Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

ched the point that we do not know what we do. Help us to recover, and you shall see that you are dealing with happy, thankful, thrifty and faithful men and women. May you be used in the fullest sense as the good Samaritan to apply oil and wine to the wounds in Christ’s blessed Name. In the end all help cometh from Him. With cordial greetings from my difficult post of duty, BB. yanz. GRASPING AT STRAWS The soul-sick condition of the people was further marked by the readiness with which they received and were inclined to believe unwarranted false reports, espe- cially such as would tally with their hopes and wishes. The following translation of a spurious letter that was broadcast among the people and largely believed, may serve as a sample: The letter—‘“At the ‘Verband Headquarters’ in the vil- lage Tiege, they received a cable inquiry, asking whether the people wished to emigrate. At a special meeting called for prayer and consultation it was decided to give an af- firmative reply. In addition to this the ‘Verband’ received a verification of the above by letter, which read in part as follows: ‘The way is open. Everything is ready. $6,000,000.00 are assigned to the great project. Ten years without inter- est. Exemption from all military service and complete provisions have been made to take care of the immigrants upon arrival. It remains only for us to indicate the number 226 FEEDING THE HUNGRY that wish to emigrate according to which sufficient ships will be designated to a Black Sea port to receive all that wish to leave. The chosen country is Paraguay, where there is abundant land waiting for settlers.’ ” This letter and another, which was written from America by a certain Mr. B., and stating that he had an asylum for young ladies, and that he was waiting at New York to receive all that would come, at the same time promising them a home and glowing opportunities to earn what seemed to them fabulous sums of money, were be- lieved by many. Even people of responsibility were in- clined to give credence to such dreams, as hearsay and certain irresponsible persons would suggest to them. Nev- ertheless there still were a considerable remnant of the people who could think straight, and remembered that they still lived in a world of reality and not in one of fiction. The psychological effect of the presence of the Amer- ican representatives among our stricken brethren was such, that one felt it worth while to leave family, home and friends, travel a long way, and be exposed to incon- veniences and all kinds of dangers from the elements of nature, the many forms of deadly contagious diseases and the threats of evil minded men. The very presence of an American in a village or in a social group seemed to act as a leaven, to bring new hope and new courage to those that were so much in need. Of still greater importance was the presence of an American when our brethren had to appear bef