Heyna's Socialist Wonderland (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781777993108)

Growing up in Soviet Siberia as the son of devout Christian parents, Andrej Voth was no stranger to the pitfalls of adhering to a spiritual faith in the former communist USSR. Here, he tells the story of his formative years and shares his journey as the young boy (and then man) navigates the contrasting ideologies of Christianity and Socialism.

Andrej's journey gives the reader an insight into daily life in USSR from 1964 through 1977. We follow him as he spends a large portion of his childhood targeted by his communist party-adhering schoolteachers, witnessing his father taken into Soviet labour camp, and as the KGB relentlessly oppresses his underground church. This is followed by two years of service in the Soviet Army, and eventually, his family escapes to capitalist Germany and beyond.

It is a story of unwavering positivity in the face of adversity and persecution and one that is absolutely recommended to readers who are curious about life behind the iron curtain of the former USSR!

Andrej Voth was born in Prokopievsk, Siberia and grew up under socialism. After attending eight years of the Soviet school system, he served in the army. Shortly after being discharged from military service, his family was forced to leave the USSR and settle in Germany.

Finding new freedoms, he explored and visited 30 plus countries and lived in four. He desired knowledge and graduated from academic institutions in Germany, Canada, France and Australia. Questions in world religions, anthropology, human rights, theology, and faith became his life passions. To support his global adventures, he worked various positions from caretaker to construction, from semi-truck driver to seminary professor.

Now, semiretired, Andrej and his wife Erna call northern Alberta their home. They are parents of two grown-up sons, one daughter-in-law and one sweet grandchild. Love for everything antique fills his free time restoring old trucks, furniture and houses. Skills he is working on presently are fishing and hunting.