Several years ago, at the urging of his son, Kurt Dering made a cassette tape of the following experience.
I was only about 20 when I joined the reform in Latvia I determined to be obedient to the government in that country, as instructed in Romans, just as I want to obey the president here in America. We Latvia we had no freedom, however, like we do in this country. There, if you didn’t obey the Government you could be imprisoned until you died. I was prepared to do that if the Lord allowed it, but He saved me from many tribulations. He has done wonderful things for me.
When called to serve my country, I filled out the required papers. I indicated that I would kill no one, I would not even learn to use a gun, and I would rest on the Sabbath. “We will fix you,” responded the general, “until you are willing to do all those things. “But the Lord had other things In mind for me, as he did for Joseph. All the generals and other officers were kind; they explained that my case would be decided in court, in three months.
At my hearing, 12 generals sat at a round table. They listened as I explained that we should not kill, but, instead, love our enemies. The men asked many questions. I answered with our beliefs. I said we should live as good citizens in our country but not kill people. I could not kill, I repeated, nor would I ever learn to kill. Neither would I lie by going through training and then only pretend to shoot the enemy.
The generals said they understood my believes but reiterated that I would have to learn to kill anyway. “I am sorry, “I replied, “but I cannot do that.” Shaking their heads, they warned, “you know what will happen to you.” After a short deliberation, the presiding judge sentenced me to three years in jail.
Soon afterwards I was imprisoned. Luckily my jail was not far away from home. My mother brought me food. She made all kinds, which I appreciated. Jail fare is not the best, especially when you are a vegetarian.
As you can imagine, the jail was not in good condition. It smelled terrible. All the windows were broken, and snow and rain came through them.
I was in a small cell, about 5 x 8′. My bed was a blanket on the floor. The rats came in and had a good meal some time from the food my mother had given me. Still, I was happy to be alive and to be able to witness for the Lord by not bearing arms and killing other human beings.
After a while I was allowed to work in a carpenter shop. After eight hours of work each day, I went to my cell, read my Bible, and slept. Having my Bible was a great privilege. The time went by quickly during the next three months. When you can work, you are happy.
One time a young man, a murderer, came to share my cell. Others asked if I were afraid to be with someone who had kicked a policeman to death. “Why should I be afraid?” I replied. “The Lord can protect me if He wishes. “He did.
After four months, the jail was condemned. The prisoners were transferred to an island. I was very sad because my mother could no longer visit me and bring me things to eat.
God, however, had better things in mind for me. The island reminded me of the one on which John the Beloved was confined, the Isle of Patmos. No one could escape from the island where I was. The jail was more secure than the one I had first been in.
The new commander, a kind man, asked each prisoner why he was in jail, then explained that the prisoners would not have to work so hard as they had before. He assured us we would be released sooner if then if we had remained in the former prison. In three weeks, from my home, my mother came to visit me. In fact, shortly after he told us that we would be released. I was happy to hear that! Actually, I served only about five months of my three year term.
The commander soon told me I could return home and re-register. My heart was so light when I arrive at home! When I went to re-register, the commander asked if I would serve my country. “Will you shoot and kill? ”
“I’m sorry,” I replied. I went to jail already because I could not do that. I am very glad you have set me free.” The commander said he didn’t know what to do with me. Then he became more friendly. “I know you are a good young man. I don’t want to spoil your life. Are you willing to do carpentry work, fixing windows and doors, putting in locks, and so on?” Certainly I was! “Why not?” I replied. “Everybody has to do something for his country. I want to also, as long as I don’t have to kill anyone. I will not learn to carry a gun.”
“We have other things for you to do too,” he said. “You can feed and water horses and take care of those that are sick.” For 18 months I did things other than learn to carry a gun.” I was free on Sabbath. I went home and was very happy.
Then I met Ruth and later on married her. We thought we would live happily after that, but the Lord had more in store for us.
The Russians came. I could no longer stay in Latvia. Soon we went to Germany. I thought the Germans would be better than the Russians, but it was the opposite. In 1941 the commander asked me the same question I had been asked in Latvia. “Will you serve in the army?” I didn’t say “no,” and I didn’t say “yes”. I stretched ed the time; for half a year I gave no answer. I asked again if I would serve in the army, I found another excuse to delay answering. Three weeks later I began working (I had not found a job when I arrived in Germany so I could avoid being drafted).
After three more weeks, my father and I were taken before a Gestapo agent. I told him we were Adventists and would not fight. He closed the door behind us, saying we would never see daylight again unless we changed our minds.
For about four months, we were in jail, in much, much worse conditions than in Latvia. My wife and mother had to work very hard. My little sister went to school; no one could help the family. Try to imagine living in such conditions.
The bombs came down too! In 15 minutes the whole city was burned out. I kept thinking how easily a bomb could destroy my family. I would never again see my mother, my wife, and my sister.
But the Lord was wonderful. He protected and guided us. He helped us to endure. One day an important general visited Berlin. There was an emergency of some sort. Somebody came to my jail cell and said, “I know you are a piano polisher. Will you polish the general’s car?” I answered, “why not?” I was happy, after five months, to get out in the fresh air. You can imagine how I looked after having only one potato and a piece of bread at each meal. I had lost about 50 pounds. I could barely walk when I was let out to polish the car. Because I was young, I was able to manage, but I know I couldn’t do that today. Spiritually, however, I was strong.
In the jail my father was in a cell directly above me. To let each other know we were still alive, I knocked on the ceiling of my cell, and my father responded by rapping on the floor of his. Every day people from cells around us were taken to the gas chamber or to the gallows, or they simply disappeared. About once a week, we saw my mother for a second or two. We encouraged one another to “Be faithful unto death.”
The Lord took wonderful care of us in the jail. One day when I went to polish a piano, the Lord gave me special wisdom. My jailer forgot to lock me in my cell before he went to talk with a general. When the jailer returned, he found I had not run away. “You are a good man,” he said. “You did not escape when you had the chance. Because of that, I will free you.” Three or four days later, I was released.
I went home to see how my family was, then returned to the authorities. I asked that my father be released too, and he was. We quickly moved to another address.
Our only child, Henry, was born in Germany in 1947. My father died there when Henry was about five years old. My mother died in the United States many years later.
The Lord has wonderful ways, as with Daniel, who was let out of the lion’s den after a couple of days. The Lord also protected Daniel’s three companions from the fire. I had my experience of how wonderfully the Lord can help those who obey Him. We don’t know whether we again will have to face conditions like I went through. Maybe I could have carried more. We know, however, that the Lord will never give us more than we can bear. Amen.