Zmitser Dashkevich: In exile, I am a wanderer, but I have what I wouldn't have in Belarus now — the opportunity to bear fruit for the Lord

A year flew by like a shooting star, clicked like a second hand. A year ago – a convict with 20 days left to serve and live on his Native land (but also a convict who was promised new charges every year). Today – a wanderer on planet Earth ("All these [heroes of faith] died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth," — Apostle Paul to the Hebrews, 11:13) with a Geneva travel document (thanks for it to the Lord and the people of Lithuania).

In general, I always knew I would be imprisoned, and for a long time (ultimately, I gave nine years of my life to beloved Belarus), but I never thought I would become a refugee. I might have even gone to prison for the last (as they like to say now) time, so that after it, I could stay and live in my Homeland. But here – I served my time (even overserved with two new charges), and now I'm a wanderer! Well, even for this, Your will is undeniable, Lord! And in this, we seek Your providence and Your plan.

What have I done in a year? Documents, relocations, apartments, arrangements, registrations, etc., etc. — all that, probably, I can explain only to a wanderer like myself.

In general, every day I still have to deal with things that were long ago settled in Belarus. But – most importantly! – in exile, there is something I wouldn't have in Belarus now – the opportunity to bear fruit for the Lord.

Gradually, not all at once, but we do what we can:

1. We are reunited as a family. What I had dreamed of for years has come true! I don't want to say that everything is as beautiful as on Instagram, or as simple as in dreams. Working on oneself is difficult both in prison and in freedom. But we are working.

2. I will finish editing (today!) the first volume about my prison journey; tomorrow I will start the second. I have prepared another book for publication, and I am correcting the first one for re-publication. And one more dream.

3. We gathered in Vilnius with "Prayer for Belarus" – and continue our spiritual struggle for the Homeland, as the Apostle Paul writes to his brothers and sisters: "For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you… and for all who have not seen my face in the flesh" (Colossians 2:1).

We are once again creating a Christian and Belarusian-speaking community for our children. The struggle for faith and for language is a daily struggle both in Belarus and in exile, and if you stop it, you will be consumed by evil, you will die.

Brothers and sisters in exile, we are all going through a difficult path with you. It is approximately like a prison path, I tell you precisely, having gone through that one and now walking this one. But we are together, we rejoice in God's sunshine and have the opportunity to do deeds for the Lord and Belarus: to care for those who are struggling; to write books and songs in our native language — to build Belarus every day!

Perhaps someone will ask: where is Belarus?! It is where the Belarusian language is! — Apostle of Belarus Frantsishak Bahushevich.

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