An elderly woman rummages through a trash container. What is she looking for there? Gold? Diamonds? No. She’s searching for a piece of bread – something to keep her from fainting from hunger. Today a stray dog reached the container before she did, so Grandma Gulnara will go to bed hungry.
 But there is still one option – to sit with an outstretched hand in front of the Church of the Holy Mother, hoping for alms. For many years, rain or snow, in unbearable heat or biting cold, Grandma Gulnara has sat in front of that church, asking for help from those who walk through its doors. At the end of the day, she counts her coins, enough to buy bread and a little cheap sausage. But what I’m about to tell you next will make your blood run cold: Georgia is perhaps the only country where social workers count those few coins from alms as “income.” With tears in her eyes, the poor old woman told a reporter from the Chernovetskyi Fund that because she begs for alms, she is denied social allowance…

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No dictionary in the world has the words to fully convey the pain of this elderly woman you see in this photo. It’s not just weeping with tears. It’s a cry from the soul… endless pain…

In the very center of the city, in broad daylight, a sick old woman is digging through a trash container. And what is she looking for? Something luxurious? No. She’s looking for food to keep herself from passing out from hunger. A piece of bread, or, if she’s lucky, the remains of a khachapuri someone threw away.

But instead of bread, she found a torn curtain – and was happy about it. She will spread it on the hard wooden stool where she sits for hours in front of the church, hand outstretched for a few coins.

A wrinkled hand reaching out for alms… dignity stripped away… endless despair…

Grandma Gulnara: “I’ve lost all self-respect. Sometimes I sneak into strangers’ funeral meals and collect leftovers from the tables. The cleaners scold me. But if I weren’t in need, would I take someone else’s food?”

Many Christians enter the church, but only a few truly walk the road of Christ…

Grandma Gulnara held herself together for a long time, but eventually her eyes could no longer hold back the sea of tears.

Grandma Gulnara: “I can’t go on anymore, my dear. Sometimes I’ve even thought of taking my own life – but then I feel ashamed of such thoughts. What would the Lord think? I’ve stood before this church for so many years… Has Satan really tempted me? That would hurt God Himself.”

One picture — two different worlds.

In a luxury car sits a woman the same age as Grandma Gulnara. Perhaps many years ago, they sat at the same school desk. And now… I can’t even bring myself to finish that sentence.

A young, well-groomed hand touches a wrinkled, aged one. On the young hand – a gold ring with precious stones. On Gulnara’s – a faded ring her husband gave her when he proposed. A stranger dropped a few coins into her palm. Gulnara blessed her with all her heart…

Counting the small change she received from kind people, she hurried to the bakery.

A meat pie costs five lari, but she had only four. So once again she had to go without.

A hot khachapuri keeps her from fainting from hunger. But she will not eat again until tomorrow evening.

She asked me to walk with her to the park where there’s a rose garden. Of course, I agreed right away. “My dear, you must be embarrassed to walk with me… My clothes are so torn. So people don’t think we’re together, I’ll walk a little ahead of you…” Those words froze me in place. I walked closer to her instead, and together we entered the park, where well-dressed people were strolling.

Then we went into the church. She prayed silently. And she didn’t need words – it was clear what she was asking the Lord for. Do you think she has many wishes? No. Just one: not to die like a stray dog.

Her body is covered in a rash that burns and itches so badly she scratches until she bleeds. But ointment is an impossible luxury for her – she doesn’t even dare step into a pharmacy.

The only place she enters without fear is the house of God.

She knows no one will throw her out there – unlike the store where she once asked for bread and was refused. May the Lord answer all those who turn away a hungry old woman.

When we left the church, doves flew down from the dome and landed near us.

Perhaps they brought a message from heaven… But we humans, sadly, cannot understand their language.

A butterfly also fluttered by and landed nearby. Maybe it too had something to tell us – but we could not hear the words of God. Maybe it too had something to tell us – but we could not hear the words of God.

Grandma Gulnara: “The state doesn’t give me social allowance. All because I ask for alms. Yes, my dear, those few coins from begging are counted as income. Could there be a greater injustice?”

As she spoke, she sighed so deeply it seemed her whole heart echoed in that sound.

She has a gravely ill son.At the end of the day, she tries to buy him at least some painkillers with the coins she collects.

That pile of rags — that’s her home. Clothes, scraps of fabric, and a torn blanket from the trash keep her from freezing in winter. She doesn’t even have a bed, a table, or a chair.

The walls are covered in mold. The air inside is filled with a toxic smell that poisons her already sick body. She’s suffered from asthma for years and often struggles to breathe. Constant coughing has damaged her vocal cords, and each day her voice grows weaker.

At one point, anger boiled inside me: The state denies help to an elderly person simply because her frail hand is stretched out in front of a church so she won’t starve to death? Should someone in Georgia fear not death, but old age? In a country belonging to the Holy Mother, should a person be “punished” for asking for alms at Her church? Should… should… should…?

By now the day is ending, the golden sun hiding its rays beneath the church dome. The sky flares crimson. The sound of church bells fills the city.

In that moment, I felt the Lord was so close to us — but we fail to notice Him. I felt He was trying to speak to us, but we could not hear His words. The city falls silent. A silence… that screams at the top of its lungs. The pain of a soul with no end in sight…

At last, I – a correspondent for the Fund – leave the city whose heart holds a magnificent church, where hundreds of Christians enter each day… Christians who stand in the house of the Lord but do not see the Lord.

Friends, If while reading this story your heart found even the smallest place for Grandma Gulnara – rejoice. It means you are a child of God. Do not postpone doing good until tomorrow – because tomorrow, the sun may not rise for Grandma Gulnara. She needs help right now. This very minute. This very moment.

If you are willing to visit the family and help them in person, here is their address:  Gori, 56 Kipiani Str.

Every time you can help someone, just do it, and rejoice that God answers someone’s prayers through you!

If you know of someone else’s grief, please call the numbers listed on our website and provide at least the address or phone number of those in need.

If you’re aware of someone in need, let us know – we’d be honored to meet them and introduce them to our friends! Because the Lord wants to help every soul in Georgia! 

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Friends, there is one more request: if you know about the misfortune of a neighbor or friend do a godly deed, drop us an email at: [email protected]

Our Fund’s accounts are:

(Purpose: The Jeiranov family).

You can also transfer money from our website: «Bank of Georgia» (bogpay.ge), «TBC Bank» (tbcpay.ge), «Liberty Bank» (PayGe), PayPal (paypal.me).

It is also possible to transfer money from ExpressPay and TBCpay terminals. Find our Fund under “Charity” section (you can read more about rights and responsibilities of the Fund following the link https://goo.gl/GYGus ).

You can save someone’s life and draw closer to God! Text 97100.

Even if you dial once this special number, it might save someone’s life: 0901200270 God bless you!

Corr: Nini