John Markovic

Yearbook Edition

After graduating from elementary school in my hometown of Cuprija, Serbia, my friend Milo and I enrolled in woodworking at the local vocational school.

Our schedule consisted of working 25 hours/week M-F in the mornings while attending afternoon classes M-Sat for two years. However, being Seventh-day Adventists, we refused to attend classes on Sabbath. Nevertheless the rule was simple: attend classes or out. Furthermore the school director was known as the "big communist" in the area. He wouldn't budge when he saw our plight, even though we were top students.

So a week before the semester was over, in early December 1964, we were expelled. I remember that cold day, both of us standing outside the school wondering what to do. Either we gave in to the demands of the director or ended up digging ditches all our lives.

We began searching in the nearby towns for a school that would take us. One school had an arrangement where half the students worked TThSt and attended classes MWF while the other half did the opposite, which we agreed to despite its demanding program. Unfortunately, though, our previous director noted on our transcripts that we missed classes because we were irresponsible, neglecting any mention of our religious beliefs. Nevertheless, the director decided to allow us to attend classes on MWF, provided that we catch up with the material in two months. We assured him we would do so and that with God's help everything is possible? 

He responded, "I will personally be there to see your miracle. We'll see if your God will help you." 

"Most importantly we were

 representing God to

unbelievers."

Before us was an enormous task. Not only did we have to keep up with the current lectures, but we were also expected to learn the material from the entire first semester.

Most importantly, though, we were representing God to unbelievers. For His sake, we were determined to succeed. For two months, Milo and I studied the books and notes that a few students provided us with. We continually prayed for wisdom, clear minds, and good memory. Finally in mid-March, in the presence of the director and the entire class, we faced our oral examination. Milo was first; I followed. Both of us answered each question with ease. Straight A answers in all five subjects.

I still remember the director holding his head in wonder, "I've never seen this. I guess there must be a God."


Courtesy of the 2007 Cardinal Yearbook
Daniel Bedell, photographer; Jonathan VanOrnam, writer