Where was Ingeborg Machel? Inge was only three years old when she went missing, and she could never fully remember the events of that terrible night in 1945. But one thing she knew: her name was Ingeborg Machel. She also remembered the loud, terrifying noises as the panicked horses stormed through the night while she was wrapped in feather blankets with her grandmother. Amidst the dense hail of bullets, her grandmother was fatally wounded. Inge, too, was hit just below the knee and apparently bled heavily. Fortunately, Russian soldiers managed to stop the frightened horses. They found the little girl and her deceased grandmother, wrapped a tight bandage around Inge’s small leg, and brought her to an abandoned house, where she was left to fend for herself.
Inge apparently spent a few days alone, but soon other refugees began to occupy the same house. It is almost unimaginable how a three-year-old child coped with such terrible circumstances and how she must have cried day and night for her family. But they never came. Other refugees found the little girl, who, remarkably, had not bled to death—saved by the soldiers’ quick actions. They shared their meager food with her, and eventually, she was taken to the hospital in Anklam, the nearest town. There, her wound was cleaned, and her leg began to heal. After some time, when she had regained her strength, she was placed in a nearby orphanage.
A young nurse quickly formed a close bond with the sweet little Ingeborg. Soon, Inge’s eyes filled with tears whenever the nurse left after her shift. She begged her to stay or called out for her mother—but her mother never came. The obvious pain of the child deeply moved the nurse, and she considered how she could help the little foundling. Her aunt, Lotte Schmidt, who lived in Leopoldshagen near Anklam, had recently lost her only son. Perhaps she could be a solution for Ingeborg’s situation? Mr. Schmidt was a prisoner of war in Russia, and the nurse knew that Mrs. Schmidt felt terribly lonely. Maybe Ingeborg could fill this void in her heart? A meeting was arranged, and indeed, Mrs. Schmidt fell in love with Inge at first sight. She intended to keep the girl with her without involving the official authorities until her husband returned home. If he objected, Inge could always be returned to the orphanage. If not, they would begin the adoption process.
Shortly before Christmas 1948, Mrs. Schmidt’s conscience began urging her to contact the Red Cross, which was searching for missing children. She was deeply troubled, but she refused to register Inge, as her feelings for the girl had grown very strong. At the same time, a search notice from the Machel family was published in the Gospel Trumpet magazine (now Foundation of Faith).
Years passed, and Inge gradually forgot her biological family, giving her whole heart to her new “mother.” But Mrs. Schmidt’s conscience gave her no rest. At night, she felt as if a cold hand was shaking her awake, reminding her of her duty toward the lost child. She began to fear sleep, lost her appetite, and became increasingly depressed. Eventually, she was so desperate that she registered the child at the local registration office. She later recalled that the moment she informed the authorities of Ingeborg’s whereabouts, her appetite returned, she could sleep peacefully again, and her life normalized.
Meanwhile, God’s plan was working in the background. Like with hundreds of thousands of lost children, Inge’s registration with the Red Cross Children’s Relief Program was sent to the headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. There, Inge’s mother, Paula Machel, was already known, as she had been tirelessly searching for her child. Within a few days, she received a message: A girl named Ingeborg Machel, eight years old, was living in Leopoldshagen with Mrs. Lotte Schmidt.
Paula could not believe it. She read the letter over and over, then broke into tears, screamed with joy, thanked God, and praised His holy name. She ran out into the street, shouting to strangers: “My child Inge is alive! She is in Leopoldshagen in East Germany! This is a miracle, praise the Lord!”
Only a few days later, Paula was on her way to East Germany with a visa. In Anklam, she had to officially identify her daughter. The official listened attentively as she described her child: dark brown hair, gray eyes, and a reddish-blue birthmark on her forehead. Suddenly, he interrupted her: “This must be Paula Machel’s child! Bring this woman to Ingeborg immediately!”
But when Paula saw Inge, the girl pushed her away: “Go away! You’re not my mother! This is my mother!”—pointing to Mrs. Schmidt. Inge had been coached to reject any stranger. The pain was unbearable for Paula. Sobbing, she fell to her knees and began to pray loudly. Mrs. Schmidt watched and realized that this was indeed Inge’s biological mother. Eventually, mother and daughter reconnected.
Paula spent Christmas in Leopoldshagen to make the farewell easier for Inge and Mrs. Schmidt. Finally, she returned to West Germany with her daughter. There, Inge recognized her father and met her siblings. And then a miracle happened: her birthmark disappeared! God had removed it after it had fulfilled its purpose. Even her weaker leg began to heal.
Epilogue:
In December 1960, Inge married Horst Grams. She invited Mrs. Schmidt as an honorary guest, but East Germany did not allow her to travel to Canada. Years later, Inge visited her in Leopoldshagen. She fell into her arms, crying. They stayed connected through letters until the end of their days.
How wonderful and amazing are the ways of God with His children!
Josef Jakobsh, in “We Have Seen His Glory”
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