Before I became an Adventist, I used to work on an army base, in the south of Finland, where I served the officers of war. While working there, I visited some religious meetings to which I was invited. There they spoke about the second advent of Jesus Christ, and it touched me deeply, and I began to search for the truth. The Lord led me to this wonderful Advent message, for which I have been rejoicing with all my heart. This is the reason why I love the song, “He leadeth me, He leadeth me, by His own hand, He leadeth me.”
The Lord continued to lead me, and I left the army to become a literature evangelist. I can assure you that the canvassing work is a noble work, as the Spirit of Prophecy states, but one must remember never to be discouraged in this work, because the angels will always protect us.
I remember one time, I prepared myself well in the morning, and I worked hard all day, but didn’t sell anything. I tried to be happy, even though I felt quite depressed. In the evening I was sad that the Lord didn’t bless my work that day at all. The next day, when I went to work I sold a book in almost every house. Praise the Lord! The Lord tries us, but He will not forsake us.
One time I was canvassing in the east side of Finland, near the Russian border. I canvassed all day, and I thought I had covered every house in the village, but on the way back I got lost, and found some houses which I hadn’t seen before. I thanked the Lord for leading me to them.
On Friday night, after I had started Sabbath, I decided to go for a walk on that beautiful winter night. The peace of Sabbath rested over nature as I walked down a road through the woods. Later on a gentleman in a sleigh, drawn by a horse, stopped and asked if I would like a ride. I thought it would be impolite to say no, so I accepted and climbed into the sleigh. I felt a strong desire to witness the truth to this man, and I was praying in my heart for an opportunity. First we spoke about the weather, and then he asked me where I was from, and what I was doing here. This gave me my opportunity, and I told him all about the Advent truth. He then told me that he was a pastor in the local church, and we wished each other God’s blessings and parted our ways. I praise the Lord for this chance to witness to this man.
I have often had the opportunity to witness to people in buses and trains, and as well have sold many books on the trains. One time I forgot to look at my watch, and the train left the station. It was an express train and didn’t stop for quite a distance. I went out into the hall and prayed to God, praying that all things are possible to God, and that He could stop the train for me to get out. Shortly after travelling about 1 km, the train stopped and I got out. Again I thanked my heavenly Father, remembering Jesus’ words that say, “Whatsoever ye shall pray in faith, believe it, and you shall receive it.”
Once I was working in a town and I could not find a place to spend the night. I was told of an old widow who lived by the train station. When I went to her house she accepted me in, and gave me lodging while I stayed in that area, and to my great joy she also accepted the Advent faith. This is why we must sow the seeds, morning or night, for we never know which seed will bring forth fruit.
For many years, I was canvassing in Lapland, the northernmost province of Finland. The distances between villages was great, and there I used to travel on my bicycle. Often I would meet great reindeer herds with hundreds of reindeer in them. People were friendly there.
I remember one Friday I had done my work and wanted to go back to my lodging in time for Sabbath. I had to bicycle about 50 km to get home. It started to rain. I had my raingear on, but it did not help much. In a few minutes I was soaked. I prayed that the Lord would send His angel to help me. Shortly after a car came and the driver stopped, and offered me a lift, bicycle and all, and took me all the way home, where I arrived in good time before Sabbath. The Lord helped me again.
One Friday in south Finland, I was canvassing happily and did not notice the time. Suddenly I realized the time. I had to get to the train immediately to get home in time for Sabbath beginning, and it was time for the train to leave. Again I prayed, “Lord, Thou can do anything. Let the train wait for me, for I did not do it on purpose that I would be late for the train and for Sabbath beginning.” With heavy heart I came to the station, and asked the station keeper, “has the train gone already?” He answered me, “No, it is late for you.” He said it as a joke, but I said to him, “I have prayed that it would wait for me.” So the Lord hears the prayers even of his weakest child.
Not long ago I was working in Tampere, a city in south Finland. There I met a young man, and I noticed that he had many worries. I tried to speak to him words of comfort. He had had much trouble in his life. His both parents were dead. He bought a paper from me and another for his brother. Then I gave him a correspondence card, and wrote down in my notebook to remember to pray for him. On one Sabbath morning I was praying that the Lord would send some interested souls to our Sabbath school. Just that Sabbath, this young man came to our Sabbath school. That Sabbath we had a testimony meeting, and that boy testified about the day when I went to canvass in his home; he had planned to take poison and finish his life. But the Lord sent me that day to his home. We don’t always know what kind of people we meet, and we should always have some words of comfort for them.
The Lord uses us as humble tools in His service, if we let Him lead us. So, I would like to leave you with the words of Paul, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
Eila Suominen
Translated from Finnish by Elise Luoranen