News From Ars Longa Szia May 2009
Szia
Greetings!
This is just a brief update on behalf of Janos Erdos and David Pandy-Szekeres, the originators of the Ars Longa Foundation. Many of you have met them over the past ten years during mission trips, semesters in Budapest, or in summer volunteer programs. Along with Robert Hunlich, David and Janos team up to offer consultation, fundraising, and encouragement to youth programs associated with the Reformed church in Hungary, the Ukraine, and Croatia.
A small group of supporters here in the US formed Ars Longa North America (ALNA), an affiliate non-profit, in 2006 to join forces with them. Although David, Janos, and Robert work in several different arenas, ALNA has chosen to focus its efforts on two, the Reformed high schools in Transcarpatia Ukraine and the Ars Longa community development effort in Baranya County, Hungary.
Here’s what’s been happening:
Baranya County News: A summer camp will again be held in the largely Roma village of Gilvanfa. We are amazed and blessed that after last year’s camp, the lord mayor invited our staff to visit his home and to come back in 2009. Ars Longa continues to work with local people and organizations to slowly build a mini-tourism network.
Ukraine School News: As many of you know, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, with amazing faith, the Reformed church launched three Christian High Schools. Since the first school opened in 1993, more than 1200 students have graduated and most have continued on to the university and to lives of service. With God’s grace, the schools continue, but because of the current economic situation, they are facing a severe financial crisis. Together, the Ars Longa Foundation and ALNA have raised nearly $40,000 to cover urgent operating costs. But we are also working on a long-term strategy to promote economic development in the region. More about this in the future.
This Summer: In June, four volunteers from West Michigan, the Lantingas and Hamstras, will be traveling to Transcarpathia, Ukraine and Baranya County, Hungary with an eye out for service opportunities. During the first week, they will assist in the English camp organized by Eric Hoeksema, our McBain, MI partner, at the Peterfalva Lyceum in Transcarpathia, Ukraine. During the second week, they will visit the Ars Longa summer camp in the village of Gilvanfa and pretend to be tourists visiting other Ars Longa projects in Baranya County. They will also be real tourists visiting Pecs, a beautiful old city in Southwestern Hungary soon to be the culture capital of the EU for 2010.
Volunteer: It’s not too late to sign up for helping in a summer camp in Hungary. Here are some details:
Summer Camp in Roma Village in Southern Hungary – July 2 through12, 2009. Be a presence of light in the village of Gilvanfa. Assist with games, activities, music, food preparation, and some conversational English. Build relationships with local children and with other international volunteers.
Conversational English Camp – July 13 through 17, 2009. Meet elementary and middle-school aged children and young people in Hungary who are eager to sharpen their English skills at a summer camp sponsored by the Reformed church in Erdokertes, Hungary. Stay with families, play games, meet other international volunteers.
Please keep the schools, the summer camps, and our Hungarian colleagues in your prayers. If you have questions, a story to share, some advice, or would like to get more involved, please contact us.
Aldas, bekesseg (blessings)! Beth Lantinga, Ars Longa North America
Email: arslongana@gmail.com; Telephone: 616.456.9719
p.s. If you decide to visit this summer, you might be invited to hoe Robi’s lavender field!
Ars Longa North America (ALNA) is a registered non-profit 501(c) (3) and is an affiliate of the Ars Longa Foundation, Hungary.
ALNA Board: Johannes Witte, Patricia Posthumus, Raymond Lantinga, Ryan Dokter
Ars Longa Foundation principals: Janos Erdos, Robert Hunlich, David Pandy-Szekeres
Related posts: