Headline: Pastor Wacker writes that all in Norka are content
Norka, March 15, 1922
Highly Esteemed and Dear Friends:
Just now, I am able to steal a few moments to follow the urgings of my heart and write to you. In my last letter I wrote about the obstacles and about the challenges of our common work. These obstacles are increasing ever more and more. In truth, I cannot recount all of the battles for it would make your hearts heavy and I will not diminish our friends who are doing Gods Holy work with such fraternal eagerness. You are wholly entitled to learn the naked truth and our dear friend Repp, who is admired by everyone, and who in a few months will return to his homeland and home, will be able to manage this to your satisfaction. I can see it already in my mind, how you will bombard him with questions. With his clear explanations the nebulous misconceptions will be dispelled and the unvarnished truth will paint a picture of reality that will stay in your minds.
A house has two sides that stand in stark contrast to each other. The back always in the shade and the sun-bathed front facade. Today, let me tell you of this latter.
Against the dark unholy background of the present international situation the activities of the American Relief Administration stand out like a bright star. This is also true, on a smaller scale, for the Volga Relief Society. What the former sons and daughters in America did for their old homeland in this terrible time will forever remain unforgotten in these Volga Colonies.
My youngest old friend, G.M. Mueller, counted off some numbers in a letter to me and added: "These beautiful numbers show that we are working industriously here in America in order to save our flesh and blood from starving to death."
Yes, numbers talk; for that matter they speak more urgently than words. For those who pay attention to the spoken word, some numbers: The portion that a child receives here in the American Kitchens costs daily, at present market prices--100,000 Ruble (I say and write, a hundred thousand Ruble!). In Norka alone up to 2,000 children daily require products costing 200 million Ruble. If I remember correctly, on the Bergseite some 40,000 children are supplied. That adds up to 4 billion Rubel daily.
As overwhelming as these numbers are, they nevertheless are overshadowed by the fact that human lives are saved. This fact is irrefutable. Adults are starving daily but no more children in the villages where the Kitchens are operating normally. There is much criticism of the Kitchens. But if one asks the critic: What would have happened, if the kitchens did not exist. Then one gets various answers and I will summarize the main ones for you: We would have many hundreds more children's graves in Norka. And, many children who would not laugh any longer or cry any more (it is a terrible sorrow if the people cannot laugh any longer but it is still more terrible if the emergency brings down human children so far that they can no longer cry. And such stunted, inhuman, wretched shapes one sees here nearly every day).
One can and must divide the 2,000 children into categories. One portion would no longer be alive if the Kitchens did not exist. Another portion would be so enfeebled, physically and mentally degenerated, that they would hardly be savable; a third portion, without the nutrition offered by the American Kitchens, would suffer from Anemia, Tuberculosis and other diseases. The last quarter are those with parents and older brothers and sisters who would have had their lives shortened by the damage to their health. (here the rest of the paragraph is obscured - translator). A particularly wonderful bit of aid came to our communities from these former children. Norka received in the "delightful distribution" (as it has come to be called) 810 Pud: 630 Pud of flour, 117 Pud of aats and 63 Pud of lard. It was distributed evenly to all living persons. Each person carried off: 3 1/2 Pfund of flour, 3/4 Pfund of oats, 1-3 Pfund of lard.
It was a difficult distribution as the products were assigned separately to over 950 families with approximately 7,200 persons. It went on for 3 days at the distribution point. It reminded me of a beehive, inside and out. Inside regularly working from early until late, outside a restless buzzing and humming. The male sex (the drones) are usually the louder, here it was the females, their voices beating against one another.
It was remarkable in that the people got more than they thought they would. Their sacks for the flour were usually too small and likewise for the lard. They had to bring a small jug and a dish. Even after having distributed gifts all year long we couldn't get it quite right. It moved the heart to see the joy and emotion with which the people carried their products from here. And on Sunday morning, after months-long privation, there were no Schlagkuchen (oil cake) cooking, but instead there were beautiful pancakes made from the best wheat flour that the mothers served along with the Steppetee (ersatz tea). Many were those who were thinking: "Oh, if it could always be this way..."
This distribution made the best of impressions. We heard no complaints, nobody offered reasons or proposals for improvements as we had heard so often regarding the Kitchens. Mr. Repp told me he had also heard no complaints about the "delightful distribution."
Now, if only our railways would work better, then our committees could experience such uplifting assistance more frequently: should our kindred brethren, especially our Norkans in America, gather up enough money for this purpose. This assistance is much more individual than the general Children's Kitchen aid. Here everyone can benefit their home village with gifts. Still more direct assistance can be sent from friends via the so-called "Food Drafts." Indeed many in America have already sent such assistance for their friends. Sadly the transportation system here is so bad that things do not get her fast enough.
But such fortune, such joy these prepared ($10) food parcels bring which are received in Russian Pfunds and consist of about 53 Pfund flour, 26 1/2 Pfund rice, 10 Pfund of lard or bacon, almost 11 Pfund sugar, 3 1/4 Pfund tea and 20 cans of milk. Already for weeks and months, people have received letters from friends saying they have deposited 10 to 20 or so many dollars of "Food Drafts."
When the Powetska (report of receipt) finally arrives, the happy owners of such Powetskas unite and drive to Saratov where the receive their packets from the A.R.A storehouse. While the head of the house starts his satisfying journey homeward, those at home are waiting with burning impatience from one hour to the next for his arrival. Finally they go out the door and hurry outside into the courtyard, both large and small. Carefully they carry the packets inside and begin to open them.
Each is more wonderful then the one before. They hardly had any pelletized grain left in the house and now they have the most beautiful wheat flour; Now they need not eat pumpkin gruel any longer but can permit themselves some good rice mash. The bacon or lard is also welcomed. The Samovar (tea making machine) can again assume a place on honor.
What had they not used for tea: there were apple leaves or cherry leaves, dried or roasted pumpkin peelings or yellow roots used for tea and to color the water. Now there is fragrant, good tasting tea with sugar all evening.
One must know of the privations of many years in our country to understand the joy over the precious contents of these packages. Likewise, milk finds ever more friends. Initially some said: We do not need milk. Now one hears the opposite. At my table these words were spoken: "I would like my coffee with only American milk."
I would like to shout to each American citizen: "Think! Have you no friend in your old homeland for whom you could order a Food Draft?" The fortune which one can donate with 10 dollars is simply indescribable. It is also the way to help friends.
Sending money to a bank here is presently not possible, even if it were, it would not be a favorable transfer. If one here had 10 dollars to exchange they would get 10 million Ruble, and that can only buy half of what there is in a food packet, because as I stated above, the products in a 10 dollar food packet cost at least 20 million Ruble at the market now.
And those packages sent in good faith through the Postal Service to their friends, if they arrive at all, arrive empty. Many here have received letters from friends saying they had shipped so and so many dollars worth of things through the Postal Service. Nothing has yet arrived. Only aid sent through the A.R.A. is secure. If we had regulated transportation conditions, then America would have already been inundated with letters of thanks from those who received packages.
Sadly, everything moves too slowly. Three weeks ago 4,000 Powetski (reports of receipt) of Food Drafts were in Saratov, but no packets and the National Lutheran Council wanted to distribute 1,000 packets and likewise had none. I believe that the 90 day period involved in dispatching the packets has to be done away with.
Things remain terrible: many people have received messages that 20 to 30 dollars have been deposited for them. They are starving and the Packets do not arrive. And yet: I say it once again: Be diligent in sending your friends Food Drafts. Also do not forget to send them for the general assistance of victims in your homeland village. Your aid is necessary and indeed is a help.
What has happened so far is praiseworthy. It is unthinkable how badly this winter would have turned out for us without American assistance. And it must be said that the Volga Relief Society should not even think about forming a liquidation committee. The state of distress of our colonies will not end with the new harvest. Because that which was destroyed over many years cannot be rebuilt in one year.
Perhaps a very good harvest would remove the concern for food from us but there would not be enough of an abundance for the satisfaction of other needs. There is little seed and fewer working livestock. The farmers lack straw and also working equipment. If the food concerns are satisfied (and that is the first task), then the revitalization and reorganization of our living conditions must be the next.
There is a shortage of clothing, of underwear and footwear, a shortage of soap and medicines. Typhoid Fever and other diseases have warm comfortable breeding grounds in our villages. Without foreign assistance we will not get loose of these insidious diseases. Then the farm economy must be rebuilt on a newer more up-to-date basis.
And our physical emergency is accompanied by a spiritual emergency. The schools are like devastated gardens over which a hurricanes has passed, the church tower is in ruins. The ranks of the men who work for God and for their fellow men are growing thinner, and those who remain are dead tired and long to be replaced or at least have a respite.
There is a shortage of books, particularly of Bibles, Songbooks and Catechisms. And there is a lack of interchange between the spiritual world and the culture of the State.
There is a fraternal sense that in future days you will again be urged to assist. This year it will be bread to heal the the body, in a year it will be bread to heal the soul. Perhaps it will be a task for the Volga Relief Society to carry out for their ethnic brethren. Of this I will not write here.
God, Himself will show you and us the path which we have to follow to do him honor and save humanity.
With cordial greetings and a wish for blessings upon you all,
Pastor F. Wacker
Just now, I am able to steal a few moments to follow the urgings of my heart and write to you. In my last letter I wrote about the obstacles and about the challenges of our common work. These obstacles are increasing ever more and more. In truth, I cannot recount all of the battles for it would make your hearts heavy and I will not diminish our friends who are doing Gods Holy work with such fraternal eagerness. You are wholly entitled to learn the naked truth and our dear friend Repp, who is admired by everyone, and who in a few months will return to his homeland and home, will be able to manage this to your satisfaction. I can see it already in my mind, how you will bombard him with questions. With his clear explanations the nebulous misconceptions will be dispelled and the unvarnished truth will paint a picture of reality that will stay in your minds.
A house has two sides that stand in stark contrast to each other. The back always in the shade and the sun-bathed front facade. Today, let me tell you of this latter.
Against the dark unholy background of the present international situation the activities of the American Relief Administration stand out like a bright star. This is also true, on a smaller scale, for the Volga Relief Society. What the former sons and daughters in America did for their old homeland in this terrible time will forever remain unforgotten in these Volga Colonies.
My youngest old friend, G.M. Mueller, counted off some numbers in a letter to me and added: "These beautiful numbers show that we are working industriously here in America in order to save our flesh and blood from starving to death."
Yes, numbers talk; for that matter they speak more urgently than words. For those who pay attention to the spoken word, some numbers: The portion that a child receives here in the American Kitchens costs daily, at present market prices--100,000 Ruble (I say and write, a hundred thousand Ruble!). In Norka alone up to 2,000 children daily require products costing 200 million Ruble. If I remember correctly, on the Bergseite some 40,000 children are supplied. That adds up to 4 billion Rubel daily.
As overwhelming as these numbers are, they nevertheless are overshadowed by the fact that human lives are saved. This fact is irrefutable. Adults are starving daily but no more children in the villages where the Kitchens are operating normally. There is much criticism of the Kitchens. But if one asks the critic: What would have happened, if the kitchens did not exist. Then one gets various answers and I will summarize the main ones for you: We would have many hundreds more children's graves in Norka. And, many children who would not laugh any longer or cry any more (it is a terrible sorrow if the people cannot laugh any longer but it is still more terrible if the emergency brings down human children so far that they can no longer cry. And such stunted, inhuman, wretched shapes one sees here nearly every day).
One can and must divide the 2,000 children into categories. One portion would no longer be alive if the Kitchens did not exist. Another portion would be so enfeebled, physically and mentally degenerated, that they would hardly be savable; a third portion, without the nutrition offered by the American Kitchens, would suffer from Anemia, Tuberculosis and other diseases. The last quarter are those with parents and older brothers and sisters who would have had their lives shortened by the damage to their health. (here the rest of the paragraph is obscured - translator). A particularly wonderful bit of aid came to our communities from these former children. Norka received in the "delightful distribution" (as it has come to be called) 810 Pud: 630 Pud of flour, 117 Pud of aats and 63 Pud of lard. It was distributed evenly to all living persons. Each person carried off: 3 1/2 Pfund of flour, 3/4 Pfund of oats, 1-3 Pfund of lard.
It was a difficult distribution as the products were assigned separately to over 950 families with approximately 7,200 persons. It went on for 3 days at the distribution point. It reminded me of a beehive, inside and out. Inside regularly working from early until late, outside a restless buzzing and humming. The male sex (the drones) are usually the louder, here it was the females, their voices beating against one another.
It was remarkable in that the people got more than they thought they would. Their sacks for the flour were usually too small and likewise for the lard. They had to bring a small jug and a dish. Even after having distributed gifts all year long we couldn't get it quite right. It moved the heart to see the joy and emotion with which the people carried their products from here. And on Sunday morning, after months-long privation, there were no Schlagkuchen (oil cake) cooking, but instead there were beautiful pancakes made from the best wheat flour that the mothers served along with the Steppetee (ersatz tea). Many were those who were thinking: "Oh, if it could always be this way..."
This distribution made the best of impressions. We heard no complaints, nobody offered reasons or proposals for improvements as we had heard so often regarding the Kitchens. Mr. Repp told me he had also heard no complaints about the "delightful distribution."
Now, if only our railways would work better, then our committees could experience such uplifting assistance more frequently: should our kindred brethren, especially our Norkans in America, gather up enough money for this purpose. This assistance is much more individual than the general Children's Kitchen aid. Here everyone can benefit their home village with gifts. Still more direct assistance can be sent from friends via the so-called "Food Drafts." Indeed many in America have already sent such assistance for their friends. Sadly the transportation system here is so bad that things do not get her fast enough.
But such fortune, such joy these prepared ($10) food parcels bring which are received in Russian Pfunds and consist of about 53 Pfund flour, 26 1/2 Pfund rice, 10 Pfund of lard or bacon, almost 11 Pfund sugar, 3 1/4 Pfund tea and 20 cans of milk. Already for weeks and months, people have received letters from friends saying they have deposited 10 to 20 or so many dollars of "Food Drafts."
When the Powetska (report of receipt) finally arrives, the happy owners of such Powetskas unite and drive to Saratov where the receive their packets from the A.R.A storehouse. While the head of the house starts his satisfying journey homeward, those at home are waiting with burning impatience from one hour to the next for his arrival. Finally they go out the door and hurry outside into the courtyard, both large and small. Carefully they carry the packets inside and begin to open them.
Each is more wonderful then the one before. They hardly had any pelletized grain left in the house and now they have the most beautiful wheat flour; Now they need not eat pumpkin gruel any longer but can permit themselves some good rice mash. The bacon or lard is also welcomed. The Samovar (tea making machine) can again assume a place on honor.
What had they not used for tea: there were apple leaves or cherry leaves, dried or roasted pumpkin peelings or yellow roots used for tea and to color the water. Now there is fragrant, good tasting tea with sugar all evening.
One must know of the privations of many years in our country to understand the joy over the precious contents of these packages. Likewise, milk finds ever more friends. Initially some said: We do not need milk. Now one hears the opposite. At my table these words were spoken: "I would like my coffee with only American milk."
I would like to shout to each American citizen: "Think! Have you no friend in your old homeland for whom you could order a Food Draft?" The fortune which one can donate with 10 dollars is simply indescribable. It is also the way to help friends.
Sending money to a bank here is presently not possible, even if it were, it would not be a favorable transfer. If one here had 10 dollars to exchange they would get 10 million Ruble, and that can only buy half of what there is in a food packet, because as I stated above, the products in a 10 dollar food packet cost at least 20 million Ruble at the market now.
And those packages sent in good faith through the Postal Service to their friends, if they arrive at all, arrive empty. Many here have received letters from friends saying they had shipped so and so many dollars worth of things through the Postal Service. Nothing has yet arrived. Only aid sent through the A.R.A. is secure. If we had regulated transportation conditions, then America would have already been inundated with letters of thanks from those who received packages.
Sadly, everything moves too slowly. Three weeks ago 4,000 Powetski (reports of receipt) of Food Drafts were in Saratov, but no packets and the National Lutheran Council wanted to distribute 1,000 packets and likewise had none. I believe that the 90 day period involved in dispatching the packets has to be done away with.
Things remain terrible: many people have received messages that 20 to 30 dollars have been deposited for them. They are starving and the Packets do not arrive. And yet: I say it once again: Be diligent in sending your friends Food Drafts. Also do not forget to send them for the general assistance of victims in your homeland village. Your aid is necessary and indeed is a help.
What has happened so far is praiseworthy. It is unthinkable how badly this winter would have turned out for us without American assistance. And it must be said that the Volga Relief Society should not even think about forming a liquidation committee. The state of distress of our colonies will not end with the new harvest. Because that which was destroyed over many years cannot be rebuilt in one year.
Perhaps a very good harvest would remove the concern for food from us but there would not be enough of an abundance for the satisfaction of other needs. There is little seed and fewer working livestock. The farmers lack straw and also working equipment. If the food concerns are satisfied (and that is the first task), then the revitalization and reorganization of our living conditions must be the next.
There is a shortage of clothing, of underwear and footwear, a shortage of soap and medicines. Typhoid Fever and other diseases have warm comfortable breeding grounds in our villages. Without foreign assistance we will not get loose of these insidious diseases. Then the farm economy must be rebuilt on a newer more up-to-date basis.
And our physical emergency is accompanied by a spiritual emergency. The schools are like devastated gardens over which a hurricanes has passed, the church tower is in ruins. The ranks of the men who work for God and for their fellow men are growing thinner, and those who remain are dead tired and long to be replaced or at least have a respite.
There is a shortage of books, particularly of Bibles, Songbooks and Catechisms. And there is a lack of interchange between the spiritual world and the culture of the State.
There is a fraternal sense that in future days you will again be urged to assist. This year it will be bread to heal the the body, in a year it will be bread to heal the soul. Perhaps it will be a task for the Volga Relief Society to carry out for their ethnic brethren. Of this I will not write here.
God, Himself will show you and us the path which we have to follow to do him honor and save humanity.
With cordial greetings and a wish for blessings upon you all,
Pastor F. Wacker
Sources
Die Welt-Post, April 27, 1922 page 6.
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
Last updated March 6, 2016.