Uuno Lepisto

I thank God that I can be a child of the King. I was an alcoholic for twenty-five years and lived that way all that time. I played soccer and that was all I cared for. My brother from Helsinki, Finland sent me a Bible when I was in Vaasa, Finland. I read in the Bible that God helps those who are sorrowful. That Friday night I talked to the Lord and said that I was in need of Him—I am sorrowful. I was a dying victim of cancer. I had a young family, and that added to my sorrow. I awoke in the morning and wondered why the whole city of Vaasa looked so different. I found it was because God had saved my soul and changed me.

I received my first paper from a brother who had come to Finland. I read in that paper that the power of God is the same yesterday, today and forever—God was explaining to me what that meant.

I was reared in a Christian home. My father was a minister, and I received a wonderful Christian upbringing. Later on I felt the sanctifying power of God, the warmth in my soul and in my heart. I too received great joy in Stavanger, Norway, when the Lord gave me the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

My wife and I discussed the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians, about the love of God – charity. My wife had read the Bible during her school days. She would read the love chapter in Corinthians over and over and tried to live by it. After I was saved it was easy for me because my wife was willing to go with me to church. She wasn’t saved when I was and she said “How can I go to the meeting and testify because I don’t have the experience that you have?” I told her, “You have prayed for me when I was sick, and perhaps you might thank the Lord for that.” She said, “Yes I will.”

One evening she did testify with tears flowing, and God saved her soul that very night. I am so thankful for all the experiences God has given me, and that they are also for my family. The Word of God has tried our foundation, and we have found that it has stood. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The musicians and singers at this camp meeting have refreshed me. Here we have seen the Finnish, the Norwegian, the Danish, and you dear Americans. I was so blessed even if I did not understand much of the language. I learned a new word every day. The choir sings like the birds that fly—beautiful music. This has been like a sweet dream to us to be in the camp meeting, and the reality is more wonderful than a story. I am so thankful that God has made it possible for us to come here.

I never dreamed that I would be standing here in Portland, Oregon, with so much joy in my soul; and I thank God from the depths of my heart for everything I have seen and heard. I praise Him with all my heart and soul for what He has done for me.