Page:«Armenia og armenierne.» (Bodil Biørn okt. 1944).pdf/5

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What a grace that God both wanted and could use me to help this haunted people. From 1905 - 1934 I worked out there in different places. The Lord has wonderfully helped me and sustained me during the difficult years in ancient Armenia. The honor is His.

It was a good thing that I had received good education in nursing and worked as a nurse at home and abroad for 8 years before I left. After a 1-year stay at K.M.A.'s mission school in Copenhagen, I boldly left after God had paved the way. It was after the glorious revival years in 1904 - 05, and I was filled with joy and thanks for going out in God's great deed. The journey went to Constantinople and from there on to the coast of Asia Minor to Alexandrette and then by car and horse to Marasch where I was to work in the great mission hospital. But this was not the place God had determined. After a short period of time, the journey continued by horse ride over high mountains to Mesereh where I met the dear Danish and German missionaries. After a year of language study, where at the same time I also provided help to the many sick people in the orphanage, I got my own little home where the sick children were admitted and cared for. I had two Armenian women to help me. It was a good time with the dear children. Otherwise I worked out in the poor quarters among the sick, held meetings with the women and sometimes helped the American doctor in Charput as there was no nurse there before the Danish Maria Jacobsen came.

Dr. Mikael, a faithful Armenian physician, who also worked extensively among the Turks, helped me more often and looked after my sick, as did another Armenian physician, whom I in return assisted in his operations. One day I was called to a young man who had a nasty wound in the back, and I got the Armenian doctor to open the wound. The doctor was very anxious and would not at first, as the sick was very weak, but I persuaded him to do so. The operation was successful, and the patient recovered completely after two months of treatment. The young man, Toros, had an open heart for the Word of God, and when I gave him a Bible, he became a diligent Bible reader and later brought his mother to the congregation of believers. He was converted during the period of illness. Later he came all the way down to Adana in Cilicia and was murdered there by the Turks during the massacre. So great then that his soul was saved. I met his mother and sister again in Aleppo.

While in Mesereh, I heard about the many sick and poor in Musch who were without help, and I then began to pray that the Lord would send me there if it was according to His will. In the fall of 1907, I was ordered to Musch. The American doctor wondered why I so gladly went to this lonely place, but it became clear to me that God wanted me there. Then it was off again through wild Kurdish tracts and mountains by horse for 8 days to Musch. One of the missionaries followed me all the way. It was a difficult and dangerous journey, but when the Lord Himself is our guardian, we do not need to fear, but can travel safely, and we got to experience that.