Letter #1 of Heinrich D. Friesen

Mennonite Genealogy with Michael Penner

Letter of March 14, 1875

Son Gerhard S. Friesen corresponded with his father Heinrich D. Friesen during the window of time when Gerhard was in Canada but Heinrich was still in Russia. Heinrich responded with the letter that appears below. Translation was done some years ago by Gertrude Friesen, the niece of Gerhard S. Friesen.

March 14, 1875

Dear son in the Lord,

We received your very welcome letter (that you wrote in Dec. last year), this January and see that you are well. But you don’t mention any of the others like the Loewens and Schellenbergs. It looks like you live alone over there.

There are more over there that are still very close to our hearts and we often think of them as one in heart and soul. You write about money. At the present time money is very scarce here on account of the bad crops but I will send you some with the brothers if possible, but Loewens will need it badly too.

Our coming over will depend on the circumstances. The dear grandmother is quite bad off in health and we would like to save her this trouble.

We have had a very hard winter, very cold and lots of snow. We have had lots of blizzards, one yesterday.

We have not heard from those at Bersenko after New Year, except that they have sold everything. I am not very well and so I rather stay at home with my complaints. We cannot thank the Giver of All Good Things enough for the health we enjoy.

We heard that somebody wrote to Rosenfeld that if he could wish himself back to the old country there would not be enough to pull him loose again. Old Uncle Berg wrote to his children and did not encourage them to come over.

Our own father of the land is very worried that his children get suspicious of him and just plan on leaving the country. He does not expect anything of them as far as their conscience and faith go.

I am so sorry to see that so many here trust their own mind more than the heavenly father. One of the brethren said that he thought he had been very foolish to stay in this ragged Russia so long. That doesn’t look like they trust in God.

Well children, as far as the flesh is concerned we are very far apart, but in the Holy Ghost you are very close to our hearts. If only we could be happy in your obedience and love. I pray that you will love one another and be true to each other in married life so that we can be happy with you. Oh children, don’t trust your flesh, it’s your worst enemy. If only we would know ourselves well enough and see how weak we are without Jesus, that we can do nothing without his help, then we would trust and pray more.

Well I wish you all the best in heart and soul. As far as the health of our souls is concerned, we would like to have Jesus near us all the time.

With love, your father and mother

Heinrich Friesen

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