First Missions

Poland & Latvia

Revised February 28, 2024

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POLAND & LATVIA

After Poland became a country in 1919, after World War I, some of the workers to go there were:

Tom Alexson (born in Ukraine, professed in Manitoba)
Jack Annand ( Victoria, Australia)
Vasyl "Willie" Evanov (born in Ukraine, professed in North Dakota) 1927 on same boat with:
Carl Leonhardt ( Saskatchewan) 1927
Willie McDonald (Scotland/Canada)
Frank Patrick ( Scotland)
Bert Todhunter ( Scotland)
Tom Turner ( Scotland)  

The years and order in which these men went to Poland is not known for certain. A letter mentions that Tom and Jack went to Poland in the spring of 1925, but it is not known if they were the first to go there.  Willie Evanov went to Poland in 1927.

Shortly after WW2 in 1947, a Polish sister, Mila Gargas, started in the work with a Swiss companion named Marie Heiniger.  Apparently there was a short time when there was a little bit of movement there permitted by the communist government.  Marie eventually had to leave and Mila was left alone.  She died in 2005, but wasn't active as a worker during the last years of her life.  Of course, everyone had to hold registered jobs under communism.  

A Polish man named Eduard Podgorski, was able to leave and go to Switzerland where he started in the work in 1960.  Two years later he returned to Poland.  He was in the work there by himself under communist rule for 20 years.  He had to hold a registered job, but was generally able to get out to visit East Germany and to Switzerland for convention every few years, and even came to Canada for conventions one year--probably in the 1980s.  

During the interwar period, it seems that a number of the Eastern European countries -- Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechoslovakia -- worked together during those years, so the men’s names listed above were moving back and forth from country to country, and would not all have been in Poland at any one time.  From letters, it seems that visas were a major problem, and often they could only get a few months permission at a time before having to leave and be out of the country for at least several months before returning.  So with a number of them divided between those countries, they were able to rotate in and out as visas were available.  

Russia, of course, was already closed by communism.  One Russian brother, Konstantin Petrochuk, had professed in Germany in the early 1920s, and by the mid 1920s had returned to Russia alone, where he worked in Leningrad and had some converts.  As far as can be determined, he was never able to leave the country again, and it is a bit uncertain if he survived World War 2.

When WW2 broke out, Bert Todhunter was in Switzerland for some meetings and was trapped there.  After the war, he spent most of the rest of his life in Austria, being Overseer there for a number of years.  He returned to the British Isles in his very old age, where he died in 2008 at 102 years old.  During his years in Austria, there was a relatively large group of workers.  Most of them learned various languages so they were able to make visits into the countries then under communism. Outside workers might visit Poland for a few weeks at a time when they could get a visa, but for the most part Mila and Eduard were the only workers there during the communist years.  

Perhaps in the late 1980s or early 1990s, Loran Skaw and Jeff Evans, both from Iowa, and had been in Romania and Austria, were able to go and stay longer on some sort of student visas. Then Jeff returned to the States and Domenic Enrietta (from Colorado, and had been in Italy), went to be with Loran for several years. Eleanor and Arlene Leszewski (biological sisters from Wisconsin) went in the early 1990s.  

Ukraine was opened to the workers again in the 1990s. Now there are quite a number of workers, several conventions and several Ukrainian workers. At present (2009), there may be either six or eight workers in Poland.  Loran Skaw is now Overseer. Among the workers there is Ian Simpson from Indiana, grandson of Virgil Simpson, former worker from Indiana who labored for a time in Italy.  Eleanor Leszewski is there and also Tammy Carr from Montana. Since Romania and Ukraine have both had a number of native-born workers in recent years, there are some from those countries who work in Poland.  Evidently there is good freedom of movement between Poland and Ukraine without a lot of visa complications, so there is a lot of movement back and forth between those countries. No native-born Poles have gone in the work since the fall of communism, and not very many young people have taken an interest there.  

When did the workers first arrive?  Probably sometime between WW1 and WW2

Who were the first brother workers?  (in random order) Tom Alexson, Jack Annand, Vasyl "Willie" Evanov, Carl Leonhardt, Willie McDonald, Frank Patrick, Bert Todhunter, Tom Turner. It is known that Tom and Jack went to Poland in the spring of 1925.

Who were the first sister workers? “Shortly after the war, a Polish sister, Mila Gargas, started in the work with a Swiss companion named Marie Heiniger.”  

Who was the first native to go in the work? “Shortly after the war, a Polish sister, Mila Gargas, started in the work.” In 2010, a 26 year old young lady started in the work in Poland, the first one to do so for 50+ years.

Who was the first to profess?

When & Where was the first meeting? 

When & Where was the first baptism?

When & Where was the first convention? 

Where have subsequent conventions been held?

Where is the convention currently held?  Held for the last several years in a rented facility in Wisla.

Who have the Overseers been? Bert Todhunter (died March 31, 2008 in England);  Loran Skaw

TTT Editor's Note: Corrections or additions are most welcome; as well as other historical accounts for other countries.
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Jack Annand - Work in Poland

Convention 1931

Phil. 1 . ''I thank my God non every remembrance of you for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now.''

This afternoon little memories came into my mind of former scenes and incidents...I would like your fellowship in the Gospel and interest in the work of God throughout the world to become deeper and greater. Fellowship means partnership; the Philippians had this partnership with Paul in the Gospel. If you want to know how important this is to you, turn to a number of different places in the Scriptures.

As Nehemiah built the wall of Jerusalem there were a number of different gates in the wall, but only one gate which was sanctified—the sheep gate. This sheep gate speaks of God's way of reaching men and women, the way of which sheep are brought to be sacrificed on God's altar. This represents God's way of reaching souls by the Gospel, reminding us of the interest of the great High Priest and all priests, whether saints or servants, in the sheep fold of God.

It is by this that our love is measured. Luke 6:19, in the mountain Jesus continued all night in prayer, for the next morning He was going to choose His representatives to go forth end seek His sheep. Verse 17, later He went down to the plain and spoke those important words to His disciples (v. 20 onwards).

Over twenty years ago, before I heard the Gospel of Christ, I found it very hard to have faith in God. Although my mother was a God-fearing woman, my father was an Atheist and influenced me also in this direction, and many a time he said, "there is no evidence of there really being a God." So I grew up to think that perhaps after all Christianity is only an invention of men. Since then, by the help of others and experience in my heart, my faith has been increased.

After I began to follow Christ, I saw other young lives going forth into God's harvest field, and my heart began to beat more quickly, and I felt a burning love to do the same. At such times I was up the mountain with visions of what I could become perhaps, then I well remember riding home from a meeting and beginning to question myself. "Would I really be willing?" I was getting down to the plain. It would mean becoming homeless, perhaps hungry. I would be spoken against, and there would be much to test if my love was genuine and honest. It was on the plain Jesus spoke to His disciples and sent them forth.

About 6 or 9 years ago, when replying to a friend in America by letter, my thoughts turned to the revolution in Russia, and I said perhaps this is the threshing which precedes the gathering in of the grain. Perhaps God would yet be able to gather in the souls of these people who were so precious to Him.

My companion [Tom Alexson] was born in the Ukraine in Russia; he had a poor education, but knew a little of the Russian people. He had met the servants of God and had later on gone out to preach the Gospel in Canada. With him, George Wise and another George, we set sail from America, passing through Germany we met some of our brethren, whose fellowship lifted my hearth with hope, and did much to convince me that men was the same everywhere, molded alike and with the same strivings and the same outlook. Also that the sowing of the Gospel will produce the same fruit wherever it is sown. Jesus said "I am the true vine," the branches of which are His servants, who have the same sap, leaf and bark, and bear clusters of grapes. In every part of the world, the Gospel of Christ produces in men and women the nature to cluster and have fellowship together in the things of God.

George did not tell any stories about me, so I had better not tell any about him, except that we nearly bought a dining room instead of a meal.

Well, it was nearly spring when Tom Turner and I went to a town in Poland. The melting snow made the dirt streets all slush, pigs were running about everywhere. There were 5 or 6 different languages spoken, for in towns near the border the language, customs and dress were mixed. We arrived by train from Warsaw, very tired and my head ached, and America and Australia seemed a long way off, and I thought perhaps after all we had made a mistake in coming.

Our outlook in life seems to depend very largely on our circumstances, our feelings, and our health, and we can only battle through against our feelings and our outlook will brighten. We were eyed by the people, for no doubt a leather bag I carried, which had been given me by Bill Carroll, and very different from anything used there, gave away that we were foreigners.

We hired a room and stayed for about two weeks and looked around to see if any religious meetings were held. We found a place where people met together three times a week and we went along. I could not understand what was said but sought to become acquainted with the Russian sounds. The services were conducted a little differently there—the one who conducts asks others to speak and then finishes up the service himself.

They stood to speak and knelt to pray, all seemed confusion as they all prayed audibly and at the same time, but I thought perhaps this is the expression of these people's hearts as they felt after the unknown God. The 17th of Acts came into my mind, God has made of one blood all nations that they may feel after Him and find Him. If there is one unsaved person here today, I would like to think that in your heart, perhaps under a religious profession, there is that quiet seeking after God. I looked on those ragged dressed, whose heads were covered with handkerchiefs, probably they could afford nothing better, and my heart was moved with longing to speak to them.

One custom is that men kiss men, and women kiss women, and they think strangers require special attention! My companion was spitting all the way home one night, and he told me that the dirtiest old man in the meeting had kissed him. Sick people and tubercular people had a special desire to embrace. However, I did all I could to dodge it all! We next went to a town about eight miles away where the religious people had become divided into two parties, Baptists and Plymouth Brethren. The PB's showed us they did not want us, and the Baptists were suspicious, but we went to both services to show that we belonged to neither party. Later on, the PB's wanted us to throw in our lot with them as they were getting short of funds, they think that all English speaking preachers have well-filled pockets, people over there preaching the Gospel have the Gospel and money coupled together. Later on, the Baptists asked us to speak in their meeting, so I did. Tom translated; we said very little but won a little confidence thus, but going amongst them.

I tried to study Russian. Some of the families seemed to have a flock of geese, which little girls take out and feed on the pastures in the village. Instead of sweets, they eat sunflower seeds. We got some for the kiddies in order to talk to them and pick up their language. The Australian niguine? have to swallow their prey right end first, or trouble follows. In trying to learn the grammar first, I was laying the right foundation but I found it more necessary when we entered.

This visa was for twelve months. The police had visited us often; therefore, at the office they knew a good deal about us. The official said he was giving us a fright, and he certainly did when he ordered us to leave the country within twenty-four hours, This made us boil, for both Australia and America had their doors open to receive Poles. I was inclined to think unjust things, for an order of this kind in a foreign land seemed a big dark thing. It would have been easy to speak a lot but I kept silent.

We went to interview the Governor of another center who sent us to Warsaw, from which we were sent back again. We were finally granted a month's permission and were able to apply for a similar grant at the end of a month. This we did for several months until in the middle of a meeting one day, a policeman arrived with a slip of paper bearing orders to leave in seven days.

So, we went to the little country of Latvia, the capital of which is Riga, we were well received here. We sought as before to get in touch with the people. We got to know of a Bible reading in a wealthy home where, as we attended each week, we got to know the people, who were inclined to talk and argue on the subject being considered. One day "being born again" came up as a subject, and someone said I could tell them about this. I said that as the time was already gone, I would like another opportunity, whereupon the lady said that I could have the following evening to speak to them.

So I had a whole meeting and was fortunate to have the services of a splendid translator who was able to convey my meaning well. So I told as well as I could a little of "being born again" and walking in God's Way. We always spoke whenever there was an opportunity. We went to another village and found a home where about forty people were meeting together. On one occasion, the people started to sing in front of a home and within twenty minutes, they were all invited into the kitchen.

It was there I first saw children sleeping on top of a huge stove that many of their homes contain. This shows that people can be brought together into homes. The people had for years been dissatisfied with the Greek churches and had tried the Plymouth Brethren and Baptists and others only to find they were fooled.

We were in Latvia about one month, and two brothers came across to join us, and one of these accompanied me back to Poland. Here I was persuaded one Sunday to try to speak in Russian, and as the time came, I felt so hopeless and helpless. But I told of something I had seen in one of their countries. One day I saw an eagle gliding through the air with hardly a movement of wing, climbing higher and higher. An old black crow was underneath making a big noise, and flying up and down, seeming to be trying to imitate the eagle, but the crow had not the eagle's nature, they saw, lived and flew differently. By this I tried to illustrate between being inside and outside of God's family, between being sincere and insincere. I wondered if I had made anything clear, but when I later heard someone refer to my sermon and mention the two birds, I gathered that perhaps a little of what I said had been understood.

My companion who returned with me to Poland was a young man who could speak several languages but as the law required a petition signed by several reputable citizens before a service was permitted, we were blocked again. However, as standing up meant preaching and sitting down meant talking, we invited people into our room where sitting on boxes and beds, we tried to make plain to them the way of Christ. We continued preaching for about four months wondering if the people thought we had just started something new in opposition to other religions.

But when we began to show a heart concern to the seriousness of being outside God's way and family, we one day put a test to the meeting as to who would be willing to walk the way of God. The whole meeting stood up, and my heart dropped as I thought we would have to start all over again and make the way plainer. You always find some kickers, one man who had a twist in his nature and often kicked, said to me one night, "I almost yielded and almost saw, but not quite." He was unwilling to receive Christ. The unwillingness always means and prevents a man or woman from seeing.

We started a little fellowship meeting on Sunday morning where four languages were to be spoken. I didn't know what would become of it, but I like to be hopeful and look on the things that will increase my hope and theirs. They write and tell me they miss me, and Jack Craig looks upon them with hope in his heart as those who have been born again. I visited our two brethren in Latvia, where a few had decided whom we tried to help.

While there I received a letter from one man in Russia who was still not free from Egypt: "I want to see you again I am in doubts and fears." Perhaps he wondered would this fan out as all else had done; he had not wholly yielded to God. There are two sides to salvation, ours and God's. He asks us to present our corrupt, incomplete and fallen nature as a sacrifice to Him by the preaching of the gospel, and God is willing to then entrust us with the blameless, unblemished life of His precious Son. You may have disappointed God, but He is willing if you trust Him to entrust to you the life of His incorruptible Son. This man had his doubts dispelled as he wholly yielded.

He invited us to come and have a meeting down a dark staircase, along a narrow passage into a damp dark cellar, the only window to which showed the feet of passing pedestrians. What hope of regaining health have those who are sick or consumptive? They just endure it and hope not to pass out soon.

One religious woman who has now been broken and baptised was once a woman of wealth and standing but made poor by the revolution. She had at one time been influenced by the Seventh Day Adventists, and after we met her, she saved a little money and brought us her tenth. We did not accept it, of course, but advised her to save a little more and go to a convention. My companion offered to add a little to her savings if she found she had not enough, and by selling a few trinkets she got to a convention and was greatly helped.

I was always curious to find out all I could about the people, and my curiosity took me around to narrow streets, which were on market days crowded with Jews, who had for sale a lot of second-hand rubbish—old iron, old clothes and boots. I saw a peasant come out of a shop and approach one of these Jews, who looked through his stock for a little girl's dress. He held up the dress to his customer but hid the mending and patches on the shoulders and elbows. A picture came before my eyes of a little girl anxiously awaiting her daddy's homecoming and the fulfilment of his promise, perhaps on the occasion of her birthday to buy her a new dress. As I beheld these scenes, I thought that if the day comes when I, as a preacher of the Gospel, have to wear these things or suffer great things, I'll do it without a murmur; for others suffer far more and do so uncomplainingly.

One reason why I view Russia so hopefully is because the devil is so anxiously busy to hinder the progress of the gospel. The Bolsheviks are instruments in the hands of the devil to prevent God sowing the precious seed. It is true that they destroyed much that needed to be destroyed, but three things that they have done proves their work to be the work of the devil.

(1) They aim to destroy the faith of the rising generation, and if a person's faith is destroyed, like the strings of a piano, it is hard to awaken a response. They have made it unlawful to speak of religion to anyone under the age of eighteen years. Lenin's wife once told a crowd of hungry children to cry to the Tzar's God for bread, then she told them to cry to the Bolsheviks for bread, and loaves from aeroplanes which flew overhead as arranged were dropped.

(2) The breaking down of marriage ties, the obtaining of a divorce is just like buying a railway ticket. The woman usually goes to work, as well as the man, and many a wife comes home to find her husband has signed his name and divorced her.

(3) The destitute children and millions of homeless children, sometimes seen huddled together trying to keep warm. During the war when the Germans first advanced, they wrecked homes and broke up families, and now since the revolution, homes, discipline and family relationships have gone. The Soviet has four or five million of these destitute children growing up to vice, uncleanness and crime.

Russia must therefore suffer until God moves to help the 160 million people. His eye is still on the souls for whom Christ died, redeemed them with the hope of bringing them into His family. The workers abroad would like you to pray for them. Oh, the loneliness some of them have known. The great High Priest prays for us, will you pray also? When our ministry fails and is insufficient, the angels would still be faithful. If you forget me, yet He never will forget, but would still pray for me through my hours of weakness. Pray for us and pray for all, and your heart will be enlarged, and your vision made clearer for doing so.

Account by Emil Hegg and Horace Todhunter (undated)

We had a visit from Emil Hegg ( Switzerland) and Horace Todhunter ( Scotland) last evening and I want to share with you before I forget.

Horace [Todhunter] told us when his mother went for confirmation in the Church of England, she looked a little older than her fourteen years and the minister said to her, "Of course, you are old enough to know that not all the Bible is true. The books of Job and Jonah are fairy tales." She was surprised and said to him, "I always understood the Bible was the word of God and it was all true." Horace said it may have been the best thing that ever happened, because she always had the niggling feeling that man does not believe the Bible.

After they were married they left the Church of England and joined the Methodists. His father was made a lay preacher and his first sermon was from Eph. 2. "And you has He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." That was the way he felt. But two years later, when the true servants of God came to their part, they accepted the Truth. The eldest child was then 10 years old. Out of a family of nine children; six have gone into the work.

Emil [Hegg] has been to Poland and East Germany a number of times and had wonderful things to tell us of the friends there and their experiences.

A young man that was professing had permission from the government to leave Poland and go to work in Switzerland for 2 years. If a young person can leave Poland, they never go back. But Eduard [Podgorski] worked for a short time in Switzerland and then he went into the work. When the two years were up he decided to return (to Poland). They have to have a job and he got work in the hospital. It seems it was on the administrative side. It is not always so easy for Emil to express himself in English, but he said Eduard had to keep track of everything that came into the hospital and pay.

Eduard visits the friends and has meetings where and when he can. We have heard of him through Ilse Kock's letter also.

The authorities wanted to honor Eduard and make him a great person in the Communist party because of his good work. His boss told him they were to make a great feast and give him this honor. Eduard said he would not be able to accept it because he served God and would not be able to take the oath to become a member of the Communist party. His boss told him he would loose his job and would have to accept very humble work, maybe even cleaning the lavatories. But Eduard could not be moved.

The weekend of the party, or feast, came and went without Eduard attending. On the Monday morning he went to work as usual not knowing what would take place. W hen he got there he found nobody sitting in his chair, so he went about his work. Later the boss came in and told him to carry on as usual. He said that out of a 100 employees, Eduard was the only one he could trust. None of his privileges were to be taken away from him. Every two years Eduard has permission to visit Switzerland . Not even the party members can get this privilege. Yes they can go to Moscow or East Germany, but not to the West. It has never been denied Eduard.

A young man started attending meetings in Poland. Everyone was so pleased. He even went to Sunday morning meetings. After three months he spoke to Eduard and told him he was a spy sent by the government to find out what went on in the meetings. He told Eduard. He was sending his report and that it would be favorable. The meetings could continue. What had impressed him very much was the fact that in every meeting one or more would pray for the government and no one ever said anything against them.

A family of friends were taken from Riga, Latvia, to Russia during the war. The parents were killed. The daughter, who was a little girl when they left their home, remembered the meetings and some hymns. She grew up and married a very nice, man. Back in Riga another family wondered what had become of this girl and continued to make inquiries from anyone who came from Russia. A soldier was asked if he had ever encountered her. He said no, but he also w ould make inquiries, which he did. He found her and put her in touch with the friends. She made a journey of 4,000 km, attended the meetings in Riga and then she knew these people were indeed her parents people.

Emil told us that Eduard said they suffered most in Poland just after the war. Weeks went by and they had no bread. Nine men were sharing one room. One day one man was given a piece of bread and told to divide it amongst the others. Eduard said it was stale and as the one broke it, the rest of them reached out their hands, 16 of them, and held it under the bread that not a crumb would be lost. Emil spoke of the bread of life and do we value it as we should?

Emil had permission to visit East Germany for one month. He had to return on Su nday before midnight. On Friday one of the friends asked Emil to go for a walk with him. They walked for half an hour and came to a little lake, approximately 20 meters by 30 meters. Then the brother said, "Emil, can't we have a baptism? Some of the friends have been professing for 20 years and have never had the opportunity. ” Emil was afraid and knew if he were caught it could mean prison for him. The man said he would take the blame, but Emil said he would pray about it. It was the 16th chapter of Acts that came to his mind, verses 31 and 35. Then he knew God showed him His will. "He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptised, he and all his household."

That same night at midnight the friends gathered together in the home and had their little meeting. Took the half hour walk in the thick fog to the little lake. The five people who were to be baptised were already in the clothes they were to go into the water in and they hid their other clothes in a bundle. Not a word was spoken. They got to the lake. Emil said he wondered where he would put his coat so he would be able to find it again when he was finished.

When he went to the water's edge, all five of the people were in the water waiting. He had noticed during the day that the water went down slowly and then gave a drop. When Emil cautiously entered, his foot went ever the ledge and he went completely under. He told us he was the first to be baptised that night. After he was finished and they all changed their clothes, getting into the dry cloth­ ing they had brought with them, he walked back to the water's edge. The fog had lifted, and the moon was shining brightly. Walking back no one spoke. Incidentally, there was ice in the water and the temperature was 5 degrees below freezing. No one suffered from the cold.

Other friends heard about the baptism and they also wanted the privilege. So in another place also in the night, 2 o'clock in the morning, I believe it was, they went to a lake. On the one side trees came down to the water's edge and a deep shadow went out over the water for approximately 10 meters and that is where they had the baptism.

They had a Meeting early on the Sunday morning and one in the early afternoon, then Emil made it back to the West before midnight that Sunday.

He told of three women, German and Polish, who were professing. They met in Russia. With the war and all they had to suffer they lost touch completely with the Truth. However, they never failed to have their meeting on Sunday morning, also the Bible study in the evenings. This went on for thirty years and they said one to another, "One day we will again meet the true servants of God and this will confirm to us that this is indeed the only way."

When the border was opened between Poland and Russia they made their way back to Poland and found the friends again. He said their joy was wonderful to behold. They were in their 80's and only one is still living.

We heard too of two boys finishing school in East Germany and they had the highest marks in the class. All the pupils were to have a trip to Moscow, but they all had to become party members before leaving. Many religious were represented in the class, but the other churches had made concessions so that they could still enjoy the benefits of the communist party. When the boys heard the "Ten Commandments according to the party", they said they could not agree because the 9th one read something like this - they had to swear that they thought the party was the greatest power, the almighty power in the earth, and that one day the party would rule the world.

All who did not agree with this were to stand to their feet. Those two boys w ere the only ones who stood up. Persuasion was used, but it did not change them. They were told not only would they not be able to go to Moscow, but as punishment they would have to clean the whole school from top to bottom. The next morning the principal of the school come to the boys ' home and he told the parents that he had interceded for the boys so they did not have to clean the school. He said they are the best boys in the whole school, Of course, no jobs are available to them except the very meanest work, However, the one is in a factory and wrote Emil and said he is glad to have work and more glad because he did not have to deny his God,

The grandparents of these boys also had a terrible, wonderful experience, during the last war. I think we have heard something of it before, but Emil told it like this:

The man was asked by the Captain to swear to Hitler and he refused because of his belief. The Captain, being a personal friend of these people, wanted to make things as easy as he could, but he also had his duty to do. He said no one needed to know what took place inside this room - just take the oath and forget about it. The man could not. He was sentenced to death.

The Captain gave him leave to go home to his family to say good-bye. Then he went to fetch the man. The wife and two children, 7 and 8 years, were allowed to walk part of the way with him. He told the man that he could have one half hour to say good bye to his wife. They were in a beautiful park and they decided the best way they could spend their time was to pray together. When it was time to part they kissed each other good bye and the wife said, "Be true to God, I would rather see you die than deny." The children professed when they were 17 and 18 years old,

Getting back to the prison the man was told in three days time you will be shot. Three times a day, his friend the Captain came in and tried to get him to take the oath. The last day, the man was taken from his cell thinking he was to go to his death. He was taken to the door of the prison and told he could go free.

Some years later, when the Americans were trying to sort out the "good" from the "bad" this man was called in and asked what he knew about this captain. Did he ever know that he had done anything against the Hitler regime? He said, "Yes, that is the man who gave me my freedom. I was condemned to death. I held the papers ordering my execution in my own hand. He got me free - how I do not know."

In East Germany if more than 10 persons gather they had to have permission from the local authorities. But, for birthdays permission was easily obtained. So, from the smallest child to the grandparents, every birthday is remembered. Permission is given for the birthday party. It is at such times they arrange their union meetings and special meetings. A cake is on the table, cups set around and their Bibles on their knees. So they have fellowship together.

Horace Todhunter died in Scotland October, 2003, age 88

Emil Hegg died _____

Eduard Podgorski died January, 2005 in Poland.

Edward Podgorski's Last Days and Funeral
An Unforgettable Day - Poland Date: Wednesday, 26 January 2005