"Toughened" grandma teaches new missionary about host culture

Mike Young researched Czechs and their history before living among them as an International Mission Board worker. One of the most surprising facts he learned was that many people in the former Soviet bloc long for the days of communism.

In fact, according to Mike, 20 percent of Czechs still votes along communist lines during elections.

Once he was in the Czech Republic, Mike was surprised at how the older generation of Czechs seem angry, especially the “grandmas.” Typically, they have a frown on their face and a stern word for whoever crosses their path. Mike was perplexed by their behavior and never imagined that the two random facts he had learned were related. That is, until he met Beatrice.

As a missionary, Mike’s job is to get to know people and introduce them to Jesus. He met Beatrice on the street one day while walking his puppy. She was curious about Mike and wanted to exchange Czech lessons for English lessons, so the two struck up an unlikely friendship.

As Mike visited in her home, he was struck by her poverty. The house shoes she gave him to wear were so thin he could see the floor through them, and the tea bag he used for his own tea was re-used later by her. But as they sat and visited, Mike learned about his new culture.

Her story

Beatrice, who is in her 70s, was born fatherless and raised in an orphanage. She survived through filth and abuse until she was a teenager and communism took over, closing down her home and sending her to work at a farm. A few years later she was allowed to go to school, where she lived, worked and learned to be a high school teacher of music and geography.

Although her life was hard, she “worked the system to her advantage in many cases,” Mike said.

“She had the freedom to travel to other communist countries, but didn’t have the money, so every morning she would go down to the train station and try to rent out the rooms in her apartment to German tourists,” Mike said. “If someone needed two rooms instead of just her extra one, she would give them her bedroom and sleep on her kitchen floor.”

She saved money from renting out her flat and used that to travel. She has visited Russia, Germany, Poland, Australia and Finland.

She retired with enough money to live comfortably, but then communism ended. While inflation increased, her pension remained fixed and finances became tight. This past year she was forced to move from her home in Prague to a nearby village where life is more affordable.

Today she “thinks it’s the greatest deal in the world” to be able to take a bus and pick apples at an orchard from 7 a.m. until noon. She gets paid the equivalent of $10 and can pick up however many apples she wants that have fallen on the ground.

“She’s not afraid to do anything,” Mike said. “At 55 she taught herself how to play the flute, at 65 she started learning English.”

Although there were disadvantages, Beatrice thrived under communism.

“Communism wasn’t great for everyone, but if you worked hard, you could get what you wanted,” she told Mike. “But now, it’s good if you’re young, but if you’re old, it is very bad because there are no opportunities to make money.”

Impact on Mike

Mike realized through Beatrice that this inescapable poverty and lack of opportunity is the main reason the older generation is angry and feels nostalgic about communism. It is also responsible for a disconnection between younger and older generations in post-Soviet Europe.

“It’s helped me relate to older people,” Mike said. “Like on the tram, when older women will push you out of their way, it helps me now to reflect on what they’ve been through.”

This understanding helps Mike in relating to the Czech people. Taking time to know individuals and their stories gives him insight into how to reach them for Christ.

He talked to Beatrice about her relationship with Christ. Although she is Catholic she thinks little of spiritual things and considers herself “too old to make changes in her life.” However, Mike knows God brought them together for a reason and has entrusted her to Him.

“In reality, she is too old not to change her beliefs,” Mike said.

 To know more about Mike’s ministry in the Czech Republic and to find out how to be a part of what he is doing, contact him at mikyou@everyheart.net. 

Posted by Karen Pearce on Mar 17, 2009

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