In the late 1920s, Stalin was determined to turn Russia into a "Soviet Paradise." For thousands of Russian Mennonites that meant exorbitant taxes, arrest, forced labour, losing their farms and businesses, and even losing their lives.
Later joined by Kaethe\'s parents and her brother, the two families set off on a journey that ultimately.
With their faith in God and little else, Nikolai and Kaethe Penner fled for their lives with their toddler Maria, praying to find a way to leave Russia alive.
In the late 1920s, Stalin was determined to turn Russia into a "Soviet Paradise." For thousands of Russian Mennonites that meant exorbitant taxes, arrest, forced labour, losing their farms and businesses, and even losing their lives
