Hrubieszów, Poland | Basketball Camp

What to Expect

Who is Stonegate partnering with on this Mission?

Join us as we partner with our Polish friends to serve the community of Hrubieszów, Poland.

Stonegate’s primary contact in Poland is Kim Backstrom, an expat and missionary from North Dakota. After the war in Ukraine began, Kim relocated from a Polish town several hours away to Hrubieszów, where she now serves in the local KEch Church. As a former coach, God has uniquely prepared Kim to be effective in youth outreach, particularly through regular basketball events. KEch Church also runs a coffee shop where daily outreach takes place. One of the Ukrainian families who chose to remain in Hrubieszów after leaving Ukraine now manages the shop. The coffee shop is strategically located in the town square and continues to grow in effectiveness and influence throughout the community.

This year, a Stonegate team will help facilitate a local basketball sports camp outreach, through which Polish and Ukrainian youth will not only hear the gospel but also have an opportunity to improve their basketball skills and teamwork while practicing their English—something highly encouraged by parents and the broader community. In addition, the team will expand its outreach to include evening activities in local parks and small-group community gatherings. This year, a group from a nearby orphanage will also join the weekly activities.

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Accommodations

Teams will lodge in a local hotel.
Rooms will be same gendered or by martial couples/families.
Participants will be encouraged to try new cultural foods and will need to communicate with their Team Leader if they have food allergies or restrictive dietary concerns.

Know Before You Go

Please visit the link here for more information on standard travel guidelines for Poland. 

What is Covered in the Trip Cost? 

Everything you need for your trip while in country is included in the trip fundraising cost (i.e. airfare, lodging, meals, outreach supplies, partner gifts, etc.). Meals or refreshments while actively traveling to and from Poland will be at your own cost. Souvenirs, snacks, or personal supplies purchased at any time during the trip will be at your own cost. The listed fundraising cost is based on preparation costs and costs given to us by the ministry partner for successful outreach.

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Trainings

Trainings are mandatory for participation in this mission. If you need to miss, you must coordinate with your trip leader(s) and/or the Mission Lead Team to make up the content. 

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Fundraising // Donations Given to Fund Short-Term Trips

• All team members will be expected to participate in fundraising efforts and fulfill all cost goals by their scheduled deadline.
• Processing fees may apply.
• All donations or payments made are tax-deductible and non-refundable.
• All donations go toward supporting the team and covering outreach expenses. You may designate your gift to a specific team member; however, the church has ultimate control and discretion as to how the money is spent for the team, our partners, and the mission goals.
• In the event a trip participant must withdrawal or is unable to participate for any reason, but is already partially or fully funded, all donations—whether given online or by check—will be applied to the team expenses and are non-refundable.

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Cancellation Expectations

In the event a trip participant must withdraw from the team for any reason, they must submit a written and datedwithdrawal letter to their team leader and/or the Missions Lead Team. If the participant is already partially or fully funded, all donations - given online or by check - will be applied to the overall team expenses and are non-refundable. Members who withdraw from the team will still be obligated to fulfill all requirements, financial or otherwise, that were assigned to them and due up to the date of their official withdrawal. Any exemption from fulfilling these obligations will be at the discretion of the Mission Lead Team.
Participants will also be responsible for communicating expectations and terms to potential or active donors.