Charlotte Miller Enberg

Lori's Quest Charlotte Miller Enberg

Becoming an integral part of Canada and its culture is an age old problem which occurs today just as it did when my story begins in 1940. The Mueller family were refugees from the communist revolution, were sponsored by Canada to begin a new life in this country. They had moved from a Mennonite Settlement in Manitoba to an area just being settled about sixty miles from Vancouver, British Columbia. World War Two is not even a year old. Twelve year old Lori finds it difficult to relate to her new circumstances. She had attended a school where all the children were Mennonites and lived by the same standards. Here the children find her strange and different Speaking German at home, they wonder about her allegiance to Canada. Papa adheres strictly to Mennonite beliefs and expects his daughter to do the same. He expects her to lead a simple, devout life. Mama is a vivacious woman with a scant mastery of the English language but a great sense of humor. She is more flexible than Papa, but like a good Mennonite wife, regards her husband as the head of the house. We are also introduced to the meager circumstances under which the Muellers live, and to their humble one room shack. Lori tries to live in both worlds, but finds herself meeting one challenge after another. She finally becomes discouraged and tries to resolve her situation in her own way. She tries to reach her only friend Jo who lives in Vancouver by running away. The situation temporarily worsens, but all involved work at finding some way to help Lori and her parents come to some understanding. Although many rough spots are still ahead, circumstances change considerably.