Jacob and Anna Dick J - mbhistory.org
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Jacob and Anna Dick From Exile in Russia to Missionary Work in India J acob Dick and Anna Berg were born in Russia early in the 1900s, when life in Russia was still relatively tranquil. But with the onset of war in 1914, the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, civil war, famine and repression, the situation changed drastically. As a young lad Jacob lost his parents and had to cope with threats to his life and scrounge for adequate food and clothing. At the age of 18 Jacob committed his life to God and joined the Mennonite Brethren Church. In 1925 he married Anna Berg and devoted himself to evangelistic ministry, often facing serious danger. Circumstances in the Soviet Union became increasingly difficult under Stalin in the late 1920s. In 1930 Jacob was sent to a concentration camp near Dnepropetrovsk. Jacob later received permission to visit his family at a nearby location. Rather than return to the camp, the Dicks secretly left for Moscow. Thus began a long and treacherous journey, the nature of which they could not have anticipated. Once in Moscow the Dicks secured permission to travel east. For nine days they traveled across the Ural mountains into Siberia, then turned south to Turkestan. By the time they reached Alma Ata they had traveled 4,500 miles. It was now November and it seemed best to stay there through the winter, but they decided to try to reach Djarkent, about 20 miles from the Chinese border. It was dangerous to inquire about lodging along the way. After reaching a small town, Jacob decided to seek a temporary job for the remainder of the winter, but changed his mind when he spotted an official whom he had known in southern Russia and who had been responsible for persecuting Christians. One night as they were about to enter a town they were stopped by inspectors who asked them for traveling docu- ments. Jacob responded, "Who in the (over) Jacob and Anna Dick and family Jacob and Anna Dick From Exile in Russia to Missionary Work in India J acob Dick and Anna Berg were born in Russia early in the 1900s, when life in Russia was still relatively tranquil. But with the onset of war in 1914, the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, civil war, famine and repression, the situation changed drastically. As a young lad Jacob lost his parents and had to cope with threats to his life and scrounge for adequate food and clothing. At the age of 18 Jacob committed his life to God and joined the Mennonite Brethren Church. In 1925 he married Anna Berg and devoted himself to evangelistic ministry, often facing serious danger. Circumstances in the Soviet Union became increasingly difficult under Stalin in the late 1920s. In 1930 Jacob was sent to a concentration camp near Dnepropetrovsk. Jacob later received permission to visit his family at a nearby location. Rather than return to the camp, the Dicks secretly left for Moscow. Thus began a long and treacherous journey, the nature of which they could not have anticipated. Once in Moscow the Dicks secured permission to travel east. For nine days they traveled across the Ural mountains into Siberia, then turned south to Turkestan. By the time they reached Alma Ata they had traveled 4,500 miles. It was now November and it seemed best to stay there through the winter, but they decided to try to reach Djarkent, about 20 miles from the Chinese border. It was dangerous to inquire about lodging along the way. After reaching a small town, Jacob decided to seek a temporary job for the remainder of the winter, but changed his mind when he spotted an official whom he had known in southern Russia and who had been responsible for persecuting Christians. One night as they were about to enter a town they were stopped by inspectors who asked them for traveling docu- ments. Jacob responded, "Who in the (over) Jacob and Anna Dick and family
Transcript of Jacob and Anna Dick J - mbhistory.org
Jacob and Anna DickFrom Exile in Russia to Missionary Work in India
Jacob Dick and Anna Berg wereborn in Russia early in the 1900s,when life in Russia was still relatively tranquil. But with the
onset of war in 1914, the BolshevikRevolution in 1917, civil war, famineand repression, the situation changeddrastically.As a young ladJacob lost his parentsand had tocope withthreats tohis life andscroungeforadequatefood andclothing.
At the age of 18
Jacob committed his life to God andjoined the Mennonite Brethren Church.In 1925 he married Anna Berg anddevoted himself to evangelistic ministry, often facing serious danger.Circumstances in the Soviet Unionbecame increasingly difficult underStalin in the late 1920s. In 1930 Jacobwas sent to a concentration camp nearDnepropetrovsk.
Jacob later received permission tovisit his family at a nearby location.Rather than return to the camp, theDicks secretly left for Moscow. Thusbegan a long and treacherous journey,
the nature of which they could not have anticipated.
Once in Moscow the Dicks securedpermission to travel east. For nine daysthey traveled across the Ural mountainsinto Siberia, then turned south toTurkestan. By the time they reached
Alma Atathey hadtraveled4,500miles. It was nowNovemberand itseemedbest tostay therethroughthe winter,but theydecided totry to
reach Djarkent, about 20 miles fromthe Chinese border.
It was dangerous to inquire aboutlodging along the way. After reaching asmall town, Jacob decided to seek atemporary job for the remainder of thewinter, but changed his mind when hespotted an official whom he had knownin southern Russia and who had beenresponsible for persecuting Christians.One night as they were about to enter atown they were stopped by inspectorswho asked them for traveling docu-ments. Jacob responded, "Who in the
(over)
Jacob and Anna Dick and family
Jacob and Anna DickFrom Exile in Russia to Missionary Work in India
Jacob Dick and Anna Berg wereborn in Russia early in the 1900s,when life in Russia was still relatively tranquil. But with the
onset of war in 1914, the BolshevikRevolution in 1917, civil war, famineand repression, the situation changeddrastically.As a young ladJacob lost his parentsand had tocope withthreats tohis life andscroungeforadequatefood andclothing.
At the age of 18
Jacob committed his life to God andjoined the Mennonite Brethren Church.In 1925 he married Anna Berg anddevoted himself to evangelistic ministry, often facing serious danger.Circumstances in the Soviet Unionbecame increasingly difficult underStalin in the late 1920s. In 1930 Jacobwas sent to a concentration camp nearDnepropetrovsk.
Jacob later received permission tovisit his family at a nearby location.Rather than return to the camp, theDicks secretly left for Moscow. Thusbegan a long and treacherous journey,
the nature of which they could not have anticipated.
Once in Moscow the Dicks securedpermission to travel east. For nine daysthey traveled across the Ural mountainsinto Siberia, then turned south toTurkestan. By the time they reached
Alma Atathey hadtraveled4,500miles. It was nowNovemberand itseemedbest tostay therethroughthe winter,but theydecided totry to
reach Djarkent, about 20 miles fromthe Chinese border.
It was dangerous to inquire aboutlodging along the way. After reaching asmall town, Jacob decided to seek atemporary job for the remainder of thewinter, but changed his mind when hespotted an official whom he had knownin southern Russia and who had beenresponsible for persecuting Christians.One night as they were about to enter atown they were stopped by inspectorswho asked them for traveling docu-ments. Jacob responded, "Who in the
(over)
Jacob and Anna Dick and family
world would be able to live without adocument in Russia? Would you?" Hisbold assertion led the official to wavethem on without further questioning.
After six days they reached Djarkent.Dick secured a job as a clerk in a bakery.In spring they proceeded toward theChinese border. During the daythey hid from police in sand holes in thedesert. The children were keptquiet by giving them opium. On thefourth night a group of Muslims ap-peared, who offered to help them crossthe border. A small river formed theborder. They managed to cross the river,some by holding on to the tails of thehorses.
At night the party proceeded again.The Muslims negotiated with the Chineseborder police, but soon the Mennonitesdiscovered that they had been sold tothe police, who threatened to kill them.For eight days they were moved fromprison to prison and dispossessed oftheir belongings. Finally they wereforced to return to Russia. Within sight ofthe border they refused to walkfurther, protesting that they would bekilled if they returned. The policerelented and abandoned the group.
The Dick family set out for Kuldja,about 60 miles into China. At times theycrawled through mud in the darkness ofnight and sought shelter during theday. Providentially they secured docu-ments to enter China. They traveled thefinal distance to Kuldja by wagon.
There the Dicks fell ill with malaria,but recovered after a month. The citywas isolated, with the Gobi desert on oneside and the Tian-Shain mountainrange on the other. Nevertheless, after aperiod of three months, the Dicksand several other families decided to riskthe trek through the mountains toKasgar, about 800 miles away.
They left by donkey on 30 August1932. After several days they reachedmountainous terrain. The most hazardouspart of the journey was the 15-milecrossing of a huge glacier. Bodies of
refugees who had failed to make thecrossing lay scattered along their path.On the opposite side of themountain range another desert awaitedthem. One month after their departurethey reached Kashgar. There Jacobopened a knitting factory to secureincome.
By spring civil war was raging and itbecame advisable to leave. Aftersecuring an emergency permit to go toIndia, they departed and soon met anEnglish official, Lord Allisworth, whoinvited them to join his caravan. Sothey traveled in relative comfort forabout 3 weeks. On 5 April 1933 theyclimbed the Mintekka Pass to anelevation of about 15,000 feet. Thesnow was deep and the trail verydangerous. At Gilgit Allisworth leftthem to return home.
In June the Dicks set out to cross theHimalayan mountains. Again, thedifficulties they encountered wereformidable before finally reachingSrinagar in India.
Once in India, a new life awaitedthem. They were able to contact theMennonite Brethren mission among theTelegus in Hyderabad. This totallyunforeseen circumstance became thestarting point for a remarkable career inmissions for the next several decades.
For a more complete story and map of the trek, see the website of the Historical Commission: http://
www.mbhistory.org/
No. 29, Winter 2005. Written by Abe Dueck, Winnipeg, Manitoba.Design and layout by Kent H.Gaston. Copyright 2005 by theMennonite Brethren Church Historical Commission. Email:[email protected].
world would be able to live without adocument in Russia? Would you?" Hisbold assertion led the official to wavethem on without further questioning.
After six days they reached Djarkent.Dick secured a job as a clerk in a bakery.In spring they proceeded toward theChinese border. During the daythey hid from police in sand holes in thedesert. The children were keptquiet by giving them opium. On thefourth night a group of Muslims ap-peared, who offered to help them crossthe border. A small river formed theborder. They managed to cross the river,some by holding on to the tails of thehorses.
At night the party proceeded again.The Muslims negotiated with the Chineseborder police, but soon the Mennonitesdiscovered that they had been sold tothe police, who threatened to kill them.For eight days they were moved fromprison to prison and dispossessed oftheir belongings. Finally they wereforced to return to Russia. Within sight ofthe border they refused to walkfurther, protesting that they would bekilled if they returned. The policerelented and abandoned the group.
The Dick family set out for Kuldja,about 60 miles into China. At times theycrawled through mud in the darkness ofnight and sought shelter during theday. Providentially they secured docu-ments to enter China. They traveled thefinal distance to Kuldja by wagon.
There the Dicks fell ill with malaria,but recovered after a month. The citywas isolated, with the Gobi desert on oneside and the Tian-Shain mountainrange on the other. Nevertheless, after aperiod of three months, the Dicksand several other families decided to riskthe trek through the mountains toKasgar, about 800 miles away.
They left by donkey on 30 August1932. After several days they reachedmountainous terrain. The most hazardouspart of the journey was the 15-milecrossing of a huge glacier. Bodies of
refugees who had failed to make thecrossing lay scattered along their path.On the opposite side of themountain range another desert awaitedthem. One month after their departurethey reached Kashgar. There Jacobopened a knitting factory to secureincome.
By spring civil war was raging and itbecame advisable to leave. Aftersecuring an emergency permit to go toIndia, they departed and soon met anEnglish official, Lord Allisworth, whoinvited them to join his caravan. Sothey traveled in relative comfort forabout 3 weeks. On 5 April 1933 theyclimbed the Mintekka Pass to anelevation of about 15,000 feet. Thesnow was deep and the trail verydangerous. At Gilgit Allisworth leftthem to return home.
In June the Dicks set out to cross theHimalayan mountains. Again, thedifficulties they encountered wereformidable before finally reachingSrinagar in India.
Once in India, a new life awaitedthem. They were able to contact theMennonite Brethren mission among theTelegus in Hyderabad. This totallyunforeseen circumstance became thestarting point for a remarkable career inmissions for the next several decades.
For a more complete story and map of the trek, see the website of the Historical Commission: http://
www.mbhistory.org/
No. 29, Winter 2005. Written by Abe Dueck, Winnipeg, Manitoba.Design and layout by Kent H.Gaston. Copyright 2005 by theMennonite Brethren Church Historical Commission. Email:[email protected].
