p. 19 | JOHN HOFFMAN by John Hoffman

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 7, 1903

JOHN HOFFMAN

By John Hoffman

Finland

BORGA.—There is considerable suffering here this year on account of the crops being a total failure in many places. Many of the people are grinding bark with their flour, and in many places they are making their clothing from gunny-sacks. Besides this, the Russian yoke is pressed heavier and heavier upon the poor people. Their liberties are being gradually taken away. All the young men, and many of the young women, leave home to get away from the Russian military service. Of course the young women do not have to serve in the army, but when the young men go, the women go, too. Those who can not secure passports go out into the Baltic Sea in open boats, and are taken up by passing steamers and carried away to foreign shores. Some of these are caught by spies, and what they do with them I do not know. I think they must put them in the Russian army. They took a young brother in this way over a month ago, and we have not heard a word from him since.

From five to six hundred people get away every week, and most of them land in America. I think that many of them go to Minnesota.

We now have “Great Controversy,” “His Glorious Appearing,” “Steps to Christ,” “Ministration of Angels,” and “Christ and His Righteousness,” in the Finnish language, and are working on “Thoughts on Revelation.” We also have a number of tracts.

We can get the books made. Will you not help us to sell them? I believe a harvest of souls will be reaped among this people. When you talk about foreign missions, please remember the Finns in the States also. I hope that the One who has bought the poor Finns with his own precious blood, may help you to do what you can for them.