Our partnership with the small Transylvanian Unitarian village, Gyepes, Romania, is engaging and enriching. They are our friends and co-religionists, and we have formed a strong bond with them over the 30+ years of our relationship. Our Partner Church Committee works to maintain a close relationship with our partners in Gyepes. We want everyone at First U to feel part of this amazing opportunity!
Kaláka
In the rural villages of Transylvania, small family farms struggle as young people leave in search of work. Hope comes in the form of volunteer efforts to revitalize folk traditions, renovate community spaces–and re-engage the next generation. This kind of volunteer effort is known in Transylvanian as a “kaláka.” We raise funds to support kaláka in Gyepes as they may request.
Education Sponsorships
Annually, we invite you to sponsor the education of a child or teen in Gyepes during Partner Church Sunday held in the Fall.
Pilgrimage/Mission Trips to Transylvania
Join us on a life-transforming journey to Transylvania, where we engage in cultural exchange, work with our partners, and offer summer camp sessions for children and youth. Both our senior youth group and adult members have made pilgrimages to Romania. If you can’t attend, you can still support our senior youth group in attending. Usually these pilgrimages occur once every three years, with the last partnership visit in 2019.
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