The world needs more dedicated hopefuls like Diamondola. By Mildred Olson

Diamondola (pictured right) began preaching the Advent message in 1907, at the age of 13, in what was then the Ottoman Empire. She also served the Adventist Church as a talented translator, because she spoke Greek and Turkish at home and later learned Armenian, French, English, German and Farsi (Persian). Her work took her from Constantinople/Istanbul to Tehran, Cyprus and Beirut. She died in 1990.

Her exciting life story was published in two volumes by Mildred Thompson Olson. Diamondola experienced God's intervention and guidance at every step. God even found it necessary to raise her from the dead through Brother Diran Charakian (second from left) when she died of typhus in 1919. Several hours after her death, her mother had already laid the burial clothes at the foot of her bed. But Diran Tscharakian was firmly convinced that the work in Turkey could not continue without her. He believed that God is the same today as he was when he brought Tabea back to life.

We are publishing an excerpt from volume 1 here. It is winter 1915/1916, we are in the middle of the First World War. Diamondola has embarked on a journey into inland Anatolia with Emil Frauchiger (second from right), a preacher. Because many Adventists of Armenian descent are arrested by the authorities together with their compatriots and deported to the Syrian desert. They are driven on death marches through the freezing cold of the highlands. Most never reach their destination. Diamondola visits the various camps along this route. Unfortunately, nowhere can they bring about the liberation of the expelled. But they encourage, bring warm blankets and pray with the siblings. Some later testified that this was the only reason they survived the death march.

The Death March

Diamondola's and brother Frauchiger's next station was Akşehir. Here, too, they visited the deportation camp. Among the camp inmates they found some Adventists from the various western cities. The deportees lived in terrible misery. All were cold and hungry, many were sick and dying. A leading brother had lost his wife along the way. When he saw Diamondala crawl under the shelter to talk to him, he was overcome with pain and sadness. He squatted, rocked back and forth, and said, 'I lost my wife. The arms - the arms. Although she was pregnant, she was forced to run with the others. I stayed behind with her because she couldn't go that fast. She was so tired. The soldiers beat us, we would stop the whole squad. They pushed her, she fell in the snow. I was weak from hunger and could not carry them. Our son was born prematurely on the side of the road and – died. My wife, of course, lacked medical care. Unable to walk, she collapsed on the side of the road, exhausted. I stayed with her until - until - she closed her eyes. She died because - probably she just wanted to die. She had suffered so much, had been beaten so much and was so cold. I left her in the snow with our son. He had only survived a few minutes in this severe cold here in the mountains. Oh, where is our God? Why doesn't he take care of his children?” The haggard man's body shook with his sobs.

comfort and forgiveness in the midst of sorrow

Brother Frauchiger crept under the shelter to the desperate brother. "My brother," he asked kindly. “Did your wife serve God faithfully?” “Oh yes, very faithfully. She was an angel and she loved God very much,” the man replied through sobs, but with certainty.

"Was she ready for death?" asked the preacher.

'I'm quite sure. Her last words were a prayer for the soldier who pushed her in the snow and was responsible for the premature birth and death of our child,” the brother added.

Brother Frauchiger reminded him: »You know the verse in the Bible: 'All who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.' (2 Timothy 3,12:XNUMX) Your wife suffered unto death. But if she was ready, then she is safe now and nothing can cause her to fall into sin. I believe God took her life when she was ready. It is no different with your innocent son. Do not be afraid my brother, you will see her again if you remain faithful and forgiving. These soldiers have been hardened by sin and by not knowing the gospel. You are exhausted from executing the orders. They are apathetic to suffering, death and misery, disregarding the sanctity of life. They take life and inflict suffering because they do not fear God. They're the ones we really ought to feel sorry for. Their hearts are impervious to God's Spirit, and their miserable, heartless life here brings them little joy. You know what awaits her in court one day. Would you like to trade places with them, my brother?'

In the meantime the man had regained his self-control and was listening attentively to Brother Frauchiger.

"No way," he replied. "I'd rather be a deportee and answer for my own guilt."

'Would you have preferred your poor wife to have lived and suffered? That she would end up bitter because of all the wrongs that were done to her?”

"No …"

“Then,” said Brother Frauchiger, laying his hand on the man's bony arm, “let us thank God that His will was done. For we would not choose any other way but the way God leads us if we could see the end of the way at the beginning, and the glory He has prepared for us.”

The man nodded silently and accepted his fate. His bitterness towards God and man was gone and the light of forgiveness shone from his emaciated face. "Let's pray," said Brother Frauchiger. The three bowed their heads in prayer. 'Now let's get up and have a bowl of hot soup. Diamondola and I bought some vegetables and made a cauldron of hot soup for everyone.”

Brother Frauchiger and Diamondola spent the next two days comforting the limbs, bringing them food and warm clothing.

From: © Mildred Thompson Olson (1966), Diamondola, »A Little Diamond«, Brushton, New York: © Teach Services (2003), pp. 141-143.

A reading sample is available online at books.google.de.

First published in German in foundation for a liberated life, 2-2008