Personal Experiences of S.O. Susag | Page 2

them." (Isa. 42:16). This Scripture seems to fit
into my life's experiences.
I was born in Norway. My parents were Lutherans. When I was two
years of age an incident occurred which I have never forgotten. It was

this: My Grandmother on my mother's side--a very godly woman--used
to visit us at least once a month.
On the occasion to which I refer, as she was about to leave us,
Grandmother said to my mother, "Ellen, I would like to speak to you
'under four eyes' (that is to say, privately). Does the child understand
anything that is said?" Her reply was, "No, he doesn't understand."
Then Grandmother proceeded to say, "I have been wondering what
would be the best way to pass out of this world without being a trouble
to anyone, and the Lord has shown me that someday I shall lie down as
usual to go to sleep and wake up in glory and this may be the last time
that I shall see you; so now, my daughter, I feel constrained to urge you
to seek the Lord." Again she said, "I am sure the Lord has shown me
that I shall go that way." Four years later she went to glory just that
way.
My parents had not given their hearts to God, yet they taught us to live
right. The only religious services we ever attended were those held
once a month in a country chapel. Other Sundays we would sing
together in our home and father would read a sermon to us out of a
book.
We would then repeat the Lord's prayer and sing another song.
One afternoon, when I was two and a half years old, a number of we
children were invited to a neighbor's for lunch and play. As we passed
the pantry window on our way in, we saw a number of dishes filled
with nice red berries. One youngster suggested that we help ourselves
to the berries, and this we did. After a few mouthfuls I began to scream
and ran home. Mother, hearing my screams, rushed out to meet me and,
picking me up in her arms, asked me where I was hurt. I couldn't tell
her but kept screaming. Finally mother began to chide and shaking me,
said, "Tell me where you are hurt." Still I could not speak, then mother
fell upon her knees and cried, "Lord, my child is dying in my arms and
I cannot find what is the matter with him." I was then able to speak and
tell her the cause of my trouble. Putting my hand over my heart I said
that I was having pain there and not in my stomach. Mother questioned
me as to whether the lady had given us the berries, and I told her, "No,"
that we had helped ourselves to them. She said, "I will tell you how to
get rid of your pain: Go and tell the lady what you have done and
giving her your hand ask her to forgive you, and I am sure the pain will

leave you." Mother went with me and when I confessed to the lady she
took me up in her arms and wept with me. After confessing the pain all
disappeared.
* * * * *
When I was about eleven years of age it seemed that a voice was
continually speaking to me and saying, "You ought to be a better boy; I
want you for a preacher." I did not understand at the time that it was the
Holy Ghost speaking to me. Mother often wept over me and said,
"Child, O child, what shall I do with you! You make me more trouble
than all the other eight children put together."
At the age of fifteen I was confirmed and at the following preaching
service I was supposed to participate in taking the Lord's supper (as
was the custom of the church). Before that service I went out into the
woods to pray. I asked the Lord to forgive me for partaking of the
Lord's supper, for to refrain from taking it would bring disgrace upon
my family.
From that time on, the Lord continued to talk to me, saying, "You
ought to be a better young man." It seemed as though I could not be
better at home in Norway so I determined to sail for America.
I had been in America about a year and a half when I met a distant
relative who was thought to be lost in this country, because his family
had not heard from him for two or three years. He invited me to go into
a saloon with him and have a glass of beer. We went in, and also played
several games of pool.