Shortly before World War I began, we held several days of services in Wiączemin and in Vistula Territory near Gąbin, all in modern-day Poland. Brothers Doebert and Müller brought the Word. One day, Sister Doebert wrote from Germany that war was on the horizon; the brothers quickly headed home, barely managing to cross the border before the war began. My family and I were not able to leave because my wife had recently given birth to our fourth child when war broke out on August 1, 1914. What could we do? We put ourselves in God’s hands.
Around 14 days later, we had to report to the authorities in Gąbin to be deported to eastern Russia. We gave up our apartment and travelled some 12 kilometers to town. Unexpectedly, only I was detained, and my wife and our four children were sent back to our old home while I was put in a camp. This separation lasted for four years, and the next time we saw each other was in late 1918.
When I was detained, I first slept for some time due to exhaustion. Then, upon awakening, I immediately thanked the Lord and gratefully accepted everything from God’s hand. This spirit of thankfulness protected me during the following years of detention as well, and the Lord shielded me from all dissatisfaction. Praise be to God for full salvation in Christ! He helped me in the dark hours of my life.
In the same night, we (several other Germans and I) were brought to some barracks in Warsaw. If I remember correctly, it was a Saturday. The following Monday, we were sent to eastern Russia by cargo train, along with around 1000 men. After travelling for ten days and ten nights, we arrived in Orenburg via Moscow. We then crossed the Ural River into Siberia and were placed in a big, fortress-like yard with high walls and towers. The walls were very thick, and there was a primitive living area where we were quartered. We got a little to eat as well.
The police in Orenburg ordered us to walk to Yermolayevo, around 120 kilometers away. Upon arrival, we were hosted by Russian farmers who themselves had barely enough to survive. Since no supplies were being provided by the government, many ended up in great need.
Most of the prisoners came from comfortable backgrounds, so they had a hard time adjusting to their reduced means. In desperation, they tried to work in the fields of a big farm, but not being used to the work, they barely eked out an existence.
As a family, we were always short of money, but before I was detained, God performed a miracle by providing me with enough money to survive until we prisoners received support from Germany via the American consulate. In this time of need, Brother Ebel helped me several times too. What a faithful God we have! It pays to trust Him.
Since we were forbidden from speaking German or holding services, nine months passed in which I was not really able to talk about God’s Word with anyone or to pray with others. I served the Lord quietly, but throughout all this, the Lord gave me a content and thankful heart. During this time, I was able to live out sanctification in a practical way, and it was well with my soul.
We were detained along with around 300 others in this village. As I was walking through the village one day, a voice clearly told me to go into a big house. Inside, I met the parents of Brother Gustav Sonnenberg. They, too, were believers and detainees. This meeting gave me the first opportunity since my arrival to talk about God’s Word and to kneel together before God. Fifty years have passed since then, but I still remember the deep impression it made on me to be together with children of God.
Years later, I met up with their son, Gustav Sonnenberg, and he talked about the visit I had made to his parents and the impression it left on him. When we held camp services in Ortelsburg, East Prussia (now Szczytno, Poland), he felt drawn to attend and gave his heart to the Lord there. The Lord fashioned him into a highly diligent and competent servant in His kingdom. That is well known, so I will not write more on the subject here. Suffice it to say, glory to the Lord! Being faithful to Him is worth it, even if we do not see the results ourselves.
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