Refugee Project Completed With a Song

Refugee project completed with a song.

In September 2017, we visited a refugee camp in a remote part of Czech Republic. The facility was heavily guarded and surrounded with tall fences and concertina wire.

We learned 50-60 men were detained inside for months awaiting deportation to their countries.

A request was received to provide men's clothing, hygiene kits, and some games for a refugee camp. A guitar was mentioned only as a luxury item. 

We arrived in Plzen, Czech and located some volunteers to help us assemble hygiene kits with soap, toothbrushes, shampoo, razor, and towel all packed into a mesh bag.

The same day we found discount stores to purchase shoes, shirts, jackets, pants, underwear, and socks. 

At the refugee camp, the guards checked our passports and pinned a visitor badge on us. Two missionaries had volunteered to assist us with translating with the staff. We were escorted inside to a large room where the refugees were gathered.

The refugees began getting excited as we began handing out hygiene kits and candy. As a line formed we greeted and shook hands with men from Russia, Ukraine, Angola, Tunisia, Vietnam, China, and many other countries of the world. Men were responding to us in their foreign language, with a smile on their faces. Some spoke English to us and thanked us. 

We pulled out the guitar we brought, and immediately some were drawn to pick it up and play. This man guided the hand of another to play a few chords. One man told us he had written a song about his suffering and sorrows being locked up and we asked him to play it.

As he played this heartfelt song the other men silently listened.

One man from Africa approached us stating he was so depressed as his family is far away, and he has no idea when he will be allowed to leave. He asked which church we represented and stated, “Thank you for coming-we really appreciate these things”, his time locked up has been hard to endure.

This project has opened our eyes to the plight of so many refugees throughout the world isolated, lonely, and feeling lost.

So grateful to be the Lord’s hands in helping those locked up in prisons.

One day the phone rang and we couldn't have expect this to happen

One day the phone rang and we couldn't have expect this to happen.

After receiving three calls from a persistent young man speaking in Slovak, we finally had a translator call him back. The caller was employed at a Catholic Charity run disability center, stating they needed wheelchairs as the ones they have are broken down from many years of use. He said he remembered years ago LDS Charities helped people with wheelchairs in the past so he called us.

We set up a meeting with the director who was surprised by our offer to help and he said his wheelchairs have been fixed so many times that they are beyond repair. The wheelchairs were used to transport dozens of people around inside the facility such to the dining room, bathroom, TV room, or activity rooms. When asked if they needed anything else. He was hesitant to say, but explained they desperately needed hospital beds that can be lifted and lowered in various positions to help with bedridden clients. The director stated it was hard to believe we would be willing to help him and we wanted nothing in return.

Listening to him talk about the clients, we asked why he dedicates his life to helping others? He shared that he and his wife have a disabled daughter, from birth, who miraculously improved and is currently enrolled in college.

The building is an old monastery built in the 17th century, where priests resided years ago.

During our tour, he repeated several times "we are not rich, we don't have much" and apologized for the mix matched and worn out furnishing found all around his facility. Although, the facility is well organized, the bathrooms and kitchens could use many upgrades. The staff and clients make due with what they have. It shows that he takes great care, compassion, and selfless sacrifices for his clients. He considers them first before his own desires.

We scheduled a returned trip to Dom Charitas Charity House for final photos of the donated wheelchairs and beds. To our surprise, we were guests of honor for an impromptu closing ceremony.

The local kindergarten children sang, danced, and recited poems. One teacher played an accordion. After they preformed they presented the audience and us a wrapped hand made gift. 

The director announced our presence and spoke highly of the donations from LDS Charities. His heart was full of gratitude for our kindness and gift. He shared how he could not adequately express thanks for our generosity. Later, the recipients of the wheelchairs were announced.

Oh my, I couldn't have seen it coming when an elderly women was overcome with joy. Tears filled her eyes and ran down her face as she said "thank you" in English, over and over, while Greg and I helped her from the chair into her new wheelchair.

It is these kind of moments, when you know you are serving the Lord and answering the prayers of so many. 

This woman was thankful for the new bed that could recline and prop her up to assist her getting out of bed.

Our prophet, Thomas S. Monson, has said, "I know of no experience more sweet or feelings more precious than to heed a prompting, only to discover that the Lord has answered another's prayer through you."

Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice

If you knew there was a prophet on the earth, would you want to know what he has to say?

We had that opportunity today to hear a prophet's counsel. We have "General Conference" twice a year, which is a gathering of church members to hear the word of God through His prophets.

These talks are broadcast worldwide in over 90 languages, and held biannually from Salt Lake City, Utah. Our prophet, Thomas S. Monson, is also known as the president of the church and has two counselors. The members of the Quorum of the Twelve are know as apostles.

We know that God spoke to Adam and Eve, Moses, Noah, Jeremiah, Abraham, Issac, Isaiah, and many others. When Jesus organized His church on the earth, He selected twelve apostles to lead the church. Today, we need to hear God's word as much as in the past if not more today. We believe He has restored His church back upon the earth in these last days in preparation for His second coming. That restoration includes Prophets and Apostles.

Here in Slovakia, we had to wait a few days to hear this conference in "Slovak". There is a period of time allotted for translation from English to Slovak, and many other languages as well. For example, just in Europe these talks are translated into German, French, Italian, Spanish, Czech, Romanian, Polish, Dutch, Russian, Ukraine, Swedish, Danish, and many others.

For me, General Conference is a time to be uplifted and edified. Like plugging into a charger when the battery is low. The truth of their words stirs my soul and encourages me to look forward to a bright future of hope.

Here are some highlights of what I heard, that are important to me...

Apostle D. Todd Christofferson, stated, "If we yearn to dwell in Christ and have Him dwell in us, then holiness is what we seek, both body and spirit. We seek it in the temple, whereon is inscribed "Holiness to the Lord." We seek it in our marriages, families, and homes. We seek it each week as we delight in the Lord's holy day. We seek it even in the details of daily living: our speech, our dress, our thoughts."

Apostle Jeffery R. Holland, declared, "Every one of us aspires to a more Christlike life than we often succeed in living. If we admit that honestly and are trying to improve, we are not hypocrites; we are human. May we refuse to let our own mortal follies, and the inevitable shortcomings of even the best men and women around us, make us cynical about the truths of the gospel, the truthfulness of the Church, our hope for the future, or the possibility of godliness. If we persevere, then somewhere in eternity our refinement will be finished and complete."

Steven W. Owen, said, "Too often we think of repentance as something miserable and depressing. But God's plan is the plan of happiness, not the plan of misery! Repentance is uplifting and ennobling. It's sin that brings unhappiness. Repentance is our escape route."

The LDS church is led by living prophets and apostles. They strive to help all mankind to come unto Christ. They speak plainly and boldly declaring truth and doctrine. I thank God for these faithful men and women who declare poignantly the truths that offer encouragement and hope for a better future. I feel their love and concern for me and my family. When I follow their counsel, I feel my faith strengthened, my purpose defined, love for my fellowmen, hope for a greater future, and increased healing through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

If you are interested to hear the words of prophets, you can visit LDS.org and look for "General Conference."

Hope for a New Life

During the past months, we have been praying to find an organization that would involve the three S's, which are self-reliance, service, and sustainability.

Our leaders have emphasized these traits as the best for LDS Charity humanitarian projects. Providing LDS Charity funds is best when used to help individuals to help themselves. I felt impressed to locate an organization outside of Košice, so one day in July, we drove down a long dirt road to a homeless shelter. Once we arrived, we could not find anyone who spoke English and the director was not there so we left a business card. We tried calling the organization without success.

Several weeks later, we had received a call from the director, and through a interpreter he requested a meeting with us. We were able to meet with the director and his assistant at this location with the motto, "Hope for a New Life."

During our meeting. we were so impressed with his hope in every person's life to become their best, to find their purpose in life. During a tour of the facility, he told us he believes everyone needs a responsibility, and he tries to provide a variety of work opportunities to have every homeless person doing something.
The shelter currently has about 250 occupants, but during the winter it increases up to 350+ persons. 

The shelter is a two-story building with several room, each having 4-5 beds per room. There are shared bathroom facilities on each floor. We observed a kitchen, dining room, and laundry facilities with a lot of construction going on.

A partial third floor was being added and will have an additional eight rooms for more residents. We observed the additions was "roughed" with plumbing, electricity, and windows.

There were no doors, bathroom fixtures, flooring, or painted walls or stairways. It was currently under construction. Some of the homeless were involved in the construction.

An old large airplane hangar was located on a side lot. Inside the open bays were about 100 mismatched bed including a few sofas sitting on concrete. This is where the homeless people who do not want to work will sleep and stay.

A wood burning stove would require someone to chop wood to keep warm all winter long. One man was bedridden with damaged feet due to frostbite last winter when he was homeless out in the freezing cold. He was in severe pain.
Another section of land had several container made into houses.

Each metal box was the size of a semi-truck box that had been painted. A door and window were cut into the sides, and inside was carpeted with walls and kitchen. We walked inside one where a Roma mother and two kids were living grateful to have a place to stay. A hose connected from a water well faucet provided water until freezing temperatures arrive.
On site, we observed several buildings containing farm animals including cows, goats, sheep, mules, and chickens. These were small operations but still required a lot of work.

For example, the chicken coup had at least 25 chickens which lay eggs and need to be feed, water, and cared for. A small herd of a dozen dairy cows also required a lot of work every day to feed, water, and milk them.

The herds of goats and sheep also require manpower to keep them fed, water, and cared for. We even saw a kennel of several stray dogs and a couple of homeless men will need to care for the dogs.

In a rear lot we observed a couple homeless men chopping logs into firewood. This was being done with axes and required a lot of work but we saw long stacks of already chopped firewood. This wood can be used by the shelter to fuel the wood burning stoves throughout the facility.

There were a dozen old dilapidated greenhouses where crops are grown. We saw several women in the gardens tending to the plants and keeping them watered. They produce many vegetables for the shelter to use as well as sell in nearby outdoor markets. 

We feel strongly that the director of this facility helps people help themselves. He has a reputation to give "hope for a new life." We are looking into helping him with some of the new construction material costs.