Weekly update 38,39/ 26 Engels

 Last night I returned home from a special motorcycle trip through Romania and part of Central Europe. I made this trip together with Csaba and Imola.

The furthest point of our trip was Oświęcim in southern Poland, home to the impressive former concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz. Two million people visit this site annually. When we were there, it was so crowded that we were unable to secure an entrance ticket. Imola had already tried this online in the preceding days. So, we could only see it from the outside. We were particularly successful at the labor camp three kilometers from the extermination camp. 

These were the destinations; if you tap on the place name, you will see where it is on Google Maps.

September 16: Sighetu Marmatiei , Romania 

September 17:  Sátoraljaújhely Hungary 

September 18: Zakopane Poland 

September 19: Slovakian  Refugee Camp 

September 20: Rimavská Sobota Slovakia 

September 21: Debrecen, Hungary  

September 22 and 23: Marghita Romania 

September 24: Breaza

It turned out to be a very beautiful journey of nearly 2,400 km. The weather conditions were perfect. While the back roads were mainly gravel in the past, most are now asphalted, making it ideal for motorcyclists. Winding roads through small villages, often nestled between hills and/or mountains.

Here is the link to a photo album

We were also at the farm in Marghita. In Getz, we were allowed to join the elderly of the village for lunch. 

Here is the link to a photo album

We also paid a visit to Inci in Salard. Henk Seeleman and his wife were present there at the time. We had nice conversations and reminisced. Six people from Kockengen are coming to help with our Christmas hamper campaign. 

On Friday, September 25, Csaba and I first drove to Haranglab to view the community center currently under construction there.

It will be a special place for the children from this neighborhood. Soon they will be able to shower and get clean clothes here. Meals can be cooked for them on-site, and someone will be coming to help the children with their homework. In addition, various other activities are planned. Expectations are therefore high.

According to Viorel, the arrival of this community center is already bringing more peace to the community. People see that something structural is actually being done for them.

Viorel is clearly highly respected in Haranglab and the surrounding area. Many of his fellow believers assist him in his work and contribute their share. The location of the building is also truly beautiful and particularly suitable for the plans being developed here.

During our visit, there were also several people from France present who have been supporting Viorel for years. They were likewise impressed by the project and thought it was wonderful to see with their own eyes what is being achieved here. Unfortunately, communication was not always easy, especially due to the language barrier. 

 Here is the link to a photo album

After visiting Joszi in Tirgu Mures, we went straight to the neighborhood to see the current situation in this part of Valea Rece. The container for Claudia and her children still looks good, but cleaning up around it and keeping it tidy, as well as thinking ahead a bit, isn't really happening.

The Mate Poczo family's container looks better (weekly report 29). The man has good intentions, in my opinion, and keeps a close eye on everything. He should be helped a bit more with building his future and that of his family. 

His old cottage was demolished; next to it stood a hopeless hovel. This collapsed, but fortunately, no one was injured. These people with six children are now living under two wooden boards, a tarpaulin, and a filthy mattress. It is too sad for words. Joszi is coming up with a proposal on how to resolve this. Nothing can be expected from the municipality for these people.

The idea and plan to replace 15 shacks at once with other small, solid houses is not really getting off the ground yet. There are more problems than solutions. 

Here is the link to a photo album.

Afterwards, Csaba and I got on our motorcycles and rode to Marin in Band. Together, we walked through the entire village. Over the years, Marin has built and/or renovated no fewer than 45 houses here. With that, the end of a long period of building and improving is now slowly coming into sight. You notice this as well when you walk through the village: a lot has visibly changed over the years.

The nut trees have yielded a particularly good harvest this year, and many people were busy harvesting the nuts. Unfortunately, people themselves receive only a low price for them. It is mainly the middlemen who ultimately earn the most from them.

In the coming period, Marin will compile an overview of all the cottages that have been built or renovated in recent years. This will provide a nice picture of what has been accomplished in Band over the course of time.

We also visited the man who is missing a leg and received a mobility scooter from us earlier. He is incredibly happy with it. He told us that he sometimes even takes long trips with it. It is wonderful to see that the mobility scooter not only gives him more freedom of movement but also offers him the opportunity to go out independently and visit other people.

Sara, 86, is bedridden, but considering the circumstances, she is doing well.

Here is the link to a photo album

After that, we were able to really let loose on the beautiful back roads towards Breaza. On motorcycles, it is a joy every time to ride along these small roads through the Romanian countryside.

In Filpișu Mic, we visited Csaba and Melinda. They participated in our annual motorcycle ride through Romania for many years. Unfortunately, due to circumstances, they were unable to join this year. Naturally, they were very curious to know how our trip had gone, and we were happy to speak with each other again.

We also had wonderful and inspiring conversations with Attila and Adel, including about the children's home in Periș. They are people with a clear vision and a clear perspective on things. What they do is comprehensive and requires a great deal of commitment.

Attila, for example, preaches in no fewer than six different churches. In addition, he is involved in numerous other activities, almost all of which are dedicated to helping people who are struggling, and especially the poorest of the poor.

It is beautiful and valuable work, but it also brings disappointments. Not everything works out as you would like, and not everyone reacts as you had hoped. 

Viorel and Elena from Deaj shared photos of their "normal" activities.

Here is the link to a photo album.

Joszi from Tirgu Mures did the same.

Here is the link to a photo album.

Marin and Enico also did the same.

Here is the link to a photo album

This coming Wednesday, September 30, we will be loading for Breaza and Marghita. Another shipment is arriving on Tuesday, so for now there is enough stock. 

We will be making the Christmas packages on November 19 and 20.