By Ken Jarvis, Area Media Specialist
Last month women of the Texas Hill Country Stake came together for their annual Relief Society Conference. In and of itself that’s pretty normal. But what wasn’t normal was that it was also seen by women over 5,700 miles away in the Warsaw, Poland Branch. In addition to that, their Relief Society President, Agnieszka Mazurowska, was the concluding speaker of the conference.
Why on earth would that happen?
Because last spring the members of the Church of Jesus Christ’s Hill Country Stake joined in a collaborative effort with Polish Church members by sending new suitcases to Warsaw to be distributed to the refugees from Ukraine. Texas families partnered with Warsaw families to help Ukrainian families.
According to Cindy Beattie, Hill Country Relief Society President, approximately 400 new suitcases were purchased by members from around San Antonio and shipped from a warehouse in Poland to the Warsaw congregation. (Read more about the suitcase donations.)
From that time on, a special bond formed between Beattie and Mazurowska. When the time came for the Hill Country Stake Relief Society’s conference to take place, Beattie invited the Warsaw women to join them via Zoom. “They had done so much for others,” Beattie said, “I thought our Stake Relief Society could do something for them to bring light into their lives.”
Mazurowska readily agreed. “We don’t have the availability that you have for this type of activity.”
So with support provided by stake technicians, the conference connected the Hill Country Stake Center, the Warsaw Poland chapel and another special speaker, Bulgarian born artist Eva Timothy. Timothy shared her testimony and introduced her recent work of photographic art, “Let in the Light.”
Mazurowska delivered her remarks in English. Her message was so powerful that we decided to share it with you in its entirety.
“ ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Psalm, 23:4.’
“Until February this year, the time of war sounded strange. There are wars, but they are far away, not in Europe, not in our neighborhood. Unfortunately, the news about the outbreak of the war in Ukraine made us realize how close we are to evil and misfortune while living in Poland.
“At that time in February; indignation, anger, fear, disbelief burst into my heart. And questions to God ‘What will happen next?’
“Then days, weeks and months brought what none of us expected or wanted. Overnight we faced a challenge so great that it seemed that the units of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Poland would not be able to bear it. You must know, dear American sisters, that we are a small congregation with a small group of active members; sisters and brothers who, ourselves, need a lot of help and support.
“Every day refugee coordinators throughout Poland received news about more people coming from Ukraine to Poland, all in dire need and very tired, scared and lost. And we in Poland were also tired and terrified but mobilized to serve and work.
“There were days when I was so overwhelmed by the enormity of the misfortune of the sisters and brothers in Ukraine and the number of problems that arose that I thought I would be able to do nothing. How to find a doctor, shelter for a family with a cat or a large dog, with children, no children but pregnant, seniors, and adolescents. Do we have accommodation? How many drivers? Do we have food, or do we have bedding…do we have or can we…’
“A call or a message in the middle of the night, ‘Do you have space for 6 and there will be 9 tomorrow.’ Immediately after that humanitarian aid organization, transport preparation and phone calls to others asking when and whom they can accept and how they can help.
“It was then that I felt the importance of reading the scriptures and praying. They provide comfort and lead to good solutions to problems. I experienced miracles every day because I wanted to see them. God turned out to be the best logistician who sends my helpers, my angels in the form of volunteers, drivers, or donors of funds for help.
“Here in Poland, I was connected with brothers and sisters from the States, Canada, England, Germany, and the Netherlands. Sweden has a great bond and mutual trust, unprecedented so far. This is how we were able to help our Ukrainian brothers and sisters because others supported us.
We found the strength to overcome difficulties. We were together in prayers, in fasting, packing packages with humanitarian aid, and changing sheets for a newly arrived family from Ukraine or transporting furniture for them or donating clothes, suitcases. We had to be a light for the sisters and brothers in the darkness of Ukraine. We had to find this light and hope in Christ.
“This story is not only mine, but also many sisters and brothers who joined the ministry throughout Poland. We are daughters of divine parents. And this heritage gives me strength and faith. I want to go towards the light and believe. I want to see good things. I want to see a spark in the vastness of misfortune that will finally kindle good and a better time because it helps me to get through the darkest valley.
“Finally, I would like to thank you, dear sisters, for almost 400 suitcases that you sent to Poland, and which ended up in the hands of refugees. For suitcases that gave joy and were often an answer to someone’s prayer, they restored dignity and stirred many deep emotions.”