Why Did They Got Lost

In the year 1853 James and Ellen White were asked to travel to Vergennes, Michigan. They had hired a man to take them by horse and carriage. It was eight o’clock in the morning. She asked the driver if they needed to pack a lunch. The man replied: “It is only 15 miles. We should be there before lunchtime.” The driver helped his passengers on board and they started on their way. At first all went well. Of course there was no paved road, and they followed the double wheel tracks through the forest. The driver assured them that he had traveled this road many times and was certain of the way.

On and on they traveled. The June sun grew warm, then hot. Finally, James White asked the driver: “Are we almost there?”

The driver pushed his hat back from his sweating brow and answered: “Brother White, I’ll have to admit this trail doesn’t look familiar. I must have taken a wrong turn. But never mind, we’ll cut right through the forest to the trail.”

But the situation didn’t improve. Ellen White was thirsty and all the water seemed to be murky marsh water. “Do you suppose,” she asked, “that we could get some milk from one of those cows?” The driver took a tin cup and started to stalk one of the cows. The cow seemed to understand his intentions and had ideas of her own. Several cows were approached with the same result and so they went on, without a drink.

After awhile the travelers saw a small clearing and in the middle of it stood a log cabin. They clambered from the carriage, and a woman came out to meet them with a warm welcome. She invited them inside, and soon set out food and drink for them.

The woman, on finding out that James was a preacher, begged them to stay in the area to hold meetings. They could not do this, but promised to arrange meetings in the future. Ellen White gave her one of her books to read, and they went on their way. Later, they safely came to Vergennes and met their appointments. For many years Ellen wondered why they had gotten lost that day. Twenty-two years later, Ellen White was at the Michigan camp-meeting. A lady hurried up to her, and greeted her joyously, and asked: “Do you remember being lost in the woods many years ago? Do you remember the house in the clearing? You astonished me because you didn’t waste time in gossiping or complaining about the trip. You just talked about Jesus, and left me a little book, Experience and Views, written by yourself. I read it over and over, and shared it with neighbors, and today there is a Seventh-day Adventist church in the area, and I am a member.” Now Ellen White knew why she had been lost.