Semi-annual report of 2003

The time of vacation and holidays is upon us, and so we would like to inform you about news from Transcarpathia and the status of specific projects as well as activities in the first half of the year.

Transportation

Since the start of the year we have been able to dispatch 5 transport units, in which items such as eyeglasses, medications, adult diapers, hip-devices for babies, clothing, toys, 2 baby-carriages, 1 child’s car-seat, food, vitamin capsules, curtains, bed linen, fabric, crafting material, tires, a welder, a finishing grinder, a drill hammer, a lawnmower, 2 refrigerators, a microwave, an oil radiator, a cream separator, a ping pong table, cutlery, 1 computer and a typewriter were delivered.

Unfortunately Péter Szeghljánik was stranded with the mini-bus in transit in mid-May between Regensburg and Passau due to a damaged motor. Since then, the disabled vehicle has been hauled to Hungary.

Conditions at the Site

Due to price hikes of up to 30% since last year, it is becoming more and more difficult in Transcarpathia for well-paid individuals to buy food for their own family. At present the Ukrainian government is boosting efforts to squeeze every last kopeck from church communities through restrictive measures and ordinances, in order to hamper and limit their work. Please read the interview (german) 94kb

of the auxiliary bishop, Pastor Sándor Zán, concerning the situation of the Reformed Church, for the Gustav Adolf newsletter.

Projects

Timea Molnár with little Adam

At the start of the year we asked for financial assistance for the Molnár family,under the heading: “A Heart for Adam”. Their son was born at the end of last year with a heart defect and underwent an emergency operation in Budapest.
Since that time Adam has finally gone home, and the new family is happily reunited. In all, four operations were necessary (the last two were about 6 hours each). He was kept on a resuscitator for four weeks. More than once his condition was considered critical. But God granted him a change for the better, and since March he has been gradually improving.
At first Adam has to have monthly follow-up exams in Budapest, later these are to be done every 3 months. All of his operations have been paid for with support by Hungarian aid agencies. Thanks to our donations, all additional costs for treatment, travel and especially lodging for his mother during the lengthy time in Budapest have been covered.

János Molnár is overwhelmed by the great helpfulness of other people and wishes to thank all contributors most sincerely for the support for his little Adam. He expressed this several times during his talk with the head of the Benefit Society, Christian Ehrler.

The sunflower oil press (also see the annual report of 2002) has since been delivered and awaits its first use after this year’s harvest. By then a machine will still have to be built or bought to clean the seeds. The Benefit Society made funds available to purchase a trailer, so that the press will be “mobile” and can be used in other villages too. Appropriate contacts were established with other localities. It is projected that the revenue from the usage of the oil press will be used to benefit the soup kitchen in Vári.

A ping-pong table was donated and a lawnmower purchased for the church recreational center in Balazsér.
At present we would like to make you are aware of the need to support Pastor Sándor Zán’s effort to obtain a new mini-van, and we ask for your assistance (please see the corresponding appeal for donations). It is actually hard to imagine that the auxiliary bishop must often hitchhike because he has no vehicle at this time. Maybe you have some creative ideas or contacts and connections which could offer help.

Please mark donations with the key-word “Bus”..

Again and again we receive inquiries for help for medical emergencies and specific medications. Thus far it has usually been possible to respond to resquests in some form--often the help is not spectacular, yet effective for the people concerned, for which they are very grateful.

This man is mentally handicapped and lives below the poverty line.

Donations from the Benefit Society were very helpful last winter when they were used to buy heating material for families suffering hardship. The families received a free warm meal daily from the soup kitchen in Vári. According to a report by the chairman of social work at the local church, a family can be supplied with heating material all winter for 35 dollars.

Mrs. Bródi (with two of her children) is happy over the firewood for the winter. She is a widow with many children.

He also indicated that the donations could accomplish a greater effect when prices are lower in the summertime. Any donations for this purpose should be marked with the key-word “firewood”.
We all know we live in a time of political tension and the financial stress that results from this. Projects such as “A Heart for Adam” or our annual Christmas package drive enjoy great resonance among the populace. However we would also love to support activities and respond to inquiries and requests which are not so much in the forefront or generate high interest. And naturally there are always additional costs again and again for transportation and other things, without which such assistance is unable to function. For this, we need your help and ask you sincerely for you support. Let the people around you know about the work of the Benefit Society, tell your relatives and acquaintances, your neighbors and friends.

For today we send you our sincere regards from Lengenfeld and wish you a pleasant and refreshing summer. We commend you to God.

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