The Ottawa protest gathered diverse people. Randal (my husband) and I conversed with Greek, French, Italian, Egyptian, Polish, Russian, and English people - in essence, every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. It was quite amazing to see young families at - 24 C / - 11.2 F the two consecutive Sabbaths that we gave out the Great Controversy (GC), the Ministry of Healing and some books and leaflets.
Walking through a thick crowd made me think of Jesus - the greatest Medical Missionary and how crowds thronged Him. How patient He must have been because large crowds move slowly. How tolerant He would have been as various aromas may have filled the air. The hard part for me was the smell of the legalized cannabis, it was hard to deal with it as it was not my choice to inhale that secondhand smoke. It made me ponder what kind of smells Jesus may have put up with just to be with the people. How reliant He was on God the Father to deal with discomfort. At one point, I felt panic as the crowd was so compacted that I could literally feel the pressure of it; I had to pray as it felt extremely claustrophobic. How Jesus sensed the touch of a woman in such a crowd was indeed divine.
So many times, we would be walking, when one of us would dart off through the crowd to get a GC to someone and yet always manage to hook back up! Only God could have kept us from being separated for a long period of time. It was truly amazing that we found each other, it was like trying to find Waldo at times, but God always connected us back together.
Below are just some of our stories, there was one story per book, but I think you will get the picture of how God prepares the way ahead of us when we go to give out His literature. There was nothing that we did in this work but be a willing vessel for God to use. All glory goes to God, His truth, and the promises that He fulfills, every single time.
THE FEMALE TRUCKER
“I already have that book!” said the female trucker as she smiled. She shouted above the honking truck horns, that she had questions in her mind and when she opened the GC, her answer was right there “the 144, 000” she shouted vehemently. She continued emphatically that the victory is already won and that it’s over! She requested another book, for her friend.
The BARRICADE TRUCKER - Rideau Street Mall Intersection
Randal lifted his hand containing a GC towards the truckers’ window. Instead, the trucker opened his truck door and asked, “English or French?” Randal answered, “English”. The trucker replied, “no! French!’ So, Randal handed him the French version of the GC.
THE F-350 PICK-UP TRUCKER
“That’s amazing! You’re able to pull that load?” queried Randal. The pick-up trucker answered, “my trailer is 350 feet long”. Randal asked the year of his truck and he answered, “1997”. The trucker was offered a GC and willingly took it and gave us a fist-shake.
THE HAND-WARMER
“There’s a fire over there; you can warm your hands!” shouted the hand-warmer who proceeded to guide Randal to a fire-pit on the street. Randal turned back to look for me, as I was hidden (again) in the crowd. Randal asked the man to wait a minute as Randal looked for me. When I appeared, Randal introduced me as his wife to the hand warmer who had the largest, happiest smiling face that I had seen all day! We thanked the hand-warmer for his help and offered him two books, the GC and the Ministry of Healing. He read aloud the title, “The Ministry of Healing” and then he was happy to receive both books. He gave us the fist-shake and thanked us.
THE ROSARY DONOR
‘Here!’ remarked the lady that placed a rosary in my hand. I tried to trade her for a GC but she declared, ’I am too old to have that book now, please give it to someone younger’ were the sentiments of the lady in her 80s. She hugged me and we parted.
THE SEEKER
‘Are you looking for money?’ I questioned (in the French language to a senior man seated on the frozen, concrete sidewalk with only a single sheet of cardboard between him and the icy slab at - 24 C/-11.2 F. He told me ‘Yes. (I had slid a $5 bill into the GC book with the tip of the bill sticking out.) I informed him that I have money, and a book; that the money was good, but the book was better! Then, told him that I would give him both. He lit up like a lightbulb in a dark room and thanked me and told me more than once how much he loved to read. He shook my hand twice and then kissed the top of my hand in gratitude.
THE GOOD FRENCH-SAMARITANS
Randal approached one of the “samaritans” right after their good deed to “the seeker” and said, ‘I noticed your kind deeds to that man’ (“the seeker”). Randal then handed him a French version of the GC and explained a little bit of what it was about. The other three samaritans listened with intensity and interest, while the discussion continued. The conversation ended passionately with a hug from each of the four “French-Samaritans”.
THE THREE WISE MEN
‘We saw you giving out those books last week and wanted to speak to you but somehow didn’t get around to it!’ was a comment from one of the three young men. Randal spoke with them, and they each wanted a GC and one emphasized that he was really going to read it! Randal was determined to speak to those three young men at the traffic light, so much that he had turned back and ran up the hill to speak to them, he was glad he did!
THE INTERROGATOR
‘I don’t want that book. Is this just more propaganda? What organization are you with? Who do you work for/who sent you?’ were the interrogatives from the Polish gentleman that grilled Randal. Randal shared with him about how the GC book spoke of what was happening there. The man retorted that the book was not about what is going on. Randal persisted to say it talks of how civil powers took away liberty of conscience throughout history and what is going to happen in the future. After a long conversation, the man changed his mind. He accepted the book and requested additional ones for his friends and embraced Randal so tight that he was lifted off the ground!
THE HEALTH MARTYR
‘I was working for a large government health organization in a role which stands up for people’s health rights. But then the government started telling my leaders to do things against health freedoms that I was advocating for. They gave directives to my colleagues, but when they came to me, I wouldn’t do it, so I left my job’. Chantal has been unemployed since November 2021; however, she is content that she can manage. Her concern was for her young nephew, growing up in the current Canadian context. She was thankful for the French GC book, and thanked me twice. I told her I would pray for her and her nephew; she was grateful.
THE BY-PASSER
While I was in a long conversation with the “Health Martyr”, mentioned above, Randal overheard two men speaking in French and followed after them, crying “Monsieur, monsieur” (in Randal’s limited French). Handing one the French GC, Randal verbalized, “c’est pour vouz! c’est gratuit!” (Translation: it’s for you; it’s free!) The man’s face lit up like an angel. The word “merci” was expressed by the French-Canadian many times. He looked back at Randal as he retreated up the hill calling, “merci” once again. Randal replied, “Bonne Journée” - have a good day!
THE DISCIPLES
“Is that book by E. White?” Asked a French-Canadian lady as I presented the French version of the GC to her. I replied, “Yes, how did you know?” She explained that she was a Seventh-day Adventist and took more of my French material like the Desire of Ages, and Steps to Christ. She and her friend had attracted me by their Christian sign, and the next thing I know, they took the French material I had on me, to share with other French people in the crowd. Then unexpectedly they each donated a $20 bill - a total of $40! We hugged each other and separated to minister.
THE TRADER“I’ll trade you!” I said to the older man who handed me a Christian pamphlet about ‘Why the World is Divided’. He took my GC and slowly read aloud the title T-h-e G-r-e-a-t C-o-n-t-r-o-v-e-r-s-y. He paused, then said, “okay” and took it.
THE GREETER
“I’m freezing!” Were my comments to Randal as I sat in our truck in the underground-parking to warm up. I glanced out of my passenger window to see a man who enthusiastically waved to me as if I knew him as a long-lost cousin. To seize the opportunity, I deployed Randal to immediately meet the greet with a GC. Not only did the greeter get a book but also his driver! It fascinated me how easy that was while we weren’t even actively engaged in distribution. Only God could have arranged that!
THE PASTOR
“And the truth will set you free!” were the words on the Pastor’s sign. Randal said, “I notice you’re a Christian” while handing him a GC. “I’ve heard of this book”, commented the pastor. “Ya! Jesus will set you free, man!” was a shout from a person approaching them. After yelling a few more words, the shouter yelled out, “Randal, is that you?” Now everyone at work thinks Randal is a protestor!
THE LOUDSPEAKER
“Freedom! Don’t give up! Keep fighting! We are winning!” Were some of the loudspeaker’s loud cries to the public. Randal handed him a copy of the GC (Canadian Edition) and asked him if he’s read this book before. The loudspeaker said no, so Randal told him to put the book in his back pocket, so he did. The man asked if Randal was handing these out to the public and when Randal articulated that he was, the loudspeaker said to Randal, “keep up the good work, brother!”
Conclusion
In conclusion, much changed from the time we went to Ottawa the first Sabbath to the second Sabbath. The first time, there was a lot of noise with the truck horns sounding continuously. The second time had denser crowds and was quieter which allowed for more conversations. But the third, consecutive Sabbath will be under conditions of a “state of emergency”.
My question is, my brothers and sisters, how quickly must we move? God knows and will tell us when and how to go forward during these times through our General, here on earth - the Holy Spirit. Be certain that the words found in Revelation 22 “but the fearful and unbelieving…” which are not characteristics of God’s people, means that we need not be fearful. We have angels to protect and lead us with directives from our Heavenly Father. We are not working alone!
I can’t help but think of these words,
“…and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her…Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” (Revelation 18:4,5)
A quote from Inspiration says,
“I was given instruction that as we approach the end, there will be large gatherings in our cities…and that preparations must be made to present the truth at these gatherings. When Christ was upon this earth, He took advantage of such opportunities. Wherever a large number of people were gathered for any purpose, His voice was heard, clear and distinct, giving His message…” (Evangelism, 35)
Special thanks to donors of the Great Controversy books; to those praying for the protection and salvation of those who received and delivered these books; and for your encouragement to stand!
Davina Peters, B.Ed, M.Ed.
Davina has worked as a Seventh-day Adventist teacher and principal in both the North American Division and South Pacific Division. She currently works on the Med Missionary Team as an Educational Consultant. Davina resides in Perth, Ontario with her husband, Randal. She enjoys learning about agriculture and the spiritual lessons in it about Jesus our Creator!