Letters from the past:

From the files of Lydia Isaak

Peter Isaak returned home from work in the Forstei in 1907. The next year they bought their own home in Alexanderwohl, five kilometers from Rückenau, where Peter ran a lumber mill and farm. Three children, Susie, John and David were born into the family during the next eight years. In 1915, Peter was called up into the Red Cross service (Sanitäterdienst). Lena ran the mill and the farm with the help of a maid and a servant in addition to caring for the household and their five children. Her early education in agriculture must have been helpful during these years! Peter was a Red Cross worker until 1918. In 1925, the family was able to immigrate to Canada. Only three of Lena’s letters have survived, but they give us a glimpse into her life during those years. Excerpts from Peter’s letters show his concerns about his family at home, and his life as a Red Cross worker during the war. The love and respect Peter and Lena have for each other is evident.

My dearly loved Peter, Alexanderwohl, 1915

A hearty greeting of love! We are all healthy, as I wish you as well. Today I pulled the bean plants with Susa. We are harvesting the oats now; tomorrow we begin to clean and Monday we’ll start the wheat, as long as it’s not raining. I helped as much as I could—it looked like rain—but now we’ll get it all in. Hamm stopped on our street yesterday. He was wondering if anyone else was ready to begin threshing, but so far no one else is ready. Gerhard Fast will be threshing later with Pankratz. Epp will thresh our wheat at the end of the week. He’s already hired four workers. If they start drafting people again, it will get more difficult. Lisa’s husband will probably have to go. Our Abram, too.

If possible, we plan to drive to our parents on Sunday. We’ll get some watermelons—I got two from Bergen’s yesterday—they were ripe already. I baked apple fritters to eat with them.

Are you very busy now? You will have stomach problems again, if you can’t eat regularly! I received your letter on Wednesday—I’d already delivered the chicken and zwieback. Were you not able to eat the chicken again? What about the zwieback? Could you eat those? And was the butter still fresh? You can always brown it and use it for baking. ..

Soon it will be winter again. I hope you won’t freeze too much in your barracks. Next time you’ll have to take the featherbed with you. If only you could stay at home, but that’s not possible!

Our hired man says to tell you the horse you bought is a good one…

Shall we sow some rye? We have enough to last until Christmas, but then we’ll have to buy. I was thinking, if I knew where I could get rye, I’d buy some now; it will be more expensive later. If we seed some here, in the patch of garden behind the house, plow it once now and later again, we’d get some rye and we’d have it close by. I guess it should be sown in straight rows—I’d sow it any old way. You’ll laugh when you see—I’ll make you cheerful again!

I’ve often thought of this verse: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Many kisses and hugs from your always dearly loving Lena.

(added across the top) What do you eat for lunch each day? Write me everything. I think I’ll get another letter today! I’m starting to miss you so much, and then I start to worry. Something’s missing in my life. Do you feel the same? When will our lives be different?

Exerpts from Peter’s reply (summary)

Has Lena received the letter and parcel he sent with Koop? The parcel contains toy animals for the children: 2 dogs, an elephant, a chicken and a pheasant. Have the toys arrived in one piece? How much wheat have they bought, and have they been careful and not stored it too close to the chimney. He advises her where to buy rye. Is their rye all gone? He has spoken with Jacob Hamm who left yesterday for Moscow by train. A day earlier, 348 people from Nowabranz were sent to Moscow—all volunteers. He hadn’t visited with them for a while—hasn’t had the time.

Peter concludes, “Yes, I’d love to have you visit for a few days too, but now it won’t be worth it—I hope to come home soon. The past few days I’ve missed you so much! Greet our children Victor, Johan, Peter, Lena and Susi. Zum Schluß, sei du mein Lieb herzlich gegrüsst und geküsst von Deinen P. Martens. ( Finally, my love, I cordially greet and kiss you.”)

Lena writes:

My dear Peter, June 13, 1916 A hearty greeting of love! I don’t know what you’ll say, but I sold the threshing machine to a Russian man for 140 R. He gave me a 40R deposit. Monday he’ll get the machine, and then he’ll pay the rest. I waited as long as I could, but the servant said because we hadn’t got a deposit yet, I was free to sell it. I worry whether I’ve done right in God’s eyes, but Nickel would not give a down payment, and we need ready money so badly. And if he hadn’t come, we’d be stuck with the machine. I’ll write to him, and then he won’t come here unnecessarily. He’ll be a bit annoyed, but …

Our servant finished the plowing yesterday. Today we brought the hay in. Thursday a Dück in Kleefeld was hit by lightning in the field. He was 27 years old, and a believer. He was killed instantly. In Friedensruh, a farm burned to the ground, also hit by lightening. Berg, from the Crimea, just came home on furlough. Klass Unger and Konrad’s Peter are home too. They’ll be sent up north, as far as I understand. To Perm.

Tomorrow I’ll go to Rückenau to see if Papa knows where I can get a mower. I don’t like doing this without you—my head hurts! The servant says if we buy the mower now, even if we sell it for 10R less next year, we’ll have been able to use it till then—it’s difficult to borrow one now. ..

Peter’s letter of Aug 27, 1917 (summary)

The influenza epidemic has hit. Peter is feeling feverish, but hopes he won’t be sick long.

He goes on to say: “Albrecht and I worked until 11:30 making a list of the provision we’ll need in the coming half year. We have to send the order to Petersburg. They’re forecasting that the war will last another 6 months. Riga has fallen and the front is coming closer—it’s looks as if nothing can be done… Today four regiments were sent to the front. No Mennonites among them this time. .. Children, you’ll be sleeping as I write this—it’s already 11:30…Make sure you dress warmly and children, wear your shoes and stockings when it’s so cold. Now hearty greetings from your father and husband, P. Martens”

Thank you to Lydia Isaak for making these letters and pictures available!