An American, a Pole, and a Belarussian walk into a kitchen...
Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet a woman from Minsk, Belarus. If you've been following the news, then you probably know what's happening in Belarus with their election. The Polish media and the world news stations have been talking about it non-stop for the past few days, but I don't know what the coverage in America has been.
Well, this woman - I'll call her Ania - arrived in Krakow with her husband and son yesterday because her son is having an operation today on his hands. He was born with all of his fingers connected together and several extra digits on each hand. Polish medical care is much better than Belarussian care, so one of the local Baptist churches brought her family here. I happened to be at the Baptist church yesterday helping with Kids Club (that's for another entry though...) and Ania came into the kitchen to clean some dishes. My co-worker, Iwona, and I were able to talk with Ania for over an hour and we learned some very shocking things about Belarus. Iwona, who is Polish, was kind enough to translate between Russian and English for us.
It turns out that Ania had NO idea what was happening in her country even though she had just come from there that day. She told us that the media cannot speak out against the president and the government sometimes cuts off all electricity so that no outside information could possibly get through the television. She said that the current government is worse than Stalin. Worse than Stalin! Now let's remember our history lessons kids... Stalin was pretty terrible in a completely evil sort of way. She also told us that if her government were to find out that she was saying bad things about her president, especially to an American and a Pole, she would be thrown into prison for 2 years. The government of Belarus is basically a propaganda making machine. Ania told us that they often will show beautiful television programs about how wise and wonderful their president is, and then will show programs about how evil the United States is. The people of Belarus have been told that the United States is going to come into their country and do the same thing that we did in Iraq.
Ania's husband is a pastor in a Baptist church in Minsk, and she was also telling us about the persecution they face there. The government has allowed them to have services in registered church buildings, but they cannot talk about their faith outside of the building. If they get caught sharing their faith with anyone or even having meetings in people's homes, they can be sent to prison for an indefinite period of time. I don't know what a Belarussian prison is like, but I'm quite sure it's horrible. She said that sometimes they go out into the woods and meadows to meet people outside of church and talk without being monitored.
We talked about many other things as well, such as daily life in Minsk and even about the Belarussian rednecks (Iwona was excited that she learned a new Russian word). Their president used to be one! At the end of our conversation, I came away with a new appreciation for my American citizenship and Polish residency.
Ania is expecting another baby soon. Keep her family in your prayers as they try to lead and encourage Christians in such an oppressive country. Throughout our conversation, Ania remained full of joy and hope and life. She knows that although we may not have freedom in this world, we have freedom in Christ and He has overcome the world. When our conversation ended, we were all able to pray together - Ania, Iwona, and I - each in our native language. It reminded me of how great our God is, that He brought the three of us together in this little Baptist church in Krakow to encourage one another and that He heard and even now is answering our multi-lingual prayers.
Well, this woman - I'll call her Ania - arrived in Krakow with her husband and son yesterday because her son is having an operation today on his hands. He was born with all of his fingers connected together and several extra digits on each hand. Polish medical care is much better than Belarussian care, so one of the local Baptist churches brought her family here. I happened to be at the Baptist church yesterday helping with Kids Club (that's for another entry though...) and Ania came into the kitchen to clean some dishes. My co-worker, Iwona, and I were able to talk with Ania for over an hour and we learned some very shocking things about Belarus. Iwona, who is Polish, was kind enough to translate between Russian and English for us.
It turns out that Ania had NO idea what was happening in her country even though she had just come from there that day. She told us that the media cannot speak out against the president and the government sometimes cuts off all electricity so that no outside information could possibly get through the television. She said that the current government is worse than Stalin. Worse than Stalin! Now let's remember our history lessons kids... Stalin was pretty terrible in a completely evil sort of way. She also told us that if her government were to find out that she was saying bad things about her president, especially to an American and a Pole, she would be thrown into prison for 2 years. The government of Belarus is basically a propaganda making machine. Ania told us that they often will show beautiful television programs about how wise and wonderful their president is, and then will show programs about how evil the United States is. The people of Belarus have been told that the United States is going to come into their country and do the same thing that we did in Iraq.
Ania's husband is a pastor in a Baptist church in Minsk, and she was also telling us about the persecution they face there. The government has allowed them to have services in registered church buildings, but they cannot talk about their faith outside of the building. If they get caught sharing their faith with anyone or even having meetings in people's homes, they can be sent to prison for an indefinite period of time. I don't know what a Belarussian prison is like, but I'm quite sure it's horrible. She said that sometimes they go out into the woods and meadows to meet people outside of church and talk without being monitored.
We talked about many other things as well, such as daily life in Minsk and even about the Belarussian rednecks (Iwona was excited that she learned a new Russian word). Their president used to be one! At the end of our conversation, I came away with a new appreciation for my American citizenship and Polish residency.
Ania is expecting another baby soon. Keep her family in your prayers as they try to lead and encourage Christians in such an oppressive country. Throughout our conversation, Ania remained full of joy and hope and life. She knows that although we may not have freedom in this world, we have freedom in Christ and He has overcome the world. When our conversation ended, we were all able to pray together - Ania, Iwona, and I - each in our native language. It reminded me of how great our God is, that He brought the three of us together in this little Baptist church in Krakow to encourage one another and that He heard and even now is answering our multi-lingual prayers.
posted by Danielle Jaje | 1:18 PM
|
0 comments
