In 2016, 15 KFI-ME Youth Ministry pilgrims traveled to Kraków, Poland to attend World Youth Day. We were sent to Bieńkówka, a small, rural town outside Kraków, and stayed in host homes. The Bieńkówka community went above and beyond to keep us safe, well-fed, and well-rested during our week-long stay, and we fostered lifelong friendships with them, especially Marcelina, our youth group leader, who made sure we got to our events safely.

This past February, when Russia invaded Ukraine, the Ukrainians who worked in Bieńkówka asked our host town if their families could cross the border and stay with them, and they said yes without hesitation. They drove 3-4 hours to the border, and watched families hug goodbye to each other and parted ways. Bieńkówka hosted about 60 women and children refugees in their church annex, helping them adjust to their new lives. Thankfully, most have been able to return home, and there are less than 10 refugees with them.

Marcelina says they live by their Polish saying “Gość w dom, Bóg w dom”, or “Guest at home, God at home”. It means that if we receive a guest in our home, we are receiving God in our home, and should treat them as such - with the utmost hospitality, selflessness, and love. That is how the Polish people have received us during World Youth Day, and continue to do for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters during this horrendous war. We must do what we can to help them.