JOURNEYS Mennonite Stories of Faith and Survival in Stalins Russia, John B. Toews, 1998

s for many years. We sat in the yard. It was dark so people could not see my tears of thankfulness. Finally, finally I was home! I had not come home, I was home. Tall trees stood along the streets and at the entry to the yard. There were the orchards and mul¬ berry hedges which separated the neighbors. No more trees and brush and [high] fences - I was home! I was among my loved ones, surrounded by my wife and children. I thought back to the years where my family struggled with¬ out me. They were forced to leave house and home. They traveled for a month before reaching Kazakhstan in November only to dis¬ cover that no one would accept this weak woman and her five children. Finally they found one small room. The proprietress, a war widow with five children, lived in the adjoining room. A Russian and a German family living side by side — after all Ger¬ man soldiers had killed her husband - and now she was supposed to care for this German family - no she would not do so! Then came the cold, long winter with few clothes and no blan¬ kets. At night the children lay around the oven without mat¬ tresses or straw, while mother got up twice at night to put fuel in the stove. In the morning, in spite of the cold and flimsy clothing, more reed bundles had to be gathered for fuel. The reeds were loaded on small hand sleighs and dragged home .... How they struggled to survive in those difficult years — alone — yes, they got along without me. Two years ago the eldest daughter Michi helped her dear mother build this sod house - what a good, supportive child. Likewise the other four were well-brought up and respon¬ sible. All this happened without me. That evening among many witnesses I complimented my wife and children. I was so happy to be among them. How I hoped that my wanderings were finally at an end, that I might again fulfill my role as a father .... I want to mention a grandfather who was present that evening — a Mr. Federau. He was the grandfather of my son-in-law, Hildas MEMOIRS OF ARON WARKENTIN 221 husband. He cared for the many children and lonely mothers during our absence. Whenever possible he gathered them together on Sunday evenings and preached simple messages from Gods Word. Thanks to his faithful work many of our children became Christians. For example he nurtured my two oldest daughters, Michi and Lenie, as well as their future husbands throughout their teen-age years. Later both celebrated Christian weddings. Today they have grown families and live productive if busy lives. Mr. Federau’s good works — and he is long since in glory — continue to follow him. He was not an educated man . . . yet whenever our children think back to their childhood and youth they mention the good name of Mr. Federau. It was very difficult for families whose fathers were in the Work Army or the labor camps. Kazakhstan was very backward. Ac¬ cording to eastern custom the woman was regarded as a house¬ mai