Paul Bell (HR Lead for OM UK) spent a week in Warsaw serving war refugees from Ukraine with OM Poland. This is his diary.
Paul Bell (HR Lead for OM in the UK) spent a week in Warsaw with OM in Poland, serving refugees from Ukraine. This is his diary.
Many of the people working with OM in the UK fulfil professional support roles, essential to the effective running of any large organisation. Whilst largely office-based, these OMers also love sharing about Jesus with those who don’t know Him; in recognition of this, office staff can visit OM teams abroad for a week’s outreach every year.
For HR Lead Paul Bell, Poland was the obvious choice — he has family ties, and a great regard for OM in Poland’s busy Hub in Warsaw, called Home for the Nations, where every week the OM Team serve over 300 people through 28 activities.
Additionally, part of the OM in Poland crew called the ‘Response Team’ serves over 50 Ukrainian refugee families living in difficult conditions, primarily in refugee hostels. For a glimpse of what they do, watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiTmaHZMoG0.
Whether they’re providing material aid, English lessons, games for kids, emotional support or gospel-centred conversations and stories, the Warsaw team rely year-round on the help of international volunteers. So November 2024 saw Paul head off to Warsaw, joining other volunteers for a week of service in Jesus’ name.
Paul named his WhatsApp prayer group ‘Press on in Poland’ (PoiP). Here are his WhatsApp postings from Warsaw. Then read a special Christmas update from the Warsaw team…and how you can help in 2025!
10th November 2024
08:23 Morning PoiP friends! Been visiting family, now heading for Warsaw .…OM orientation later. May we press on in the Lord’s service — thank you for praying!
20:48 Thank God for safe travels for me, and the other volunteers — two from Malaysia, one from Canada. Had an excellent orientation session at the OM base this afternoon. After mega-flights earlier, the others are now in bed asleep!
11th November
09:26 Dzien dobry, Good Morning! Today is Independence Day — a huge national holiday so no mission activity. We volunteers will spend time with OM in Poland team members, enjoying the celebrations. My Bible reading today encouraged ‘wholeheartedly’ serving God as David did, with all his heart. Pray for that in me as I prepare for a week of service.
18:56 Great day with the OM team — out celebrating in the city, building friendship and fellowship.
12th November
18:57 Great team spirit today too — so much to give thanks for:
Helped at ‘Care Fair’ this morning — distribution point for Ukrainian refugees to collect toiletries, clothing and small household items. I helped at the ladies’ boots stand, even speaking a little Polish! Great to see refugee ladies so pleased and grateful.
Went to a hostel this afternoon. Only 1’C but kids wanted to play outdoors, brrr! Fab to see them joyfully running around. Mums and small kids enjoyed craft sessions so much they asked for an extra visit! Wonderful to hear a prayer (in Russian) for refugee families.
13th November
22:40 Another great full day! Served at foodbank preparing parcels for about 70 people this morning. Good fellowship with local ladies from the church. Counted in Polish! Thank God for a bakery which donates so much food every week.
22:42 After lunch, spent time at OM Poland Hub and office, learning about their activities to help refugee women and children. Helped at English lesson — OM in Poland person leading was Daniel from England — he joined OM same time as me. Great reconnection! Met Belarusian refugee guy there, he has no faith but keen to know about OM, heard why we serve — to show Jesus’ love. We are texting to keep in touch and he wants to visit the UK! Please pray for him.
14th November
17:44 I led OM team devotions at 09:00, theme: the Servant King based on Philippians 2:1-11, considered humility and service in my talk. Free time in the morning. In the afternoon we visited another hostel, it’s an ex-hotel, really basic. Spent 2 1/2 hrs with 20 kids, lots of fun playing games, doing craft, playing table football — hadn’t tried that for years but soon rediscovered my touch! Had a great time with the few boys there.
So grateful for your faithful prayers.
15th November
19:17 This morning we were at the team Hub again for a fun presentation to elderly Ukrainian refugees. Thank you Lord for the IT connection for my laptop!! There’s an English intern here — Kezia. She and I, as English, were asked to talk about Ireland! PTL the fun and humour weren’t lost in translation, it went SO well, loads of laughs/smiles from the seniors. Lovely to say St Patrick’s Blessing in English and Russian, with expressive actions. Sensed people really praying for each other.
19:21 Today we also helped out with some English lessons (more formal) at the OM Hub, and met folk who meet weekly for TeenStreet teens ministry. Small numbers but great work.
16th November
07:10 Last day on mission! Today I’m driving the team minibus a long way. We will visit a camp for asylum-seekers of ‘other’ nationalities. We will function in men’s and women’s teams. Please pray for being open to however the Lord may lead, for fruitful conversations and activities.
20:08 The camp we visited today is an ex-military base. Powerful yet positive experience. As ever kids enjoyed the games! Great to see their smiles and laughs. Bravo to OMer Anita* (mother-tongue is Farsi) for first-time teaching Polish to group of 10 men! Special time for me — to listen, encourage and offer prayer for three guys from Middle East and Eastern Europe.
20:13 Got back to Warsaw this afternoon, lovely farewells with my other volunteers and the OM team in Poland. We’ll keep in touch! Fly home tomorrow evening.
Thank you SO much for your prayerful support and encouragement!
12th December
09:30 Christmas news! Update from the team in Warsaw — special events — blessing the families, sharing about our Saviour’s birth…
FORWARDED from Aneta, OM in Warsaw team
09:00 Our Christmas events started end of November! We invited Youth With A Mission (YWAM) to our Hub ‘Home for the Nations’ and the hostels for refugees where we regularly serve. They came with the ‘Raising Up’ project — a special photo session aiming to create new memories of hope, beauty, dignity and belonging. Entire Ukrainian families could experience the joy of Christmas coming, and strengthen bonds. We later heard that the 10-minute photo session, full of tenderness and laughter, was more beneficial than psychotherapy!
09:05 It was combined with deep conversations about the way Jesus humbled himself coming in flesh and being born in a stable. We also did Christmas decorations together.
On 2nd December we took a Christmas tree to a hostel which doesn’t have one, and decorated it with the kids.
On Dec 20 the trauma recovery programme ‘Opsafe’ will organise a Christmas event for kids at our Home for the Nations hub.
We are not planning other bigger events, but all our weekly activities — both in the Home for the Nations hub and refugee hostels — will of course be focused on a Christmas theme. Please pray for these precious families!
*name changed
Would you like to help the OM team in Warsaw in 2025? To find out more, head to https://www.uk.om.org/poland-serving-war-refugees-warsaw