Page:Kvartalshilsen (Kvinnelige misjonsarbeidere). 1921 Vol. 14 nr. 4.pdf/7

 searched high and low for Armenians to send them to their deaths. One day I was in great anguish for my two young friends when the police officer N. was in Bitlis, it was during the troubled time. When I ran up to ask for them, the police officer's mother said he had hidden them. For several hours they were standing in a bent position - as the room they were hiding in was so low - in the damp, dark room. Muschegh escaped to a Turkish merchant who was an acquaintance of his father, and Haig hid for a week in a small room with me.

There were days full of anxiety; but the Lord heard our cry, and on my request I was allowed by the Mutassarif to have an Armenian who was good at Turkish to help me, and one of the three chiefs of Musch (during the war there were three) whom I knew helped me so I was allowed to get Haig; however, no one other than the police officer N. knew that he was hidden with me.

But these two young men were not safe; because at that time the Turks did not like the sight of two such young, handsome Armenians, at least not those who were of better family and had education. Daily, Haig heard threats and scolding when he was out shopping for me or accompanied me down to the basement homes.

In these dark basements we gathered every Sunday afternoon to read God's Word together and pray, and for fear of the Turks we locked the doors, because if the Turks had inadvertently entered, the Armenians would have been killed. Yes, these were strange and troubled times where we felt the indignation of the cross and some of the fellowship of Christ's sufferings; but the Lord was very close to us, and we daily experienced his faithfulness, care, help, and protection.

What a lovely, quiet Christmas party we celebrated with our few friends. At that time the act of singing was almost muted; but on Christmas Eve we just had to sing and thank the Lord. Haig was very open and gladly heard the word of God, we also prayed a lot together. One day he said to me, "Alas, Sister Bodil, I have denied Jesus, do you think God will forgive me this great sin if I can win 8 Turks for Christianity?" He had still not realized the extent of the mercy of Christ; but both he and Muschegh felt that they had sinned by transitioning to Islam. I told him that if he repented and asked God for forgiveness, then God would forgive him for the sake of Jesus, he still felt he could never undo this sin. A young Turk, whom Haig knew, visited him occasionally, and we led the conversation over to the eternal truths. Haig asked him one day: "Tell me, who do you think is greatest, either Christ or Muhammad, of Christ the Muhammadans learns that he is alive and will come again and about Muhammad that he is dead; But the one who lives must be the greatest? 'The Muhammadan chewed on this, he felt it was true.

Haig began to seriously seek God and surrendered to him.

Both Muschegh and Haig thought about fleeing, as they were still in danger. A Turk that they knew, hid them for several days in his house, and from there they would, with the help of some Kurds, flee to Russia; but this plan was not carried out, so Haig returned and stayed with me until I fled in mid-February 1916. Then he hid with some other Armenians up in a mountain cave near Musch, where they had collected some food and other things they needed if they had to stay there for a long time. When the Russians entered the city, they fled with them over to the Caucasus.

In Diabekir, when I arrived, I was told by the police officer N. that Muschegh also were there and imprisoned. N. had also fled to Diabekir. Unfortunately, visiting the prisoners was not allowed; but N. promised me to get Muschegh out and sent to a safe place.

No one at home can imagine what the Armenians who were set to work on the roads suffered. They were like slaves whom the overseers could treat however they wanted; for what was an Armenian's life worth at that time. I saw them day after day in Musch. Every morning and evening they got just a little food and were confined at night in a room where they slept on