A wine taster. In some ways it was Laci’s dream job. Born into an ethnic-Hungarian community within Romania, he had worked his way up from humble beginnings.

His father had been an alcoholic, and died young. Family relationships fell apart but Laci went his own way and built a life for himself, starting as a kitchen porter and going on to be a chef, working in some smart restaurants and managing other people.

Laci’s success was also his downfall. His income let him dabble in drugs but alcohol was his biggest problem. Relationships came and went, often involving drugs. One resulted in the birth of his daughter. Since then, cultivating a relationship with her has been of the greatest importance to him.

As alcoholism took over, Laci lost his job and his role as father was weakened. He was almost alone but three friends stood by him and urged him to enrol for the therapy offered by the Bonus Pastor Foundation at Ozd, Transylvania.

“Laci joined us in January and signed up to stay for six months,” says BPF worker Csilla Henter. “With his work experience, tidiness and punctuality were natural to him but it was difficult for him to accept that he wasn’t the boss. Once he did, his therapy began in earnest. He is a dynamic, lively person. For him, introspection and self-examination were the real challenge.”

A milestone in Laci’s recovery was when he met his daughter again, and also her mother with whom he has a difficult relationship. “He proved that it’s possible for him to stay sober in a stressful situation,” Csilla observes. “Drinking is never the solution.”

Working in a kitchen again, this time in BPF’s therapy centre at Ozd, was another boost to his recovery. Csilla says: “He made good friendships with other participants in the course and still keeps in touch with them. In the kitchen he became open to the things of God.”

Having successfully completed the course, Laci is now working abroad but keeps in touch with the new friends who accompanied him on his journey to recovery during their time together. He is also rebuilding his relationship with his daughter who is learning to trust him. Csilla says: “Laci is very grateful for his changed and renewed life.”