Cold is more than just a temperature
If you’re reading this, we’re in Poland. No matter the weather, code orange or red; if we need to be somewhere, we just go.
The drive here was fine, though we mostly saw a lot of white. Snow, snow, and more snow. We had a few traffic jams, some accidents along the way, and even a driver who tried to knock us off the road. It’s slippery, sir—maybe an idea to drive a bit slower and look further ahead next time? That would be nice.
But anyway, we arrived with only a two-hour delay.
The snow is so beautiful, and we’re really enjoying it. But of course, we’re not here for the snow, because we have that in Schwerin too.
When you think of snow, you probably think it’s cozy, but if you’re homeless, it’s a completely different story. This coming weekend, it’s going to be -13 degrees at night. It’s not just cold, but everything gets wet too. And just imagine: you have no house, no heater, and there’s basically no shelter. Yeah, officially there is, but what’s the point of 25 spots for hundreds of homeless people? So, nothing gets dry anymore. Wet clothes in winter are a terrible combination.
Luckily, there are people who hand out clothes to those on the streets. They show up with boxes full of warm clothes. The old clothes are tossed immediately, and just like that, you’re wearing something dry and warm again. And those empty cardboard boxes? They’re gratefully accepted, because at least you have something to lie on.
With a cup of soup and a coffee, there’s a moment for a short talk. A message that your true salvation lies in Christ. And yes, that also means stopping the things in your life that aren’t good for you. Alcohol and cold really don’t go together. This way, for just a brief moment, the day feels a little less cold. It’s a beautiful initiative that we fully support.
Afterwards, we had an appointment with a few refugees who, formally, aren’t allowed to be refugees. The world is complicated sometimes.
- If you come from a country that is friends with the country you’re in, you get recognized.
- But if you flee a country (because you don’t want to be sent into a war), and your country isn’t friends with them? Then formally you aren’t a refugee, and you get worked against in every way possible.
So there you are in a foreign country. Your new residence permit should have been ready within three months; you have a job, and so does your wife, but you haven’t heard a single thing for a year. “We’re working on it,” is all the website says. You applied for that permit renewal ages ago (a year ago already), but meanwhile, the bank calls to say they’re closing your account because your papers aren’t up to date.
Going back to your own country isn’t an option, because you’d go straight to prison. Staying here, even though you have a job, an income, and you pay for everything yourself… it’s a constant struggle. You notice it in everything: the world around us is cold right now. Not just literally because of the freezing cold, but definitely figuratively too.
