Together with some colleagues, my wife Sandra visited those people in Stelpe who by reason of venerable age or some disability could not come to the Christmas party for pensioners. The visitors delivered some Christmas presents prepared by the school teachers, pupils, local government workers and other well meaning people of Stelpe.If any of the visited people own a cupboard or a bookshelf, they may be called rich. Most of them just live between their four walls, and inside that space, there is some kind of fire, a piece resembling bed, and might be some table.
Their only companion and link to the broader world is usually a TV set.
No one of them ever complains. That's their life to be lived, and no one from outside will ever be able to resolve their problems.
Yet there is one thing we all became aware of: we need to visit those people a little more often than just Christmas, listen to what they have to say, bring them some food, clothes, blankets... It is our chance to make ourselves useful, is it not?
Aina (picture above) is 95 years old, 7 of which have been spent in the Siberian exile. Even though she needs some helper to take care of her, her mind remains bright, and she loves to welcome friends in her house.
All the pictures in this post by Sandra Neliusa
Tereze Neliusa sang a song which most of the visited people tried to join in.
Sabine Mikalone played Kokle, and many people had tears in their eyes
Mr. Zvirbulis uses his arms to pull himself out of the door when the sun shines. He has lost his legs. The wheelchair he possesses is not stable enough to be used for taking himself around.
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