BLOG Auschwitz August 17

I squeeze myself into the last seat at the back of the bus. it's a hot day, the bus is crowded and the air conditioning is not working. The guys on either side of me are hot and sweaty too.

It's a bumpy 1 1/2 hour ride from Krakow out to the camp site and when I get there all I want is fresh air and a toilet stop.
We start to wander through the camp, reading the information and gazing at the photographs with very little actual understanding of what took place here and what it all means.

All I know is that my legs are sore and I want to sit down - or I'm hungry and I want to have lunch - or its hot and I want to get into the shade.

BUT WHERE AM I??!!

I am in Auschwitz! The site of the mass killing and the cruel forced labour of 100s of 1000s or Poles and Jews and Gypsies.
It's not the same as it was 60 years ago. Its cleaned up and full of tourists. Although the images are stark and sometimes even eerie, I cannot comprehend their full worth.

What I am struck with is the smallest little thing I can complain about because of discomfort (I'm hungry or hot or tired), when these people marched out to work, and dragged back their mates who didn't make it through the day. If they were lucky they might eat and sleep and then do it all again.

Then I visited the "Death Wall". A small enclosed courtyard where 1000s of people lost their lives. I overheard an English tour guide telling of the sacrifice of Father Maxymillian Kolbe. An amazing story! As everyone left the courtyard I sat on a concrete wall and stared at the one end where wreaths and candles were laid.

As I looked and contemplated the many people who stood there and were shot
- it was as if I sore Jesus - hanging on the wall, looking at me, saying "I sacrificed myself for you Jono!"
Powerful!!

I'm not really sure how to make total sense of todays visit. Afterwards we had donuts and icecream!!
But I will remember Auschwitz.
And I will remember the One who sacrificed Himself for me.