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The Price of Freedom - Part 1














Jumping inside the boxcar, they took one last look at the sunlight before being sealed shut inside their metal prison.  Simon and Wesley had illegally left Romania in order to escape mandatory service in the military, where they would have been beaten, perhaps fatally, for refusing to serve on Sabbaths.  Despite several close calls with the police in Romania, Hungary, and Austria, Simon managed to cross three boarder crossings on foot and escaped to Italy where he joined his brother Stefan, who had illegally taken refuge there after being cruelly beaten in the Romanian military.  Once in Italy, Simon had been captured by the police, who interrogated and beat him.  However, Providence intervened when he could not locate his ID, which meant they could not ship him back to Romania.  He was released and given 15 days to leave the country.  Having no place to go, he remained illegally for nearly two years.  Meanwhile, his friend Wesley back in Romania had received his third and final military notice.  Through a friend, he managed to obtain a tourist visa and a ride all the way to Italy where he stayed illegally as well.  About a year later, both are caught by the police and given 15 days to leave the country.  Italy was not the land of freedom they dreamed of.  Shootings occurred daily.  They met up with a guy who claimed to have shipped illegal immigrants all over the world in boxcars for a small fortune.  Though against the reasoning of Stefan, Simon's brother, they decided to take the risk.  In the middle of the night the guy opened up a boxcar and sealed them inside.

How much are you willing to pay in order to stay true to God?  Simon and Wesley could have stayed in Romania with their families and friends if they had simply given up Sabbath-keeping for one year.  The Sabbath is going to be the test for us as well.

 Are you ready to stay true to God no matter the cost?








"The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him." Nahum 1:7

 If you want the whole story, buy the book!  It is the best book I've ever read!   
https://www.amazon.com/Price-Freedom-Story-courage-danger/dp/0978201205/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1511280454&sr=8-3&keywords=the+price+of+freedom

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