dvi silkes

Amidst the flurry of activity that blankets the Christmas season, small moments can provide great opportunities to participate in meaningful giving. There are lots of possibilities for creating significance, from gifts of time, to homemade specialties, to that special heartfelt present. One such opportunity is offered through the World of Hope catalogue: a publication of the Evangelical Free Church of Canada Mission. The catalogue details a wide range of projects that EFCCM workers are engaged in throughout various regions of the world.We are excited that the catalogue gives us an opportunity to expand the visibility and resources of a small church here in Klaipeda (the Salvation Army), and the church’s efforts to assist the poor and homeless with both their physical and spiritual needs. Our project, entitled “A Step Up,” is raising funds to buy much needed food supplies for the church’s food bank. Even a small gift can have a lasting impact, as the story of one recipient reveals:Shuffling her way through the front door of the hostel where she lives, few people would pay much attention to the elderly woman as she clutches a bag of groceries. In fact, not long ago Renata was one of society’s forgotten; her makeshift home a collection of discarded trash at the garbage dump, and her food scavenged from the filth. Twice a month, however, a van would come carrying loaves of bread, hot tea, and sometimes a candle for lighting the darkness. The van also brought a priceless gift: hope. As the team handed out food and poured tea, they also talked about someone who loves us despite our filth. Through the concern demonstrated by the people in the van, Renata slowly grew to trust that they truly cared for her, and learned that Jesus loved her. When they warned that the dumpsite would be closed and urged people to move into the city to find work, Renata listened. The investment made by the church group who used to take food to the dump has developed into a lifelong friendship, and the chance for a new life. The church supported Renata through the difficult days of transition to life in the city, giving her food when she had nothing, and welcoming her into their church family. Today, Renata does odd jobs like cleaning, and picking mushrooms or berries to make enough money to pay for her place at the hostel. She visits with the people from the van at church on Sundays, and though sometimes she leaves with a bag of groceries in her hand, she always leaves as a friend.Helping the poor and homeless is often a long process that requires commitment and generous amounts of patience. One church in Klaipeda is working hard to make a difference in the lives of people who are caught in the grip of poverty. A single bag of groceries can be the difference between complete despair, and hope for another day, and the impact of the relationships built can last an eternity.