The Taste of Freedom

About 30 years ago First Baptist Church of Kasson Pastor John Todor’s life changed forever. 
For the first time in his life he was free, when his mom and him were able to escape persecution in Romania and made their way to Serbia.
Recently, Todor along with his wife took his three children, ages 11, 9 and 7 to Romania for the first time. 
“It was amazing,” Todor said about being able to take his children there. 
Despite the country being under a democratic government now, Todor explained that growing up in Romania was certainly a difficult one. 
Growing up in the communist country, Todor explained that they faced a lot of difficulties which included being limited to what they could buy in the stores, and more importantly the treatment they received from people including teachers, for being christian. “They persecuted us for believing in God,” Todor said. Despite the treatment Todor always remembered what he was taught by his parents and that was to continue to believe in God and one day good things would happen. 
Even though, being free was something Todor couldn’t ever imagine, it was his mom’s sense of optimism that kept him going during the difficult times. 
“My mom always said that one day we would be overseas and we could eat anything we wanted and be free,” Todor said remembering his childhood. 
It was on September 15, 1989, that he would taste freedom for the first time, when his mother and him ran 15 kilometers to Serbia, where they would be accepted with open arms. 
“When I tasted freedom for the first time it was a shock to me,” Todor said.
Six months later, Todor and his mom were able to reach The United States were they received an asylum, and he was able to get the surgery he needed for his scoliosis, which is one of the reasons why they fled Romania. 
“They wanted to help us get here,” Todor said speaking of the United States. 
Eventually he was also able to reunite with his sister and dad in Chicago, which was a special moment for Todor. 
For Todor his life in Romania wasn’t over. 
In 1998, Todors life would once again dramatically change. With only three classes left to go in order to receive a psychology degree from Arizona State, Todor explained that he was called into ministry and his calling was very specific. To go to Romania and tell the people about God. 
After graduating from seminary school in Romania he pastored a church there from 2002-2006. His wife, originally from the Philippines also lived there for two years, before they moved to the United States in hopes of making a better life for their family. 
For the Todors their first stop was in Arizona where he was a pastor for a few years. Although they loved the church, they knew that they wanted to find a place where he could be a blessing to the church and the community, as well as live in a community that would have a great education system for their growing family. 
“My wife and I prayed hard and long about it,”
Eventually Todor applied for the position at First Baptist in Kasson, and was accepted by the church, where he has served ever since. 
For Todor and his family, it was somewhat as a culture shock, because when they left Arizona it was 70 degrees and when they landed in Minnesota it felt like it was below zero. 
Despite the cold, Todor said that he feels very blessed to raise his family in Kasson. 
“When I first started people told me that I couldn’t have picked a better place to raise a family,” Todor said. “Ever since we have felt very blessed,” he added. 
 
Visit to Romania
 
When the Todor family visited Romania, one of the stops that they made was to the restaurant at the hotel where he and his mom stayed, while they were in Serbia. During the time the United Nations was funding it so that way refugees had a safe place to stay. 
While at the restaurant Todor reflected on memories of being there almost 30 years ago. 
During their time in Romania, they did what they could to help out those struggling in the country, including spiritually, and physically. 
“We helped those who we saw in need,” Todor said. 
While in Romania they were also able to have hundreds of pounds of clothes shipped to the country from America, which they helped disrupt to people while there. 
Spiritually, Todor gave a couple of sermons at his hometown church, and also had their class reunion for seminary school while he was there.
Todor and his family were also able to reconnect with many family members during a family reunion. 
Overall, Todor said that he felt like the visit to Romania was great and a great experience for his children, who only knew about the country through books and stories. 
“It’s a beautiful and gorgeous country but there is still a lot of work to be done recovering from communism,” Todor explained. 
Todor who has been a citizen for almost 25 years now, and a Minnesotan for about seven years, can be seen in the community in many different roles when he isn’t preaching or helping people at church.
And he is undoubtedly proud to be an American. 
“I love this country,” Todor said. “Its like I tell people at church I would do anything for the country,” he said.