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

ecame a bit easier. The children naturally had to help. In fall, Lena and I went to dig potatoes. It was difficult for our mother to look after the entire household for Jakob. At Christmas Mother asked him whether or not he was thinking of taking a wife .... He found a wife and mother in Tina Wiens of Prangenau who is still alive and honored by children and grandchildren alike .... The children soon adjusted to the new mother, and we never heard them say they had a stepmother. In a letter Father suggested that Mother should come to the Caucasus if the opportunity arose. In the fall she left for the Cau¬ casus together with brother Rosenfeld. I stayed with Heinrich during this time .... Since we had been expelled, I felt strange in my own place of birth. There were no longer any services since the church had been confiscated. I became very shy and preferred to simply stay at home with the children .... In May 1936, Johann Martens was arrested following a 60 JOURNEYS house search. Immediately afterwards Heinrich told us to count on the fact that he would be arrested. In winter the brothers Johann and Heinrich Baerg had gathered at Johann Martens to read a book called Der Heilsplan Gottes mit den Menschen (Gods Plan of Salvation for Humankind). Bernhard Fast of Alexanderkrone was also present. Though Neta wanted him to stay home, Heinrich had also gone one evening. Such services were forbidden and it was dangerous to come together in such a way. There were always people who reported these things. Therefore Heinrich believed that Johann Martens arrest would not be the only one .... During harvest Heinrich attended to the threshed grain. When he returned home in the evening he always said: “Well today I managed to come home again!” He searched through his books, papers and letters because he had ordered Bibles, books and pic¬ tures for the Sunday school from Germany. He burned all the addresses because they could arouse suspicion. Fearing the future we passed the days and weeks. Each new day brought its worry. It was like the sultry air before a thunderstorm. The feared day came at noon on August 6, 1936. I was in the yard, Neta was in the garden. I saw three men coming, two officials in white clothing and Heinrich in the middle. They were coming from the threshing machine. I knew immediately that this was the beginning of the end for Heinrich. The officials asked if I lived here, who I was and where Neta was. I called her and we all had to go inside, close the door and sit down. They read a warrant which authorized a house search for weapons. Heinrich had to sign it and they began to search through closets, beds and drawers. When they took books and letters from me I protested that they were mine. They said they would return them later. Then Heinrich had to get dressed. Neta threw herself on the bed and cried. Meanwhile the automobile drove on the yard. When we came out little Heini, one ye