Week 65 of our 78-week humanitarian mission to Slovakia and Poland is in the books.

“That's what I consider true generosity: You give your all, and yet you always feel as if it costs you nothing. - Simone de Beauvoir.

Slovakia fact of the week . . . On November 1st people throughout Slovakia observe All Saints' Day – a day on which people gather in churches and cemeteries to pray for relatives who have passed away. Slovak families travel across the country to visit cemeteries where their deceased family members are located. Cemeteries overflow with flowers and thousands and thousands of candles are lit and placed on the graves. Families take time to meet together and take care of their family members' gravesites. As some families must travel to multiple cemeteries across large areas of Slovakia, this sacred holiday lasts for several days. We felt a great sense of reverence as we walked through the cemetery.

These photos were taken in the Presov Cemetery.

Project updates for the week . . . . .

Project #1: Oaza is a large homeless shelter which currently provides housing and other life essentials for 350 people, including families. As we structure a project to renovate the bathrooms and kitchen in a building for disabled homeless seniors, the local branch of our church gathered to provide service. We cut firewood in preparation for the winter months and worked in their greenhouses.

I made a new young friend named Mario. Mario and his entire Roma family, who live at Oaza, asked if they could work for us. I hired the entire family - and even the children joined in and everyone worked really hard. We have been told that the Roma do not want to work. Although there are members of any group that may not want to work, over the past 14 months we have found many Roma more than willing and able to do so. We have been asked over and over again by Roma men if we knew of job opportunities. Prejudice continues to harm the Roma people.

Project #2: The Koala Family Maternity Center has assisted pregnant women for 17 years. They were the forerunners in implementing a comprehensive program to assist women pre and post-natal in Poland.

At the outset of the war in Ukraine, pregnant women were forced to flee with little more than a small suitcase. They often had other small children with them and no means of support. Their husbands remained in Ukraine as part of the military. In addition to the traditional emotions and uncertainty related to pregnancy, being a war refugee and dealing with the associated trauma was a terrible burden for these women.

Immediately after the start of the war Koala established a non-profit organization to assist pregnant refugees with immigration paperwork, housing, food and hygiene needs, extensive pre and post-natal education and care, midwives to assist with the birth, and psychiatric counseling. They have so far assisted more than 1,200 women with an additional 30 women needing their support of Koala each month.

LDSC will provide funds for 1) birth-bags and after-delivery bags for mother and her newborn baby, 2) funds to support pre and post-natal, birthing, lactation, and infant care classes, 3) assimilation Polish language classes, and 4) trauma counseling sessions.

Kelly's sister and her husband, Sandie and Brad, paid us a visit on their trip to Europe. It was so nice to see familiar faces not over Messenger video. :) We had a few great days together.

Winter is approaching so we took the opportunity to gather our six local missionaries and hike in the Tatra Mountains. Hiking is a very popular activity in Slovakia, and you can see why.

We pray you are well and that you will have a wonderful week.