MISSIONWITHOUTBORDERS
Big picture: Kirill (right) and his friend Roman Inset picture: Kirill and friends at Berdychiv Community Centre
Kirill’s parents broke up when he was only 2 months old and he has not seen his father since – he only knows that he lives somewhere in Russia. His step-father is an alcoholic and he used to beat up and abuse Kirill and his mother soon after he married her. When Kirill got older he tried to protect his mum from the abuse but was turned out onto the streets. There he began to steal to survive. Kirill is amazed how his life has changed since he started going to the soup kitchen. “After I got here, I began to think about my life and the way I was living. I heard about God and knew that He was real. I’m sure it was Him who helped me to stop stealing and doing other bad things – He is good.” After a nourishing lunch, Nataliya always opens up discussion on a topic based on a Bible story. Quite often heart-to-heart conversations follow. For young people like Kirill, very often the main
reason for coming to the soup kitchen is not just physical hunger, but the need to talk to adults about their family and school problems, to open their hearts to somebody who is committed to helping them. It was this informal and loving atmosphere that helped Kirill open up and share about his troubled and abusive past. Kirill is now back at school because he realises that studying is important and he wants to train to become a builder. “I want to live a normal life, like other kids.” “I’m very thankful to God for this soup kitchen. It was like a light at the end of a dark tunnel for me! I really appreciate being able to come here, not only because of the delicious hot meals, but for the opportunity to talk with Aunt Nataliya. She understands me very well and prays for me. I can tell her many things and I’m not afraid to be open with her.”
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"Here we came to realise that God loved and cared for us." Stefan, 65, Bulgaria
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"My life would have been much more difficult and hard without this help. Here I find emotional and spiritual fellowship. They accept me the way I am, they do not make fun of my physical appearance. I have had a very hard life and I feel very good coming here." Zlatka, solo mum with a 2 year old
"The people at the community centre are those who I love and love me. The cook is my best friend. I come here with a big joy in my heart every day. I feel so free and so happy." Alexandra, 90, Moldova
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"It’s so great that someone comes to visit me and bring me some food. I can barely walk and see and that is why I am not able to cook so your lunches are like salvation for me. Let God bless all the people who do not let us starve. Thank you for the delicious food and for visiting an old woman like me. your food is a great blessing for me. I praise Him for you in the morning, noon and night. Your lunches are wonderful." Paraskoviya, 88, Ukraine
PO Box 56264, Dominion Road, Auckland 1446 Phone 09 309 6969 / 0800 469269 | Fax 09 309 6968 Email nzadmin@mwbi.org | Website www.mwb.org.nz Reg. Charity No. CC37218