LETTER FROM LIAM AYE-MAUNG
TO CLAIM A THREE-WEEK TRIP TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY AS A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE WOULD USUALLY BE A VERY BOLD OR EXAGGERATED STATEMENT. BUT DURING MY STAY IN BUCHAREST I HAVE SEEN SUCH INSPIRATIONAL WORK BEING DONE BY THE LAWSIDE ROMANIA PROJECT THAT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO LEAVE UNAFFECTED BY THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE POSSIBILITIES REALISED BY THE TEAM. MUCH OF MY TIME WAS SPENT IN ONE OF THE PLAYROOMS SET UP BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY IN THE BUDIMEX HOSPITAL. DESPITE THE SAD SURROUNDINGS, THESE ROOMS REMAIN AN OASIS OF HAPPINESS, PROVIDING FUN FOR THE CHILDREN AND A “BREAK” FOR THE PARENTS. WHILE THEY MAY HAVE ENTERED FEELING UNWELL AND IN PAIN, ALL ILLNESS WAS SOON FORGOTTEN AND REPLACED BY
THE FUN OF RAIL-TRACK SETS AND BUILDING BLOCKS. I WAS AMAZED TO DISCOVER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HELPED BY THE VARIOUS ARMS OF THE PROJECT. DESPITE THE NEVER-ENDING DEMAND FOR SISTERS 'SERVICES WITHIN THE HOSPITAL, HELP IS ALSO FOUND FOR ABANDONED CHILDREN IN “NAZARETH” (A
HOME FOUNDED BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY). TRIPS ARE MADE TO OUTLYING AREAS WHERE HOUSES HAVE BEEN BOUGHT FOR VERY POOR FAMILIES AND FOOD IS PROVIDED FOR OTHERS. THE ELDERLY PEOPLE IN POOR CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE CITY ARE VISITED BY “MEALS ON WHEELS” AND, RECENTLY, HELP IS BEING PROVIDED AT A LOCAL ORPHANAGE.
I CAME TO ROMANIA TO GIVE MY TIME TO THE PROJECT AND YET, IT IS I WHO HAVE COME AWAY GAINING THE MOST AFTER RECEIVING SUCH INSPIRATION THROUGH SEEING THE DIFFERENCES WE CAN MAKE AND THE JOY WE CAN BRING TO OTHERS. THE CHURCH YOUTH HERE HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY THE PROJECT AND ARE NOW INVOLVED IN VISITATION OF THE ELDERLY. EVEN WHILE STUDYING FOR SIXTH-FORM OR UNIVERSITY EXAMS, THEY FIND THE TIME TO MAKE THAT WEEKLY VISIT. IT WAS GOOD TO MEET THIS ENTHUSIASTIC GROUP AND TO KNOW OF THE HAPPINESS THEY BRING TO THE ELDERLY PEOPLE WHOM THEY VISIT.
THERE IS MUCH STILL TO BE DONE BUT SISTERS OF MERCY AND ASSOCIATES WILL KEEP THE BEACON ALIGHT!
LIAM AYE-MAUNG,
MEDICAL STUDENT, EDINBURGH
TO CLAIM A THREE-WEEK TRIP TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY AS A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE WOULD USUALLY BE A VERY BOLD OR EXAGGERATED STATEMENT. BUT DURING MY STAY IN BUCHAREST I HAVE SEEN SUCH INSPIRATIONAL WORK BEING DONE BY THE LAWSIDE ROMANIA PROJECT THAT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO LEAVE UNAFFECTED BY THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE POSSIBILITIES REALISED BY THE TEAM. MUCH OF MY TIME WAS SPENT IN ONE OF THE PLAYROOMS SET UP BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY IN THE BUDIMEX HOSPITAL. DESPITE THE SAD SURROUNDINGS, THESE ROOMS REMAIN AN OASIS OF HAPPINESS, PROVIDING FUN FOR THE CHILDREN AND A “BREAK” FOR THE PARENTS. WHILE THEY MAY HAVE ENTERED FEELING UNWELL AND IN PAIN, ALL ILLNESS WAS SOON FORGOTTEN AND REPLACED BY
THE FUN OF RAIL-TRACK SETS AND BUILDING BLOCKS. I WAS AMAZED TO DISCOVER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HELPED BY THE VARIOUS ARMS OF THE PROJECT. DESPITE THE NEVER-ENDING DEMAND FOR SISTERS 'SERVICES WITHIN THE HOSPITAL, HELP IS ALSO FOUND FOR ABANDONED CHILDREN IN “NAZARETH” (A
HOME FOUNDED BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY). TRIPS ARE MADE TO OUTLYING AREAS WHERE HOUSES HAVE BEEN BOUGHT FOR VERY POOR FAMILIES AND FOOD IS PROVIDED FOR OTHERS. THE ELDERLY PEOPLE IN POOR CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE CITY ARE VISITED BY “MEALS ON WHEELS” AND, RECENTLY, HELP IS BEING PROVIDED AT A LOCAL ORPHANAGE.
I CAME TO ROMANIA TO GIVE MY TIME TO THE PROJECT AND YET, IT IS I WHO HAVE COME AWAY GAINING THE MOST AFTER RECEIVING SUCH INSPIRATION THROUGH SEEING THE DIFFERENCES WE CAN MAKE AND THE JOY WE CAN BRING TO OTHERS. THE CHURCH YOUTH HERE HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY THE PROJECT AND ARE NOW INVOLVED IN VISITATION OF THE ELDERLY. EVEN WHILE STUDYING FOR SIXTH-FORM OR UNIVERSITY EXAMS, THEY FIND THE TIME TO MAKE THAT WEEKLY VISIT. IT WAS GOOD TO MEET THIS ENTHUSIASTIC GROUP AND TO KNOW OF THE HAPPINESS THEY BRING TO THE ELDERLY PEOPLE WHOM THEY VISIT.
THERE IS MUCH STILL TO BE DONE BUT SISTERS OF MERCY AND ASSOCIATES WILL KEEP THE BEACON ALIGHT!
LIAM AYE-MAUNG,
MEDICAL STUDENT, EDINBURGH