Page 1. Kemerovo, 17 August 1 996, Sunday evening. Received: 26 August Translated: 27 August 1 996~ Dear Robert and Sally,

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1 Kemerovo, 17 August 1 996, Sunday evening. Received: 26 August Translated: 27 August 1 996~ Dear Robert and Sally, Page 1 Good day my dear, dear relatives, friends and acquaintances, In the spirit of Jesus Christ, I heartily greet everyone who find themselves assembled in his name. bid you peace, wish everyone good health and that my letter finds you in greater health an in peace, but good health is the best that a person needs. For me, it is going somewhat better, but not anything to receive praise. Everything seems to pile up all at once, I am nervous and my heart is not at peace. First, I need to tell you of the death of brother Henry and that he has been buried. Within two or three days of the burial, I received my answer of my papers to immigrate to Germany. They came from Cologne-Friedland and from Friedland-"Baden Wittenberg". So for the last two weeks, I have been going to the city to meet with the authorities who found many inconsistencies my papers. In my birth certificate, my name was written as "Lichtenwald, Wilhelmowha and in my marriage certificate, my name was written, "Lichtenwald, Ida Hettinger Basilawna". In y passport, my name was written Getinger, Wasiljewna and in the German papers, my first name was written not Hettinger but rather Gettinger. Now, what else can go wrong, I just do not know. I went to the authorities four times. First, he said I have to correct all of the misspellings and have them notarized, and then through the courts. I gave him a petition to do things as are needed since I am old and did not have the strength to come to the city everyday and I could not do a lot of walking. So he completed the papers the next day. The next day, I had 4 small passport pictures taken (paid 22,000 rubles) and the taxes for my papers (1 6,000 rubles). The next day I took the completed papers and I had to stand in line for six hours because in the summer many people are going abroad to visit or become a tourist. Many people are not necessarily moving to Germany, rather to visit Italy, Argentina, America, and Israel. I is no longer possible to look for work and those that work are 3-4 months behind in receiving wages. We have not received our pension payments for the month of July and the prices of things continue to rise each day. The cost of 1 kilogram (2# loaf) of bread is three thousand rubles. The very large numbers of people who are without work. Here, foreign items dominate everything. One finds writings from various languages on the various clothes or food items that are being sold. (From throughout the entire world.) In our country, very small amounts of clothing made or thing constructed. All of the Russian money is going to foreign countries and various other rich people. Good evening or day. I will write to you a short note, that yesterday I gave my papers so that I can get a new passport. They said that I should come on the 16th of October, if everything is in order and will be able to come. If I stay healthy, I can leave for Germany in late 1996 or in the start of Exactly when the weather is the coldest. Now, what has to be done. As soon as I know what will happen, I will write it to you. I also need to tell you that the oldest son of my brother Wilhelm and the son's family were lucky to get to Germany, but they do not like it there. They must learn the German language before they can go look for work. So, he has written now that he will be moving to Canada. The children of his mother's brother are there and there German and Russian are not spoken and there he will not receive social welfare support, his mother, wife and children. Now, he wants money to pay for the travel so they have sold their house, cow, two---, and also used their savings. He did not write that to me rather to a friend of his. I did not have much to do with his mother although she was the wife of my brother. She did not recognize us as close friends and never called our mother, mother or mama, and never by her name. She always said our mother or your mother. Now, mother is in her peace. I spent 4 years taking care of her along with going to work. No one gave me any help, none of the brothers or their wives. I, without the help of my brothers, but with God's help, we buried our mother with God's word spoken at the service. Only Jacob Miller's older brother, Edward, my fellow workers and neighbors helped me. Now, thank God for the honor. If only I can get buried the same way. The earth is the way

2 Page 2 to our Lord. At the burial, they were both there. Wilhelm came to Kirgisia and he did not even have a small pastry or (Brenig?) for his and our mother while she was still alive. Our mother sacrificed all her life but mostly it was for Henry and now everything must stay with the Russians. I can take only 20 kilograms (approx. 40 #s) as baggage to Germany and carry in my hand 1 0 kilograms (approx. 20 #s). However, we can not take these things into the ground with us. Everything I can see, must stay here. When we can only claim our soul, we must strive for that. So, with that, I will end my letter and hope you will answer soon. You can answer this letter because I will still have enough time to receive it, if I stay well. So, with God first, one does not have need nor poverty. Amen. Dear Harold and Emma, I have already answered Robert and I have also written that my bother has died. I am completely alone. Not one other friend is here, except brother Henry's son by his second wife (she is also dead). He has also sent papers to Germany but it is questionable if he will go. He did not have a close relationship with this father (Henry). He was raised without his father being around. He did come to the burial (I had informed him of his father's death). He had put a spray of flowers in his name in the casket even though Henry had not helped in raising the son. He lives in the city and I must look him up and allow me to thank him. I was also present at the burial of his mother, which was two years ago. Oh my dears, thank God that your parents had the foresight to go to America. You did not have to endure the many things that we did endure. How many times we had to let everything go or it would be taken away from us, and we had to start again from the beginning? And now, before I come to my end, I have to leave everything and even the things that my mother saved must also stay behind and end up in Russian hands. The Russian lady, whom I have known for only two years, all those things that we have acquired, will now be in the Russian lady's hands. Henry had put everything in her name and she can sell everything. She can do with these things what ever she wants and I can not demand anything from her. Harold, I thank you all for the support you have given me. I have managed to save a little and if it were not for that, I could not have thought about going to Germany. Things that I have to sell are a washing machine, a sewing machine and a refrigerator, if I can even get rid of them. The people do not have any money to pay for the items and those that do have money do not need used items. My dear friends, stand by me with your prayers because only he has stood by me, given me strength and led me to the needy places and spread his (?) over me. I hope with your help through Him, I will not be forgotten until my end. Only God alone does things, that are beneficial, and the swelling waves are there when we are with Jesus. I do not know if I am either out or in but He is pulling me and showing me the way through his protective Angel. I beseach Him always to strengthen me, give me patience and to help me to overcome my ponderings and thoughts, to hold and heal my eyesight S<? that I can read and sing until my end. Maybe, God will give me that favor and I will come out of this place. Harold and Emma, greet all of my friends and acquaintances, those that ask about me, also your brothers with their families, all the Hahns and the Millers. I have not received any answers to my letters from my cousin. How are things with Henry Miller and John Miller? Now I will end with words from the song out the song book, #3 38. "What fills?: us with peace and joy, etc." Dear Harold, maybe you can translate for Herman and Robert and those that can not read German. Good night with heartfelt love for everyone, everyone. Your never forgotten sister by God. Through God, I wish you grace and health. Ida

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