the boat through the raging sea. Had I not had Jesus, then I would have despaired and would have perished in the terrible time of tribulation that we have experienced there. After all, it wasn't just days or weeks to endure, but it was months, yes years.
Our faithful God helped through everything and preserved me in a marvelous way - Ps. 34, 5-9, 16, 20. - When I look back, it is not only with grief, but also with praise and thanks for the wonderful preservation and grace of the Lord. It is a wonder that I came from it with my life intact, and that no hair was curled on my head, and that is a great grace; for how I was better than all those who in a grievous way had to die. Words cannot describe the horrors that we have experienced, and it is so upsetting and painful to talk about, so today I will pass them by and tell a bit from Harunje and my journey home.
I had for a long time wanted to get home; but as long as I could be of any help to the unhappy, persecuted, miserable people out there, I would not go. I tried to prevent some distress here and there and pour some comfort into the despairing hearts. Everything looked black and hopeless to them, so many children of God also began to falter in faith and thought that God had forgotten their people, so then we had to try to help them.
In Harunje I had a small apartment to work outside among the remaining people, but there were some, and then there were our teachers and all the children, approx. 180, when the Turkish government sent us 20 older boys from an Armenian orphanage, which was disbanded, most of which sent in banishment down towards the desert; but these 20 were saved. Many of them are gifted and learn easily, they are making good progress in school. Some of the oldest ones we later sent to German soldiers' homes nearby, where they help out and have a good time.
The Spirit of God worked a great deal among the children this year, many came and confessed their sins and surrendered to Jesus; but there were also those who resisted and mocked the others. A Turkish doorman - from the Sassun region - is with us, and he is very reliable and caring for the Armenian children, he knew well which of the children were "Christians" as he said, and he suggested to put them in trusted positions, e.g. to bring the flour to the baker and retrieve the bread every day; they could be trusted, he said, and it was true. It was so good to see and notice the change in practical life, in being faithful, reliable and diligent in house and field work and in school.
It takes great love, patience and perseverance to work among such a large flock of children, and it is not easy to keep order and influence the individual; but it was a great help that several of the children themselves influenced the others and set a good example. Likewise, one of the teachers was an avid soul winner and reaped the fruits of his labor among the children. The big boys helped out in the garden, in the fields, in the barn and in the carpentry workshop, the big girls were good at all kinds of housework, in the kitchen and in cleaning; they even washed all the children's clothing and patched and stopped it. I had oversight of the sewing room for a while, and you had to be careful to keep everything in order, and that was no easy task. Some were very good at seams; but others just wanted to be done quickly.
The management of the schools were had by Mr. von
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