2008 Annual Report

It seems I just informed you about the activities of the society in the first half of the year, when the calendar keeps reminding me to get busy with the annual report. Time certainly flies, and we probably all feel that way.
It is sad and even frustrating not to be able to report to you much that is positive about the situation in Ukraine in general and in Transcarpathia in particular. The political situation in the country is chaotic. Briefly, primary parliamentary elections are being held for the third time in three years, because the existing coalition is not stable or sustainable. One gets the impression that politicians are hardly interested in the lives of millions in the country. Power and wealth seem to be in the forefront. Of course this is crippling to development in many areas of life and is often noticeable in day-to-day affairs. While on the one hand new regulations in automobile use (mandatory child seats, bans on cell-phones while driving, etc.) as well as threatened penalties according to the official version of European Union laws, have been adopted, apparently those in Kiev are not aware of EU principles on policies toward minority groups, if one follows the activities of the Ukrainian government concerning its attitude toward minorities. I have already written about this in the semi-annual report.

A rather enormous price increase has occurred, especially in the area of construction and building materials. A doubling of natural gas prices has also been announced.
As the media has reported, the worldwide financial crisis is not excluding Ukraine. In the county seat of Beregszász/Berehovo alone, eight banks have had to close.
No wonder that disillusionment and resignation are rampant among the people.

Relief Transports

This year we were able to dispatch seven loads of relief supplies to Transcarpathia. Bringing these urgently needed and eagerly anticipated items across the border has never been really easy, but the current political situation makes it almost impossible. We have experienced this ourselves and hope the situation will soon be alleviated in this regard.

Christmas parcel drive

Clown LuLu Lustig Motorcycle made entirely of balloons

As of today our Christmas parcel drive for this year seems to be a complete success once again. Unfortunately for a few years we have observed that donations are reaching us later and later. For example at the beginning of December we had reached only about two-thirds of last year's donations. Of course that clearly reduces the planning and procesing possibilities. After all the funds have to be sent to Ukraine and our partners there also need sufficient time to go shopping for the gifts. It would really be nice and very helpful if donors would make their gifts available as early as possible Nevertheless we are delighted and very grateful that also this year over 3500 boys and girls will receive a wonderful Christmas present. How nice it would be if you could see all the beaming faces.
It is especially worth mentioning that an information day for our charity drive "Christmas Joy" was held in the Plauen city gallery, a large shopping center right in the heart of town. Attractions for the children included the arrival of Happy Lu Lu the Clown, and the giveaway of a motorcycle made of balloons as a prize. The regional press, the Vogtland regional television network and the in-house Center-News gave special coverage.
An article in the Christian weekly "Idea Spectrum" also gave information about our Christmas drive.
One "treat" this year was undoubtedly the raffle of interesting prizes that were mostly provided by prominent supporters of our society Gunther Emmerich, Björn Kircheisen, Dr. Claus Hipp and Princess Alexandra of Lippe. The winners have been determined and will have a surprise in their hands by Christmas.

Projects and Support for our work

We could report here a lot of great and small ways in which we helped, often benefiting people in quite unspectacular ways. The society financed a new photocopier for the polyclinic in the village of Vári, and we supported the remodeling of various parsonages and parish centers and the education of a young girl. Even a small gift can often be big help, such as a pair of adult diapers for a handicapped or bed-ridden person.
All of this is possible only because you contribute to our cause and entrust us with the necessary means over and over to pass it on.

Just as an example for the various activities that supported us, take the graduating class of the Middle School in Schönheide (Westerzgebirge), who marked the occasion of their graduation by donating to our organization.

Or a businesswoman from Lengenfeld who asked for donations to fund the treatment of little József instead of presents for her 60th birthday.

On our last visit with his family in mid-November József gave us a big surprise. Since his treatment last summer he can take his first little steps by himself, true a little wobbly, but without any outside help. We were delighted over this, but it still makes clear how important and beneficial this treatment is, and how extraordinarily well the money for it is being used. It is wonderful when we can enable a handicapped child to have a future "on his own two legs" and spare him a beggar's existence. Don't you agree? His parents and the whole family are very happy about it. Last summer he received from Pastor Sándor Zán a tricycle that the boy just loves. He often rides it, sometimes even with other boys of the locality from one end of the village to the other back and forth, and he has meanwhile become quite a little racing driver. Better physical maintenance and mobility of arms, hands and legs, more safety and less fear of movement - those are visible marks of success from the treatment in the specialty clinic in Truskavec. Next fall József is to attend the local school, although some preconditions have to be fulfilled by then. At the present there is still the next stay at the clinic, for which the financing is assured by our organization, likewise for the treatment to follow next spring. Any project-targeted funds for later however have been allocated. Perhaps you have a heart for József, and if so, make a contribution, or give us an idea for a similar fund drive. Talk to us about it, and we will be happy to make information and photos available for it. If you transfer funds to our bank account, please use the keyword: Josef

We sincerely thank you for all your support, interest, cooperation, involvement, prayers and donations this year as 2008 draws to a close.

We convey to you a large measure of gratitude and love from those you have helped by giving small and large signs of hope and concern to the people in Transcarpathia again and again.

Thank you so much for being our loyal supporters. We are amazed that over and over God moves human hearts to be ready to help.

We are especially grateful for all the safe travel we have enjoyed and the help we have received in unexpected emergency situations.

We need you and your help in 2009 also and sincerely ask for your support. It would be nice if the suffering people in Transcapathia would continue to touch your hearts.