Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

Miller had requested that we have a final conference in Moscow before I left, since twenty-five tractors had been sent from America, for the utilization of which there was as yet no contract with the THE MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE 81 government. So Krehbiel, Slagel and I proceeded to Mos- cow. e. Conference of Field-workers at Moscow. At Moscow we were once more all together, with the excep- tion of D. R. Hoeppner who was at Orenburg. The entire program was carefully gone over, and then we devoted our time to the reconstruction problem. The tractors were on the way, so we interviewed the Ukrainian officials in Moscow as well as the Moscow Soviet Direc- tors of Agriculture, in order to obtain from them as many privileges as possible for our tractor project. They were very much pleased and enthusiastically in favor of the idea of bringing American tractors into Russia for reconstruc- tion purposes. After having learned the general attitude of the officials on the question, we set to work at the task of drawing up an agreement that would be advantageous to us and at the same time acceptable to the government. This agreement, with slight modifications was later ac- cepted, as printed in the appendix to this report. 5. Homeward Bound Knowing that relief work in all the various sections was carried on efficiently and to the extent permitted by our means, and with the assurance that the agricultural problem was well under way, I felt that I could start for home, leaving the work in the hands of men who had, to my satisfaction, proved their worth and ability. Bidding good-bye to my fellow-workers, whom I had learned to love and appreciate in the common work, I left Moscow for Riga on the 10th day of July. Consulting with German Mennonites. We reached Riga the next evening. Here we were delayed for two days, after which we left for Germany, arriving in Berlin the next day, where I met Bro. G. G. Hiebert, who had been sent as special reconstruction agent in charge of the 82 FEEDING THE HUNGRY tractors. Later we called on Bro. J. Esau. Together with these two brethren I decided to attend a session of the ‘‘Deutsche Mennoniten Hilfe,’ at Ober Ursel, and, if possible, also to make a visit to the refugee camp, “Techfeld.”” We arrived at Ober Ursel on the morning of July 17 and were cordially welcomed. All were very anxious to learn of the conditions in Russia, so I gave them a first hand report, and told them what the A.M.R. was doing. After this a number of questions relative to emigration and reconstruction were raised and discussed. All were interested and encouraged and requested us to proceed with the work in the name of God. The next morning, together with G. G. Hiebert, J. Esau, and Ph. Lichti, we made a trip to the refugee camp at Lechfeld, where we found a very valued service ren- dered to the homeless, penniless, worn-out fugitives who had left everything only to save their li