Home Sweet Home

When my friend Dana came up with the name ‘Home is Where Your Heart Is’ for this blog, I knew it was special.  But I never imagined how much it would come to mean to me.  Twenty years ago, God put a very special love for Poland in my heart.  This year, He made it my second home.  I do a lot of walking in my neighborhood now; reminiscing, praying, and knowing how much I’ll miss it.  This is Załęże – my neighborhood.  And I love it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking back over the last year, I’m both amazed and thankful for all the opportunities I’ve had here.  I’ve grown to love all my English students and I’ve loved teaching them.  But I’ve had a lot of unexpected opportunities as well.  I’ve taken part in street evangelism, ministry at the city jail, worked with troubled youth, helped with our English speaking home group, and before I leave I’ll be teaching at Women’s Night at church.  I’ve been able to travel to the Czech Republic and Germany.  Within Poland, I’ve been to Krakow, Gdansk, and the beach on the Baltic Sea.

In five short weeks, I’ll leave here and my heart is torn.  For now, I know I belong in Texas; with one son who is struggling, and one son and daughter-in-law expecting a brand new daughter.  But I’m leaving a lot behind.  A country that I love and feel called to pray for, a church family that I have looked forward to worshipping in every Sunday, and friends who I’ve grown very close to.  Maybe most of all, I’ll miss the family God has blessed me with here.



Joel, Norbert, Ania, Marian, Rachel, Lila, me, Irena, Pastor Karel







I live on the basement floor of Pastor Karel and Irena’s house.  Pastor Karel always says, ‘This is your home.’  I cook in their kitchen and do laundry upstairs.  I’ve spent many mornings in their kitchen sharing coffee, cake, and conversation and I love them so much.  The basement floor is joined to Marian and Lila’s house.  Lila always tells people that I’m her family.  Christmas will always remind me of sitting in her kitchen making pierogi and uszka.  This is where I feel at home.  Where I’m expected at Sunday dinner.  Where I don’t have to knock (though I usually do).  Where someone brings me food and medicine if I’m sick.  This is my family.

 

Norbert and Ania’s apartment is right down Gliwicka St., although they stay at Marian and Lila’s just as often as at their own place.  They really are my best friends here.  Rachel and Joel have become my Polish grandchildren.  There are no words to say thank you to this family for all they’ve done for me this past year and how much they mean to me.  But I think they know.

 

Along the way, I’ve made a list of things that I’ll miss the most when I go home.  The sights, smells, and sounds that make up the most precious memories of Poland in my heart:

 

The hugs (They’re big huggers here)

Walks through the woods on cold nights when I can see my breath in the air

The sound of Rachel practicing the piano

Walks around the lake

The smell of Sunday dinner

The pastors and elders blessing us at the end of every service

The sound of Pastor Karel, Irena, and their friends playing the guitar and   singing upstairs

The Karel/Dwulat/Pawlak family singing the blessing before meals

The beauty of the clear path through the woods made by Antonio raking the

  leaves

Joel picking me flowers

The sound of the trams passing behind our house

Ryszard’s laugh

The Polish men lining the banks of the lake with their fishing poles, chairs, and

  beer

 

Thank you to each of you who has supported me with prayer, money, care packages, and words of encouragement.  I’m so thankful for all of you - you've really kept me going.  This year has changed my life!  As I prepare to say goodbye to Poland, I have a few prayer requests:

 

Safe travel home

Job and living arrangements to be worked out

Finances for all of the above

 

 

Żegnaj Polsko; Witaj Teksasie! (Goodbye Poland; Hello Texas!)

 

 

Gifts and Blessings

I don’t want to say the winter has been hard, but . . . well, it’s been hard.  Especially being a Texas girl, I wasn’t really prepared for how cold and dreary it was going to get.  But I’ve learned to persevere.  If you have to go the store or the post office, no matter what the weather is outside, you just go.  And you come prepared teach class even if only one student shows up to learn.  I’m happy God has taught me some things, but I’ll still be happy to see spring!

My birthday was early in February and my home group surprised me with a party.  And I mean surprised me.  I couldn’t have been more shocked.  They’re really lucky I wore make up, because I had no clue I was coming to a party.  It was a great time with delicious food and card games.

Despite the dreary weather and never-ending snow, I’m still enjoying my classes and private students.  It’s hard to believe I’ve been here 9 months and that I’ll be coming home in 3.

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.”  Luke 6:37

I rarely talk about money in this blog, but when I do, I’m happy that I can back up my requests with this promise.  Contributing to God’s ministries in this world is a lot different than spending money on anything else.  Not only are you making an eternal investment, but God promises to pay you back more than you invested!

I’m facing the last 3 months of my time here and Poland and looking forward to coming home.  I knew I’d love it here, but I didn’t know how much.  I never knew how much God would teach me and stretch me.  There’s a part of me that is forever Polish now!

Giving has definitely slowed down, so I’m in need of funds to finish up my time here and buy a plane ticket home.  Please pray about whether God would have you take part in the end of my journey.  The easiest way to give is to follow this link:

Online Giving

 

I know there is nothing in the space above.  I've been trying since last night, and I can't get it to show up.  But if you hover your mouse over the space, you can click and it will go to the link.  It’s for Fellowship of the Parks Online Giving. Choose “I don’t have an account”.  Then, in the drop down menu, choose “Poland Mission Trip” and fill in the amount.

If you want to mail a check, send it to:

Fellowship of the Parks
9900 North Beach
Keller, Tx  76244
Attn. Melanie Cervantes

Be sure to mark the check for Poland Mission Trip or put my name one it.  It also really helps me if you let me know that you have sent a gift.

I also want to make a request on behalf of the Zaleze Youth.  This is the group I work with on Tuesday afternoons.  Here are some of the kids in the group:

 

 

This is a very unique group to work with.  They require a lot of patience, but they’ve captured my heart.  I love them so much!  Gosia, the youth leader, and her assistants; Piotr, Pawel, Maria, and Michal are firm, but have endless patience with these kids.  Most of all, the kids know that they will be loved here.

Just to give you some idea of what these young people deal with:  Most live with only 1 parent.  While that may sound normal to us, it isn’t in Poland.  The divorce rate here is 17% (in the US it’s 46%).  Several live with alcoholic parents and have watched them literally drink themselves to death.  One of the girls has 2 sisters.  All three of them have different fathers, and all 3 fathers are in prison.  One of the boys has a mom who works in a bar.  When he comes home from school, he sees her for a short time, then she goes to work all night.  She comes home very early while he’s asleep.  He gets himself up and goes to school and doesn’t see her until that afternoon.

This summer, they have an opportunity to go to a Christian camp, but of course, none of their families have any money to send them.  Here's a link if you'd like to see the camp.  It's in Polish, but if you choose 'Galeria' on the menu, you can see pictures of the camp, and under 'Start Zlot', there's a cool video.

http://start.de-em.org/index.php?D=6

 

 

If anyone would like to donate any money toward sending them to camp, please email me (niski@aol.com)

I know this blog sounds dreary!  But there are definite needs right now, and the journey here isn’t always easy and pleasant.  Sometimes it’s difficult and heartbreaking.  Oh, but it’s so worth it!