Daniel Johnson went to Poland to clean the Jewish Graveyard!

Daniel Johnson went to Poland to clean the Jewish Graveyard!

I've grown up in a strong Christian family and my Mother (Teresa Johnson) has always encouraged me to get out into the world and try to make a difference. In 2005 and again in 2007 I have had opportunities to do just that!!

In '05 my missions pastor began a new concept for our church of partnering with local and international missionaries. I have always loved to travel and to volunteer, so when I heard we were forming a team to travel to Poland I jumped at the opportunity!

After a brief layover in Frankfurt, Germany we met Steven Reece (Missionary) in Warsaw, Poland, July 2005. Poland's history is one shaped by both Catholic and Jewish communities. I had never really had any real contact with the Jewish community, but that was about to change!

During WWII Poland was a major area of the Nazis Holocaust. Due to this terrible event what's left of the Polish Jewish community has had great difficulty in maintaining their holy places in Poland. According to the Jewish faith the cemetary holds great religious importance. When Jewish people move into a new area, land for a cemetary is the first priority. Unfortunately the once 500,000 plus Jewish population in Warsaw has dwindled to 500, and most of those are over 90 years old! Sadly these Jewish cemetaries have fallen into great disrepair.

My team decided we would go to Otwock Poland (30 kilometers SE of Warsaw), and help to repair one such cemetary. We viewed this as a means by which we could show the Jewish community that since God loves them we will love them as well!

When we arrived in Otwock the local Jewish officials didn't know what to make of us. Why would a group of Christians come all the way from America to Poland just to fix up a Jewish cemetary? It made no sense to them and I believe that's the reason it made such an impact with them. Quite a international buzz went out about the project and my church was soon receiving correspondance from all over the world. The Atlanta Jewish Times caught wind of what we were involved with and wrote an article in the aug. 2005 issue: http://atlanta.jewish.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1169.

On July 8, 2007 I departed with another team to Otwock, Poland. On the way we enjoyed a layover in Paris, France. Being my first time in Paris I was determined to see as much as possible. When I emerged from the metro I found myself standing in front of the Notre Dame cathedral (It was incredible!).

Continuing along the Seine River the clouds rolled across the city and it began to rain.

It was like walking through another world strolling down the Paris alley ways until small pieces of hail snapped me awake and I quickly took cover under a covered walkway.

My team decided they were to jet lagged to endure the Paris rainstorm, but I couldn't leave without experiencing as much as possible. 

After saying my good byes to the team I climbed into a cab with one of my team members and sped across the streets of paris. Holding my trusty sony camera precariously out the backseat window I filmed my ride around the Arc de Triomphe, through the Lourve, and finishing at the Eiffel Tower.

When I arrived at the cemetary in Otwock I was astounded at the difference from the last time I had been there. Apparently since our visit in '05 teams from all over America had been coming to Otwock to rebuild the  cemetary. By the time our visit was over the cemetary had been completely cleared of debris and recording the identities of the headstones can now begin.

In the evenings as our work was progressing I went with some of my Polish friends to a local coffee house to play cards. While there we made contacts with local teenagers which gave us a wonderful opportunity to share our faith with them. I am still in contact with several of them.

While I was working in the cemetary another part of my team put on a daycamp in a local orphanage. The children in the orphanage were so thankful to have my team come in and spend time with them.

One of the last days of my visit I went on a horse-drawn wagon ride through the forest. It was such a wonderful experience to have with my Polish friends as we picked blueberries and roasted polish sausages. As we passed little cottages along the road the people came out to look at us as we sang polish folk songs!  

It was such a great time and I'm so glad I got an opportunity to be a part of what God is doing in Poland!!

*Dan Johnson is a licensed agent with RE/MAX Greater Atlanta, and the on-site agent at WHELCHEL VALLEY!(http://www.whelchelvalley.net/)