Reflections
on the trip May-June 2010
Without
any shadow of doubt this has been a “good” visit and the difficulties we had at
the beginning have been forgotten about. So I asked Phil to select a few
outstanding highs and lows or disappointments, challenges and rewards and I
have done the same:
Probably
one of the most rewarding things about this trip has been the renewed contact
with Gonghyi or Doris as she now calls herself and
spending time at Agape Foundation. We are thrilled at the change in Doris at
her new confidence and ability to relate and to show and accept affection. We
are impressed with what Corey, Diana and all the Agape team are doing in
offering love, employment, education, life skills to orphans and accommodation
to 7 or 8 young women.
But
I have lost count of how times different people expressed their great anxiety
about the government and the Romanian economy. Of huge concern are the cuts
that have come into effect on the first day of this month – the 25% reduction in
salaries of all state employees, the resulting discontent and strikes that
began immediately. Many people believe the government is corrupt and that the
future looks really very grim and serious – the word “revolution” and a
comparison with Greece were mentioned by a number of people.
Of
deep deep concern to us is the 15% cut in all
pensions – this affects the elderly and the medical pensioners; they are the
most vulnerable and now they have even less. If they could not manage before
how can they hope to manage now on only 85% with prices continuing to rise. It makes me feel that the work of Mustard Seed Jersey
is even more vital now in our sponsorship programmes. But knowing there are so
many more in dire need is quite over-whelming as I realise most of the new
needy pensioners we saw this time cannot be sponsored unless there is a
substantial increase in the number of sponsors through the Adopt a Granny
scheme.
To
me a high–light of the trip but also a challenge was in how the young women earning
about £100 a month (the minimum wage) in the sponsored apartment simply could
not survive without help for the rent and then needed a little help with food,
as well as the more luxurious things like floor covering without holes. I am
sure I will long continue to remember the joy in Maria’s eyes over a tube of
toothpaste and a tin of tuna fish.
For
me another challenge was the time spent at the government department office for
repatriating victims of people trafficking – the shock at the lack of resources
this government department had – that they had no funding to buy even paper and
toner was a shock. Alongside of that was the obvious compassion and dedication
of the small team there.
As
always visiting those in deep poverty is challenging. Probably the visit I
found the most difficult and moving was the first one with FI to the diabetic
bed-bound widow who is cared for by her son-in-law since his wife died 4 years
ago. It is always hard to be there observing the misery and unable to offer
much help especially as we had no waiting list of sponsors, but as this woman
was diabetic it touched a chord in me as I had cared for my own mother who was
diabetic.
Then
on to Phil and his thoughts: Starting with the “lows” Phil highlighted how very
difficult he had found those visits to pensioners with FI – in sight of so much
misery you can feel an intruder and positively embarrassed, and although the
food parcels we took helped it is not the long-term answer to the problem.
Phil
also noticed a couple of instances where he was disappointed that a very few
things had not been used to their potential – these are few and far between but
none the less disappointing in view of the effort involved in Jersey in
loading, etc.
Phil
also selected the morning spent at the office of the government agency for
repatriating victims of people trafficking as being one of the most challenging
but rewarding to know what we in Jersey are doing is making a small difference.
Phil
had also been really encouraged by the number of people who told us they had
heard us on the Oradea radio. In December Alex had arranged an interview for us
and obviously a number of people had heard it.
For
Phil the other high-lights were the renewal of relationships with individuals
and organisations we had not had contact with recently, especially Thursday’s
visit to Nicu Gal and the People to People foundation
and Friday’s visit to Caminul Felix Farm, the Noble
House Hotel and the workshop they run. The progress and change for the good is
really incredible at Caminul Felix, especially on the
farm.
A
number of the orphans who have been to Jersey call Phil Tata or Dad and me Mama
– to both of us it was and is a HUGE joy to see the spontaneous welcome in
their eyes and their excitement and delight to see us again. It is great for us
to see how they have matured and progressed. Our “Romanian daughters” are very
special to us and seeing them is always a delight.
Yes
Phil and I agree it has been a good trip – as always the welcome and the love of
social workers and beneficiaries alike are so very special and make us feel we
are privileged to be here representing Mustard Seed Jersey. Yes it has been
worth the preparation, the drive down and the drive back, the expense, the
time. We are sad to leave and will look forward to our next trip in December,
God willing.