On World Refugee Day, we remember that behind every statistic is a story, a family, a person longing to be seen and known, who are learning to rebuild their lives far from home. 

For many Ukrainian women who have been forced to rebuild their lives while caring for their families and carrying the weight of uncertainty, simply having space to rest, reflect, and be reminded that God sees them can be a gift. It was with this in mind that 67 women gathered for a retreat in Poland, where moments of fellowship, prayer, creativity, and shared stories became reminders that God continues to make everything beautiful in His time.

From June 11 to 14, 67 women gathered in Zaniemysl, a small town outside Poznan, Poland, for a retreat held at Lake Epic Campgrounds and hosted in partnership with Evangelical Poland. Centered around Ecclesiastes 3:11, the theme highlighted the words, “He makes everything beautiful in its time.”

Many of the women who attended were not Christians. Throughout the retreat, each session was paired with a creative activity, creating space for reflection and conversation.

In the weeks leading up to the retreat, women from a local tea club had been offered Bibles, but only a few expressed interest. During the final service of the retreat, 20 Bibles had been prepared for distribution, but there were not enough for everyone who wanted one. Some women came running to receive a Bible, and one woman from the café asked to study the Bible with the team in the future.

At the end of the retreat, one woman stood up and through tears shared, “Ukrainian women have no time to reflect inward. Each day many of us work two to three jobs just to support ourselves and our children. Thank you for giving us time to look inward and to see that God cares for us and that He sees us.”

The retreat team included a woman from the Czech Republic whose testimony deeply impacted many of those present. After she shared, several women approached her in tears, saying, “Your story is my story.”

The weekend left a lasting impact on many of the women who attended. One participant, who at 80 years old was the oldest attendee, asked, “Why wait until next year to do this again? We can do it again in August!”

Reflecting on the retreat, one participant wrote:

“Words cannot fully convey the gratitude I feel after this retreat. It is amazing how God brought us together and gifted us this gift, love, filled with mutual understanding. We may speak different languages and live on different continents, but our souls speak one language. We are so close, so connected, we understand each other so deeply.

This retreat showed me that God does not need passports or borders. He gifted us love and full understanding.”