Winter 2024 Newsletter

AIM newsletter Winter 2024

Three church members share their perspectives on Agape Mennonite Fellowship. We meet new volunteer Karla Horst, and Matt Gingerich reports on a missions conference for second-culture workers in Poland.

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Summer 2023 Newsletter

cover of AIM's Summer 2023 newsletter

Jaden and Jewel Kilmer describe their vision for building and living in community, making new connections with local people with simple ways like sharing food. Also, Mark and Janae Kauffman reflect on their year in Poland.

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Spring 2023 Newsletter

Matthew and Deborah describe how teaching English can break through barriers to show Christ’s love to our Polish students. We also learn more about staff workers Sheryl Hershey and Mark and Janae Kauffman.

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April Partners Update

AIM personnel spring 2023

Urgent Personnel Needs

We have need of two volunteer teachers to provide instruction in conversational English at Gateway to English, starting in August 2023, for a two-year term. Teaching experience is preferred but not absolutely required. We are looking for a lady and a man.

To volunteer or to recommend someone for these positions or for more information, please contact Matt Gingerich at personnel@aimpoland.org.

Volunteer with AIM for an opportunity to teach English and partner in building God’s kingdom in Poland!

Where would I live?

Minsk Mazowiecki, population 40,000, near Warsaw, Poland

What would I do?

Teach conversational English to people of all ages and all walks of life. Partner with the local church and building relationships within the church and community.

What opportunities are involved?

Sharing the gospel. Learning a new language. Getting to know a new culture. Traveling in Europe.

Volunteer commitment

Volunteer terms are two years long, starting in late summer. A typical teaching workload is 20 hours of English lessons per week of one-on-one and group lessons. Although previous teaching experience is valuable for teaching English as a Second Language in Poland, it is not required. Necessary skills include an interest in people, the ability to make conversation, and a basic understanding of English grammar. An interest in language and culture is also helpful.

Ukraine Refugee Report Ministry Update for 2022

school boys accepting donated computers to help with their studies

When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 we saw changes and new challenges. Here is a visual guide of the last year. 

At first the main train stations in Warsaw were flooded with people. It was an otherworldly feeling. Some of us, especially Lavern and Annaliese, helped where they could to direct refugees to help centers, provide food, and locate housing.

In April Lavern arranged a minibus to assist some ladies and children to move to Italy. The second picture is of the Boiko family on their way to Canada in October. They were having difficulties relocating to Canada and we were in a position to help them out.

In the early phases we supported the church in Chelm, near the Poland-Ukraine border, that sends aid to Ukraine. We sent them a few sizable donations and from time to time delivered supplies to them.

Care for the refugees in and around Mińsk Mazowiecki, especially for the approximately 25 people we provide housing for, is an important part of what we do currently. It can take many shapes.

The first two photos show an evening in which Maksim shared the Gospel and we presented some school boys with computers to help them with their studies. Maksim Dyomkin is a Ukrainian believer ministering to refugees in Poland and to those in need in Ukraine, especially the elderly. His powerful testimony of salvation and his sharing of the gospel wherever he goes have encouraged us. We can see the strength of partnering with people like Maksim as he is uniquely able to minister to his fellow Ukrainians, while we can support him financially and logistically. We have been able to support his ministry by purchasing warm clothing, blankets, portable gas ovens, gas heaters and a generator to take back to Ukraine. We have also supported his ministry of supplying firewood for those without heat.

The second picture is of Mark fishing with some of the boys from the children’s home near Mińsk. Since we assisted International Host Connection to resettle this group of orphans last March, we have continued to have contact with them and do some activities with them. The last picture is of the hotel and conference center near Minsk that has been hosting a large group of Ukrainians. The boys with the computers (pictured above) are living there and we have been able to support the refugees from there in other ways. We are amazed at the generosity of our neighbors.

Thank you so much for your support. We have not once had to worry about a lack of funds. This report does not even reflect all the activity because some of you, in the first few months, gave directly to Lavern’s personal account. God bless you for caring for the people in need here in Poland and Ukraine!

Donate to the cause

To make a donation using credit or debit card, please visit our donate page.

Summer 2022 Newsletter

Summer 2022 newsletter cover

Over twenty years ago, the Hershberger family moved to Poland with the original AIM team. In a few months they are planning to move back to the United States. In this issue they reflect on the work that’s been done and who they have become over the past two decades.

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March Partners Update

AIM's presentation table at REACH 2022

REACH reflections by Jaden

Jewel, Patti, and I were privileged to attend the REACH conference this year. Our primary objective for attending was to represent the work of AIM in Poland. We found the conference rewarding for a number of reasons. First, it was good to talk with people from all across the spectrum of conservative Anabaptism. Of course we met many new people, but it was especially fun to unexpectedly meet old friends or relatives. Secondly, there were many lectures and presentations available for us to attend, and we were challenged and inspired by what we heard. Finally, we enjoyed working with Shannon and Dervin, our board members, and felt supported by former staff and teachers who were also attending the conference.

Personnel needs

We have an opening for a male volunteer teacher to provide instruction in conversational English at Gateway to English, starting in August 2022, for a two-year term. Teaching experience is preferred but not absolutely required.

To volunteer or to recommend someone for these positions or for more information, please contact Matt Gingerich at personnel@aimpoland.org.

Ukrainian refugee aid update

Our small church has been helping to meet the needs of Ukrainians in Poland and assisting with relief aid sent into Ukraine. Following are the ways we have focused on helping and an account of how your donations are being used.

Currently, we are renting three apartments for temporary housing. As refugees come and go, Lavern and Lolita and the New Perspective Foundation work to keep the apartments clean and stocked with bedding, toiletries, and food. They also spend time building relationships and helping refugees debrief from the trauma they’ve experienced.

Lavern and Lolita have rented a van and have made numerous trips to the border with supplies for Ukraine and also transported people to and from the border. On several occasions, we have rented a bus or van to take a group of people to other European countries.

International Host Connection works with orphans from Ukraine and has been very active in our area of Poland. Since the war began, we have helped provide logistical support for them in finding housing for orphan refugees.

We have given funds to foundations and churches at the border who are welcoming refugees and sending aid into Ukraine.

The Hershberger family have been at the front line for many of the endeavors just mentioned. Lavern writes, “One thing we are not doing is getting involved with any of this from a political perspective. Jesus did not give people the inside scoop on what was ‘really’ going on with Rome occupying Israel. However, he did say something about loving God, each other, and caring for the most helpless and undeserving. Thank God for so many people who are doing just that. Jesus said in John 16:33, ‘Here on earth YOU WILL HAVE many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I HAVE OVERCOME the world.’ We are seeing this happen before our eyes. May His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Give to AIM

Donors may indicate preferences for where their gifts are used (such as refugee relief, staff support, Gateway to English, or Seed of Truth) and AIM will honor preferences where possible. AIM reserves the right to assign all contributions where needed. If you would like additional information about how funds are used or if you wish to pledge ongoing support, please contact Shannon Lehman at homeoffice@aimpoland.org or 717-816-4587.

To make a donation using credit or debit card, please visit our donate page.

Ukrainian Refugee Crisis Update

At the border near Dorohusk, Poland

A month ago, we wrote about the war in Ukraine and the ensuing refugee crisis. Polish people have continued to pour their hearts into caring for their Ukrainian neighbors, while the international community has shown up to support as well. The UN estimates that over 3.5 million Ukrainians have fled and more are trying to leave areas of intense conflict every day, so we expect refugee needs to continue for some time.

We are deeply grateful and overwhelmed at your generosity in supporting us as we serve Ukrainian refugees. Donations like yours are allowing us to coordinate refugee hosting in private homes and in Airbnb’s, both in Warsaw and in our town of Mińsk Mazowiecki. Our church members are teaching Polish and hosting refugees, and on the AIM team, the Hershberger family have been our front-line people for refugee aid. Lavern has been spending many days in Warsaw, meeting refugees and helping them make connections for the next step of their journey. Sometimes this means helping them buy train tickets, driving them to the bus station, or finding them a place to stay for the night. Annaliese has been volunteering at the border, welcoming mothers and children as they first arrive in Poland. Lolita has been preparing apartments for new arrivals and feeding hungry refugees, besides being a wife and mom.

We have also been able to partner with individuals and organizations in refugee aid. We have been able to give financially to churches that are welcoming refugees, like the Baptist church in Chełm. Our friend Amanda Keeny is assisting our community in translation and debriefing as refugees arrive in their new homes. Matt and Lavern provided contacts and logistical support for International Host Connection as they worked to relocate an orphanage to a new location in our area. Other members of our team have hosted overnight guests who are volunteering in some way.

As you read the news and hear refugees’ stories, pray for the people of Ukraine. Also, pray for us, that God could use our small offerings of help in this crisis, and that we would have wisdom and endurance in serving sustainably.

If you would like to make a donation to our refugee relief efforts, see our information below.

Blankets for refugees at the border

Give to AIM

Donors may indicate preferences for where their gifts are used (such as refugee relief, staff support, Gateway to English, or Seed of Truth) and AIM will honor preferences where possible. AIM reserves the right to assign all contributions where needed. If you would like additional information about how funds are used or if you wish to pledge ongoing support, please contact Shannon Lehman at homeoffice@aimpoland.org or 717-816-4587.

To make a donation using credit or debit card, please visit our donate page.