Bible Verse

The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.—Psalm 146:9

Dear Grandchildren,

In my last letter I told you about meeting another ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. After we went back inside, I began to feel very lonely. Could it be that watching that ship going back to Poland made me feel homesick? Yes, I guess that’s what it was. My emotions took over, and I had to get back my balance. The strongest factor that helped me was the fact that nothing could shake my knowledge that my going to America was an answer to prayer. Since I knew that I was following the will of God, I asked the Lord to help me not to be homesick, but rather to be glad for His providence in my life.

Soon, after about five more days on the water, we began to see approaching land, New York City. Our ship anchored not too far from the Statue of Liberty and remained there until an authority from the Immigration Office came in a small boat to search the suitcases of the passengers. To our surprise, Dr. Jaroshevich came along with the customs man. He looked so happy. Seeing him, we were encouraged. We had many things to tell him: the doubts that most of them had that we’d ever land on American soil, the concert which we put on for Captain’s Day on the ship, the storm which prolonged our voyage from seven days to eleven…

It took a long time to search everyone’s belongings. Many of the passengers brought many things with them, but not our choir members. How pathetically few things we owned!Personally speaking, all that I brought along were a few clothes. But I never for a moment felt that I lacked in material things. I was perfectly satisfied with the things that I owned. I brought with me the evening gown made for me before I left Poland and also the Polish national costume in which we frequently appeared while giving a concert.

I remember how long it seemed to me while we were waiting before the boat started again and came to port. There were a few tourists that had to be sent to wait on Ellis Island for some clearance before they were permitted to enter the U.S. But all of the choir members were in the clear.

Another completely new experience hit me like a shock when we got off the ship. Until then, we heard everybody speak Polish and I never dwelt much on the thought that this might be so abruptly changed. I found out quickly! As soon as we got off the ship, I began to hear sounds that I did not understand. I was looking at signs written in a tongue that I could not read. Something inside of me rebelled and I got frustrated. I could not communicate with the people that I saw; I could not understand what people were saying all around us.

We walked from the ship to the subway, and by subway we arrived at Dr. and Mrs. Jaroshevich’s apartment. For a while, this was America.

—Grandma Nadzia

Questions

1. Have you ever been in a strange place where you didn’t know anyone? What was it like?

2. What do you think a “foreigner” is?

3. Nadzia couldn’t speak English, so she couldn’t talk to anyone in America. But she still prayed to God. Do you think you can talk to God in any language?