Weekly update 3 / 2021

This week we received the sad news that Wim Loos has passed away. Wim has been a loyal volunteer for many years. With his efforts he could mean a lot for his fellow men, there was not too much for him. We wish Gerda and her family a lot of strength with the great loss.

The card we received.

Monday we were able to pick up goods in Zaandam, just like at St. Manna in Alkmaar, we are very happy with this. It is now really winter in Romania, it is snowing and it is freezing really hard. The photos and stories we receive change as a result and are an encouragement to continue with our work.

On Wednesday January 13, a truck with destination Peris and Breaza was loaded. Toth Attila is going to open a second hand store in Peris next to his new children's home. We were able to provide a nice inventory for this store. Furthermore, many foods and all kinds of delicious things are loaded. The same day we could pick up clothes in Egmond and pick up some other stuff.

Here the link to photos.

Cristi from Botosani made a video and wrote a newsletter. Under normal circumstances, poor people arrive at the gate of Casa Ioana at fixed times and receive milk, bread and other items. Now that this is no longer allowed, Cristi's father and his father-in-law now deliver it to their homes, both are retired, they think it's a wonderful job. Cristi is thinking about using even more of these types of teams to deliver the goods we bring, among other things.

Here the link to the video.

Here the link to the newsletter.

Toth Attila from Reghin / Peris again sent pictures of the handing out as well as a few pictures of his pigs. During a telephone conversation he told again how important food and other help is right now. In winter there is simply no work for most of the Roma community there, often there is no food on the table and warmth in the simple houses. Even being exploited with poorly paid jobs as a day laborer is now not possible! The newly built children's home in Peris can be opened. Attila is waiting for the approval of the paper work by government agencies, this is going very slow. In Romania, like many other countries, the government is not very helpful to the inhabitants of the country. With the proceeds from the second hand shop, the cultivation of vegetables and the keeping of the pigs, he hopes to generate enough income to cover the costs of the children's home. There are already online sales of clothing, etc., people buy online and then come and collect it. Not a web store like l.com, but a simple version, it works well especially because nowadays almost everyone has a smartphone.

Here the link to photos.

Reghina also sent nice pictures of her actions. Gerrit de Boer from Anjum has made a nice video about the activities of Reghina, this for a collect from the local church in favor of her work. A great initiative from the people of Anjum.

Here the link to photos.

Here the link the video of Gerrit de Boer.

In Getz, families have been receiving for a long time sandwiches, the last photos of the long series are recent.

Here the link to photos.

Also in Marghita it is snowing, Attila the manager of the farm there sent a few pictures of the snowy guest house, I would like to stay there again for a while!! To run a farm well you need quite a bit of skills, with Attila fortunately it’s goes very well. The year 2020 put him to the test, not only caused by the “normal” things such as the weather and market conditions, etc. Now there was also the corona problem, something that did not make his life easier. Attila managed to get it all on the right track and he can be proud of the end result.

Henk Muller also sent pictures with an explanation. It makes it completely clear again why we also send goods there, what unimaginable poverty. Henk will soon go to Breaza to pick up new stock.

Here the link to photos.

In Breaza it is returning to normal in small steps, the schools are expected to open in February. Until then, the children who live at Csaba and Imloa will receive online education and the teacher from the “private” school will come by to teach. In this way they make the best of it for the children. The unloading of half the truck load went quickly on Saturday, handing out the goods will get under way smoothly.

On Tuesday we go to Weesp to pick up stuff, on Wednesday there are pick-up jobs and on an unusual day, namely Friday, we will load for Botosani.

When I have listed all the photos and stories on this blog, I realize all the more how privileged we are in the Netherlands.