A Bible in Barracks 28

“In everything give thanks.” — from 1 Thessalonians 5

Ravensbrück was a huge camp for women. It was crowded, cold and dirty, and there was never enough food. When the new prisoners arrived, almost everything they had was taken away, and they were given a thin dress to wear. But Corrie hid her small Bible under her dress. The guards were searching everyone, but they did not search her. Corrie believed that God had hidden her.

The sisters were sent to live in Barracks 28, a long hut with bunk beds three high. Corrie later wrote that by the end about fourteen hundred women were squeezed in there. Two or more women had to share each narrow bed.

Every day, Corrie and Betsie read the Bible to the women around them, sometimes twice a day. Women from Holland, France, Poland, Russia and many other places listened. When they could not speak the same language, the sisters simply said the name of Jesus, and the women’s faces lit up.

Many years later, Corrie told a story about this. The barracks was full of fleas, and Corrie hated them. But Betsie said they must thank God in everything, even the fleas! Later they found out that the guards stayed away from their part of the barracks, so the Bible readings could go on. The reason, Corrie said, was the fleas.

Corrie also had a little bottle of vitamin drops. Every day she gave a few drops to the women around her. Corrie wrote that the bottle went on giving drops for weeks, far longer than it should have, until a friend brought more vitamins from the camp hospital. Then it ran dry.

Even in the worst place, Corrie and Betsie shared what they had and thanked God. When things are hard for you, you can still look for something to thank God for, and something to share.

Dear God, thank you for your Word, the Bible. Help me to thank you even on hard days, and to share what I have with others. Amen.