Friday, September 23, 2011

In Need of Cheaters



I made it 29 years before it happened.  Twenty-nine years with good eyes.  29 years without having to use "cheaters".

Then one cold and dark night I watched the bus approaching.  Yes, I was hopeful that it would be our bus to take us home-after all, winter in Poland is something you want to run away from-even if your refuge is a bustling and bumpy bus.  Therefore, seeing 64 thrilled not only me but also my frozen toes.  

"64!  It's Bus 64!" I proclaimed to my anxious husband.  He stood and glanced at the oncoming bus.  Then he sat back down.

"Brooke, that's bus 60."

No!  It couldn't be.  But could it?  I glanced again.  Argh!  I honestly could not tell whether it was 60 or 64.

That's when it hit me.  Perhaps, living nearly 30 years with great eyes, I should go for my first eye exam ever.

Sure enough---my 20/20 in my glory days of youth changed.  I, along with many others around the world, was in need of glasses.

When I lifted the glasses made for me to my eyes for the first time, it was as if I went from a blurry world of fuzzy details to sharp HD TV-immediately.  

In fact, I continued to lift my glasses to my face, move them down. Up.  Down.  Up.  Down.  It was amazing how quickly the world changed depending on the position of my glasses.  Were they on?  Were they off?

I am now 35.  I am in my 6th year of glasses.  That's when it happened again.  

I was experiencing huge headaches.  I could hardly sleep at night.  My eyes seemed to pulsate in pain.

Finally I decided to go for my annual vision check.  Let's say that was a wise choice.

My left eye had changed dramatically in the last year.  It was amazing that I could see anything out of my previous lens.

We changed the prescription and almost immediately upon receiving my new "eyes" my headaches disappeared.  My eyes watered less.  I could sleep peacefully at night.

And, just like I did 6 years earlier, I began to close my left eye.  Open it.  Close it.  Open it.  All of a sudden, I could see the individual leaves on the trees.  They were beautiful, and I would be able to enjoy them---especially since it's time for Poland to turn the autumn shades of crimson, gold, and bronze.  

I breathed sighs of contentment.  I could see.  And seeing is nice.  Oh so nice.

According to the Centre for Vision in the Developing World, there are over 1 billion people around the world in need of glasses.

I was merely 1 person in need of glasses-but there is a difference between me and the 1 billion without.  I could go for an exam.  I could purchase the glasses I need.

But, like the 1 billion around the world in need of glasses, I, too, know what it feels like to not see well.

Through the foundation Bread of Life, two highly skilled, professional optometrists have taken a stand for those 1 billion in need.  They have taken a stand and said, "Everyone has the right to see well!"

Hania and Piotr Buczkowski have started a project called Bartimaeus.  It performs eye vision exams for those that cannot afford them-men, women, and children by the hundreds.

That is obviously Step 1.

And then it goes beyond.  Hania and Piotr take it to Step 2.  They don't just check the eyes-they make sure those in need get "new eyes".  

Hundreds of eye exams performed.  Hundreds of glasses given. Their vision is huge.  Not only do the less fortunate in Poland receive their new eyes, but Hania and Piotr also think globally, wanting to help those farther east in Europe.  They want to be a vitally important part of that 1 billion.  They want to help realize the beauty of the world through eyes that can see.

After all, everyone does have the right to see well.

I am so thankful there are people like Hania and Piotr making it happen.  Aren't you?

***
Side notes:

If you want to help sponsor this project, please contact:

Hania or Piotr Buczkowski at rodopsyna@o2.pl or
Brooke Nungesser at brooke@breadoflife.pl

If you want to read about the story of Bartimaeus in the Bible, please go to the Gospel of Mark 10:46-52.


Thursday, June 23, 2011

“I’m still alive. I’m still alive.”


 
Nearly 10 years ago, Richard and I left our very comfortable and happy lives in Arizona---backpacking on the weekends, teaching snowboarding, rolling kayaks in the swimming pool or white water kayaking in the rivers.  Four-wheeling and sleeping under the stars.  Rock climbing and enjoying the great Arizona desert.  Teaching and coaching at a school I loved and spending nearly every day with our families…

Ten years ago, our lives were grand.

Ten years later, our lives our different.

We have made friends.  But we have also made enemies.  We have spent our last dollar to help people with addictions---only for some to continue to drink.

I have been demoted from an educator with a name to simply a pronoun or impersonal reference, usually in the form of “This is Richard’s wife,” many not even asking my name.

We left blue skies and sunny weather to days where, during the winter, the sun only shines for 6 hours---biting wind and gray skies encompass 5 to 6 months a year. 

For me, it’s been difficult---yet easy.

How do I explain it?

Hopefully this man will help.  His name is Tadeusz. 

We met Tadeusz nearly 10 years ago.  He has and remains a very big alcoholic. 

Unfortunately, his life has not changed.

Yet, the other day when I was going to pick up Adelyne at a coffee shop (the meeting place), I saw Tadeusz sitting outside of the mall.  Alone.  Intoxicated. 

It quickly crossed my mind---just go in and get Adelyne.  You are in a hurry.

But I stopped. 

No one should ever be in such a hurry that they don’t take the time to love someone. 

And, so, I approached. 

“Czescz, Tadeusz!”  He immediately stood.  I extended my hand and he, in very traditional Polish style, kissed it.

We talked a bit---He asked about Adelyne, and I asked how he was doing. 

He said, “Jeszcze zyje. Jeszcze zyje.”  Which means, “I’m still alive.  I’m still alive.”

And then we departed with these words coming from Tadeusz, “Kiss Adelyne and greet Richard for me.”

And I did…

How do I explain giving up our beautiful families and lives in Arizona? 

I can’t.  But perhaps if we were in Arizona then Tadeusz may never have sensed love in Poland. 

And love is more important than comfort.  It’s more important than 4-wheeling.  It’s more important than people knowing your name. 

Love. 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of thes
Publish Post
e is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13





Friday, February 4, 2011

Eradicate Loneliness!


We live in a world that wants to eradicate unholiness!  That is a GREAT thing, right?

I mean, really:
Eradicate poverty!
Eradicate AIDS!
Eradicate starvation!
Eradicate child pornography!
Eradicate homelessness!
Eradicate illiteracy!
Eradicate…(fill in the blank)!

It’s EXCELLENT!  After all, everything mentioned above is horrible.  Plain, simple, horrible!

So, your point is…?  (You’re asking me)

Bread of Life fights all of the above-mentioned plus more.  We, however, feel slightly different about the purpose.  That’s why our statement will remain, “Eradicate Loneliness!”

What makes your fight any different?

I wouldn’t say that our fight is different. 

Now I’m confused.  (You state)

Don’t be.

We can help fight poverty by providing greater opportunities for education, teaching job skills and creating work.  We know because we at Bread of Life do this.

We can help fight homelessness by providing transitional living where individuals are given opportunities to learn how to survive again in a competitive world while regaining living quarters (independent of the center) and full-time employment outside of the center.

My examples could continue…

And, all of the work we do is GREAT!

But, in the end, it’s just work…

The greatest thing we do is share with them about a God that loves…a God that cares!

And, if they choose to know him, then not only are their physical problems fought and conquered but their hearts also win! 

With God, we help eradicate loneliness!  

Man, that makes the fight worthwhile!

Campaign THEM:
Touching Hearts; Encouraging Many!

Saturday, January 29, 2011

If I could steal an email from a friend===for a friend!

If you don't know the following family, let me preface this entry in this way...
The Banicki family lives in Gniezno, Poland.  Their first child, Michael, passed away a couple years ago from an extremely rare disease, Niemann Pick-Type C, at the tender age of 14.  Now, their 3rd child, Eliza, is fighting the same disease with great determination to live life to the fullest despite the circumstances surrounding the difficulties of her life.

In order for Eliza to live life to the fullest, her family has to fight for the one medicine that helps stop her seizures and slows her regression.  Each treatment is thousands of dollars.

If Eliza was your child, however, you would not hesitate to fight the same way.  If Adelyne was sick, I would give my very heart to make her well again if that is what was needed.  That's what you do for your children.  Yet, there are those out there that wonder, "Why do we fight at all?"

Dr. Piotr Zaremba addresses this.

Before we get to his letter, however, I would like to say that if you are stirred to help Save Eliza, you may go to www.intouchmission.org and then go to Projects/Poland/Banicki Family.  You can donate directly online today.  In fact, I'll even attach the link:  Eliza Banicki
If you are in Poland or other parts of the world, you, too, may give to Eliza.  Go to Bread of Life Fights for Eliza
These donation pages make it extremely easy to donate right away, online, without hesitation for God's precious child.

If you take a look at the picture below, you will notice a child full of strength and life---that is not the physical form of Eliza today---but the inner Eliza remains. 


And, now, if I may present the email that I stole from a friend---for a friend.  I pray that as you read these words, your heart will be stirred and you will remember that life is worth fighting for despite the glories of heaven!  O, death, where is your victory???


Beloved,

This time I warn you!
Please, read this email only while sitting.
I do not want you to fall down under the burden of impression
and hurt yourselves unnecessarily
! (Joking).

A few weeks ago I shared with you about our need for the medicine for our Eliza Banicki, a girl suffering from the Niemann-Pick syndrome.

Now! Ready? We got 6 bottles of medicine free of charge! An equivalent of $70,000! Thus we have a provision for the next 18 weeks!

Thank you for your prayers!

Allow me now to add a short story.

A couple of days after I shared with you about our need for the medicine, somebody, in honest search for the reason, asked me:
-Peter, why are you so determined to keep this child alive at such a great expense?
-After all isn’t she saved? And if the heavens are so great, why do you struggle to keep her alive here?
-Do we have right to fight for one girl (saved anyway) if there is so much need around?

At first I did not know what to say.
I had to invite our Father to help me process these inspiring questions.
And I guess I have a piece of insight by now.

Just think for a moment, please: Why do we need sport? Our base ball or basket ball, or golf? Why do we need Olympic Games at all? Probably one tournament costs more than the medicine for all the Niemann-Pick Syndrome kids around the world!

Do we have right to compete in sport if there is so much need around?
Well, I think we do. We compete in sport not just for the sake of competition.
And we fight for Eliza not just for the sake of Eliza alone.

Fundamentally, our quest is for freedom.
Whenever we want to set ourselves free from the limitations caused by sickness,
whenever we want to break a new record, in doubt that the previous one was set once for all;
whenever we are determined to find out whether the impossible is truly impossible;
whenever we search unsearchable,
reach out to unreachable,
explain unexplainable,
or conquer the invincible,
we open the window for a freshening breeze of freedom
to which we were created by God,
and called in Christ.
Please, let us stand united,
reluctant to give up,
seeing no challenges too big,
until we will be able to say with our Savior:
"O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?" (1Cor 15:55).

Yours, as ever --
Piotr