2010 Annual Report

″Once again every year...″ (the opening words of a popular German Christmas song) –that’s how the situation in Ukraine could be described. Once again every year there is an election of some kind. This fall it was local elections. In Transcarpathia 42.6% of the votes were won by the United Center party, just founded in 2008, which is closely allied with former national president Jushchenko. Rumor has it that most of the votes were bought. For many people a little extra cash in the wallet is more important than one political party or another, especially people who are left to face their daily cares and problems on their own.

However I would like to report to you just a little about how we as a relief society offer small signs of hope by bringing quite unexpected help and thus shine a light into desperate faces.

Relief Transports

In the past year we were able to dispatch eight relief transports to Transcarpathia, including one with a complete heating system.

Special Events

Undoubtedly an absolute climax was the festive advent concert with Gunther Emmerlich in our local church in Lengenfeld. Despite icy temperatures 350 people attended and enjoyed the musical entertainment. The enthusiastic audience experienced an extraordinary evening. Gunther Emmerlich and his solo performers were supported by the Lengenfeld church choir.

Christmas Parcel Drive

A local butcher donated his profits from the sale of roast bratwurst to the Lengenfeld advent market. The impressive result of this great idea was €400. Many other larger and smaller donations enabled nearly 4500 children in Transcarpathia these past few days to be surprised with a wonderful Christmas present. It makes us grateful when we stand speechless before such a large donation, despite all signs of an economic crisis.

Projects and Activities we Support

The Ombodi family from Nagybereg, who lost their house in a gas explosion and fire early this year, is looking forward to a new house. It has been built with our support. It is not quite entirely finished, but the older members of the family intend to move in by the end of this year. The younger members will be lodged in temporary housing until next year.

The treatment of special-needs children in Beregszász/Berehovo has had successful developments over the past year. Presently 14 children are receiving therapy. Each individual child has a treatment plan for the next six months. Therapy specialists are available for massage, speech therapy, special needs education, physiotherapy and psychotherapy. For little Anna Barbara Balogh of Vári, to whom the whole regimen of treatment can basically be traced, a whole listing of positive results was made. She is attentive and curious, cries less, and her dexterity has improved. She has learned to climb stairs, opens doors in her home, picks things up, eats by herself with her hands and tries to drink on her own.

Dániel Kiss, who comes from a poor family in Vári, has been studying saxophone since this past fall in Ungvár/Uzhhorod. Thanks to a generous donation he can cover the cost of his studies. In addition to his main instrument the saxophone, Dániel must also learn the trumpet and at the start of his second year the piano as well. He will be studying for 4 years. He wants to become a music teacher after finishing school.

Nine-year-old Szebásztián Komoromi of Halábor was infected with hepatitis C, probably due to an examination in the hospital in Beregszász/Berehovo.
Volodimir Babics has a severe kidney ailment, which requires him to have regular dialysis. It is suspected he was infected with hepatitis B virus due to a dialysis treatment in Ungvár/Uzhhorod.
In both cases we are helping in any way we possibly can.

The Reformed fire department of Dercen last summer received a rebuilt street sweeeping vehicle from Hungary to be used for fighting fires. It holds 8000 liters of water. This is especially important when called to service in villages where there is scarcely a central water system, or an inadequate one at best. However in November the water capacity had to be drained because the garage wasn’t ready to be occupied. The foundation and steel frame are in place, and so is the roof. The firefighters use their free time to help with the building and save costs. But time is short. In order to move the project to completion as soon as possible, we have decided to send support.

Jószef continues to make good progress. Since our last report he is running on uneven terrain 70 to 80 steps, and on level terrain as many as 150. In the meantime he has begun 2nd grade. In addition to Hungarian, his mother tongue, he is learning Ukrainian and even English. He likes drawing, but reading not so much.

A lot more could be added here. It is all possible only because you trust us with the necessary means to pass along to others. We sincerely thank you.

Sincere thanks for all your support, your interest, your cooperation and involvement, your prayers and your donations in the closing year of 2010.

We also convey a large measure of gratitude and love from the people of Transcarpathia, to whom time and again we offer large and small signs of hope and solidarity.

Sincere thanks to you for remaining loyal to us. We are amazed that God always moves the hearts of people to help those in need. We are especially grateful for His protection of those who travel for us.

In the new year 2011 we will also need your help and sincerely ask for your support. It would be wonderful if suffering humanity in Transcarpathia became a matter close to your heart.
Please make the work and projects of the Transcarpathia Benefit Society known among your relatives, friends and acquaintances, your co-workers and fellow students, as well as in your community and organizations. We look forward to your ideas and activities that support us.

We wish you and your families a meaningful advent, a happy Christmas holiday and God’s blessing for the new year!