Visit to Teen Challenge, Poland

Broczyna rehab center

Last month we visited several locations of Teen Challenge in Poland at the invitation of director Zbyszek Urbaniak. We spent quite some quality time together and he has shown us a lot about the work of Teen Challenge in Poland.

We visited the rehabilitation center in Broczyna where we spoke during the chapel service and were able to pray with the students. A year ago we raised funds so they could install washbasins in all the rooms, nice to see that they did a great job.

We then visited the men's center in Lekini where Waldemar is director. He is a graduate of the program. Yes, think about it... once an addict and now the director of a very big center. He also showed us around  in the administrative building of Teen Challenge, an old dairy factory with beautiful office spaces, a coffeehouse, church and social reintegration program; a small factory where women were sowing rain coats. There are also plans to open up a youth center.

It warms our heart to see and hear that Teen Challenge has good contacts with the (local) government and is also a well-known organization in the area because they help so many people to rebuild their lives and find work.

Reintegration work program

Teen Challenge has 44 coffee houses spread out all over Poland. These are locations that are open once or twice a week and are run by volunteers, usually in collaboration with a local church. It is often the first place where addicts hear the gospel.

Each year TC organizes a national coffee house conference where volunteers meet to be equipped, encouraged and  to have fellowship with each other. We were asked to speak about the theme 'Giving' as described in Marja's book 'Grace of Giving', which was also published in Polish by Compassion.

At the National Coffee House Conference

Jan Jędrzejczak, the coordinator of all coffee houses, is also a Teen Challenge graduate. In fact, his life story is worth to be told in a separate blog post, an incredible testimony. It was a great encouragement for us to hear all kinds of stories from all over Poland ... how  lives have been changed through faith, hope and love!

Also to see and experience that the Christians in Poland believe that their country can change for the better. It came to our mind over and over again, Go, and make disciples of  all nations...

Warm welcome at The Gate

After the conference we visited the beautiful student city of Wroclaw. Last year the first youth center The Gate was opened, inspired by a Dutch concept. The Gate is located in an old building in the city and is run by a group of young volunteers. Weekly, dozens of students meet to talk, make music and meet each other.

The gospel is central in their activities. In a city of 120,000 students the Christians are an "alternative group" ... We spent hours together, listening to each other, praying and encouraging them to be light in a dark world.

It was absolutely delightful to spend time with young people who have a heart for the future of their country.

We very much enjoyed this visit and we want to thank Zbyszek Urbaniak for all the time and attention he gave us. Very nice to get such an inspiring tour and to talk about our vision for Europe.

Visiting the old city center of Wroclaw

We see a lot of fruit from the work of Teen Challenge. We are more than ever convinced that one way of obeying the great commission to make disciples is to support programs like Teen Challenge throughout Europe!

Gifts for this kind of projects are always welcome to  St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275, BIC: RABONL2U. Please note that there will be a lot of projects coming up in November and December!

As a side note once again ... the trips we make are part of the "spiritual encouragement" we offer and are privately funded. We do not use your gifts for our travels.  All donations are going towards the projects!

Project bedroom sinks Teen Challenge Łękinia, Poland

Teen Challenge men's center in Łękinia

A new month, time for a new project! We were able to help harbor evangelist Guus Peters with 100 Tagalog Bibles and the Teen Challenge women's home in Kazakhstan with a nice donation (4,500 euro) for the renovation of the dormitories.

Thank you all for your generosity and for coming to our thrift store in September ... we were able to collect 1,150 euro in sales, which all went to the women's house!

And now our next project. Do you remember our stories about the Teen Challenge men's rehab center in Łękinia, Poland? The former army barracks where about 50 men are staying who have decided to break with drug and alcohol addiction. The grace, forgiveness and love of God are now ruling in this place.

Former army base, now rehab center

Recently a new law was introduced in Poland stating that not only hospitals, but every treatment center must have a sink in each room. We are talking about 25 rooms in both the men's center and the historic women's center and all that work needs to be done this year.

Women's home Broczyna

The Teen Challenge women's home in Broczyna is a beautiful historic building, but that means that all pipes must be put inside the walls and floors, which makes the work more costly.

The Teen Challenge work among the homeless, alcohol and drug addicts and prostitutes is largely dependent on donations. This usually works fine... until a situation like this comes up, then extra funds need to be raised.

Sinks, pipes, connecting elements, renovating of floors and walls, plastering and paintwork... It will be quite the job which, according to the estimate director Zbyszek Urbaniak sent us, will cost about 5,000 euro. Whether we want to come alongside and help fundraising? Yes of course!

It's so inspiring to see what is happening in both centers. Lives that were completely destroyed, are being changed by the power of God's Spirit. Restoration, healing and deliverance takes place. A new chance, a new future. The picture on the right shows more than a thousand words can tell.

Will you help us again? If so, please make a donation to St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275, BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention LEKINIA.

Photo's new heater Teen Challenge Poland

The new wood heater

We at Traveling Light purposely choose to sponsor small scale, local projects. What are the advantages of working like that?

Well, the amount of money we collect for such projects is managable. The money will go directly to the projects and the money will be used for the projects as soon as possible. This gives clarity to the recipients as well as to the givers.

This past November we raised 7,000 euro for the purchase and installation of a new wood heater at the men's rehabilitation home of Teen Challenge in Lekini, Poland.

The men's home is located in a former military base and offers room to about fifty men who are willing to get rid of their addictions and start a new life. Their rehab is based on the love and grace of Jesus Christ and on biblical principles.

On their way to recovery

Together we made it possible for the men in Lekini to stay warm this winter and during many more winters to come; it can get really cold in Poland. The huge wood heater is connected to an extensive system of pipes through which warm water is being transported to the various buildings. Think of it as a form of city-heating.

Chopping wood and keeping the heater burning are some of the daily chores the men will be assigned to, as soon as they enter the program.

The nice thing about this project was that our supporter Meindert van der Wal put his own fundraiser idea into action. We received many individual gifts through his church Jong & Vrij in Hellevoetsluis. Thank you all so much for helping us out with this project.

The guys at work

It is fantastic to see and experience how much we can do if we put our hands together. We have really encouraged the men at Teen Challenge, Lekini. They are sending their warm greetings. Our positive response to their need means a lot to them, their families and friends.

We hope you will help us again in 2014 to support more of these small scale, practical projects. Together we can shine our light in all corners of Europe!

We just LOVE our sponsors!

Meindert van der Wal

We have written it before and we'll say it again: a non profit organisation can only exist and survive because of volunteers, friends and sponsors... (yes, we're talking money here).

Meindert van der Wal is such a sponsor! In July of this year we were in Poland with him, and his son Jan, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Teen Challenge Poland. Meindert has been visiting Poland for many years and he has a very special friendship with  Zbyszek & Ewa Urbaniak, the founders and directors of Teen Challenge Poland.

fundraiser flyer

When Meindert heard about our project heater Teen Challenge Poland, he came up with a fundraiser idea. He decided to print a big stack (1,000 pieces!) of flyers with a picture of the current heater and the request to donate 10 Euro's for the replacement of this old heater.

Well, you can imagine... anyone who crosses Meindert's path receives a flyer ;) What a great idea. Gifts are beginning to come in and we are very thankful for that. The costs for a new heater are about 7,000 euro's. We have already passed the halfway mark, we still need about 3,000 euro's.

Dining room in the Lekini men's center

This huge wood burner takes care of the heating in many of the rooms of the men's center in Lekini. A system of underground pipes transports the heat to the various buildings on the grounds of this former military base. We are very thankful for the 52 men that are currently living there. Men that have decided to change their lives for the good. How great will be the happiness in their families.

Will you help us to support this life changing work in Poland?

Thank you!

Investing in human lives

New life, new beginning, new chance

The best and most trusted financial advice ever given to mankind, came from Jesus Himself. In Matthew 6:19-20 He says:

Do not store up riches for yourselves here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal. Instead, store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal. For your heart will always be where your riches are.

The heaters are HUGE

These words may be more than 2000 years old, but they are still very accurate and up-to-date. One look at news papers and television will confirm His words: our possesions and money are not safe on this earth. There is financial crisis, corruption, theft and inflation. Is that sad? Yes, of course! Is there a solution? Yes, of course! When we start to invest in eternal treasures, nothing or no one will be able to rob us. That is why Traveling Light loves to invest in human lives and we have so much fun doing that.

Janusz Górnicki, son of the colonel

Let's take a look at our current Project Heater Teen Challenge Poland. A new wood burner does not sound very spiritual or heavenly ;) but this heater warms the buildings where 52 Polish men are currently living. Men that have decided to start a new live, without addictions and destructive behavior.

Just try to imagine what that means for their parents, wives and children, for their families and co-workers, for the people in their street. A heater is just an iron object and it will eventually wear out and disappear. But the men in the program are fathers, sons, brothers and husbands... they are living there in a safe environment where they can begin a new life and they will get to know God. That is really the most important thing.

Dinig room at the Lekini center

There are many rehabs and programs that can help people off of drugs and alcohol. But what then? At Teen Challenge they teach their students that God has a plan and a purpose for their lives, a reason for living. Understanding and dis-covering THIS is what really changes a person's life. Janusz came in years ago as an addict and now he runs a rehab center in the south of Poland. That is possible, that is how things often develop. That is investing in human lives.

We still need 5,400 euro for this project, because winter is coming soon. Who wants to help us?

When in Europe: send your gift to RABO bank number 1185 82 275, IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 and BIC: RABONL2U

When in USA: send your gift to Eastern Europe Outreach and make sure to mention TC Poland, HEATER

Don't forget to share this blog post through your social media. THANKS!

PS: Click on the pics to enlarge them.

Project heater Teen Challenge Poland

Zbyszek & Ewa Urbaniak

May we introduce to you Zbyszek & Ewa Urbaniak. They are the founders and directors of Teen Challenge Poland. For the past 25 years they have given their time and talents to the work among people with life controlling (addiction) problems in their country.

Throughout Poland there are men and women's rehabilitation homes, after care and coffee houses. Recently we visited the men's home in Lekini and the women's home in Broczynie. The men's home is located in a former military base and their is a very special story attached...

Years ago a colonel from the Polish army came to Zbyszek, with his son who was addicted, and asked for help. At that time they already had the Broczyna center with 22 people in it, but there was a waiting list of six months! A difficult situation if you really need help. The colonel suggested to take a look at a former military base that had been standing empty for years.

Men's rehabilitation center in Lekini

With help from various corners of the world they were able to buy and upgrade the base. Over the years hundreds of men have been able to start a new life here. At the moment 52 men are living at the Lekini center. By the way, the son (Janusz Górnicki) of the colonel is doing well, he is married, has kids and runs a home in the south of Poland.

The former military base consists of several buildings (dormitories, kitchen, offices, restaurant etc.) and is being heated in winter through 2 huge wood burners. An extensive system of pipelines transports the heated water underground to all buildings, like a kind of city heating system. The heaters need to be replaced. The price per heater is about 7.000 euro. Traveling Light wants to raise funds for one heater.

main wood heater

Let's be honest, we all have a choice: we can join in the talk about drunken Polish people or we can be pro active and support the loving work among these families in Poland. When the life of a man or woman changes radically and for real, their families, friends and sometimes even villages will be effected. We have seen if with our own eyes! We are greatly impressed with the work that is being done in Poland to help people with life controlling problems to start a new life and a new future with the help of Jesus Christ.

We are not afraid to put out a challenge to churches, organizations, businesses or individuals.... Who dares to take on the other heater ? Ask around, share this post.

Please, contact us if you have faith to raise 7,000 euro as well. Together we can bless Poland! Email: janandmarja@gmail.com

For those in the USA, you can give your tax deductible donation HERE. Make sure to designate your gift: TC Poland, HEATER