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Help for a Mini-Van
This mini-van has since then passed the million kilometer mark, and has thus come to the end of its existence despite major and minor repair work (which the Benefit Society has occasionally been able to fund). . This is remarkable considering road conditions in that area and the abnormal amount of heavy loads. One must not forget that the van was being used almost constantly on account of the two floods in November 1998 and March 2001, in which the village of Vári each time was among the hardest hit. As long as it was still possible despite the rising waters, the mini-van was able to rescue people with their belongings from their homes, A boat was also brought from a village further away, and volunteers worked in shifts. Emergency supplies and food for the people were transported. It would be necessary to purchase a mini-van in the near future. Some people may possibly ask, why not a car? In the first place, a bus is more stable than a car, given the local road conditions. More important is the question of what the vehicle will be used for. On the one hand there are always a large variety of things to be transported insofar as delivery services are non-existent in Ukraine. On the other hand, it is human beings which are transported the most. For example, this means children and young people are brought to recreation or bible class and then brought home, or alcoholics are taken to the rehab center in the Blue Cross facility. Since his selection as auxiliary bishop of his church in the summer of 2002, the duties of pastor Zán in this regard have developed with some clarity. He is the chairman of the Commission for Evangelization in the Reformed Church as well as of its Building Committee, to which six and seven people belong, respectively. They often travel as a group to the individual congregations. The Reformed Church in Transcarpathia extends over an area of about 12,900 km˛ (slightly smaller than Connecticut or Northern Ireland). As representative bishop, and at the same time leader of the bishop’s chancery, he has no car at his disposal. Sándor Zán, in addition to all that, is also president of KRISZ, the Youth Organization of the Reformed Church. KRISZ likewise has no vehicle. At the moment in Vári a missionary society for gypsies is being formed. Also in conjunction with this work often several people are en route together. Many good reasons exist therefore that make it sensible to purchase another mini-van. It should be in such a condition, which as far as possible eliminates the chance that in the next few years one major repair after another will be needed. A vehicle such as this would cost about 12,000 dollars. Realistically, the chances for this are not the greatest. The local salary of a pastor is on average about 75 dollars per month. Indeed the office of auxiliary bishop is linked with a great many tasks, heavy responsibilities, and weighty burdens, but not with an even halfway comparable salary. Sándor Zán is simply not in a position financially to purchase such a vehicle, which in the end will be his personal vehicle, although that’s where the usage will be the least. We would be thrilled to be able to support him in this.
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