This tribute is for my great-grandmother, Mary Baho, and my great-great grandmother (whose name I do not remember)--two women I was never able to meet, but my life has been directly impacted by their faith, bravery, and strength.
Their story begins like this...my family is originally from Turkey, where my great-grandfather , Elias Baho, was a prominent businessman in his hometown of Marden. My great-great grandmother, great-grandmother, and my grandfather lived together, helping to run my great-grandfather's business. During the early 1920's, the Turks invaded their hometown taking many hostage and forcing them to either become Muslim or to die. My great-grandfather was captured and was able to send word to my grandmothers to take my young grandfather (then 12) and flee to America, for he had family that had already fled the country and were living in Massachusetts. My great-grandfather, I am proud to say, did not choose to become a Muslim...he chose Jesus instead and was beheaded before friends and family.
My grandmothers, fearful for their lives, fled their home in the night and traveled by every form of transportation possible to make it safely to America. During their travels, they took risks, not only as Christians but as women in a very male dominant culture...for example, my great-grandmother was hit with the barrel of a rifle protecting my grandfather from being harmed. Now, I don't know all the details of their travels or how long it took them to arrive in America, but I do know that during their journey many prayers were spoken and they believed so much in their God that they were willing to risk their lives to gain freedom and safety. They left all they knew, all they had, and all they loved for the opportunity to freely worship.
Needless to say, they arrived safely in America, coming on a cargo ship through a New York City port. Upon arrival my great-grandmother, married Elias' brother and raised 7 more children in a small town in Massachusetts to honor the legacy of her late husband (as was customary in their culture). My grandfather grew to become a small business owner in Fitchburg, MA, went back to the Middle East when he was in his late 30's, met my grandmother and married. They raised five children in America, their firstborn being my mother, and were blessed with 12 grandchildren.
As a child I was told this story by my grandmother and mother. I learned such a valuable lesson about generational prayer and the legacy I will leave for my children and future grandchildren. My great-grandmothers must have prayed for their travels not to be in vain, for their bravery and faith to carry over for many generations to come, and for the legacy of my great-grandfather never to be forgotten.
Unfortunately, many of my aunts, uncles, and cousins do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior despite the great sacrifices their family made for them to be born and raised in a country where they are free to worship. I used to look at my family and be so upset about their unbelief, but I realized that not all hope is lost...God has placed me in this family to be an intercessor and light for the rest of my family. I can pray, just as my great-grandmothers prayed, that seeds would be planted and their heritage remembered. I can also pray for my children (one who is 16 months old and the other who will be born in late October) that they would grow in the Lord and never forget the great sacrifice He made on their behalf. I can pray that they will share His love with their children and their children's children.
Had it not been for my brave great-grandmothers and great-grandfather, I would not be here today. I praise God for my heritage and pray that I may leave a legacy that blesses Him, and Him alone.
In Him,
Laura Grove
