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Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Department

History

Major

History

Abstract

Despite her hectic and sometimes dangerous life on the road, Russian noblewoman and missionary Jenny De Mayer consistently told friends and family through letters that she was leaving her life in God’s hands. After seven years as a missionary in Russian Turkestan, De Mayer left Russia to go abroad. After the Russian Revolution, she made plans to return to the Soviet Union despite the risk of arrest as a noblewoman and person of faith. From 1918 through 1922, De Mayer spent time in America before returning to the Middle East and Soviet Central Asia. De Mayer often told family how much comfort it brought her to leave her life in God’s hands. When she was confused, she told her correspondents that she was waiting to see God’s plan play out and turned to Him in the decision making process. When she was poor and sick, she reassured others (and in a way, herself) that God has a hand in her finances and health. When making plans to return to the Soviet Union, she was often worried about what she would face yet confident that God would provide. Jenny De Mayer’s 1918-1922 letters reveal that she felt God had a plan for her, which led her to risk her health, finances, and even life.

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Sharyl Corrado

Funding Source or Research Program

Academic Year Undergraduate Research Initiative, Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Presentation Session

Session D

Start Date

23-4-2021 3:45 PM

End Date

23-4-2021 4:00 PM

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Apr 23rd, 3:45 PM Apr 23rd, 4:00 PM

“A Quiet Confidence in My Heart” - Jenny De Mayer’s Perception of God’s Will (1918-1922)

Despite her hectic and sometimes dangerous life on the road, Russian noblewoman and missionary Jenny De Mayer consistently told friends and family through letters that she was leaving her life in God’s hands. After seven years as a missionary in Russian Turkestan, De Mayer left Russia to go abroad. After the Russian Revolution, she made plans to return to the Soviet Union despite the risk of arrest as a noblewoman and person of faith. From 1918 through 1922, De Mayer spent time in America before returning to the Middle East and Soviet Central Asia. De Mayer often told family how much comfort it brought her to leave her life in God’s hands. When she was confused, she told her correspondents that she was waiting to see God’s plan play out and turned to Him in the decision making process. When she was poor and sick, she reassured others (and in a way, herself) that God has a hand in her finances and health. When making plans to return to the Soviet Union, she was often worried about what she would face yet confident that God would provide. Jenny De Mayer’s 1918-1922 letters reveal that she felt God had a plan for her, which led her to risk her health, finances, and even life.