TRUTHS FROM THE SOUP KITCHEN
Laura and I just finished up the month as the lead workers at the Zupa Virtuve (soup kitchen). This is an outreach to the citizens of Cesis and it is staffed by four churches. Originally, soup was only served two days a week, but this month, a Monday through Friday serving schedule began. This was definitely needed, and throughout the month, we saw new faces almost daily.
The zupa is purchased from the cafeteria of a factory that makes wooden coffins. Most of the time it is some type of cabbage based concoction and we hardly ever see any meat flavoring it. To go along with the soup are a few loaves of black bread, maybe two slices per person.
The customers at the kitchen come in all shapes, sizes, ages, ethnic groups and nationalities. Some are completely dependent on this meal for their only hot meal of the day. Others come because they want some social activity or just human contact. A few are a little better off economically than their table partners and they are there to take servings home to shut-in friends.
We have tried our best to give them as much dignity as possible for the hour or so that we are with them. Handshakes, smiles, kind words and unlimited coffee are appreciated as much as the soup.
Not a single person in the entire group can speak English. This is one of the few places where my Latvian speaking ability is better than their English speaking ability. They will surprise you, however. I was serving coffee one day and one old guy (he must have been a movie fan) just blurts out, “Atta boy!” as I finished filling his cup. Those two words might have been his entire English vocabulary.
This month has been one of work, of humility and of thanking God that we could help just a little in a bad situation. Some of these people are the highlight of our days as we see them around Cesis. I think every one of these people is appreciative of what is being done for them. We never feel that we are being taken advantage of or that they resent us…usually it is quite the opposite.
So, with all of that being said, here are a few things I have learned from serving at the Zupa Virtuve:
1) The people that need the zupa the least are always the ones at the front of the line. Now isn’t that a pretty good metaphor for some of the economic bailouts we are seeing? It doesn’t matter if it’s a well-fed soup lady clamoring to get to the front so she can get the first bowl or a well-fed Wall Street investment banker getting his million dollar bonus. The desire to take care of number one is healthy in all of us.
2) You just can’t beat a good cup of coffee (especially the traditional Texas bottomless cup of coffee). It seems everyone is more talkative, in a better humor and just has a better lunch if they have a cup of coffee in their hand. They tend to linger a little longer and spend time just talking to one another. Maybe we all need to slow down some, call up a good friend and spend a few minutes sharing a good cup of kafia?
3) It is hard to listen to the Gospel when you are hungry. We usually have one of our church people give a very short devotional and then lead everyone in the Lord’s Prayer. Today, our speaker got a little carried away reading to them about Jesus’ death and resurrection. They were hungry, they wanted food and they wanted it now! Let’s try to take care of physical needs before we take care of spiritual needs.
4) True character comes out in stressful situations. It can become quite hectic trying to feed so many hungry people at once. Several times we have been undermanned (as in just the two Americans!). Every single time a few of the men just stood up, came over and began to help serve their fellow diners. These are people that have had little experience in taking the lead in any sort of operation. These are people that are usually told to sit down and don’t do anything because you will mess it up. What a blessing to see them stand up and help us.
5) Prayer can still fill up a soup can. Without going into details, we have met with resistance when we have offered to pay for more food. The lady-in-command has told us that there is enough soup to feed everyone and that settles it. The only problem is more people show up each day. What do you do when you have the same size soup can but more hungry mouths?
We pray that we don’t have to turn anyone away. We pray that Laura can ladle it out so that everyone can get a fair portion. We secretly pour some hot water into the can to try to make it go a little further. It is not loaves and fish but we have never had anyone to be turned away. It has been touch and go a few times but their needs have always been met. As the numbers increase God will have to touch some hearts for more soup or keep on miraculously dividing the portions. Or better yet, maybe I should quit telling God how He needs to handle the situation.
As I write these truths, I have begun to understand that I have learned a lot more than these five ideas. I’ve learned that these people are God’s children, no better and no worse than I am. I’ve learned you don’t have to always know how to say ‘thank-you’, ‘please’, ‘paldies’ or ‘ludzu’. Sometimes you can just see it in someone’s eyes. I’ve learned that we all should be doing more to help those that are beat down by the circumstances of this world.
I’ve learned that the good news of Jesus is not only written in the Gospels.
It’s in a bowl of greasy cabbage soup.
It’s in a cup of black coffee.
It’s in the smile of a little Latvian lady that finally returns your greeting.
