A musical group that has experienced trials and tribulations in their steadfast devotion to their faith performed in Vulcan on Saturday. <\/p>\n
Simon Ivascu and his brother Stefan fled Romania as teenagers in the late 1990s, when they faced, upon completing high school, mandatory military service. <\/p>\n
But freedom of worship was restricted in the army, and the boys, being conscientious Christians, refused to serve. However, this would mean several years of imprisonment and persecution, so they made the difficult decision to flee their home country, facing many dangers and hardships along the way. <\/p>\n
Simon left Romania in 1997 while his brother had fled a few years prior. Wesley Pop, a close friend and also a member of the Freedom Singers, left about a year after Simon. <\/p>\n
He found his way to Italy, where he stayed until 1999. During his time in Italy, Simon met up with Pop, and the two decided to leave the country together. Stefan was able to stay in Italy until 2006. <\/p>\n
Simon and Pop paid cash to gain access to a shipping container, and their handler warned them about the trip ahead and suggested they bring certain items, including several tools that would later prove to be life saving. <\/p>\n
Once in the container, they were locked up. <\/p>\n
We didnt even know where it was heading, Simon told the Advocate during a phone interview on Friday. We ended up in Montreal. <\/p>\n
But it wasnt as easy as that. Before their container was even loaded on a ship, they spent four days at a port, said Simon. <\/p>\n
They coped with roasting temperatures inside the container, and eventually, water and food ran out. Oxygen was also running out. In order to breathe, they had to drill holes in the container and used juice box straws to get some air, he said. <\/p>\n
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