UPDATE FROM PRZEMYŚL, POLAND #20
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Dear Friends,
Greetings from Poland!
If you are curious to know what has been happening in our reception centers recently, here are a few words on the subject.
Before Lent started, on the occasion of “Fat Thursday” (the Polish version of Mardi Gras) some of the ladies who are among our residents baked delicious donuts. Donut fillings can vary, of course – but these donuts, in addition to their standard filling, contained a substantial pinch of affection. ❤️ 🥰
We are grateful to everyone who supports us with donations, also those in kind. A recent delivery of milk and canned foods for the benefit of our residents was possible thanks to our friends from France and the people at the former Tesco reception center in Przemyśl.
Our guests have already been involved in the production of the “trench candles” for the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. With winter holding all in her grip, these sources of warmth are still in high demand. So we continue!❤️
Hands can be warmed over a little fire, but what about cold feet? These need another remedy, and the ladies with the ability took to knitting…
With so many people in the world engaged in destruction, we can try to tip the scales the other way by being creative. Even learning to put together a simple paper organizer can be meaningful! And coloring salt dough figurines with various kinds of paint can be like adding bright colors to our lives…❤️🧡💛💚💙
A big THANK YOU to our friends from Convoi Solidaire Lasallien pour l’Ukraine for organizing various workshops for our residents. We are so grateful for your presence!
It is also our pleasure to share this news with you: the president of our foundation, Fr. Marek Machała, nominated in the “Personality of the Year 2022” contest organized by regional Polish dailies and websites of the Polska Press publishing house, came first on the local level of our region (Przemyśl) 😃🎊🎉🏆🥇 The next round of the contest will involve the entire region (Podkarpackie Voivodeship). We want to thank everyone for casting their votes!🙏🙏🙏🌹🌹🌹
We also had a visit from the Catholic Radio Via, which gave us another opportunity to spread the news about our foundation.
Then there was a Mass celebrated by Fr. Marek with the special intention for one of our guests who had come to us suffering from cancer. We had helped in enrolling her for the continuation of her treatment in a Polish hospital and we support her with all our hearts ❤️❤️❤️
Another moving moment came with the departure of our friends from France who had brought lots of joy to our reception center in the mountains. Giving thanks is always a special time: it makes us realize that however independent we may feel in our lives, sooner or later we learn how much we need other people. We are all one family! 👫👭👬👫👭👬
On the sad anniversary on February 24, when we remember the Russian full-scale attack on Ukraine, our Ukrainian friends, cooperators and the residents of our reception centers offered us many expressions of gratitude. For our part, we are grateful to be able to help, and to have the means to do it, provided by so many generous people, both in Poland and abroad. Our hearts and thoughts go out to each and every person whom we have met along the way during this past year! ❤️❤️❤️
On a lighter note, we had an unexpected meeting by the local Employment Office as we drove there with some of our residents so that they could register. There was an unusual applicant in front of us, just stopping on his way to pick up (or rather, to pick out) some snacks hidden under the snow. You can certainly tell that we are located in an area of great natural resources!
We leave you with the images of many creative activities which have been taking place at our center. They included preparing thank-you cards for our French volunteers and American doctor volunteers, making flowers bloom out of paper when there are none in the snow outside, crafting bracelets… and all the while in our hearts, fighting for the perseverance of Ukraine.
