“Let us rejoice that work which God can approve has been done in foreign fields. Let us lift our voices in praise and thanksgiving for the results of the work abroad. And still our General, who never makes a mistakes, says to us, ‘Advance; enter new territory; lift the standard in every land.’ ‘Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.’
“The time has come when through God’s messengers the scroll is being unrolled to the world.
The truth contained in the first, second, and third angels’ messages must go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; it must lighten the darkness of every continent, and extend to the islands of the sea. There must be no delay in this work.” Gospel Workers, p. 470.
On July 31, a VW mini bus and a VW car began the journey from Germany to Tallinn, Estonia. Both vehicles were fully loaded with food, boxes of literature, luggage and bags of clothing. The purpose of this missionary trip was to reach out to the Russians and Estonians living in the former Soviet republic of Estonia. A Daniel and Revelation seminar was scheduled for August 7 to14 in the capital city of Tallinn. Since much time, effort and money had been invested in the project, we needed to reach our destination on time. It was planned that 50,000 invitations would be distributed before the first meeting would begin. Additionally, there were 900 large color posters that needed to be hung up.
With all the work that was still to be done, we often asked the Lord for help. Four countries had to be crossed on our journey to Estonia. Our first border crossing was into Poland. We were able to obtain our visas within fifteen minutes and continued our journey north. God be praised for that easy crossing!
The next country on the way was not so easy to enter. Before my departure for Germany, I was informed by the Lithuanian consulate that there would be long lines of cars going into Lithuania from Poland. I was not told how long the wait usually is. This we found out when we arrived at the border very early in the morning. Strangers told us that there were five kilometers of vehicles and that it would take about three days to cross the border. This news was heartbreaking to us. The believers in Tallinn knew we were on our way and were anxiously waiting to hand out the invitations that we were bringing. A long delay at the border could hinder the success of the scheduled seminar. The mere prospect of waiting in line for three days was very discouraging. Just imagine yourself in a vehicle that is fully loaded, with no sleeping or bathroom accommodations. On top of this, the weather was very hot. It seemed that we were in the middle of “no man’s land.” Every minute was precious and we just couldn’t afford to sit around. What could we do to hurry the process along? We decided to drive past all the cars and trucks and speak with the border patrol officials about our mission. We hoped that someone would be sympathetic to our cause and help us get through more quickly.
After earnest prayer, our two vehicles headed toward the front of the long line. We stopped a short distance from the border patrol booth. At that moment a man in a silver car appeared to be upset at us. He drove his car in front of us and then spoke loudly to one of the officials. We didn’t understand what he said, but an official then approached our van and asked in Polish for some documents. Since we did not have any such papers, the official requested us to return to the end of the long trail of vehicles. To go back to where we came from was terrible news. I pleaded with the official: “Please let us through. We are going to Estonia.” The official repeated his order in a hard voice, “No, go back to the end of the line!” What could we do now? But brother Wilfried Schultz and I did not give up. We jumped out of our vehicle and made our way to the tiny booth where the official was working. Again I appealed to him to let us cross the border. “We are missionaries and have used clothing for the poor in Estonia.” Again and again, I pleaded with a man who was determined to send us to the end of the line. “Please, please, help us.” And each time the answer was, “No, no!” It was very discouraging for us to keep hearing his firm replies, “No, no!” It seemed that we were making no progress in our dialogue. Then suddenly there was a change in his attitude. The officer’s heart seemed to be softened and impressed by the Holy Spirit. He reached for the four passports spread out before him and quickly stamped all of them. To us it was a miracle. Our hearts were filled with joy and thankfulness to the Lord who had worked wondrously on our behalf. We knew it was a definite answer to our fervent prayers. Now we could proceed on our journey. With the Lord’s help, we had crossed the border into Lithuania in about three hours instead of the usual three days.
Not far from the border we noticed a beautiful lake. We decided to have breakfast by the lake and to praise and thank the Lord for His help. Of course we didn’t pass up the opportunity to bathe in the refreshing water. As we ate, about six border patrol officers came by car to take a swim also. After their swim we approached them and gave each a pen with the message “Jesus is coming–Are you ready?” inscribed on them. We also handed them some literature with the three angels’ messages. They seemed happy to receive something. A few minutes passed and one of them also wanted to give me something. Guess what? Two bottles of vodka! Naturally, my immediate response was to decline this generous offer. I told him that I don’t drink. They just looked at me and smiled. Perhaps they just didn’t believe what they heard. Several times I repeated that I don’t drink. They just wouldn’t take back the two bottles. Now, what could I do? Since there was no way to return them, I took them along to Estonia, where I poured out the contents of the two bottles down a kitchen drain.
Public Meetings in Estonia
At the beginning of August, church members, as well as interested friends of the truth, went out from neighborhood to neighborhood in the capital city of Tallinn to distribute the invitations to the Daniel and Revelation seminar. On busy street corners where masses of people walked, they quickly handed out the invitations to receptive folk. There were also large purple colored posters that were hung up throughout the city. These water resistant posters were either glued or tacked up on walls or poles near bus and train stations.
The believers were able to find and rent two large halls in the center of the city. It was arranged that two meetings each evening would be conducted: one session for the Russian speaking people and the other for the Estonians.
When the first meeting began, there were approximately 400 Russian speaking people and 300 Estonian speaking people in attendance. About half of the visitors in the Russian hall came as a result of the posters they saw. One man, an attorney, mentioned to me that he first thought our church was part of the New Age movement since we used such sensational pictures on the posters which portrayed a wild beast or dragon with seven heads and a woman dressed in white. As he read the poster he found out that we were not associated with the New Age movement, but were Seventh-day Adventists. Because he had heard positive things about the Adventists, he was impressed to attend the meetings.
Sister Julia Jezevskaja, who is a new member of the Tallinn Church, helped much with the English-Russian translations. About two years ago she came in contact with the truth during a series of public meetings that were held in her city. During those meetings she volunteered to be one of several interpreters. The messages she heard and accepted have certainly changed her life!
I would like to mention one more incident about the translation work. A young lady who was to translate from English into Estonian promised us that she would come for the opening meeting. Unfortunately, due to some circumstances, she never came. Suddenly, Julia and I were faced with a serious problem. What could be done? Julia offered to translate only for a few minutes at the beginning into the Estonian language, but suggested that I should ask the audience for a volunteer. (She did not feel comfortable with her proficiency in the Estonian.) About five minutes into the meeting, I asked whether anyone could help us out with translating. Within a few minutes, a middle aged woman stood up and came forward to the podium to take over the heavy responsibility of interpreting. Julia, of course, felt relieved and happy that she did not have to do it any more.
Because of the great spiritual hunger for the “Bread of Life,” many Bibles, Great Controversy and Steps to Christ books in Russian and Estonian were given out free of charge. They were handed out by the church members at the close of the meetings. As the books were given out, there were many interested visitors standing patiently in front and on the platform waiting to speak with our dedicated team of workers.
One man who came from California and was now working in Tallinn was very much enlightened and impressed by the last lecture dealing with the Antichrist and the Mark of the Beast. He received the startling news with great enthusiasm and asked for the facts in writing. His desire was to share this special message with his friends. I told him that I would send him a copy of the book The Great Controversy in English in the mail. I hope that soon this eager young man as well as all the readers of these inspired books will find their way to the truth and to eternal salvation.
When the seminar came to an end the church members had gathered about 300 names and addresses of interested visitors. The last news I heard was that about 100 people are coming together to receive Bible studies. Praise the Lord!
My prayer is that the work in Estonia may prosper and bear much fruit to the glory and honor of God.
Missionary Visit to Ukraine
On August 18, a huge Boeing 737 aircraft lifted off the ground from Berlin, Germany, and headed toward Kiev, Ukraine. I was feeling exuberant about returning to our beloved Ukrainian mission field. Upon my arrival in Kiev, brothers Gennadi and Vitali Zaloznyi were waiting at the airport to welcome me warmly. Since it was late at night and everyone was tired, we decided to spend the night in Kiev and drive to Krivoy Rog in the morning.
As the early morning sun began to warm us we started our southward journey on the uneven and badly damaged asphalt road. All along the road we saw vendors offering their various food items for sale: a couple of eggs, a few cucumbers, a little pile of plums or tomatoes. Others sat in their small cars while displaying large containers of gasoline. These were the small beginnings of a free market economy. Gas stations are seldom seen and gasoline is very expensive. The rate of inflation is also very high and continues to rise. Most of our believers earn very small wages or are unemployed. For some having a piece of land is a life saver. The rich and fertile soil produces a variety of fruits and vegetables that they can live off. Others grow beautiful flowers and then sell them in the busy city markets. Life is hard in the Ukraine.
Despite the hardships of life, the believers seem to be happy and of good courage in the Lord. This was evident especially the two Sabbaths we spent together in a large modern theater hall in Krivoy Rog. The spacious auditorium was rented for the purpose of holding the Sabbath School and the divine service. About 150 members and visitors assembled to worship the Lord. They expressed their love for God in lengthy poetry, instrumental music, and hymns of praise. The choir helped create an atmosphere of reverence and solemnity. The melodies lifted our hearts heavenward.
In addition to the blessings of fellowship and sharing on Sabbath, missionary activities were planned for the weekdays, so that we could visit those who attended the Sabbath meetings. We visited several groups of people in their homes and opened the most precious book in the world to them. The passages of Scripture that were read moved the hearts of the listeners. There was a great desire to learn more of the love of God. Besides witnessing in the homes, we had an opportunity to witness in the open-air market in Krivoy Rog. Several believers stood on the street corner and passed out pamphlets containing the present truth (three angels’ messages). Thousands of leaflets were distributed freely in a matter of a few hours. The Ukrainian people were open and happy to receive them. Each of the pamphlets offered a free Bible Correspondence Course and a free Great Controversy Book. I hope the brethren will have an adequate supply to fill all the requests. I must mention that 100,000 pamphlets were printed. With the Lord’s help, the seeds sown in the month of August will begin to sprout and grow. The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” I Corinthians 3:6, 7.
As in Estonia, the Ukrainians are very hungry for the Word of God. Because of that need, our brethren purchased over 200 Bibles one day, the price now being $2.00 each, whereas last November the same Bible cost 50 cents. Dear Friends, now is the time to help in the proclamation of the Everlasting Gospel. Now is the time to donate our means for the purchase of more Bibles as well as the “Spirit of Prophecy” books. “God loveth a cheerful giver.” Let us all rally together to prayerfully and financially support the ongoing work in the Ukraine, Russia, and Estonia.
God has honest people who are responding positively to the Gospel invitation. For example, in the city of Pyatigorsk, Russia, about 70 interested people are presently studying the Word of God. Our believers from Krivoy Rog are visiting them and helping them to prepare for the soon coming of Jesus. May God bless their untiring and energetic efforts to pass on the good news of salvation.
Dear believers in the third angel’s message, please don’t forget that the needs are great and the laborers are few. Pray earnestly for more workers that the blessed truth will go farther and farther into the other untouched regions of the former Soviet Union. Lonely voices are crying out to us: “Come over. . . . . and help us.” Acts 16:9.