Searching Survivor and the answer I found - By Marion Baumann-Parkhurst

Searching Survivor
and the answer I found

by Marion Baumann-Parkhurst

Marion Baumann-Parkhurst

Searching Survivor - a moving account of one woman's tenacity in the face of adversity.

In her unique and endearing style, Baumann-Parkhurst recounts for us her childhood memories, her touching relationship with her father, and the challenges she later encountered as a young Jewish woman and wife under German persecution.

Her world in turmoil, uprooted from her home, confronted with indescribable suffering and cruelty, losing the ones she loved most... where was God in all of this?

"Naber, there is a God, but you will have to find him yourself"

Marion's stubborn will to live spurs her through each new challenge and tragedy, and in the process she discovers the God she has been searching for her whole life.

Marion's engaging story will both enthrall and move you, and you will triumph with her as she finds forgiveness and peace with her Creator.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION............................................... 9

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................... 11

1. THE ROCK ............................................... 15

2. ALL IN THE FAMILY....................................... 19

3. A LESSON IN HONESTY AND JUSTICE ........................ 25

4. GOD THE FATHER AT A DISTANCE ........................... 29

5. NATIONAL EVENTS SWIRL AROUND US ........................ 33

6. NAZIISM DESCENDS UPON GERMANY .......................... 39

7. MY BROTHER ............................................. 41

8. THE 1936 OLYMPICS BECKON BRIEFLY ....................... 45

9. A FAMILY DIVIDED ....................................... 49

10. THE ROCK’S INNER STRENGTH ............................. 53

11. GETTING OUT AS THE STORM BREAKS ....................... 57

12. THE STORM DESCENDS .................................... 61

13. GROWING PAINS ......................................... 63

14. CLINGING TO A NORMAL LIFE ............................. 71

15. TIGHTENING THE SCREWS ................................. 77

16. HOLOCAUST IN HOLLAND................................... 81

17. PEOPLE OF THE YELLOW STAR.............................. 87

18. GOD BLESS MY POOR BABY! ............................... 93

19. THE DEPTH OF HUMILIATION .............................. 99

20. ENEMY WITH A HEART ................................... 103

21. LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE................................... 105

22. A HELL-BOUND TRAIN TO THE OVENS ...................... 111

23. “IT WILL ALL BE OVER SOON” ........................... 115

24. ABANDONED IN OUR FREEDOM ............................. 121

25. GOD AND THE JEWS - AGAIN.............................. 125

26. ANOTHER CHILD, ANOTHER CHANCE ........................ 129

27. OUR EYES TURN WESTWARD................................ 135

28. AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL................................. 139

29. REACHING TOWARD MATURITY ............................. 143

30. OUR DANCING BEAR...................................... 145

31. OUR MARRIAGE BECOMES THORNY .......................... 149

32. SINKING ROOTS ........................................ 155

33. FAMILY SECRETS REVEALED .............................. 159

34. EARLY STEPS TOWARD A CAREER .......................... 165

35. STIRRINGS OF THE SPIRIT .............................. 171

36. THE LIGHT BRIGHTENS .................................. 175

37. MY EXPERIENCE DEEPENS ................................ 181

38. A NEW SENSE OF BELONGING ............................. 187

EPILOGUE ................................................. 189

ADDENDUM ................................................. 190

INTRODUCTION

Writing an introduction to my mother’s book is not an easy task but looking at my parents’ lives I realize how resilient the human spirit can be. Some circumstances in life are outside of our control; they are “happenings” in our lives but how they shape us, and they do, is within our control. My father and mother were two of fewer than 200 people who walked out of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. It shaped them. There was no ‘post-concentration camp counseling’, as there might be today. There was no rabbi or spiritual counselor to come to their aid. They had to start over, to make a new life, to survive in a new country while learning a new language.

My father (1899 - 1986) was a good provider for us. There was always a roof over our head and food on the table. Emotionally, however, he needed healing. Growing up my relationship with him was problematic, as you will read in these pages. It was only as I was in my 30’s that I could empathize with him and was able to understand him better.

He loved us, nevertheless, as best he could, and I loved him. My mother is an amazing woman! Like most Holocaust survivors, she is a fighter. After losing so much and being victimized, she refused to succumb to a victim mentality. Suffering under severe prejudice, she refused to become embittered and prejudiced herself. On the contrary, she stood up against it when she encountered people who were being victimized through the racial hatred of others.

She also stood up against suffering by pursuing an education in nursing so she could help alleviate or minimize the physical suffering of others. My mother is also a pursuer of truth. The spiritual realities she has come to embrace caused her to experience rejection once again (this time by friends) but she held true to her spiritual convictions.

I never thought my mother would share some of the things she has shared in this book. It has cost her in that it has not been easy to relive some of the things she has written here. Also, in the course of writing this book she was diagnosed with stomach lymphoma. Nevertheless, with medical treatment and prayer, she managed once again to overcome.

Mom, thanks for the many lessons you have taught me and the love you have given me all these years.

Reader, I think you will come to agree with me after reading these pages, that my mother is one extraordinary lady.

Karen Piccard-Baumann

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Of course, the Lord had told me to write my life story. Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit I could not have accomplished it. He also gave me my husband, Don Parkhurst, to help me along. Don transcribed my handwritten script into the computer and corrected my faulty English. He never failed to believe in my ability to write my biography. He made very helpful suggestions and it was Don who came up with the chapter headings.

Thank you Don, for all of your help, patience, and love.

Marion Baumann-Parkhurst

Purchase it today from Amazon.com

Printed by Lightning Source
ISBN 0-9777251-5-4
Editing : Don Parkhurst & Tracey Edge
Cover Design : Heila Rowan
Book Formatting & Layout Design : Kerry Wilson

SEARCHING SURVIVOR : And the answer I found. The incredible story of a holocaust survivor.
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