner was cold cuts...once again. But it was very good cold cuts.

After dinner we did another worship set...I ran camera and it was just a blast. As soon as the session was over, we scrambled around to get the cameras and lights set, and began our first of two interviews for the night.

Number one went really well, except for the fact that they guy we were shooting (I just love to say that!) was speaking English...and we STILL didn't understand him. The price we pay for working with armatures. Oh well.

Shoot number five for the day began at about ten till ten...and didn't get over till about eleven thirty. Another great shoot...all in Polish! We didn't understand anything that was happening...but oh well.

A good day over all. Check out some of the pics from our set-up process. The MEDIA CHALLENGE crew in action!

Enjoy the stories...more to come later today...about today!

Alex h.

Poland...Day 4 (Part 1)

Well...I just had one of the strongest cups of coffee in my life...very good...very Polish! (Makes sense because I am in POLAND!)

Today has been an amazing day so far. Started off without a shower...our alarm went off and we slept through it...THREE TIMES! Perfect picture of hygiene is what you are looking at when you look at me!

We did morning worship and our crew runs the live camera feeds and works wherever we are needed. After worship and the lesson, we headed over to the cafeteria to get our assignments for the day...two of them. One was a group of interviews for some videos we will be showing during the evening worship session. The next was the daily highlights video...Katlyn tackled this one with Archie...Tomek's brother.

The rest of our crew began set-up in the cafe and got ready for our first interview. I ran Cam 2...the stylistic and abstract camera...so much fun!

We then repeated this process in two different locations...and I ended up here. Wow...it really was an awesome day...but ya know! More to come tonight...with pictures...in like five minutes! I am serious this time.

Enjoy the stories...and pics.

alex h.

Poland...Day 3 (Translation)

Today has been a very good day...so far!

I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Not that I haven't of other days...but there was a LOT of driving involved in the past few days...and being 6'4" makes those drives uncomfortable. Oh well...

We got a chance to sleep in a little this morning...seven thirty was much better than five thirty! Ate a quick breakfast...cold cuts with bread and jam...and then loaded the bus to head to church inside the city. Bob has us split into two groups...one of the projects we are working on this week is a promotional project for this church. Very cool church...modern and laid back. Katlyn and I got to film all of the children and their activities (playing outside on the playground!) and Ayla, JT, and Joe shot stuff on the inside...worship...speaking...fellowship...the good church stuff like that!

Katlyn and I got the good job...a very good time. Got some really good shots, awesome pics and amazing footage. We ended up meeting a little guy who spoke English (thankfully) and Polish. Katlyn has a little pocket translation guide...so we begain to clean up on our Polish (more like learn for the first time!). David...very cute little kid...wish I could bring him back as my little brother...helped us with our Polish skills. Gave us all the correct forms and sounds...the nicest little kid! What a rockstar.

We got back to camp and ate lunch...the biggest meal of the day here in Poland. We had some kind of soup...lots of Tomatoe in it...pretty good. We then had a beef cutlet...cucumbers in something along the lines of a cream...really good...and finsihed with potates and juice.

After lunch...we headed to the volleyball court! We got it on...fo sho! It was team Indiana verses team Arizona (even though JT is from Missouri...we addopted him for the game). First game went to team Indy...second game to team AZ...and to clench the title...team Indy came out on top! (That's what she said!) It was a very heated match...lots of trash talk. An awesome day.

From there, we headed down to the beach and the river...went for a little swim. Cold at first...but once we got in and got going it felt really good. Se then showered up and that is how I got to this porch overlooking the camp...very good sights here.

Our day is far from over...we have worship tonight and dinner...and so much more. The basketball camp is in full swing...we start our project (TBD) tomorrow! Can't wait to get going.

Pics are coming up tonight...I have a little more editing to do...and then we will be good to upolad!

Enjoy the stories.

Alex

Poland...Days 1 and 2

Well...this has probably been the longest two days of my life...both of them AMAZING!

So, here goes the longest blog you will EVER read!

Day 1

We boarded a plane in Indianapolis...very tiny...very hot! And I was not the one that brought the heat (neither did Bob). Met the rest of the crew in Chicago...headed off to Poland. There is too much in that whole time period to try to explain. One quote from Gordo... "Are you two dating?" (That one is for you Ayla and JT)

Okay, so we arrive in Poland...get through customs...get out luggage...and meet the video guy at the camp...his name...Tomek...means Tomas in English...or so Ayla thinks!

Get in the car...almost hit the wall in the van...and get on the road. Something to learn about Polish drivers...they drive very fast...even if you are only going three feet. Speed limits are posted...but NOBODY follows them.

As SOON as we get to the car...we head to Warsaw and go to a museum all about the uprising of the Getto in Warsaw (pics to come tomorrow...my bad). After about an hour or so there...we headed into downtown to tour the city...absolutely gorgeous city. Lots of pics...awesome stories that I am too tired to remember.

Get back to the car...and take about a three hour drive to a little restraunt called Guarski's....authentic Polish food. I had a sausage the length of my arm...so good. Shard some perogies...a noodle stuffed with mashed potatoes and a cottage cheese like supplement...very interesting! (You should see my tiolot!)

Got to the camp...crashed on my bed super hard...amazing day!

Day 2

Woke up...late...missed breakfast...which was way too early at 6:30. Oh well. We hope in the van for a "supposed" hour and a half drive...ended up being three hours. But it was worht it...we ended up at Auschwitz...very sobering experience. All the pics are from the outside...we were not aloud to takes pics inside...but the experience was so life changing...so moving. Pics are coming...over three hundred of them!

After Auschwitz 1 we headed over to Auschwitz 2...totally destroyed...very sad to look at. This is the camp in the scene from "Schindler's List" when the train rolls through the tower...very sobering experience yet again.

After a very peaceful and depressing morning...we headed to the city of Krakow...about three hours from where we are staying. Very cool city...amazing city square...awesome style. Great food today...yet again...look at my tiolot!

Shopping was fun...all kinds of people. We ended up attending a Catholic wedding...by accident. We went into this gorgeous cathedral to tour and take pics...adn we looked downt the isle and saw the bride and groom...kind of an awkward situation...but I just kept snapping away. I had to pay 5 zlote to take those pictures so. They were pretty good.

Well, then we began to drive again...we did a lot of driving today...and we slept in the car a lot so. Drove about three hours to another authentic Polish restruant...had pork chops this...pooping was a little easier!

Got back to the camp...and am now where...writing about my life...crazyness! Very exciting.

I will have a whole list of pics to put up tomorrow...almost 800! I love my new camera.

Hope you are enjoying the stories...and can't wait to get a little more in-depth when i get time! Enjoy your time...love to all!

In Christ...

Alex H.

Big News About My Trip!!!

I have some very exciting news to share with all of you about my tirp to Poland.

I went over to Ayla's house last night to watch "Schindler's List" before we left for Poland. I get there, and Bob (Ayla's dad, the director of our trip) calls Ayla and I into his office and has us take a seat. His wife, Jane, comes in the room and they close both the doors.

I thought for sure something major was messed up with our trip. So, Bob looks at us and says, "Guys, I hate to say this...but the trip has been canceled...just kidding!" It was a good thing I was wearing my big boy pull-ups because I think I slightly wet myself!

After that scare, Bob got to the serious part of our meeting. Apparently, when Bob meet with the other directors, they planned out out trip with the camp, and made all the necessary reservations and what not.

Things were looking good, and we got all of our info and the who deal taken care of. But, what we didn't know is that the directors of the camp in Krakow (where we will be staying in Poland, also where the majority of the movie "Schindler's List" takes place) decided to swap their outreach week and their media week...and they forgot to tell us! Yeah, major mistake on their parts.

That mistake happened in January...which was 6 months ago. So, Bob got a phone call yesterday morning form the directors of the camp. They had been reviewing our itenary and all of our plans and realized that we were supposed to be there for the media week, but we were actually going to be there for the outreach week...which was a basketball camp...not much media in that!

The director of the camp felt really bad about what had happened, so he gave us a few solutions to our problem.

Our overall project has changed...we are going to be working with a local, more modern church, on producing some illustrational teaching videos...like the Rob Bell Nooma series. We will also be shooting some footage for the camp and producing a promo for them about all the camps they do.

The second part of the solution...the AMAZING part...is that the director offered to keep us out there for a second week...which will be the media week! He is going to pay for our room and board, and the price that it will cost to change out tickets.

This extended our trip from 10 days to 18 days!

Satan tried to make our trip fall apart, but God had a better plan for us! We are so excited about being able to stay for both weeks of camp. Such an amazing experience.

As of now, Ayla and I are the only two students who can officaly stay for the second week. The team from Arizona has to leave because of prior commitments, and we are not sure if our friend J.T. will be able to stay with us or not!

This is such an amazing opporutinty...and I am so excited to embark on it!

Thanks for all the support and prayer!

Enjoy the stories...

Alex

Polish Preperation

My friend who I am traveling with thought it would be funny to add some lovely decorations to my car...to get me in the mood for the trip!

3 Days and Counting...

The trip is getting closer with every minute that goes by...three days from now I will be sitting in an airport in Chicago...waiting to board a planed headed for Warsaw, Poland! I am so excited about the trip...nothing to worry about.

Here are the last minute details of my flight plan and all that fun jazz!!

I leave Indy Thursday night at about 6:30. We fly to Chicago. We leave Chi-Town at about 9:30 and head straight to Warsaw...nine and a half hours...wow...that is one long flight with a very, very, very tiny bathroom!

We arrive in Poland on Friday...and then drive three hours south of Warsaw to the camp we will be working at. We get settled in...and get adjusted to the time change.

Saturday...probably the coolest day...we are heading to a few different concentration camps to take tours. A very eye opening experience.

The camp starts on Sunday night...and runs until Friday morning. As soon as the camp is over, we load up...drive three hours north to Warsaw, and hop on a plan headed for New York City.

From New York, we fly to Washington D.C., and then from there all the way home! We arrive in Indy right around midnight!

A long and crazy trip...but a once in a lifetime experience for me!

Thanks again to all of you for your support! Without you, there is no way I would have been able to take such an amazing trip!

I hope you enjoy my stories and pictures from Poland. I can't wait to share them with you!

If you would like to call me while I am in country, feel free to! I have a phone, and it is a normal rate to call me. Just look in my earlier post on Poland information, and the number is in there!

There is a six hour time difference. For example...if it is 4:00 p.m., it will be 10:00 p.m. in Poland! My phone will be on all day, but PLEASE do not call me in the middle of the night!

Again, thanks for reading, and I hope through my stories I can bring you to Poland!

In Christ

Alex

P.S - feel free to e-mail me while I am away. aholt21@sbcglobal.net

Music

Sitting here in a coffee cafe in Avon...listening to my good buddies band...it's their first gig.

Music is amazing...an all acoustic set and I am loving in.

But it reminds me how much I love music. It reminds me of what music does to me...takes me somewhere I can't go on my own.

Most people just sing along to songs and don't even know what they are saying...but when you actually listen to music...listen to the lyrics...it moves you. Wherever it takes you...it's someplace exciting...someplace now.

The lyrics of tonights music takes me to a time when I played music...back to my acoustic guitar days. It is a cool feeling...looking back on what I used to do.

Music...something so simple...yet something so moving and amazing!

Peace until next time...

Alex

One Week To Go...

Counting down the days...seven days until I step onto that plane and leave the country.

I am so excited about leaving, and so thankful that I have been supported through all of this.  It is amazing to see the support come in from people.  THANKS  AGAIN!  

I can't wait to go and teach my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ about the Good News of God, and how they can use what they love and enjoy to spread His message.

Please continue to pray for the team and I, that we can make an impact in somebody's life while in Poland.

Thanks and God Bless

Alex

What are you Broadcasting?

Broadcast...

What does that mean to you?

This word was introduced to me at BigStuf last week, and since I have been home I have been thinking about what it really means to BROADCAST?

What am I broadcasting?

What is the church broadcasting?

What is the world broadcasting?

What are you broadcasting?

We talked about it on the way home from BigStuf, and we decided we our broadcast is "Love God, Love Others, in a culturally relevant way"

So how do we bring this home?  How do we broadcast this message to the world?

Tell me what you think...

Poland Information

Here are the dates and a few other things you might want to know for my trip to Poland...

I depart the U.S. on July 17, arriving in Poland on the 18

I depart Poland on the 25, arriving in the U.S. on the 26

There is a six hour time difference.  During my evenings (from probably 10:00 or so on [Polish time]) I will have access to my blog, as well as my phone.  That will be 4:00 p.m. [U.S. time]  It is a local call to call my.  I have a system set up through my computer so.  My phone number is 1-317-641-3195.  This works just like a normal phone, so call and if I don't answer...leave me a message and I will get back to you.  

I will have stories and pictures up every day.  Can't wait to begin my journey, and I am so excited to have all of you following me through this amazing time.  I hope that trough my stories I can pull you away from reality for a few moments, and take you to a new and exciting world!

In Christ

Alex

BigStuf 2008

HOLY CRAP!

I just got home from one of the greatest weeks of my life...a week on the beach in Panama City...with 1500 other students who were head-over-heals in love with Christ...I don't think it gets much better.

The trip started of late on Saturday night with our departure and drive through the night to the beach...14 hours on a packed bus...not the most amazing way to get going!

I am a techie...if you couldn't tell...and so when I walked into the Grand Ballroom where the main worship center was...I about peed my pants right then and there...it was so amazing.

Session gets started and my mind is just blown away...drool starts running down my face...and I am in a severe state of shock...totally immersed in this experience.

As the week goes on...amazing things begin to happen in the lives of my friends...and my self.  We begin to see this theme of BROADCAST come to life.  Amazing stuff was happening all around us.

Now I am home...back to the real world.  But I am not worried about how things will unfold.  On the way home, we had a discussion about how to bring this theme and passion back to our lives.  The conversation that took place made me feel all warm and fuzzy!  I could see and feel God moving through my piers and I, as we began to talk and live out this live we are called to Broadcast for Christ.

What message do you Broadcast?

Counting down the days...

Only 20 days until I leave (which may seem like a long time) and it is coming faster than I could have ever imagined!  I am so excited to leave the country, yet I know I will miss everybody so much.  

But, this is a once in a lifetime experience for me, and I know that I will be experiencing things that I may never experience again.  The lessons about life and how truly blessed I will learn will change my life forever!  

As the days count down, I am countiualy praying that God will bless and protect our team...that He will give us the words to speak to our students...and that He will lead us to a place of His truth!

Thanks again to all of those of you who have supported me as this journey counts down to lift-off!  Can't wait to hop on that plane and begin a new chapter in my life!

In Christ

Alex

A HUGE Thanks...

Just wanted to give a shout out to everybody who has helped me by supporting me with my trip to Poland this summer.  Without your support and donations, I wouldn't even be able to go.  May God bless you and your family, and I can't wait to share my stories with you!  Thanks again.

Welcome to my Blog

Hey everybody

Welcome to my blog!  I have started this so I can keep in touch with all of you while I am in Poland, but I plan on continuing my blogging long after I return.  Enjoy these true stories...some of hope...some of pain...and some that will make your sides split with laughter.  

Love always

Alex