Students visit Poland for service trip

Through the Agapé Center, several students traveled to Poland for a service trip to partner with Polish Christian Ministries (PCM) May 20-June 1. Tina Keller, chair of the Department of Education and associate professor of TESOL, served as the group leader on the trip.

“We taught English in Polish middle and high schools in Warsaw,” explained Keller. “We also assisted in humanitarian work with Ukrainian refugees in the city, such as assisting in buying shoes.”

Several Messiah students participated in the trip. Mireliz Bermudez ’23, an education major with a dual certification in early childhood education and special education with minors in ESL and language pathology, says the trips allowed her to speak and teach English learners (ELs).

“Having been an EL myself, I thought that I would be able to not only experience teaching in a foreign country but relate to the high school and middle school students. It was amazing to see how quick the students were able to show off their English and Spanish skills, especially since Spanish is my first language,” said Bermudez, who is serving as student body vice president.

Between a global pandemic and war in nearby Ukraine, the students remained flexible amid uncertainty in a new culture.

“The Agapé Center did a great job of keeping the students on the service trip safe and well-informed,” said Bermudez. “Every day before the trip brought a new wave of compassion to serve in the community of Warsaw. Overall, I was very humbled by the experience and feel even more confident in my decision to become a teacher.”

Keller echoes that sentiment.

“It was a gift to witness the love that poured out of Warsaw to Ukrainian families fleeing the war. Christians sacrificially loving like Christ was on display, and it impacted the whole atmosphere of the city. I could see it changing our students, and it is still changing and challenging me.”

— Anna Seip