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Jake
Krueger, a CO himself, remembers the selfless service of Rev.
Jacob Friesen from Lowe Farm, MB. Using the diary of Rev. Friesen,
available at the Mennonite Heritage Centre, Krueger has reconstructed
some of Friesen's journeys.
“From
early in 1943 to late 1945, Rev. Friesen was on the move almost
continuously. Barely was he home from a camp visit for a week
or so, when he was on his way again."
“He
visited the Mental Hospitals at Selkirk, Brandon, and Portage
several times. Also the TB Sanatorium and General Hospitals, wherever
our boys were serving in alternative work. The young men serving
at National Mills and Bowsman bush camps in Northern Manitoba
also came under his umbrella of visitation."
“Travelling
mainly by train, he consequently spent many an hour in station
waiting rooms, one night at least, in his 'burnous' (winter coat)
on a hard wooden bench. But these hours were spent fruitfully
writing many a letter to the many friends he had made in his travels,
to his family of which five were engaged in alternative service.”
“His
sermons were a compilation of Low German and High German liberally
sprinkled with English words and phrases which to the uninitiated
sounded like a foreign language.”
“When
staying in a camp for a lengthy period, he would go out into the
bush with the men and watch them fell trees, clear fire guards
or railroad beds in preparation for future roads. Never one to
sit around idly, he would amble into the camp kitchen, ask for
an apron, and start peeling potatoes. Or when in Clear Lake, he
would walk deliberately into the lion's den and made a friend
out of Mr. Brooks who was not the friendliest person ever, and
intimidator of many.”
 |
 |
| Rev. Jacob N. Hoeppner giving the Sunday morning sermon.
|
Rev. Jacob N. Hoeppner visiting a CO camp. |
“His
penchant for wanting to experience what the COs were working at,
be it bush work, road work, hospital wards, or deep in the folds
of a dusty coal mine, gave him the insight from the boy's point
of view, so he could report back to the parents of their well
being, and not a cause of worry."
“His
oft repeated stance was ‘I want to find out what our young men
are going through.'”
“During
his two trips to the B.C. camps, he stayed at Black Creek, Powell
River, Horn Lake, Campbell River, Dollarton Camp, and many others.
He was a prolific letter writer keeping in touch with his far-flung
family, did not neglect the recently bereaved of his congregation,
kept a daily diary and studied the scriptures avidly."
“Regardless
of religion, nationality, or status, he made friends of virtually
everyone he met. Not belittling the prodigious amount of work
and miles travelled by other ministers, he was a prime example
of the ministry as a whole at that time."
“In
this short biography I have tried to portray, in my unlearned
way, a man of God. Maybe miniature in stature, but a giant as
an ambassador to the hundreds of COs whom he visited, befriended,
counseled, and showed them the way to salvation.” [ASM
158-159]
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