Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

Central Committee. And then during the summer of 1920, the political map of Russia was continually chang- ing. One month General Denekin seemed to have control of at ieast that part of Russia where most of our brethren lived, in another his forces were routed by the Bolsheviki; and again Wrangel leading these routed forces made enough headway to have his government recognized by France. With these constant changes, where and how should Russia be entered and contacts with our people there established? There had been days of uncertainty and waiting upon the Lord to find out whether He really THE FIRST ESSAY INTO RUSSIA | wanted us to go? After this assurance came, coupled with His promise to go with us, then the situation cleared up, and we were soon on the way. Arthur Slagel, Clayton Kratz and the writer made up the first Unit. A united Committee, representative of the various Mennonite Relief organizations, sent us, promised to furnish financial support for work to be done, and directed us to go first to Constantinople and then to enter Russia from the South. We felt the stimulus of a pray- ing church at home and so with an abiding faith that He who called us into the work would see us through, left the uncertainties and problems of the past behind and set our- selves to the task ahead. The journey to Constantinople was without special incident. We spent the days in discussing general princi- ples which might guide relief work, and studying Russia. We prayed that we might be prepared for the experiences ahead, made willing for hard things, and given wisdom to deal with the situations that might develop. On Sept. 27, the Unit landed at Constantinople. Our task there was to learn as quickly as possible all we could concerning conditions on the other side of the Black Sea, to arrange for our journey to Russia, and to establish a base for maintaining connection with the homeland. To this end contacts were made with the Near East Relief, which was carrying on extensive relief work in various parts of Turkey and the Near East, and had supply ware- houses in Constantinople; with the American Embassy then in charge of Admiral Bristol, under whose protection we planned to continue our journey; with the American Red Cross, which had for some months been doing relief work in Crimea and Ukraine, and could give us the most up-to-date information concerning conditions there; also with the Russian Y. M. C. A. and various small Russian Relief organizations for the information they could give. 92 FEEDING THE HUNGRY It was decided that Arthur Slagel remain in Con- stantinople. In order that the expenses of his stay could be reduced and that he might have an opportunity to obtain practical knowledge of certain phases of relief work, arrangements were made with the N.E.R. for him to have a spare-time connection with their work. Even at that time there were thousands of Russian refugees in Constantino