Finland by John Hoffmann

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Nov 5, 1903

Finland

By John Hoffmann

Abo.—We moved from Borga, about forty miles east of Helsingfors, to Abo, about one hundred and fifty miles west of Helsingfors, June 1. In this country people rent their houses the first of June for a year, so it is very difficult to secure rooms at any other time.

This city, with the suburbs, has a population of about fifty thousand. The truth was preached before I came, and a little church was raised up. But there are only one or two left now who are true to God. I have secured a neat little hall here, twenty-two by twenty-two feet, for eight dollars a month, and with it four living-rooms, for nine dollars.

In Borga I baptized two a few weeks ago, leaving nine faithful souls in that city, and two in the country, making eleven in that vicinity. Four are out in the field as canvassers. I have baptized four this summer, and Elder Anderson has baptized two.

Elder Anderson and I attended the conference in Sweden this year. By going fourth-class on the steamer, and third-class by rail, our fare for the round trip amounted to but seven dollars each. Since coming home I have tried to become acquainted in the city, and have held a few meetings, but they are not very well attended. We hope for a good attendance when the weather becomes cooler. The summers are so short and light that people rush away from everything to enjoy the outdoor life. Some close their business at this time, and others close very early in the day, in order to get out into the country where they have their families.

Brother Anderson spent some time with the church at Helsingfors, after returning from the meeting in Sweden.

He is now out in the country, working upon the language. He is associated with Finnish people, and does not hear a word of Swedish. The Finnish language is difficult. We have no preposition,—such as, “to,” “from,” “in,” “on,”—so both nouns and verbs have sixteen different endings to express these, and these change the spelling of the word almost every time. The word työt (work) is, töitä, töiden, toissa, töihin, töillä, töinä, etc., in sixteen different ways.

The book work is prospering, but we lack men and women to carry the books. The first six months we sent out from the office four thousand dollars' worth of reading-matter. Part of this has been sent to America. We have only six or seven workers here, but we ought to have at least twenty-five.

I have just been interrupted in my writing by a visit from a man from the city, who came to talk over the experiences he has had lately. He is not satisfied with the condition of the church of which he is a member. While I was talking and praying with him, another man came and wanted to talk with me. He came from Borga, nearly two hundred miles away. He has a little grocery store near there. Last spring he attended our meetings, and God worked on his heart, but he did not accept the truth fully. Since then he has had no peace. So now, after three months' study, he has closed his store on the Sabbath, and has come to be baptized. So the Lord is working on the hearts of the people in this northern country.

We would be glad if our Finnish papers could have a wider circulation in America. We will publish them extra early in October. JOHN HOFFMANN.