Barnabas Fund is providing winter fuel for some of the neediest Armenians, like Arpik (above) who has lived alone in a “temporary” shelter since 1988
Many Armenians are desperately poor and live in basic, temporary shelters that offer little protection from the bitterly cold winter
“I was praying and asking God that we do not get cold in winter and that we have fuel. At the time of prayer, the phone rang and I complained, thinking who could it be that was calling to stop me from concentrating on my prayer.” Hasmik, from a large and very poor family in Armenia, continued to pray, but the phone continued to ring. Eventually, rather annoyed, she stopped praying and picked up the phone. It was her local church inviting her to go and get fuel, donated by Barnabas Fund. “I cried for joy,” says Hasmik, “and apologised to God that I lacked faith and did not expect such a quick response.”