Anabaptist International Ministries

Here’s what happened in January 2015:

• The month has had more downtime than is normal. The government decides when each region will have its two-week winter break so that the whole country is not out filling the ski slopes at one time. Our region’s designated break this year is the last two weeks of January.
• We spent our free time with local friends, and the English teachers flew to Ireland, Anita’s home, for a long weekend. Cheap Ryanair tickets makes this possible, and we are grateful! One of the many refreshing parts of the trip was that we could talk with whomever we wanted to without a language barrier.
• The team also had time to host guests. Lolita and Heather’s parents came for a two-week visit, and Dervin had two friends come for a week.
• Jonathan enjoyed a three-week intensive language course in Warsaw. Three hours a day gives lots of opportunity to improve and gain confidence.

Financial and Personnel Needs

We need a single woman to join the volunteer teaching staff at Gateway to English, starting in September 2015. To volunteer or to recommend someone for this position, please contact Shannon Lehman at 814-789-2812.

Over the last seven months our expenses have consistently exceeded income. Funds reserved earlier have covered these needs, and we are grateful.

To make a donation using PayPal, please visit our contact page.

Our prayer and praise requests are updated at www.aimpoland.org/pray/.

Here’s what happened in December 2014:

• The church children and youth worked hard to practice and give a Christmas concert, led by Sarah and Jewel. On the night of the concert, the church room was overflowing with visitors. It was a beautiful, blessed evening. Some of our guests told us it was the first real message of Christmas that they experienced.
• Polish people are very traditional in the way they celebrate Christmas. There is always the same kinds of food – 12 courses, traditionally – on Christmas Eve, and we love experiencing wonderful Polish hospitality and food.
• Since we’re far from family, it feels important that we adopt new family members and form new traditions here. We as a team had a very special, happy, sociable Christmas celebration and vacation. Probably the best moments came when the snow starting falling heavily in the evening! The English teachers are glad to have time to catch their breath for 2 weeks and rest from the intensity of classes.
• Jonathan and Lavern spent many hours looking for a new car for the teachers, since the old Polo has been dying for months. An Opel Zafira was purchased with the generous donation from Hope Singers members.

Financial and Personnel Needs

We are seeking a single woman to join the volunteer teaching staff at Gateway to English, starting in September 2015. To volunteer or to recommend someone for this position, please contact Shannon Lehman at 814-789-2812.

Each month on average we need over $11,000 in contributions to support two families and five volunteers, operate the English school, and translate and distribute the Seed of Truth in Polish. Donations can be earmarked to staff support, Gateway to English, or Seed of Truth. If you wish to pledge ongoing support, please contact Matthew Mast at homeoffice@aimpoland.org or 814-789-4394.

To make a donation using PayPal, please visit our contact page.

Our prayer and praise requests are updated at www.aimpoland.org/pray/.

Here’s what happened in November 2014:

• November was full of English school activities. All of the teachers are busy, between teaching English in groups and individual lessons, plus a Polish lesson most days. Read More

Here’s what happened since our last update:

• School has a record attendance of 123 students. This keeps all the teachers busy with both groups and individual students. We planned a special evening for all the students and their families. We had a workshop to demonstrate and make sushi, and another to demonstrate artful doodling and decorate a long school banner. It was a great success, judging by all the smiles and how long people stayed to socialize!
• The youth in the church wanted to start holding activities together, so Sarah Sommers started a choir with them. They enjoy this very much and are planning something special for Christmas.
• The team packed and sent out 4,000 copies each of November and December Seed of Truth. We do this every other month and are glad to provide worthwhile reading material for believers all over Poland.
• November 1 is a church holiday where Polish people visit the graves of their departed family members and friends. They clean the graves, decorate them with flowers, and light candles and pray. These days we can see people carry armloads of flowers from the market to the cemetery. Many people tell us it’s a sad time for them, focusing on death.

We are seeking a single woman to join the volunteer teaching staff at Gateway to English, starting in September 2015. To volunteer or to recommend someone for this position, please contact Shannon Lehman at 814-789-2812 or sklmail124@gmail.com.

Our prayer and praise requests are updated at www.aimpoland.org/pray/.

Here’s what happened since our last update:

• We are encouraged to see young people with soft hearts. Viktoria is 18 and “happened” to find our church and enjoys coming. She also joined an English class in our school.
• Jonathan had a most unpleasant morning when his van tire was slashed. While he was changing it, his backpack was stolen from the back seat. In it was a new Macbook Air, camera, keys, passport, and considerable cash, since he’d just come from the bank. This is a fairly average small town, so it’s rather disconcerting to all of us to be so close to organized crime like this.
• We generally feel safe as we walk back and forth from school and home. The streets are fairly well lit after dark. The greatest threat is probably the drunks that we see at all hours outside our apartment block.
• Jura, 16, and Ola, 18, were baptized recently. Their testimony of searching for God’s will and wanting to be obedient to Him is beautiful to us, and it’s encouraging to see that God’s Spirit is still actively changing hearts.
• A Ukrainian family with 9 children and a grandmother has been coming about every other Sunday. They are currently being housed in a refugee camp near the Ukrainian border while they apply for legal residence in Poland. They are part of an Amish Mennonite church in Ukraine and wanted to leave before their sons were drafted into the army.
• Dervin Martin and Sarah Sommers arrived to join the team of teachers who already here—Marlin Hostetter, Jewel Gingerich, and Anita Yoder. The ladies moved to the apartment across from the market, vacating the “book apartment,” which is where the men live now.
• School started at Gateway to English, as well as school for Lavern and Jonathan’s families, which Sarah is teaching. The English school has a busy schedule of groups and individual lessons, and each week is settling into a more predictable routine. We are quickly coming to enjoy our students and the life they bring to the classroom.

Fees charged for English lessons cover much of the cost of operating the English school (Gateway to English), but some subsidy is required from donations. Contact us if you would like more information.

Financial support for the families working in Poland makes up a significant portion of the budget. To contribute to their support, simply earmark contributions accordingly. If you wish to pledge ongoing support, please contact Matthew Mast at homeoffice@aimpoland.org or 814-789-4394.

Our prayer and praise requests are updated at www.aimpoland.org/pray/.

Here’s what has happened since our last update.

• The main event of August was Hope Singers. The choir of 37, conducted by Lloyd Kauffman, toured to the northern, western, and eastern borders of Poland. There was exceptional openness and warmth from the audiences and many responded with invitations to come again in two years. We are grateful for this avenue of fellowship and mutual encouragement of believers in Poland.
• A Christian Ukranian family with nine children plus a grandmother came to Poland to escape the draft of their sons. They are currently in a refugee camp on the western border and are looking for fellowship with us and are looking for a house near here. In the refugee camp, they are the only believers and most of the others are Muslims. They very much miss their church and Christian school in Ukraine.
• Ria Wadel, who has taught English here for 4 years, returned to her family in Chambersburg, PA. Regina Yoder, who taught Lavern’s children for 2 years, returned to her family in Ireland.

In a few weeks, Gateway to English will open for a new school year. Fees charged for English lessons cover much of the cost of operating the English school, but some subsidy is required from donations. Contact us if you would like more information.

Financial support for the families working in Poland makes up a significant portion of the budget. If you wish to contribute to their support, simply earmark contributions accordingly. If you are led to pledge ongoing support, please contact Matthew Mast at homeoffice@aimpoland.org or 814-789-4394.

Please join us in prayer about these needs. We are seeking the Lord’s direction, and we invite you to join us in prayer for His provision. These personnel fill crucial roles in the work of AIM, and it is our prayer that God will provide people to do His work.

Our prayer and praise requests are updated at www.aimpoland.org/pray/.

Here’s what has happened since our last update.

• July was super intense with a record amount of comings, goings, and activities. Thank God things went well despite the hectic schedule.
• On the first day of July Regina, Anita, and Jewel returned to Poland from their short trips home.
• Several days later, the 10-member VBS team arrived to stay for two weeks. They were: Nate and Maria Waldron, Shannon Lehman, Atlee Graybill, Kendall and Amanda Glenn, Victoria Zehr, Priscilla Beiler, Martha Petrusevich, and Renae Mast. They were the main teachers, and worked beside local people who registered, translated, and facilitated each activity.
• In the first week, there were 100 children who came. The second week was held in a village school where 23-30 children enrolled. This was the first time the AIM team attempted anything on this scale, and it was a very positive time. We keenly felt God’s blessing and protection in many details.
• Martha and Renae were here as WATER girls, sent by Sharon Mennonite Bible Institute. They were here just over 3 weeks and were a welcome help to church women and preparations for Hope Singers.
• Lloyd and Mary Kauffman arrived several days ahead of Hope Singers, and spent an evening with the team.

As we enter the new fiscal year (starting July 1), we are deeply grateful for the provision God has made through His people in the past year. The budget for the coming year projects a need of over $11,000 in contributions per month to support two families and four volunteers, operate the English school, and to translate and distribute the Seed of Truth in Polish. We are grateful for your ongoing support.

Financial support for the families working in Poland makes up a significant portion of the budget. If you wish to contribute to their support, simply earmark contributions accordingly. If you are led to pledge ongoing support, please contact Matthew Mast at homeoffice@aimpoland.org or 814-789-4394.

Our prayer and praise requests are updated at www.aimpoland.org/pray/.