24
communicable disease. We visited them last
night, travelling in a warm car the journey
that they make on foot or taking illegal bus
rides in sub-zero temperatures. Their ?home?
is a stair-well, on a concrete floor, in a
cavernous derelict building. The wind whis-
tles through its broken entrance. No furni-
ture only concrete stairs to sit on and an
assortment of thin pieces of bedding to lie
on. Two candles light their nights. No
heating, no wash facilities, no hot food at
all. Their only facilities are in a nearby
supermarket where they can use the toilets
and wash during opening hours.
These are some of our Brothers and Sisters in
Christ who walk these long distances in sub-
zero temperatures to receive the bowls of
soup prepared daily at the hall. The reality
of handing out these bowls to the 100+ every
day hit me forcibly after our evening
visit. The huge disparity between
their lives now in Christ and mine....
We stay here in a well heated,
modern house, sleeping in warm beds
and with access to every modern
facility. At home we have houses,
pensions, savings and government
support systems. They have nothing
due to their situation as ethnic
Russians. We bought them some
food, water to use immediately
before it froze, gave them some
sleeping bags, gloves, hats and the
scarves that we were wearing. More
will be provided as needed. Today I
will understand why they return for
2nd, 3rd and more helpings of soup