THE MENNONITE BROTHERHOOD IN RUSSIA (1789 - 1910), P. M. Friesen, 1911

r from this goal diverts me, Whether by little or by much, Is seeking to seduce me.” b) “In the name of our Lord we begin our visitation itinerary in Ladekopp. 234 We visited the minister, Franz Claassen [of the Halbstadt- Ohrloff Church], and were received by him in a brotherly fashion. 235 We conversed about the great love of our Lord for sinners. Our attention was focused especially on the love of Jesus which binds us together and on the declared will of our Lord that we all be one even as He is one with the Father. In the course of the conversation, Claassen commented that he would gladly lead the young people to the river to be baptized, but that he was not convinced that he himself should be baptized. We were also warmly received by Wedel, the [school] teacher. We exchanged questions regarding the promise conveyed through Abraham and his descendants, and regarding the truth of being bom anew like the morning dew. We found our fellow believers to be strong in faith and happy in the Lord. Br. Knak was physically ill, but he had hope of getting well.” c) “Halbstadt. Teacher Bernhard Harder [school teacher and minister of the Halbstadt-Ohrloff Church] 236 extended a friendly welcome to us. When we asked him whether he was growing in his new life in Christ, he responded that he himself was often not aware whether he was growing or not ; indeed, while reading God’s Word he often had to tell himself, ‘You have never believed that.’ We discussed many other things concerning our salvation and adoption and then took leave of each other after prayer. . . .” 237 d) “Muntau. In the evening we arrived at [Johann] Martens, 238 and were greeted as brothers. Martens’ wife, who had not fully recovered from illness, was sitting near the oven, and rejoiced in having a Lord who helps in all circumstances. Martens, too, confessed allegiance to our Lord. In the morning we visited someone who was ill unto death. We asked him if he had the assurance of the forgiveness of sin, eternal life, and salvation. He responded with a faint ‘yes.’ We read a passage from II Cor. 5 and commented on it. He appeared to comprehend it— how demonstrably powerful in the hour of death is the Word, ‘Today while you hear his voice.’ How difficult, indeed, how impossible it often is, to §196 450 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH take hold of the Word when death is at hand. We closed the visit with prayer. The man’s wife, deeply distressed, and weeping, accompanied us as we left the room and appeared to have been moved by the Word.” e) “Nassau [Lutheran Colony in the Molotschna], on the 7th. Sister Dielmann [member of the M.B. Church, previously a Lutheran and a sister in Wuest’s group] was very happy that we had come to visit her. We fellowshipped about the Word together. When we left for Krueger’s, she accompanied us. We were received affectionately. During our conversation, two other families, who listened attentively to the Word