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Peter
A. Thiessen also spent time at Clear Lake. He remembers the names
of a number of ministers.
"We
had Rev. J.N. Hoeppner from the Bergthaler Church in Altona, Rev.
Jacob Friesen from the Sommerfelder Church in Lowe Farm, Rev.
David P. Reimer and Rev. Penner from the East Reserve and Rev.
Jacob A. Unrau.” [ASM, 15-17]
The
men in the work camps received more visits from ministers than those
working on other projects. Henry H. Funk, who worked the mental
hospital in Portage la Prairie, recalls only an occasional visit
from Mennonite pastors.
“There
was no Mennonite church in the area. It seems that mostly we attended
the Baptist church. We even had a quartet that sang in their service.
We also attended other churches occasionally – the United Church,
the Presbyterian Church, and the Plymouth Brethren. They were
quite friendly to us in all the congregations though our involvement
was quite superficial in each. Working on a three shift rotation,
regular attendance was not possible and, therefore, these churches
never became central to our lives. On reflection, however, it
seems attendance was taken for granted by us."
“There
was an occasional visit from some Mennonite minister, but these
were rare. Those that came did so on their own initiative, it
seems, and at their own expense. I do not know if we properly
appreciated their motives and their effort on our behalf. Took
them for granted, I guess. They deserve more recognition. Others
may recall that these had a special service with us when they
came, but I do not recall any. I may have been on duty when such
a service was held. With shift work we were rarely all home at
the same time.” [ASM, 138-153]
 |
 |
| Rev. Jacob Friesen with camp boss Ed Brooks at Clear Lake. |
Ministers visiting
a CO camp. |
Most
COs living and working in camps appreciated the dedication and support
of the ministers. C.B. Dueck worked both on the prairies and on
Vancouver Island.
“We
were well cared for by the ministers. It was well organized by
the churches. We had seven or eight ministers from the different
churches visiting us and they preached enlightening sermons, which,
I believe, did a lot of good for most of the boys. It certainly
broadened my knowledge of religion. We had some unruly guys there,
but all in all, they were not too bad. It was good for me because
I learned to think for myself without waiting for the parents
to tell me what to do.” [ASM, 267]
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