South Russia by Emilie Isaak

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 23, 1906

South Russia

By Emilie Isaak

AFTER spending about ten very pleasant months in the work in Germany, we came to south Russia, the field of which Mr. Isaak had been appointed to take charge at the Friedensau Conference held in 1905.

European Russia was at that time divided into four distinct fields,—the East Russian Conference, the Northern, the Middle, and the Southern Russian Mission fields. The Southern, in which we are laboring, has a population of about fifteen million, and is composed of Russians, Germans, Jews, Turks, Greeks, and others. We have in this field three ministers, one Bible worker, two canvassers, and a nurse. At the time we came here, this field contained about two hundred and eighty believers, one hundred of whom were native Russians. The Lord has blessed so that during the last two quarters, from Jan. 1, 1906, to June 30, 1906, we have added fifty-seven to that number—thirty-six Russians, nineteen Germans, and two Jews.

Our workers are all Germans, but Elder Perk speaks the Russian language so well that his time is nearly all devoted to laboring for the Russians, some of whom are very faithful and do much missionary work. The Germans for whom my husband labors are mostly Mennonites, rather a hard class of people to reach, as they are the most civilized, and consider themselves the most Christianized, people in Russia. They live in villages by themselves, each owning a good section of land, and nearly all are well to do. In the middle part of this field where we are located are more than eighty villages of these people, and these have scarcely been touched with the truth. They simply know of us as the people who teach that the body has no soul, and who keep Saturday. We feel sure that as soon as they can learn more of the truth, many of them will accept it, as some already have done, and will be a great help in the cause. Our hearts yearn to see more earnest laborers come here to proclaim the message in this large and needy field.

This is a very productive country, almost everything that is raised in the Middle States of North America is raised here. There is a great variety and an abundance of fruit, also plenty of nuts. The climate is good, too, except that it is quite warm in summer, and it was so wet and muddy during the winter that it was at times almost impossible for our workers to travel.

We would so much like to see a school and a sanitarium located here. We hope that that time is not far in the future. Of course we know not yet what the affairs of the nation will bring us. Things are still unsettled. We have already seen enough dreadful things and revolutionary efforts since our coming here. Even our dear little four-year-old girl, whom we recently laid to rest in the grave, could tell of the “Kosaken” coming and shooting, etc. We had great hopes that she would become much stronger and healthier here in this fruit country, as she had always been somewhat delicate, but it seems that the heat here was too severe for her, and she only lived to enjoy the cherry season.

We are of good courage in the cause, although we mourn at present over the bright, sunshiny little face that has been taken from us. We realize in this that God is very good to us. Thus he draws us nearer to him. While doing all we could to keep her with us, in this sin-cursed world, yet we said, although with heavy hearts, “Lord, thy will be done.” He knows what is best for us. We are surely living in a terrible time, when the enemy will try hard to deceive us; so let us all watch and pray lest the Bridegroom come and find us sleeping.

MRS. EMILIE ISAAK.