Mission Russia International

A Wake-up Call…

Dear Friends,

We greet you from a cool Moscow – around 7 degrees C, after having been considerably warmer recently for a few days. Seems winter just doesn’t want to let go!

For those that don’t know, we share a large apartment with Corrie and Olesya Zaayman in Novokosino, a region in the east of Moscow. We can truly say that God has blessed us tremendously, since we get along very well. Apartments are extremely expensive in Moscow, and apart from having the opportunity to live with close friends, the arrangement suits us well.

We were recently reminded of a harsh reality here in Russia – something that is always present but rarely seen. We received a phone call a few days ago. I answered and a female voice asked for Aleksandr, the owner of our apartment. Aleksandr was the pastor of a small Baptist church that gathered in the apartment before he and his family felt led by the Lord to plant a church for Russian people in America.

The elderly lady introduced herself, explained that she was a member of the Baptist Church and begged us to come to her aid. She explained that she was an invalid due to severe Parkinson’s Syndrome and was confined to her bed. Her son, who is severely crippled, lives in the room next to hers but he was either unable or unwilling to do anything for her (I believe the latter, since he’s nevertheless able to go to work every day). She hardly ever sees him. A woman lives with her for free in exchange for giving her general care. A few days ago, however, this woman simply left to visit family for two weeks, leaving her to her own devices. She explained that she hadn’t eaten for a few days and was extremely weak.

Marina and I took some food and set off for her apartment, which is, praise the Lord, only about 10 minutes’ walk from ours. We found the keys to her apartment under the carpet in the outer passage where she said they’d be, and entered. We also had to unlock the door to her room. I wasn’t quite prepared for what I saw next.

The frail old lady, barely skin and bones, were half sitting, half lying on her bed which was absolutely cluttered with every worldly possession that she could keep within reach, quivering with the symptoms of severe Parkinsons. Closest of all was the telephone, and praise God for that. Everything else was bundled and tied up in various little plastic bags to keep the cockroaches and moths out. The walls were filthy and the floorboards rotting all over. A dirty bowl and cup and a few empty jars were at her feet on the floor.

Two cats share the room with her, the only constant companionship she seems to have. Because she doesn’t want the cats to go out, her door and windows are constantly closed and the cats are fed on bread and water, with some cat food every once in a while. The cats use the floor as toilet, adding to the prevailing stench and stuffiness in the room. She herself uses a potty with great difficulty, and we had to empty it of several days’ worth of waste.

We gave her some food, but she was able to eat only very little before asking us to put the rest in the refrigerator that was thankfully working and standing in her room. We did some basic cleaning up around her and washed her bowl, cup, utensils and jars. Marina helped her clean herself a bit and change her underclothes (while I stood in the corridor outside her room, experiencing a mild amount of shock). She was extremely grateful and said a prayer for us as we were leaving.

As we left, walking home in silence, I was pondering the immensity of the situation. How many other such people are there, ostensibly living in decent-looking apartment buildings all over Moscow, but alone and abandoned await death by starvation or illness? I dare say there are hundreds, if not thousands! And I shudder to think about the situation in other less-developed cities, towns and villages…

While visiting her daily, we are currently searching for a sister in Christ to take over the position of the non-believing woman who left her alone to fend for herself. We’ll probably run into heavy protest when she returns, since she’s living there for free, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. The elderly woman, Raisa Antonovna, has herself requested that we find a believer.

Please pray for Raisa, and ask the Lord to supernaturally change her situation and her health for the better, that she’ll once more enjoy quality of life and an improved relationship with her son. Pray also for him that God would restore his body as well, and give him a newfound love for his frail mother. Also please pray that the Lord Himself will appoint and send a trustworthy, compassionate sister in Christ to care for Raisa.

Should the Lord lay it on your heart to help Raisa financially, please send your donation to the bank account shown below, and clearly indicate that it’s for Raisa Antonovna.

Thank you for your prayers and support, we love you all with the love of the Lord!

Philip and Marina Meyer

Bank Details
Bank:  Absa Bank
Account:  P.M. Meyer
Account No:  9090532416
Branch:  Centurion

For SWIFT Telegraphic Transfers only (from outside South Africa)
SWIFT Transfer:  ABSAZAJJ
Clearing Code:  632005
Beneficiary’s Bank:  Absa Bank
Beneficiary’s Name:  P.M. Meyer
Account No:  9090532416
Branch:  Centurion