We Got There Just In Time

The Fellowship  |  June 19, 2019

Imagine…surviving Nazi invasion…fleeing your home in a dirty cattle car at the tender age of five after Nazis invaded your Ukrainian community looking for Jews to slaughter.

Imagine…nearly starving and freezing to death while battling disease and illness — and witnessing your loved ones die in these same conditions.

Imagine…having only half of a withered apple and a tiny scrap of bread to eat…80 years later.

This is Sofia’s story. And that’s what we found in Sofia’s kitchen just weeks ago.

Sofia tried to rebuild her life after surviving Nazi invasion and after the war. She became a teacher, made aliyah (immigrated) to Israel, and got married. But while they were still newlyweds, Sofia’s husband passed away — leaving her with the sting of loneliness once more.

Decades later, Sofia now faces new challenges in her older years. She has a debilitating disease in her knee, making it difficult to move around her home and do daily tasks.

She has no way to support herself, and the meager pension she receives from the government only stretches so far.

So Sofia goes without.

“When I saw that apple in her kitchen, I turned my eyes to heaven and thanked God that a Fellowship friend sacrificially donated a food box for Sofia. We got there just in time.” – Yael Eckstein

Sofia wanted to express just how deeply thankful she is for Fellowship donors who share their love and compassion with her — calling you her only companions. “Thank you so much! There are not enough words to say thank you to you. And I speak on behalf of all the elderly and others you help.”

But what will Sofia do this month?

‘Do Not Cast Me Away’

King David cried out, “Do not cast me away when I am old” (Psalm 71:9). And today, survivors like Sofia are begging us not to forget them in the last years of their lives.

Today, you can obey God’s command to “comfort ye, comfort ye my people” (Isaiah 40:1 KJV) and help provide food, medicine, and other basic essentials to someone like Sofia. She is counting on us to show her that God has not forsaken her and will provide for her needs.

Every gift, big or small, makes a world of difference for someone like Sofia who depends on us for survival. From surviving Nazi invasion, to living in extreme poverty.

Sophia’s life began in misery. We can’t change that. But we CAN help her live her final years in dignity. Is God asking you to put food on her table?