J. J. WESTRUP by J. J. Westrup

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 5, 1911

J. J. WESTRUP

By J. J. Westrup

From China to Sweden

J. J. WESTRUP

WHEN we left Seattle some years ago, it took us twenty days to reach Shanghai. I remember that then we said to each other, “We are now so far from our native country [Sweden] that we shall hardly again see our dear parents and relatives.” In the meantime, the Trans-Siberian Railroad has become a reality; and when we were ready to go home on furlough, we found that we were only about one day farther from our native land than we were on leaving Seattle. It took us twenty-one days from Chow-kiakow, China, to Malmo, Sweden; but we were delayed by flood one day in going from our mission station to the railroad, and stayed in Peking two days and in Moscow two days. Hence we covered the eight thousand miles in about sixteen days.

The sunny September weather made it a pleasant trip, although being shut up in the train for so many days is rather tiresome. We rode on the Chinese railroad to Mukden, and from there to Changchun on the Japanese railroad. At Changchun we boarded the through train, and it took us eleven days to go from there to Moscow. On this stretch we passed through fifty tunnels. The railroad makes many curves. The second track was completed for thousands of miles. Siberia is a fine country in the summer, having a great deal of level, rich land and plenty of forests. Many are immigrating into this land.

We knew that Moscow and St. Petersburg would be hard to pass through, on account of the language. Hence we prayed to God every day to help us in those two places. And the Lord led us so plainly that we could see that he had heard our prayers. Arriving in Moscow, we had to transfer to a station in another part of the city. As we were unable to speak the Russian language, we resorted to signs, and thus succeeded in getting the driver to understand. We arrived safely at the St. Nicholas station, where we had to wait all day for the evening train. Here we checked our hand-baggage, planning to go out in the city to find a restaurant, and try to make some one understand what we wanted.

As Mrs. Westrup and I were checking the baggage, a gentleman came along and began to talk with Joseph. Joseph felt so happy to think that he had found one in that great city who could speak English, that tears of joy came into his eyes; and he asked the man to come and have a talk with us.

It did not take us long to ask him if he knew where any Seventh-day Adventists lived. “Yes,” he said, “I have a friend who is porter in Hotel du Bazar Slavé, who is a Seventh-day Adventist. He is a good man, an earnest Christian. He does not work on Saturday, and keeps it strictly. I will help you find him.” We stepped into the hotel’s omnibus, and soon met Brother Herring, who received us heartily. As soon as he learned that we were Seventh-day Adventist missionaries from China, he took us to Elder O. Wildgrube’s home, where we stayed Sabbath and Sunday, preaching four times, Elder Wildgrube translating. As I told them how remarkably God is opening the way for us in China, and how many are accepting the message, the Holy Spirit’s presence was manifest, and many eyes were filled with tears.

On the Sabbath (Sabbath-school and preaching lasted three hours) we had a prayer-meeting following the service, when I again spoke about the importance of prayer, emphasizing the thought that we always win our victories on our knees, hence we ought to pray in all trying times. Many of the brethren wept and prayed. Our hearts have been with those dear brethren ever since, and our prayer is that they may stand firm unto the end, and that they may have the crown of life. There are some forty members. While they have liberty to preach in Russia, still the established church is using every method to annoy and persecute. It is against the law to invite people to meeting, or even to tell them when and where the meetings are held. Elder Wildgrube had some cards printed, stating when and where they held meetings, and has distributed some; for this he has been accused and must go to court. If the case turns against him, he and his evangelist may be condemned to prison for a whole year—and the Russian prisons are fearful. He and his evangelist and family certainly need our earnest prayers.

Elder Wildgrube wrote to our two evangelists in St. Petersburg, who met us at the train; and Brother Herring wrote to a porter, who helped us get our passport viséed. On account of the cholera, we stayed in St. Petersburg only a few hours. Here they have some eighty members.

In Helsingfors we inquired for and found Sister Wickholm, who has charge of the work, where there are some eighty members.

We have had blessed meetings with our relatives, and many tears of joy were shed. Our visit with them was of short duration this time, as we were anxious to get to the Nyhyttan Missionary School by the time it opened. The school lasts only six months; and when that closes, we shall visit at home again, and we believe that some of our dear ones will accept this blessed truth.

God has blessed us here at the school, and already some earnest souls are being filled with a purpose to go to the mission fields. On Sunday we go to other places near by, preaching the truth, and in the evening take part in the young people’s meetings.

Nyhyttan, Sweden.