November 17, 2006

KiM Info Newsletter 17-11-06

Appeal of the Decani Monastery Relief Fund

Harsh Kosovo Winter months with no heat or electricity for many Serbs

Our great Christian love and warmth is needed at this hour....

Decani Monastery Relief Fund USA

Very Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes, President

November 2006

Boise, Idaho

USA

Dear Friends in Christ our Lord,

May the great peace and love of our Lord God always be with you! Now that it's November, the weather in Kosovo/Metohija is becoming severe, especially at night, and many people are freezing and without electricity.

We in America really do not know how well off we really are! Thanksgiving for us all is going to be full of wonderful family get togethers, hot delicious food, and warm rooms to eat it in.

However this is not going to be the situation in Kosovo/Metohija, as thousands upon thousands of Serbians and Albanians are going to be without proper heat, and food, simply because they cannot afford to pay for the exorbitant prices charged in this region for electricity and firewood.

Let me please give you the following information about this matter: all Serbian areas south of the Ibar river in Kosovo/Metohija, have been facing power cuts, on average 20 hours per day. The situation tends to grow into a humanitarian catastrophe, because it has already snowed and Celsius temperatures have gone below zero (freezing).

The price of chopped wood for heating has jumped from 27 euros to 45 euros. In regards to the electricity 900-Watt power aggregates, instead of 50 euros, now cost 70 euros.

The matter is that we are speaking about the following areas in great desperation for heat and electricity also in the central part of Kosovo in Gracanica; into he village of Dobrotin, Gusterica, Livadje and Lepina in the Lipljan municipality; in Kosvsko Pomoravje; and in Stpce.

Many Serbian families cannot afford to obtain wood or to keep their electricity (keep in mind the average income for a Serbian worker is $50.00 American dollars per-week) going because the local Electric company will and has not honored customers who have not paid all electricity bills from 1999 until today, and it has been indicated by a local spokesman for KEC -Kosovo Energy Corporation, that Albanian household which have not paid their bills, have also been without electricity.

What then happens in this disaster is that local schools have to shorten their classes, and we have an abundance of illnesses among the children.

About 150 Serbs, of which 25 are kids, who live in refugee containers at the refugee camp in Gracanica, are literally freezing.

Local hospitals must watch their energy and save this energy for emergency cases only.

We have an increase of patients with stomach problems because of food poisoning.

We are as well hearing from the Red Cross families are depending on humanitarian aid and that more then 12,500 families are in the need of firewood and assistance to either obtain food or pay for their electric bill. The choice is grievous when it comes to the children, either help keep them warm or provide them with proper nourishment is the constant daily hardship! Sadly enough many people are only eating once a day, whereas many other people are only eating when the local Serbian Orthodox Diocesan Food Kitchen is open and has food available for the multiple number of people arriving daily. These number of people being assisted by the food kitchen is increasing almost daily.

In the meantime the Decani Monastery Relief Fund USA is promoting further assistance to the diocesan food kitchen in order to feed more people and to deliver this food to the poorest regions of Kosovo/Metohija.

The DMRF is also providing further assistance to those who need to pay back expenses for their electric bills, as well as helping with donations of $50.00 or more per-family to help them obtain fire wood to keep their homes warm during these harsh winters.

In addition the DMRF is also providing currently help for the young children to have winter boots and shoes, as well as winter clothing. This also for goes for the poorest of families including the elderly who are also being assisted.

The work of this fund is of course in great demand now, and so we turn to you beloved friends in our Lord, let us together help these suffering and struggling people in Kosovo/Metohija with our warm Christian love by supporting the DMRF.

We honestly quarantine you that your loving donations to the DMRF will be immediately transferred for the suffering Serbian families or anyone else who needs help in regards to fire wood, electric assistance and food for this terrible winter throughout this region.

Please with your warm Christian love send your donations on behafl of the DMRF to the following address, and your donation will be transferred from a local bank in Boise, Idaho directly to a bank account for the Decani Monastery in Belgrade, Serbia:

Decani Moanstery Relief Fund

C/O Very Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes

2618 West Bannock Street

Boise, Idaho 83702

USA

Thank you humbly and be assured of our Christ-loving prayers for you!

Peace be to you and your soul!

Your Friends in Christ our Lord,

+ Very Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes

President of the Decani Monastery Relief Fund USA

+ His Grace, Bishop Teodosije

First Vice President

+ Hieromonk (Father) Sava

Second Vice Presdient

Gioia-Maria Frahn

Treasurer

Lois Fletcher

Attorney at Law

Secretary

Douston Rose

CPA Advisor

Who prays for you!

father@serfes.org

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