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So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Helping children began in 1997 on a winter night when nine children without parental care were met on the Kopli lines in North Tallinn. The children were unwashed, in dirty clothes, and very afraid. We tried to talk to them, but they ran away. The oldest boy stayed behind, and we asked if they needed food. He replied that they would be happy to have some food.
Fortunately, there was a Westman’s food store open 24/7 in the city that night, which we had to visit twice because the food bought on the first time quickly ran out. On our way back from Kopli, we thought that with God’s help, we had done a good deed, and we were sure that it would be the last trip to that part of town, known for its crime, drug addicts, and homeless people. The next day we started to think that the children were hungry today and the following days as well. That same evening, we returned with new food, and our visits to Kopli became regular, happening a couple of times a week.
The youngest children we started helping were 5-6 years old, and the oldest were 15. The houses they lived in had no water, electricity and toilets. The ground floor where nobody was living was used as a toilet. Occasionally, if a more active adult had managed to connect a cable from the streetlight pole to the house, there was a chance to use electricity at night, but usually, the power company would soon remove the cable. Often, the children lived separately from their parents because it was safer for them that way, but there were also a few children who didn’t know where their parents were. Going to school was very difficult under such conditions, although some children occasionally attempted it.
One day the children asked, “You’re from the church. Why don’t you ever invite us there?” To a dark, bricked-up window, and cold Peeteli, where cold water came from one tap and water leaked into the basement? Under those conditions, it was not possible to provide the necessary support to the children, and our activities continued outdoors.
In 1997, we mainly provided children with food, warm clothes, blankets, and organized trips to nature. Our main means of transport was a 3-seater Ford Transit minibus. To the luggage room we loaded children, food, a couple of soccer balls, and drove out of town to nature.
