NEILS ANDERSON by Neils Anderson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Oct 27, 1904

NEILS ANDERSON

By Neils Anderson

From Iceland

REYKJAVIK.—I came to Iceland in November, 1902. After spending some time at the home of our dear Brother and Sister Ostlund in Seydisfjord, I went to Akureyri, in January, 1903, and began to take subscriptions for our paper, at the same time selling a number of books. In March I went into the country about Eyjafjardssysin and Isafjardarsysin. That year the number of subscriptions from January to September was seven hundred and thirty-eight. After that I came to Reykjavik in September, where I remained, taking subscriptions until spring. I secured six hundred subscribers in Reykjavik. In the beginning of June, 1904, I started out in the country, and have sold books, and taken more than two hundred subscriptions.

It is difficult to describe the circumstances under which we have to work. The people are poor, and many who wish to buy our books are not able to do so. Often they have to deal with us through the merchants; that is to say, when they have money-worth on their account in the books of the merchants with whom they deal, they can not, as a rule, get their money in order to pay for what they wish to buy. So they have to go to the merchant and ask him to pay a certain amount out of their credit. When we receive payment for a book, for instance, it often happens that we get it in the form of a note on some merchant, as so much credit in our behalf; we then take goods for the amount, instead of money.

The people are scattered around the coasts and in the valleys. In many cases it is long distances between the houses. The traveler must go on horseback, because there are so many rivers, brooks, and bogs, with few bridges. The water is very cold, as it comes from the glaciers (icy mountains). The horse also carries the books. It costs some to travel on horseback, but we must do it to avoid sickness and to be able to transport our books.

A few ask one krona for a night's lodging. This we pay with books. But there are some who do not ask for payment, and one is left to pay as he sees fit. The people are glad to receive visits, and are very hospitable. A person can almost always find lodgment if he is willing to take such as there is.

The people ask me many questions concerning the Sabbath, why I keep Sabbath on Saturday and not on Sunday, etc. When I explain, they do not oppose the truth. They are not afraid of us nor of our books. The priests do not warn them against us, and the people buy and read our books without prejudice.

I will live for my Lord, and I am glad to be at work for him, and I expect that the seed sown will spring up in due time.