We have just got back from an exhausting, at times challenging but also
rewarding day with Nelu and Cristina of FI (Fundatia Increderea). We visited 12
different families or individuals on our sponsorship programme, and you will be
relieved to hear I am not going to write about each one of them! but just pick out a few points from the visits that struck
me the most, in the hopes of giving you an impression and insight into the day:
Our first visit was to a
married couple who we have visited a few times before – they were delighted to
see us and reminded us of our previous visit when we had distributed scissors
and other confiscated sharp items (confiscated by airport security in Jersey
but much valued in Romania among the poorest of the poor). This couple’s
situation has deteriorated as he has cataracts needing surgery and no money to
pay for the operation; her sight too has deteriorated severely and recently she
fell over something she could not see and broke both her wrists which are now
quite misshapen. Nelu was uncertain how much the cost of cataract surgery would
be but promised to find out for us. When she opened her box packed by the
sponsor she wept with joy as she worked out what the various items were. She
said she prayed for the sponsor and hoped the sponsor prayed for her (knowing
the sponsor I said I was sure the sponsor did).
The next pensioner was
also a married couple and she was so excited when we
arrived telling us she had specifically prayed she would have visitors today –
she is stuck in the apartment as her husband is bed-ridden and needs constant
care. She chided Nelu and Cristina for not telling her we were coming saying if
she had known she would have done some baking – last time she gave us things
very similar to Jersey wonders and just as delicious. Again we saw the huge
excitement at being able to have a box to open and she asked if we would think
her very rude if she opened the box immediately instead of chatting anymore.
At the next pensioner’s
we rejoiced to see the frail old lady’s joy on finding a tin of chocolates
inside the box the sponsor had packed her, she beamed from ear to ear! I was
thankful the confectionery was in a sealed tin as had it been a packet that
would have smelt of all the soap etc in the box. Nelu explained that he wanted
to help her if funds became available to have a shower in a cupboard where she
now has a toilet – to have a shower as well would really improve the quality of
life for the old woman and her grandchildren for whom she cares. Phil and Nelu
spent ages discussing the logistics of where to put the shower if it became
possible financially.
At the next pensioner’s
we saw the difference a lick of paint can make! This lonely old woman had been
very down and appeared depressed when we visited her in December. The young
people from the youth club had painted her walls, cupboards, etc. and the
change was incredible – not in the brightness of the room but in the attitude
of the woman who is now far more positive. Again Nelu wanted to add a shower
once again into the dark cupboard where a curtain screened the toilet, only if
funds become available.
We then went to a very
poor courtyard in a poor area of town where every family was clearly in need,
but Nelu had selected two most in need of help. One was incredibly FAT
absolutely huge – I felt so sorry for her. She needed help with the quantity of
medication she had to take for glandular problems, diabetes and other problems.
The other sponsored pensioners in the same yard were a married couple – the
wife was paraylsed and sat in the courtyard with the
others around her and the man showed us his treasured possession of a bicycle –
that was a sight to behold, he had scavenged parts from at least 4 different
bikes – the front tyre was off a mountain bike, the back tyre off a racing
bike, the saddle looked the most uncomfortable I have ever seen and was covered
with a woolly hat. But he was proud of it and it gave him independence. (Much
as we in Mustard Seed loathe sending aid items to Romania that is not in good
condition after seeing that bike and seeing the value of it to that man I feel we
must stop being so fussy with things like bikes as what we throw out would
bring joy and help to someone here).
Then came our saddest
visit to an elderly man who was the very first client assisted by FI. Now years
later when he realised he had a short time left to live (he has terminal lung
cancer) he contacted them, introduced himself as it is now different staff, and
asked for friendship not financial support. He is assisted daily by a new hospice
charity who change his dressings each day and do all
they can to help him. He is completely alone – his only child left over 15
years ago and he has heard no more of her and he has no family or even close friends at all. I would suspect the reason the
daughter left was because of his alcohol abuse, but he has come out of that,
though sadly cannot trace his daughter. It is clear he has only a few weeks,
maybe months, to live and he said he wonders what will happen at the end and he
wishes there would be someone to bury him. He lives in a rented room which he
shares with a stranger.
After a wonderful lunch
with Cristina’s mother we continued visiting and again we heard of a vulnerable
illiterate widow being cheated by a business man – who got her to sign papers
agreeing to his building which almost imprisons her in her tiny little ramshackle
home. We continued distributing boxes packed by sponsors and saw one little
woman so thrilled with the washing powder
that she rushed to embrace us all in her excitement, we saw one very
frail lady who kept apologising for her poor health and the fact that she was
shaking as she proudly showed the picture the sponsor had included. We met yet
another facing blindness because of lack of money for cataract surgery –
looking at us hopefully. To another we delivered a wheelchair for which he was
really grateful – that was a very rewarding visit (probably the most rewarding
of the day) as we have known this family for years and he has a very good
wordless relationship with Phil, it was lovely to see his eyes light up when he
saw Phil and he almost jumped out of his broken old wheelchair in joy to greet
him.
After that we were exhausted, not just from the emotional strain or the
traumas of trying to follow Nelu in his car round in a strange city (we only
lost him twice today which was pretty good I reckon) but the heat. Someone said
it was 28 degrees and quite “close”. Now back at Cefa
it became very windy and then began raining but sadly it has not continued as
the rain is desperately needed here.