What in the world do a Piano, Poland and my Grandma have in common?  Well, there’s a story…

I knew my Grandma Bell as a gentle, sweet and lovely woman, even though her children sometimes affectionately refer to her as the “sergeant.”  She was a homemaker extraordinaire, and our childhood was filled with wonderful smells of pies, cookies and fresh or canned garden vegetables at Grandma’s house.

In addition to her culinary skills, Grandma Bell was also was an accomplished pianist and a diligent student of God’s Word.  She was trained at Moody Bible Institute and up until her death in her 80’s, my Grandma used her piano  and her weekly Sunday School class to disciple young students and young adults.  She left her family quite a legacy.

After my Grandma went to be with Jesus, she left me her treasured piano–one of her main discipleship tools.  As I was living with roommates in a smaller condo at the time, I did not have the space for her piano.  So, I asked dear friends of mine, Korban and Tanya Miller, if they would like to have a piano temporarily, knowing that it would be loved and used by Korban in both playing and teaching music, as he is an accomplished musician himself and was the lead worshiper at my home church.

About ten years went by, and in an amazing turn of events, Korban and Tanya and their kids made the life-changing decision to move to Poland to be part of a movement of God among the youth of Central and Eastern Europe with an organization called Josiah Venture.  Together, Korban and Tanya are leading the launch of Poland’s evangelistic and discipleship music club called Fusion.

As they were packing a container of items to be shipped to Poland, they thought about Grandma’s piano and called me.  What to do…a family heirloom with lots of memories, and a group of young people in Poland who would learn about music and Jesus using Grandma Bell’s piano.  After some consideration and talking with some family, I decided that Grandma’s piano needed to go to Poland as her legacy was going international!

I visited Korban and Tanya in Poland for the first time this last November, and I got to see and celebrate Grandma’s piano in action.  Grandma Bell’s gentle smile must light up her face in heaven as she and Jesus celebrate the use of her piano to disciple youth in Eastern Europe.  She loved Europe.  I’m so grateful for our heritage of faith in Grandma Bell and the joy of one generation “declaring His works to yet another.”