From the Field

Missionary news from Siberia

 

December 6, 1999

 

Greetings.  I must apologize for not keeping you up to date.  Even my mother is wondering if our family is still alive.  There are so many things happening right now, that it is becoming more difficult to keep up with everthing.  I was on the road to different parts of Siberia in September, October, and Novemenber which did not help.  Thankfully, I am remaining in Novosibirsk during December, giving me a chance to catch up.  Thererfore, expect several e-mail updates from our mission over the next few days.  If you do not want to recevie these, or have difficulty receiving pictures, please respond and I will adjust my mailing lists accordingly.  Right now, our youngest daughter, Jena is sick with a very bad cold, so if you could keep her in your prayers.  Our apartment is very warm, so even though this is Siberia, the cold is not a factor this year.  The rest of the family is healthy, for which we thank the Lord.  Again, thank you for your prayers and support.  We appreciate them very much. 

 

In Christ, Rev. Jeff Thormodson

 

New Soup Kitchen opens, feeds 30 people daily

 

    With the assistance of the LCMS World Relief, our mission was able to assist the local government in opening a new soup kitchen.   There are many social and economic problems in Russia, and often our small mission does not know how to help.  But the Lord opened up a way for our small mission to assist in feeding the poor in Novosibirsk.
 The local government had started to remodel part of their offices into a cafeteria, but due to the collapse of the economy in August of 1998, the project was canceled.  Many people lost their jobs, and for the entire country, living became more difficult.  At a birthday party, one of our mission workers overheard another person complaining about not having enough money to feed the elderly who were coming to her government office.  Our worker put her in contact with our mission, and together, we made plans.  Initially, our plan was to distributing food.  But the local welfare director had an idea to convert the uncompleted cafeteria into a soup kitchen.  We agreed.

  Click Photo to enlarge
 One missionary goal is to always start something that can be continued by the local people.  This is true in both church planting and humanitarian  aid.  The idea was put forth and accepted, that with a grant from the LCMS World Relief, our mission would assist the local government in completing the cafeteria.  Then the local government would operate the cafeteria, feeding the poor with a system of coupons, which they receive when the request assistance.  Since there is very little money in the government's budget to operate the cafeteria, the cafeteria will operate part time for profit.  The plan is that the profits from the cafeteria will be used to feed about 30 -40 people a day, on an on-going basis.
 On October 12, 1999, after a brief ceremony, the soup kitchen served its first meal.  About 30 people were served that day, and every day since.  This type of project is new for our mission and the city of Novosibirsk..  In the process, we also created new jobs for people.  One of our members is now the director of the cafeteria, and has become part of the local administration.  We continue to ask God’s blessing  upon the workers and the people to come to the center, and that in the future, those who receive earthly bread from the cafeteria, will by lead to receive the bread of life for our Lord through our mission. (end)

 

Missionaries Jeff and Jeanne Thormodson
Ul. Kolivanskaya 24-8
Novosibirsk 630007  Russia

Lutheran@cdland.nsk.su