In 1982, soon after I turned 19, I received a two-year prison sentence for refusing to join the military. I found it challenging to be in prison, surrounded by criminals. But I am grateful that I could occasionally meet up with another Witness who was located in the same prison camp. I completed my prison term, but that would not be the last time I would see the inside of a prison.

Jehovah Continued to Make the Way Out

What I had learned during my first prison sentence prepared me for my second. One thing that helped me to endure was preaching to others. For example, while traveling to the prison, prisoners were jammed into vehicles and trains. Sometimes 15 to 20 men would be forced into a space usually occupied by five or six people. I used this opportunity to speak to fellow inmates about the Bible’s message. I explained why I was neutral in war and politics and how this had led to my arrest and imprisonment. I also told them why I felt it is reasonable to believe that God exists.

The prison where I served my sentence was in Marijampolė.a As far as I know, I was the only Witness among 2,000 hardened criminals. Although I was severely beaten only once, it was common for inmates to be threatened, beaten, and even killed. Despite the harsh conditions, I tried to encourage the downhearted and express compassion—a quality that those inmates rarely experienced in prison.

KGB agents also exerted psychological pressure on us in prison. Somehow, they knew what my family members were talking about in the privacy of our home, and they would tell me about their conversations. But the agents would distort what my family said to make it appear that they were quarreling and disunited. Although I never believed the agents, it was not until after I left prison that I could compare the KGB’s statements with what my family had really said.—Matthew 10:16.

On one occasion, a sister asked her neighbor, a guard she knew well, to slip me a small Russian Bible. At night I would copy a few verses from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount on a small piece of paper so that the next day, while working in the prison factory, I could read the verses repeatedly when no one was watching. That’s how I memorized Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Russian, even though Russian is not my first language. Eventually the guards found and confiscated the Bible. But by then I already had Jesus’ words in my mind and heart.

I also received priceless support from Lidija, who wrote me an encouraging letter almost every day. However, I was only allowed to reply to her twice a month. Regardless, she told me that the letters I sent to her reassured her of three important things: I was alive, I was loyal to Jehovah, and I was still in love with her.

Jehovah Made the Way Out Through Prayer

On one occasion, one work group of prisoners demanded that the authorities provide slightly better working conditions. In the meantime, they refused to work. Of course, those prisoners received harsh punishment for their rebellion. Then the authorities personally informed me and others that we were assigned to a new work group that replaced the rebels.

If I refused this new assignment, I would be severely punished. But if I accepted it, the prisoners would view me as a traitor and exact vengeance, which often meant being beaten or stabbed to death. I felt tremendous pressure, as though I were in a vise, and I did not know what to do. (2 Chronicles 20:12) So I constantly supplicated Jehovah for his help.

Suddenly, a prisoner in my original work group gathered us together to go and visit the work manager. This prisoner was not a friend of mine; we merely worked together. Nevertheless, he demanded that I stay in my original group. This led to a furious argument with the manager. Finally, the manager—who never budged on anything—chased us out of his office and allowed me to stay in my original group, to my enormous relief. (2 Peter 2:9) In all my prison years, I never saw a prisoner support another inmate with such zeal. From this experience, I learned that Jehovah can use anyone to help us in answer to our prayers.