I don’t know about you, but the Romeikes situation has caused me to think a lot more seriously about the freedom that I take for granted. I know that we home schoolers have a lot to complain about…. That’s why we need to read more about people in other lands. People like “the persecuted church”; like those in communist countries, who are told what they can and cannot do — FAR more than we are; and like those can hardly imagine the wealth that even our lowest classes partake in.
Becoming well informed on the plight of others causes several things to happen in me. I am first of all VERY thankful to God for placing me in pleasant places — warts and all that is not nice about America. Secondly, I am impelled to get back in the fight to keep our country from becoming like those other oppressive ones; I was glad to sign the petition for the Romeikes, and am now wondering what else I can do to help. And thirdly, I want to see what I can do to help people in oppressed lands.
I gave my tiny World Studies class a book to read by Natasha Vins. Some of you will not recognize the name Georgi Vins, but he was a courageous pastor and translator in the Russia of the 60’s and 70’s, and was put in prison at least two times. In the middle of his second time of 10 years, he was yanked out of prison, dressed up, and in the space of about 24 hours found himself in New York City, with five other “dissidents”, being exchanged for 2 of the Soviet Union’s valuable spies.
The story, though, is told from his oldest daughter’s perspective, and it is an easy read. Both you and your children should read it, and it is good for an out-loud reading time. Natasha had to go to school each day and, from the age of 9 on, develop the courage to go back. She endured many things. It is a good perspective for your kids, and you. I’m going to keep my copy where I can read it often.
