Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

illus- tration and we are compelled at the risk of becoming 412 FEEDING THE HUNGRY didactic, to but enumerate some of the impressions as they appeared to us from personal observations. Fearing that we might be unfair to some of our brethren, we will say in advance, that some of the impressions and usually the better ones were more marked and general, while others may have been more or less isolated instances. We re- quest the reader to take the following for our candid impressions as observed through a sympathetic eye, and then reserve the right to form his opinions. Many tears were dried, many a feeling of despondency changed to one of cheerful hope, many a weak and sickened body nourished back to health and strength, and doubtless quite a number of human lives were saved, some of them from immediate death, and others from a life of pain and weak- ness to one of health and usefulness. When the eyes of the hungry first saw the palatable supply of food, there would have been a scramble, but for the word of authority in the form of definite regulations under which help was administered. After the kitchens had functioned for some time, we noticed an attitude of submissiveness and a feeling of utter helplessness on the part of some, in whom the receiving of good food, pre- pared and given by others, tended to develop too great a willingness to depend upon help from abroad. Some few, perhaps were in danger of learning to beg, even beyond their immediate needs, to the extent of again establishing themselves industriously; while in some few cases we ob- served selfishness manifesting itself in hoarding what could be obtained and forgetting the poor widow with her chil- dren who were starving in their own backyard; but far more generally was the beautiful sentiment of the spirit of Christian charity manifested, to such an extent that the last remnants of food were shared with the hungry neigh- bor. We think that the Americans have given much, and they have; but measured by Christ’s standard of sacrifices EFFECTS AND AFTER EFFECTS 413 as taught by Him in connection with the ‘“‘widow’s mite,” then our brethren have doubtless given more than we have. On some occasions I observed a feeling of self- abasement among the brethren. One of the brethren expressed it thus, “I am afraid we would not have sent so much and such good food to the American brethren, had they been in want and we surrounded with plenty.” Oth- ers said, ‘How much rather would we give than receive!” The experiences connected with relief work have taught us to love and appreciate one another more, even though separated by vast stretches of land and water; it has taught us the value of keeping in touch with our friends and relatives even though beyond the reach of ear or eye. I have noticed how the food strengthened their trust in the Heavenly Father, who has supplied their wants from such an unexpected and far-away source, when