Weekly update 29/26 Engels

  Last Wednesday, we were able to put together another nice load and send it to Breaza. The group of volunteers was smaller than usual, but everything still got done. The pick-up jobs were also successfully completed.

This time, there was also sorting through leftover products. Perhaps not the most enjoyable work, but they can make good use of these items in Romania. At three o'clock, the last volunteer went home after a well-spent and productive day.

The driver who came to load the cargo spoke good English and spontaneously lent a hand. He told us interesting things about the transport. There are about 200 Romanian drivers in Venlo with their tractor units that transport the trailers. They distribute the trailers, which are transported by train from Romania to Venlo, across France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. Every day, two trains arrive in Venlo and two also depart, each with about 60 trailers.

The trains from Romania are always fully loaded, especially with goods from IKEA and Renault. The trains departing from Venlo to Romania, on the other hand, are usually not completely full.

Here is the link to a photo album

Marin and Enikő from Band had to deal with severe hailstorms and storms last week, which caused a lot of damage. Caring for the many children also continued as usual.

Here is the link to a photo album

A mother lives in a dilapidated cottage with six children. Shortly before the storm, she had left for Germany to earn money. Her husband is in prison because he took wood from the forest using a horse and cart. Although almost everyone there takes wood from the forest, it is strictly forbidden. He took too much risk by doing so. Because he had no lawyer to defend him, he received a long prison sentence.

Due to the poor condition of the cottage, the social worker in Band wanted to involve Child Protective Services to remove the children. However, Marin has promised to take care of the children and build a new, safe cottage for them.

We were able to honor his request for financial support. Construction has now begun, and thanks to Marin's efforts and the help of the neighbors, everything is progressing smoothly. Hopefully, the children will soon be able to live in a safe and warm home.

Here is the link to a photo album

As I wrote earlier, Attila has an overproduction of vegetables and potatoes on his farm in Marghita. Instead of letting them go to waste, they are distributed to poor families and institutions in the area. A wonderful solution from which more and more people are benefiting.

Here is the link to a photo album

Csaba and Imola from Breaza distribute the stock we brought as best as possible. 

Here is the link to a photo album

Joszi from Tirgu Mures cooked again for the children in the neighborhood and a number of elderly people, shared food, and the washing and bathing program was running at full capacity again. 

Here is the link to a photo album

Last time, I wrote about, among other things, the young family living in an uninhabitable shack in the Valea Rece neighborhood of Târgu Mureș. Joszi asked us if we could make a residential container available to this family. This has now become a reality.

What a huge improvement this is! For the first time, they have a safe, dry, and rat-free place to live. We sincerely hope that this new start gives them peace and perspective, so that father and mother can build a better future step by step – for themselves, but above all for their children.

Here is the link to a photo album

Viorel and Elena from Deaj lead a busy life; every day they are busy caring for poor people in their community and much more. The renovation of the small house in Haranglab into a kind of community center has been tackled with great vigor.

Here is the link to a photo album

I would be happy to tell you more about our other contacts and projects next time. This episode also clearly shows once again how important our help still is for the many poor people in Romania.

We will not be loading a trailer this coming Wednesday. However, there is plenty of tidying up and repacking work on the schedule, so there is no shortage of work. In addition, we are getting reinforcement from a women's team this time.