Setting: Yugoslavia and USA, 1901 to 1950sSummary: Newly-married John Olesh, raised and living in a strong Catholic village in Yugoslavia, decides to leave his wife, Anna, for a time while he goes to America to try to improve his family's standard of living. It is not an easy time for either one as John finds that his lack of English is a disadvantage in finding well paying employment, while Anna faces the birth of her firstborn without her husband. Not only that, but they also face censure from their tight-knit community over John going to America at all.
Returning home after nineteen months, John and Anna are able to buy their own land and small house but life is still hard. An evangelical missionary visits their home and this brings even more hardship - even persecution - to the young family. Despite the fact that they are forbidden to communicate with the missionary, they cannot forget his radiant personality and his message. After John leaves for his second trip to America to find a doctor to help their daughter's injured knee, Anna accepts a New Testament and begins to read it. The words of this Book confuse her but yet she is drawn back again and again to its pages.
Upon his return home, John is also fascinated by the Book's message but continuing censure from their fellow-villagers over their inviting the missionary into their house (the New Testament in the Olesh house is kept secret) continues to place pressure on the couple. As they struggle to understand the Bible and its vastly different message from that taught in the Catholic Church and compare the evangelical missionary with the Catholic priest, John and Anna are drawn more and more to the Word of God. However, John is determined to stop the pressure and hides the Bible for a year. Meanwhile, their fifth baby is born and they decide not to have him baptised into the Catholic Church. This brings even more persecution from their families and other villagers but the couple finally find the courage to go to visit the missionary who explains the gospel to them which they believe and are immediately baptised.
Thus, the secrecy ends and the family comes under the full onslaught of abuse and persecution for leaving the Catholic Church. John is unable to find employment in the community due to his newfound faith and decides to go on his third journey to America. While he is away, the First World War commences and he is unable to return home or to communicate with Anna. The suffering of Anna and her children increases but God increasingly becomes her comfort and stay.
Finally, the couple are able to get messages through to each other through the Red Cross and as soon as the war ends, Anna with the children make their journey across the sea to join John in America.
Message: Through all their trials, they learned that when God moves, nothing can stand in His way. Tradition is not enough. Peace is only found in God.
Other: Originally published in 1957. True story.
Reading level: 16 years to Adult
Paperback
Pages: 392
Size: 133 x 210mm
Christian Light Publications. 1997
Bible Version: KJV
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