After the war, Corrie travelled around the world telling people about the love of God in spite of the wickedness of Hitler. In 32 years she visited 64 countries to testify of God's love. She testified to the fact that Jesus Christ is the victor over all and everything, even the misery of the concentration camp. Both Jews and Christians are thankful to the ten Boom family who lived as Christian by grace and in obedience to the Lord they risked and gave their lives to save others. They knew the saving power of Jesus' death and resurrection and wanted to live it out and share the good news of the gospel to others. The ten Boom museum is more than a memorial it reflects the spiritual strength and active life in faith through the sharing of their story by museum volunteers and the exhibiting of documents, photographs and other memorabilia that tell what God did through this family.
The older fellow volunteer guide took us from room to room in the ten Boom home set above the clock shop. It has narrow curved stairs leading up to the lounge- dining room with a small kitchen area. On the second floor were 2 bedrooms and a bathroom and on the third level there were two bedrooms, a study and bathroom. Way at the top was Corrie's bedroom with the the secret space behind a false wall so we knew how fast the refugees would have to move when they were in the lounge- dining area. A buzzer would be sounded from the watch shop when Gestapo or other dangers were present. Our guide also spoke about the faith of the family and their trust in Jesus. He too testified that trusting in Jesus is the way to forgiveness and eternal life. He asked Ken to read a poem about God as the author and creator of our lives, in the study at the end of the session. Ken read it well and we have a copy of it if you would like to read it. It is titled, "The weaver".
One of the items which played an important role during the time when the ten Boom house was used to hide refugees, was a red triangular clock that was used as a signal to indicate if it was safe to enter the watch shop to seek help. If it was safe the clock face was displayed in the window. During unsafe times the back of the clock was displayed. There were also many photographs of the family, their letters and other items used in the 1940's.
Corrie ten Boom also wrote books about her experiences and her faith and trust in God. "The Hiding Place" not only became a best seller, it was made into a movie of the same name. It traces the lives of the ten Boom family members, in the quiet years before WWII and their with the "underground" in helping save the lives of countless Jewish families.
Corrie even met one of her cruel prison guards some years after the war. He had become a Christian and asked Corrie to forgive him for his cruelty to her. Corrie says in her book that at first she felt anger and disdain but knew that she needed to forgive him. She admits it was only when she remembered all that Jesus had forgiven her that she was able to look him in the eye and say "I forgive you" and mean it. She wrote, " Immediately I'd said those words, a peace I had never known came over me and I hugged my once torturer and loved him as a brother in Christ" only Jesus could have given me that peace and love which passes all understanding. I can testify too that when we forgive it is so freeing.
Well this was such a good museum experience for everyone who attended. Everyone clapped and thanked our guide. Some people have never really known the complete story of ten Boom family's life and they were amazed at their faith in the most difficult of circumstances.
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