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See us on the net @ www.swindonlink.com The Link Magazine • October 1999 35
Mission Romania discovers hidden hospital
The Erabtttonat
A team from Swindon based charity Mission Ro- This year it contained even more medical equip-
mania returned at the end of August from another ment as well as the usual clothing, bedding, foot-
visit to the Transylvanian town of Targu Mures. wear, toys and stationery goods. 'cioot of
Their visit was timed to coincide with the arrival Team member Julian Leggett, manager of the
of an articulated truckload of donated aid from the West Swindon Shopping Centre, reports on the Reiki 'eating
people and businesses of Swindon. trip and appeals for help for the Year 2000 trip.
Learn this ancient
We again had a wonderful re- ences in attitudes that have devel- healing art
sponse to our requests for dona- oped since 1989 and the end of Reiki is safe, completely natural and
tions, so much so that we were communism. highly effective complementary
unable to send all of the clothing, Mission Romania has now therapy to all other forms of
bedding and shoes that people adopted the home / hospital as their health care. Reiki is not a religion
gave us. However, we are plan- main support project for next year or a belief system
ning to send another truck out be- and will be glad to receive dona- An important difference between
fore the end of October if we can tions of clothing, bedding, good Reiki and other energy therapies is
raise the necessary finance. quality footwear and especially fi- that once activated in your hands, you
It was really lovely to return to nancial assistance. have it for life and can treat yourself.
Targu Mures and meet all our old If everyone in the Swindon area
friends again. With the twelve gave us just fifty pence, it would
month interval since my last visit provide enough money for the
it was easy to see where advances hospital to function properly for
in living standards are occurring. two years and get some of the more
Having said that, it is also easy to urgent repairs carried out. This
see where they have not. Indeed, The Mission Romania team were given would make such a difference to
for a lot of the people we support, a special wheelchair and were delighted the quality of life for the patients
their standards have taken a back- to be able to help this double amputee and enable the staff to get on with
ward step. their real work. In the meantime
Courses available at all levels,
Quite a number of shops have pie who, at times, have to decide we continue to work with and sup- small informal groups, individual attention,
shut since last year and a lot of the between buying food or medicines port all of the other groups that we
comprehensive manual, certificated.
goods that are available are for- because they can't afford both. The have assisted since 1990. After course guidance and support.
eign imports. A much bigger profit donated aid that we deliver helps Mission Romania is now plan- Reiki Association Master
level for the shopkeepers, you see. to take some of the pressure off ning a Millennium collection. They F. J. Taylor, (01793) 849914
But for those on the lower end of them and hopefully improves their canbe contacted via Julian on Swin-
or 07775 932984 (mobile)
the social scale the prices are be- standards of living. don 872987 or 644119 by e-mail to Reiki treatments available £10 per
yond their reach. It was heartening for the team to [email protected] half-hour or £20 per fill hour
That is where we come in. We find that a couple of the charities www.mission-romania.org
are now working with over 25 self- have grown to the extent that we
help groups including orphanages, can no longer help them and we
churches, elderly folks homes and were able to advise them on the
charities and these are just the peo- next steps for their organisations
and where to look for further as- ce V V TxpM enc
A
Kosovo aid sistance. Visit the largest traditional pagoda
But the team found a home/
tenth trip hospital situated in an old castle Chinese Restaurant set in over two acres of
which houses 245 young mentally beautiful grounds overlooking Peatmoor Lagoon
disadvantaged patients, 95 women
and a small number of men. The Disco/Karaoke evenin g s * pecia of ff er

hospital has not received any fund- Friday I st, 8th, 15th & 29th October on Tiger Beer
ing for over 4 months and the staff Friday 5th & 26th November & Thai Beer.
have not been paid for at least three. Price 120 (£ 15 for Privilege Card Holders) Buy two,
Their dedication is such, though, * Includes a mouth watering three course meal % get one free
that they are still coming in to work on 22 OctobE
so that the people in their care do Special ., only.
not suffer.
Laszlo Pokorny, the Hospital Friday 22nd October
Director, stated that he now has a Friday 12th & 19th
system in place where his staff are
rotating through long holiday pe- ,. ur 'itime Ce
Loading the truck at the Bible Society
riods so that they can get a part- Menu A: 4 course meal £23.50 per person
in Westlea, from left, Sally Mitchell,
time job and salary to assist with Menu B: 3 course r erson
Neil Holton, Rev David Blandford
their lack of money from the hos-
Upper Stratton Baptist Church pital but they still keep coming Christ .
volunteers sent another truck of back to help out. 5 course mi
aid to Kosovo on 10 September. The electricity supply to the hos-
It was the tenth from Swindon, pital was cut whilst we were actu- Chinese cat
bringing the total to some 150 ally there. We were glad that we
• ,` "` ».. ate'
tonnes of clothing, bedding, toilet- were able to donate a sum of money
ries and food. At least one more immediately that would ensure
load is planned, as long as £3,750 that the electricity was recon-
can be raised to pay for the truck. nected. Pepperbox Hill, PeatmoorWes w^
Send donations to Upper Strat- There are still hundreds of places Telephone 01793 877888 Fax 01793 873883
ton Baptist Church, Green Road, like this all over Romania where Prices may be subject to 10% service charge
Stratton, Swindon or call 538851. the staff just won't let go and it
Latest information can be found makes you feel very humble at Sunday lunch: £10 only
at www.usbc.freeserve.co.uk ....... times. It is one of the big differ-