SARA

Sharing America's Resources Abroad — SARA

A Christian ministry offering medical assistance to improve lives around the world

Please consider including SARA in your church's budget.
Work continues in Serbia, Hungary, Romania and El Salvador.
Gifts should be designated for any or all of these areas. Thank you.

See SARA in action on YouTube! • Roma settlement, Transcarpathia, Ukraine • Mental hospital in Transcarpathia, Ukraine • State orphanage for disabled children in Ukraine Related article from December 2000 United Church News • Dental Program in the Ukraine • Orthopedic Surgery Program • Children of the Mangroves • The Faces of Transcarpathia • SARA at Work All videos produced by Andrew J. Tonn www.andrewtonnphoto.com	View SARA photo galleries
	About SARA
	How SARA began
	SARA's Children
	SARA Stories
SARA News Children of the Mangroves In El Espino, El Salvador, children must dig for clams and oysters several hours a day to provide their families' only income. Photo Album: The Children of the Mangroves Read their story and see what SARA is doing to help.	SARA Needs You
	Notes from SARA
	SARA brochure (PDF)
	Steve Szilagyi publishes memoir


About Sharing America's Resources Abroad - SARA
SARA distributes medical supplies, equipment and expertise throughout the world.	Members of SARA delegation with ambulance given to the Regional Children's Hospital in Muncacs, Ukraine.
We seek used medical equipment from US hospitals and physicians that are replacing their older equipment with new equipment, and we work with other ecumenical ministries that rehabilitate it into usable equipment for developing nations. Some examples: Dialysis units Cardiac care equipment Incubators We have provided ambulances to foreign countries so that transportation is available in remote areas when people need to reach medical care. We send items such as aspirin, dental supplies, medical books and more to enable providers in foreign countries to help persons who cannot pay for those services. SARA assists physicians from all parts of the world to come to the United States to receive medical and surgical training to provide improved health care in hospitals in their country. SARA teaches preventive health care procedures to communities where disease is fostered by poor sanitary and health services. SARA believes that helping people to help themselves, and giving them a boost toward self-sufficiency, will make the world a healthier place. Groups of people from the Ohio Conference have traveled to Eastern Europe many times to observe SARA's work, deliver equipment and supplies, install medical equipment, train medical personnel and present cash donations to individuals and groups--promoting and furthering SARA's mission wherever possible. • • • • • • SARA is a non-profit organization, incorporated in Ohio. It is an ecumenical ministry affiliated with the Ohio Conference of the United Church of Christ. SARA is a ministry that works with other not-for-profit organizations who are seeking to serve others in the same way. SARA is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of representatives from various denominations and faith groups. We also have physicians, health care providers and administrators represented on the Board. Other medical mission programs are represented on the Board, and SARA works in close cooperation with them. SARA has no paid staff person. We are all volunteers. Our Executive Director and founder, Rev. Stephen Szilagyi, is a retired minister who gives full time to this program. We do pay for his and other volunteers' expenses when possible. Top

How SARA began — with one child and one doctor

A number of years ago Rev. Stephen Szilagyi was visiting in Hungary and saw a small child who needed surgery to correct scoliosis, curvature of the spine. The procedure was not available in Hungary but was done regularly in the U.S.

Rev. Szilagyi collected enough money to bring this young boy to the United States to receive the surgery he needed to straighten his back. But other children needed this operation, too.

Rev. Szilagyi realized that what was really needed was doctors trained in the U.S. to go back to Hungary to perform many operations. So he arranged for one physician to come the U.S. to be trained and for the equipment the surgeon would need to be sent to his hospital in Hungary.

This was the way SARA began. Helping one child and one physician.

Today, the procedure to correct scoliosis is being done regularly in Hungary, and hundreds of children stand straight and tall because of it.

Photo Album: SARA Ukrainian Orthopedic Surgery Program 2008

Since that beginning, more than $18 million of medical equipment and supplies have been sent to more than 10 countries.

During the past few years, dozens of physicians have received additional training in the United States through SARA.

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SARA Needs You
Financial support is needed to help SARA pay for the transportation costs of shipping supplies to various countries around the world.	Babies are being cared for in incubators provided by SARA.
To make a contribution, please contact: Conference Minister Ohio Conference United Church of Christ 6161 Busch Blvd, Ste 95 Columbus, OH 43229-2547 1-800-282-0740 614-885-0722 Fax (614) 885-8824 ohioucc@ocucc.org	For information about SARA's mission and medical supplies, please contact: SARA Rev. Stephen Szilagyi Executive Director 141 Cummins Avenue Conneaut, Ohio 44030 (440) 593-2021 Fax (440) 593-2141 szilsara@suite224.net
SARA is a not-for-profit corporation affiliated with the Ohio Conference of the United Church of Christ, a 501c3 corporation. All gifts are tax deductible.
SARA Officers, 2008-09
President: Dr. Fleming Fallon ffallon@bgnet.bgsu.edu Vice-President: Mr. Robert Chandler chandler9143@roadrunner.com Treasurer: Rev. Ralph Quellhorst ralphquell@aol.com	Executive Director: Rev. Stephen Szilagyi szilsara@suite224.net Secretary: Ms. Jean Szilagyi szilsara@suite224.net

Ohio Conference UCC, 6161 Busch Blvd., Suite 95, Columbus OH 43229 • 800-282-0740
• 614-885-0722 • ohioucc@ocucc.org

SARA News • Summer 2009

SARA Director Steve Szilagyi publishes memoir

From Trafford Publishing website (www.trafford.com):

About the Book

Reverend Stephen Szilagyi encounters a boy with a crooked back on a street corner in 1988 Communist-controlled Hungary. The events which follow inspire him to found the SARA ministry and to write this memoir: From Habakkuk to SARA.

Through his good works, not only one child but thousands have benefitted from the outpouring of medical equipment, supplies, and advanced medical techniques continuing to flow back to the region from which he escaped as a Hungarian refugee four decades earlier.

Intertwined with the story of SARA, Reverend Szilagyi’s life unfolds as he escapes from oppression in his homeland, becomes a pastor in America by a curious route, and serves congregations throughout the Midwest for over forty years.

He speaks of personal triumphs such as preaching at the White House in 1970 and accepting a medal from the President of Ukraine in 2008 for his humanitarian efforts. He also recounts heartaches and disappointments and, yes, miracles along the way. His memoir reflects not only an amazing life adventure but the loving presence of Christ in his ministry.

126 pages, paperback, $14.50

Copies are available in the Ohio Conference UCC office, 6161 Busch Blvd, Suite 95, Columbus OH 43229, 800-282-0740, ohioucc@ocucc.org.

Also available from the publisher at www.trafford.com and at www.amazon.com

About the Author

In 1952, Stephen Szilagyi escaped from Communist-controlled Eastern Europe, arriving in the United States as a penniless refugee. Ironically, he returned in 1953 as an American GI to the same area he left! Upon discharge he entered seminary and was ordained as a pastor in the United Church of Christ, serving congregations throughout the Midwest for over forty years. By curious circumstances, in 1988 he was moved to found the SARA ministry which flourishes today on an international scale. "Retired" at age 75, he resides with wife, Jean, in Conneaut, Ohio and continues annual SARA Mission trips unabated.

SARA News • Spring 2009

Update on Svetlana • April United Church News article

Russian teen who received scoliosis surgery in 2007 has had two more operations to complete her treatment, and is now a happy 20-year-old looking forward to a career in travel.

Trip to Serbia • May 31 – June 8

For details, please contact Rev. Attila Szemesi at (440) 225-4450 or amherstintegrity@centurytel.net. Visit www.amherstucc.org to see photos and video clips from previous SARA trips to Serbia.

Trip to Transcarpathia • May 28 – June 11

Alan and Elaine Mikesell will lead the group. Work project at the Good Samaritan Reformed Children’s Home... The group will visit the Children’s Hospitals, the mental health hospital and orphanages in the area. The cost will be less than $2,000 and includes one day in Budapest before return to U.S. Contact Alan Mikesell for information: anemikesell@hughes.net or 419-568-8164.

Second trip to Transcarpathia after June 15

This group will be led by Dr. Jim Waite. He has been filling a container to ship to the Dutch who will then transport the goods to Transcarpathia.

September trip to Ukraine

Medical teams will work at Good Samaritan Children’s Home, the orphanage at Ra't and other locations. Dates: September 4 - 22. Room for more team members. For information, contact Marty Siegel, martyot@hotmail.com or 419-483-5929 or Lana Sakash, sakash@bright.net, 419-927-2836.

Pediatrician to study in U.S.

Csaba Orosz will coordinate a visit by a pediatrician from Romania. She will go to the University of Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center in October and/or November. SARA will underwrite her expenses.

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Ohio Conference UCC, 6161 Busch Blvd., Suite 95, Columbus OH 43229 • 800-282-0740
• 614-885-0722 • ohioucc@ocucc.org

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