European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 19, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                American couple leads an Effort to feed the hungry and mend the fences father Anatoly Kolyada standing at right offers a Toast to All those who participated in the convoys of humanitarian Aid to Russia. By de Reavis staff writer what s surprising about this scene russian army officers gather outside Berlin to dance and celebrate with a russian orthodox priest and together with the Clergyman Toast an american couple affiliated with the department of defense technically nothing Given the new world order. But old  die hard and what was once unthinkable now is simply remarkable. And remarkable it was an unlikely convergence of contrasting cultures lifestyles and political viewpoints. And it occurred recently in the City of Potsdam largely in recognition of Kathie and Phillip Schmoll the americans who in the last year have delivered three convoys of humanitarian Aid into Russia and have a fourth in the works. The setting was the soviet army officers club in this former East German City and the undeniable highlight was father Anatoly Kolyada dancing in front of the red army or perhaps More accurately the recently red army. Before perestroika and the collapse of communism the russian Church and the military were a combustible mix now though people Are turning Back to that old time religion even some of the military Hierarchy. The priest floated around the room with a Vodka Glass in hand toasting the guests his Beard dancing As he moved. He was in a sense following in the footsteps of another Clergyman irom his Hometown the dancing rabbi in Vitebsk the belorussian Village with the fiddler on the roof made immortal by Painter Marc Chagall. While the Rod army combo played Vintage Glenn Miller and jazzed up russian Folk songs the dinner table groaned under the weight of Vodka and sparkling wine from the Kirn platters of Progi pickled cabbage chunks of cold Turkey red peppers and Salmon both smoked and fresh. Father Kolyada danced and toasted the american British and German guests and the hosts a the red army. But the Center of attention were the Scholls whose Good Samaritan efforts had brought together this Eclectic group. More than a year earlier the Berlin couple had decided to do something for the people in need in what was then the soviet Union. The Scholls russian orthodox themselves began visiting the russian Church in nearby Potsdam. The Church is in the Small picturesque russian settlement called Alexandrova after Czar Alexander i. It was founded in 1826 for 12 russian singers who were prisoners of War under prussian King Fredrich Wilhelm Iii. Quot there we met father Anatoly whose brother is a priest in Vitebsk. It was through him we heard about the situation in Russia Quot said Kathie Schmoll. Quot we heard there was hunger especially among the aged the infirm and children. We decided to do something a fill up our own Van with things they need and go  communication with the russians in Alexandrova was no problem. Kathie Schmoll is fluent in russian having worked As a translator at the Spandau prison until it was torn Down after Rudolf Hess died. She now owns firebird study Tours which organizes Tours to the Commonwealth of Independent states about nine times a year. Phillip Schmoll a teacher at the department of defense High school in Berlin said they realized others might want to donate to the cause and took the Campaign to the school and to the germans. They launched fund raising events including a concert of classical music a garage Sale and a letter Campaign to churches in the states. A it got off to a slow Start in the school. I was worried a Phillip Schmoll said. A what saved the Day was the decision to take the food and clothing drive to the tots of the Thomas a. Roberts elementary  the response was instantaneous. Quot those kids took help seriously. You should have seen them these Little kids a 6 and 7 years old a were lugging in bags bigger than they were. It was amazing and it was a catalyst Quot he said. Quot when the older students saw that they did t want to be outdone and the drive was on. It was almost a Competition a who could bring in the  it grew to include the boy scouts the cub scouts Berlin s american Community in general germans students in Pitburg Germany churches in the United states and even students in Stockholm Sweden. When the British in the four Power City heard about it the commander made it a command sponsored Effort Phillip Schmoll said. Phillip Schmoll on Jan. 3,1991, the Scholls and friends took the first four vehicles on the three Day 1,000-mile trek to Vitebsk the second Convoy was in july and the most recent �?17 vehicles and 60 people including 20 americans a went in december. A fourth trip is planned for March. So far the Scholls and those who support their organization the International friends of the orthodox Church in Russia have delivered More than 120 tons of humanitarian Aid. Quot a great saving Factor was How father Anatoly convinced the soviet army in Potsdam to transport much of the Relief. They paid for the Gas which saved us a lot o Money and solved the problem of getting Gas in the East Quot Phillip Schmoll said. The Scholls emphasized that an important part of their activity was developing personal relationships w the the russians. The couple has sponsored three Young russian artists Kathie Schmoll from Ivanovo who exhibited 250 works in the american run Harnack House in Berlin in january i Ivanovo is a town in the heart of old Russia located on he famous Golden ring of ancient russian cities one of the artists Painter Sergei Dukhov said living in Russia is like being a dog on a Leash. I the Leash is longer and you can bark but its still a Bash. The problem is also that the masses Are interested p Art despite the economic problems but they have no Money to buy Quot Dukhov said. Another of the artists Alexander Peshkov said the economic crisis has made it almost impossible for artists to obtain the materials they need to work a but this Opportunity the Scholls have Given us is unique Quot he the proceeds of the Art show will go to the artists and p the Relief project for Vitebsk Kathie Schmoll said there Are people who like to bring Aid to Russia and play Santa Claus by giving it out indiscriminately Quot Phillip u article Alexender Peshkov left end Sergei Dukhov Are grateful for the Chance to exhibit in the West a visitor to the Harnack Houma show inspects paintings offered for Eele by the Rue Elane. Schmoll said Quot that s not what we want. A we want the russians who know to distribute the Aid to the needy. That s Why we chose the Church. A recent poll showed 60 percent of the russian people still Trust the Church in spite of the generations of atheist propaganda Quot she said. The Scholls said their own private operation provide Hope is a difficult and risky undertaking. The convoys need and receive armed Protection. A amps photos by Dave Didio but they also said the Campaign has put them in touch with the Best group of germans they be met in their 11 years in Germany. Quot it has Given us a More balanced View of the germans we now find them More helpful and concerned than we believed they could be Quot said Kathie Schmoll. Quot but it also brought out All the Good traits in the american Community. For us americans it was As if we were waiting for something like this to come along to show How energetic we could be Quot she said. Page 14 the stars and stripes wednesday february 19, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 15