Marton Egressy

Marton is a Ukranian boy who was not growing properly.  When the nine-year-old visited Ohio in 2002, he was the size of an average child of five.  In his country, his condition – a lack of growth hormomes – could not be diagnosed. He could not get the needed treatment.  Both are available in Hungary, but his family cannot afford the cost of the medicine nor the transportation.

Marton Egressy with his father and Sue Quellhorst, founder of SARA's Children, at the Ohio Conference office in February 2002.

Enter SARA–and Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. She arranged for a hospital evaluation and for donation of Marton’s medicine. Through SARA’s resources, arrangements were made for Marton to travel to Hungary to receive his treatments. 

But it gets better. During a trip to Ukraine last April, SARA’s Director, Steve Szilagyi, arranged for Marton to be treated at the Medical School in Debrecen, Ukraine, much closer to the Egresseys’ home. Marton is going to Debrecen for regular treatments, with travel funds provided by SARA, and he is growing. 

Melania Rati

On a September 2002 SARA trip, Bob and Donna Overholt, members of Trinity UCC, Tiffin, met Melania Rati, a 14-year-old Ukraine girl who suffers from Hepatitis C. Because Melania’s family cannot afford her medication, the Overholts decided to provide the resources to purchase it. 

After initial difficulties, “We were able to get the medication...this spring, through Steve Szyligai’s perseverence,” said Bob Overholt. “But there was only enough medicine to last through August 20...so Steve contacted several sources and finally was able to get more, and it was delivered to Melania’s doctor in Ukraine.”

Greenhouses at Good Samaritan Orphanage

With donations from Ohio Conference churches, materials for several greenhouses  were purchased for the Good Samaritan Orphanage in Ukraine. Four or five are complete and will provide fresh produce for the children at Good Samaritan, with some to share. 

Some of the girls who live at the Good Samaritan Orphanage in Nagy Dobrony, Ukraine

Good Samaritan’s director has been mentioned with admiration by several SARA travelers for being able to provide for his residents as well as for others. “Meeting the director of the orphanage in Nagy Dobrony was a highlight of the trip for me,” wrote Ron Arledge, a first-time traveler on the June trip. “It appeared that he could work on anything and see success very quickly.” An on-going project is a bakery that will produce bread for the children and for the orphanage’s neighbors.

Hofer-Bethel Health Clinic, Vilok, Ukraine 

During the June trip to Ukraine, the Hofer-Bethel Health Clinic was dedicated, amid much rejoicing by local folks and SARA visitors  alike. The modern facility, which will provide medical care to the residents of 11 villages, began as an old warehouse, purchased with funds donated by Bethel UCC, Beloit. Its transformation was due in large part to donations from other Ohio Conference individuals and congregations.

“I am in awe at the transformation and the many people who will be treated as a result of this new ministry,” said new Ohio Conference minister David Schwab. He and his wife Bonnie were among the 12 people who went to Ukraine in June.

Gypsy Church in Gat, Ukraine

Thanks to funds provided by the Pioneer Larger Parish, EOA, a new church building was begun in April 2002 in the gypsy ghetto in Gat. The completed church was dedicated this June. “The dedication service was inspirational, and the church was packed,” recalled Dave Schwab. “How sad it is that minorities cannot worship with the mainline folks, but what a blessing it is for us that a new church was constructed for these children of God.”

Congregation members at the June dedication of newly-completed church in the gypsy community in Gat, Ukraine.  The service was attended by a group of SARA visitors.  Contributions from Ohio Conference individuals and churches made the construction of the church possible.

Gifts that Change Lives

Previous SARA travelers learned that children with hydrocephalus were going without surgery for the lack of a $70 shunt, a device that diverts fluid from the brain. Donations to SARA bought shunts given to the Regional Children’s Hospital in Mukachevo, Ukraine.

Dr. Omelian Trompak, a Ukranian surgeon who studied at Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron last November, received a set of pediatric neurosurgical instruments in September. They were presented by Rev. Bill Lyons, who organized a concert in Akron to raise the funds to buy them. 

Over $25,000 was presented to the Hungarian Reformed Church in June for a home for the aged in the Transcarpathia, Ukraine region. Additional funds were given during a trip made by another SARA group in September.

Each SARA traveler carries a suitcase filled with over-the-counter medicine as well as stuffed animals, toys, school supplies and grooming items. “A highlight of the mission was distributing some of the items we took over with us and witnessing some of the donations from SARA that were in daily use,” said Arledge.

“Wherever SARA has been, people have been touched. We could see it in the eyes and hands reaching out to greet us,” said Don Miller.