The Great Trek of the Russian Mennonites to Central Asia, 1880-1884, Fred Richard Belk, 1976

-Sabs."* Hearing a rumor that his theological adversary at Serabulak, J. K. Penner, had recently likened his followers to the “dumb dogs’ mentioned in Isaiah 56:10 and had 136 The Great Trek of the Russian Mennonites complained that nothing in Epp’s teachings had come true, he felt it imperative that he hurry to Serabulak and dispel any false accu- sations about his millennial faith or personal life. He made it clear that because of his audacity and intemperate speech, Penner would soon be excommunicated from the Bride Community Church. This, according to Epp, would be tantamount to missing Christ when He came.'° Traveling as fast as they could and following the approximate route of their predecessors, Epp’s party crossed the Hunger Steppe at the end of May and passed through Samarkand at the beginning of June. On June 12, 1882, Claas Epp and some 40 families drove into Serabulak, where a joyful reunion celebration was held. Rather than excommunicating men like Penner, Epp hastily arranged Bible studies each afternoon and prayer meetings at night, because he was convinced that he had to win back his erring brothers. Ex- pounding the books of Daniel, Isaiah, the Gospels, and Revelation with a new fervor, he likened their journeys to the wanderings of the children of Israel. A revived zeal soon captured a majority of the congregation, and they were now receptive to Epp’s leadership and a new plan of settlement." They had to do something quickly, for the new influx of people made a very large group with seven ministers and two teachers. They could not impose much longer on little Serabulak; there were no more quarters available for them and the group was beginning to tax the hospitality of the friendly Sarts. Epp had an answer for this dilemma. While passing through Samarkand, he had been advised that the khan of Khiva might make a place for the Mennonites if Bukhara continued to deny them entry. Khiva now became the new promised land. 12 NEW HOPE AT AULIE ATA As the Mennonite millennialists faced these perplexing circum- stances on the border of Bukhara, the brethren they had left behind in Tashkent were actively engaged in a new enterprise, which would lead to the development of a new settlement in northeastern Turk- estan. These Tashkent brethren were in a far more agreeable situa- tion than their counterparts who had wandered to Bukhara. They were comparatively comfortable and secure in the center of an urban area. Working in the quarries, however difficult, still provided income for their families. Moreover, the early support of General von Kaufmann had given them renewed courage in their strange surroundings. Tashkent Mennonite Plans But as time went on, a series of misfortunes combined to render their position no longer tenable. The typhoid epidemic had deci- mated their ranks; Kaufmann’s death had deprived them of a patron, and harsher governmental policies followed. Furthermore