The Story of Jan and Jana

His name is Jan and he’s almost 19 years old. It’s the year 1979 and he lives in an Orphanage in Czechoslovakia where he has grown up all his life. He has never known his parents or anything about where he came from. He had many questions throughout his life, about who he really was, why he was here in this place and what he would do later.

The Questions were always there but never any answers.

One day one of the workers brings him a letter, it’s not a surprise, that this letter has already been opened, but what is surprising is that this letter is from New York City in America.

For a while he simply stares at it and then he takes the letter out and begins to read.

Dear Jan,

We hope you can understand this letter. We had it translated at the University.

Our names are Sylvia and John Roberts; we live in New York in the USA and have something to tell you. Our sister Helen was traveling in Europe in 1960. She was seven months pregnant and traveling through Czechoslovakia when she became very ill. She was rushed to the hospital in serious condition and in a coma. There she gave birth and her condition became worse. It was so serious that she was transported back to America. She did not survive the trip. Somehow in all of the confusion we were not able to find out about the birth or whether the child survived, we were told that no one knew and that the child probably died. For many years we thought you were dead but we couldn’t rest without knowing 100% if this was true. We have been searching for years to find you and last month we discovered something and this led us to Prague and finally you.

Jan we don’t know if this will be good news to you or not but you are not Czechoslovakian you are American, you are not an orphan you come from a large wealthy family.

We do not want to change your life unless you desire it. If you contact us and let us know that you would like to meet and move to America, we will take care of the rest and send you a Passport and the needed papers to come.

Can you imagine what was happening in Jan’s heart and mind? I’m not alone, I know who my mother is, I know why I am here I know where my future is, I am loved, I am free, I have a home, I have a family!

Jan knew that everything would change now. In a moment time he had hope, and his life meant something else, he was free.

Jan glanced back at the letter and it continued with even more shocking news.

In our research we also discovered something else, your mother bore twins. You also have a sister. She was separated from you and grew up as well in an orphanage but in Ostrava. Here name is Jana. We are enclosing her address and ask you to please contact her and share this good news with her. When we come we would like to bring the whole family home.

Sincerely

John and Sylvia Roberts

Jan quickly wrote a note back that he wanted more than anything to go to America to meet his new family and to please make preparations. He also said that he would make contact with Jana and she would surely want to come too.

He mailed the letter and made preparations to go to Ostrava the next day to find Jana and tell her this wonderful news. Jan took the train early the next day arriving in Ostrava just before noon and went to the address that was in the letter.

He was very nervous.

After waiting a while a young girl appeared in the doorway and he saw himself standing there but with long hair.

He quickly introduced himself and told the whole story and when he had finished he waited for her response. There was none!

She simply said in a cold voice, “I don’t believe it”

Jan read the letter again and she said “nothing has changed I don’t believe it” besides America is a bad place, Americans are bad people. Don’t you know that years ago they even dropped potato bugs in our country to destroy our food supply?

Repeatedly Jan tried to convince Jana that she could have a new life, a family, that she could leave this controlling atmosphere and be free!

She said she was happy to know that she had a brother and would love to stay in contact, but that she was going to stay where she was and build her life right there in Ostrava. Besides she didn’t feel like an American and didn’t speak English.

Jan left Ostrava promising that he would return and try to talk with her again. He said that he loved her and didn’t want to leave without her.