Chapter 23—A Stranger Comes to Town

The westbound train drew up to the station at Battle Creek, Michigan, one June day in 1869. One of the first passengers to get off the train was a slender young man. He stood on the platform and looked about him, but said nothing. Finally, when the passengers had almost all hurried away, he stepped up to the stationmaster and showed him an envelope on which was written, “J. N. Andrews, Battle Creek, Michigan.”HMes 130.1

“Where are you going?” asked the stationmaster. The stranger smiled and pointed to the envelope. When the stationmaster understood that the young man could not speak English, he asked a friend to take the stranger to the Review and Herald office.HMes 130.2

Mr. White met the young man and greeted him in a cordial way that could be understood in any language. He took him to his home, and then sent for a French brother to interpret for the stranger.HMes 130.3

“He has come all the way from Switzerland with only this envelope to guide him,” the interpreter said. “And he brings greetings from a group of fifty Sabbathkeepers in Switzerland. He has come to learn more of the Sabbath message.”HMes 130.4

The Adventists in Battle Creek were happy to know that the message of God was spreading to such distant parts. They made the stranger, Jacques Erzenberger, welcome among them. He stayed in the home of Mr. and Mrs. White, who were glad to teach him the word of God.HMes 130.5

First of all, though, Jacques Erzenberger must be taught English so that he might talk with the family. John Kellogg, then a worker in the Review office, was invited to come to the White home and live with them while he taught English to the overseas guest. The whole family also helped the stranger in the interesting task of learning a new language.HMes 131.1

Even the cook took her turn in teaching English; and Willie, who was now fifteen years old, did what he could to help. Every day he spent all the time he could taking Jacques Erzenberger about and naming different objects for him.HMes 131.2

This method was successful, for at the end of five weeks Mr. Erzenberger attended a meeting of Adventists held in a grove, and gave an interesting talk in English, which all could understand. In another month he spoke at a camp meeting in Ohio, and gave such an earnest appeal for help for the people of his country that many wept. An offering of seventy-five dollars was taken up at that meeting, the first offering given by Seventh-day Adventists for foreign missions.HMes 131.3

Jacques Erzenberger remained in America a year and a half, and then returned to his own country to carry to his people the wonderful truths he had learned here. He earnestly pleaded before he left that a missionary be sent to his country to teach the people. There was no money that could be used to send a teacher with him, so he left with the promise that someday a teacher would come.HMes 131.4

A missionary to a foreign land! Yes, at last the Seventh-day Adventists were to have a foreign missionary. In 1874, nearly four years after Jacques Erzenberger went back to Europe, J. N. Andrews sailed across the Atlantic to start a mission in Europe.HMes 131.5

Shortly after the work was begun there, Mr. Andrews wrote to his old friends, Mr. and Mrs. White, and told them of the great need for money to carry on the work that must be done. They were eager to help, but they had very little money of their own to give. The people who had money did not feel that they wanted to send it away across the ocean to help people they did not even know.HMes 131.6

Soon after this, Mrs. White was given a beautiful silk dress. As she looked at the lovely dress and thought of the amount of money it must have cost, she thought of Elder Andrews and of the need in Europe.HMes 132.1

“I cannot use this expensive dress for myself when the mission so much needs money,” she thought. “I will use this gift in such a way that the one who so generously gave it to me will also have a reward and a treasure in heaven.”HMes 132.2

She went to the store and asked the merchant to sell it for all he could get, since the money was to be used to carry the message of God to a foreign land. The merchant soon sold the dress for fifty dollars and sent the money to Mrs. White.HMes 132.3

This money was sent at once to the mission of Europe. When others heard what Mrs. White had done, they donated larger sums. More and more was given until Mr. Andrews wrote that the sum needed came at the right time. With what gratitude this brave missionary gave thanks to God.HMes 132.4