As my readers know by now, the Feenstras are a large family — Dad Arend, Mom Anneesa, and eight children ranging from teenagers to toddler — who sold their farm in Saskatchewan to begin a new life on a farm they are building from scratch in the Nizhny Novgorod region of Russia.

Their purpose was to get away from the “wokeness” of their native Canada in order to raise their children in a more conservative environment, free from the perceived “dangers” of LGBTQ+ liberalism. After a year and a half, they seem to be making great progress . . . but only with the help of the Russian government in exchange for their never-ending participation in propaganda programs and videos being disseminated worldwide via social media.

I can’t say I agree with what they are doing; but their personal choices are theirs to make, and I do admit to a certain admiration for their tenacity and their unstinting faith that they have made the right decision for their children.

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Yesterday, though, I came across a story about an American family — Derek and DeAnna Huffman and their three daughters — who moved to the Moscow region a few months ago, for pretty much the same reasons as the Feenstras.

Their May 21st post on @HuffmanTime read: “We’re the Huffman family — Americans who moved to Russia 2 months ago! Derek (46) has a background in welding & construction, DeAnna (42) is a former teacher & floral designer, and we’re raising our 3 daughters (12, 11 & 10) while embracing a whole new life, language, and culture.” [Josh Fiallo, Daily Beast, July 18, 2025.]

But things are not working out so well for the Huffmans. In an effort to gain expedited Russian citizenship for his family, and in hopes of being able to “earn” the respect of their new Russian neighbors, Derek Huffman — naively believing the government’s recruiting propaganda — enlisted in the military on the promise that he would not be sent to the front lines in Ukraine, but would be working as a correspondent (albeit with no knowledge of the Russian language) or as a welder.

He also believed the recruitment promises of financial benefits. But after a month of training, the Huffmans have yet to receive the first payment.

I’m sure you know what to expect next: Derek is being sent to the front lines after all, with no military background and only minimal training — and that training being conducted in Russian, which he does not understand.

His wife DeAnna said, “Unfortunately, when you’re taught in a different language, and you don’t understand the language, how are you really getting taught? You’re not. So, unfortunately, he feels like he’s being thrown to the wolves right now, and he’s kind of having to lean on faith, and that’s what we’re all doing.” [Id.]

Last month, Derek had told Russian state media:

“The point of this act [joining the military] for me is to earn a place here in Russia. If I risk myself for our new country, no one will say that I am not a part of it.” [Id.]

And now he is being used as cannon fodder, along with thousands of Putin’s conscripts being recruited from jails, prisons and homeless shelters to fill the empty spaces left by the dead and wounded.

Last year, Russian lawmaker Aleksandr Borodai — who heads a group called the Union of Donbas Volunteers — was recorded telling officers that the military brass considers volunteer soldiers “second-rate infantry [needed to] exhaust the enemy’s manpower” as much as possible before a full attack can be launched by regular army units. In the same conversation, he referred to volunteers as “expendable manpower.” [Daniil Belovodyev and Systema, RFE/RL, July 17, 2025.]

And that is what the well-meaning but seriously misguided Derek Huffman has signed up for.

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Aside from the obvious concerns about Derek’s chances of survival, my thoughts naturally go to DeAnna and the three children. What will they do, and how will they survive, while he is fighting in Ukraine? And what will become of them if, in the worst-case scenario, he doesn’t return?

These are the possibilities that people need to consider before deciding that the grass is going to be greener somewhere else. Is it really worth all of this, just to shelter your children from some of the realities of life that don’t happen to conform to your beliefs?

I, for one, don’t think so. But that’s only my opinion.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/19/25