WEEK SIX

Just outside of the city of Košice there is a homeless shelter called Oáza Záhrada Bernátovce.   The small Košice Branch regularly does service projects at this facility.

The Oáza  shelter  houses 250 homeless men, women and children (although it seemed like many more).  We have never experienced anything like it, appalling is a word that comes to mind. Although the caretakers had tried hard to maintain some form of organization and order, the conditions were unimaginable.  The building where the homeless live is an old airplane hangar converted into a dormitory.  This particular day was cold and overcast.  The room was cavernous and cold.  There was very little light and the only heat source in the room was a large metal drum converted into a makeshift furnace.  It appeared that those who were ill were placed nearest the furnace and those who were more healthy and able to move around were placed in the outer areas of the room.  The condition and smell of the room upset our whole group but we did what we could to help. We were unable to take pictures of the room we just described but here is a room that was less deplorable, lighter and warmer.  We don’t know why this room was nicer and the other was so terrible.  

As we walked through the compound, we noticed row after row of greenhouses that appeared to be at one time, a beautiful nursery operation with climate control and other amenities.  There had  to be twenty or more of these greenhouses--glass broken, the framework falling apart, overgrown vines and trees growing haphazardly throughout.   We could only imagine the beauty they once exhibited.  We were told that a number of years ago, the Church approached the foundation which runs this homeless shelter and offered to clean up and repair the greenhouses and provide whatever else might be needed to get the operation in full working condition with the idea that the residents could work in the greenhouses and not only provide food for the shelter but build a thriving enterprise to help support, not only this facility, but many others in the country.  For some reason the offer was declined and thus it remains in utter ruins.  We were able to weed and cultivate a portion of a greenhouse that will be used to grow cucumbers. 

We continue to work on getting several projects approved through the Frankfurt office.  Still waiting to hear on the 120 hospital bed project in eastern Slovakia.  Also, we are working with  Autisti Prešov, a school for children with Autism.  We are hoping to provide some much needed equipment for their relaxing room,  library and after-school clubhouse. We have been so impressed with the number of schools we have visited here in Slovakia that are just for children with disabilities or who may be disadvantaged.  Class size in these schools is around 4-6 students to 2 teachers, so each student receives a lot of one on one attention.  School projects are some of our favorite projects to do.

Transfers are coming next week.  Not sure who will go and who will stay.  Darn, it's sure hard to say goodbye to these wonderful young missionaries.  Funny how attached we get in such a short period of time.  We love them all!

Hope you have a wonderful week.  We love and miss you!