Our country, Estonia, changed into a battlefield, where men and women, regardless of their ages, experienced what the Lord had foretold in Isaiah. Our brothers and sisters were tested in their faith; the forests that God had created and the caves of the earth became their places of escape. Yet for some of them the Lord had determined a martyr’s death for their faith, for the reason that the number determined for the martyrs will be fulfilled. Especially we remember our minister, Brother Holmstroem, who, with another brother entered this company. It was a great loss to his family and to the church, but we take everything from the hand of God.
Especially the place where I was with my family became a battlefield. Here we could see all the horrors of the war. Many times we were near death. Grenades were flying over our heads, causing death and destruction. We lost our hope for survival, but the Lord allowed a hole in the ground to become a place of escape and a chamber of prayer to us, where we could spend a few days and nights. After the battle we could see the dead lying on the ground everywhere. I tried to go to the city, which seemed to have suffered the destruction of Sodom. Yet our brothers and sisters who lived in this city had survived. We could not thank the Lord enough for it.
Every time I prayed, I got an answer that I needed to leave my home and my country, and head towards an unknown destiny. It seemed a heavy ordeal for me. About three or four months earlier, my son had already been able to escape the war-torn country in a small motorboat. The same kind of escape opened to me also; however, all who planned to escape the country were threatened by the death penalty. But we knew that there is One who is above all human laws. He can void human plans and support us and save us from the danger of the death penalty.
I experienced the same thing that Peter once experienced. When I left in the darkness of night I could take only one of my daughters with me, and begin this dangerous journey. My wife was sick and therefore could not come with us. We were hoping that later she may come also, along with the other children. Thus, a separation occurred in the family. As I am writing these lines, two years have passed since I left my home and my country. The conditions changed in our home country, so that it was not possible for my wife and children to follow me. The Lord knows why these things happen.
In the darkness of night, a small fishing boat waited for us, and it was filled to the last seat, so that we could not move from the position that we took. The Lord gave us a calm night to travel. We experienced no storm on the way. The guards and the guardian boats did not notice that we had left until the next day, when we had safely arrived on the beach islands of our brother nation, Finland. Here, as refugees, we were received in a friendly manner. Later we were sent by a large steam boat to the refugee camp.
After a few weeks the Lord helped us wonderfully, and we were set free to be with the brothers and sisters of our faith. Other refugees were taken to the army to fight in the war. Great was my joy when I could meet my son again, whom the Lord, after much prayer, had set free from the military service. Great was my joy also when I could see my brothers and sisters of our faith after many years. This meeting was a great surprise, because for many years we had no correspondence, nor any knowledge of each other.
With the help of God’s mercy, we spent seven months as refugees in this country. During this time we could attend the annual church conference. After this we were forced to leave this country because of political events, and to try to escape to Sweden, which was a free country. The Lord helped us to cross the sea again. In the larger sailboat we were 160-170 refugees. Every part of the ship was filled. The trip took more than 30 hours. With great difficulty we crossed the sea. The waves brought water over into the boat, making us all wet with the cold water. Many of us became sea-sick. In Sweden we were received in a very friendly way. As a refugee, I have tried to help the work of God the best that I could, even in the countries with languages that are strange to me. I want to thank the Lord from all my heart for His leading.
W. Korpman