The first test in my life as an adult came when I was quite young. “My father, thou art the guide of my youth” Jeremiah 3:4 (second part).

In December 1957 when only 16 years old, I was taking a course in stenography. The classes were scheduled to run Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; but for me, I could go only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Director of the school consented with this arrangement because I was a Sabbathkeeper. God helped me to finish this course number one in the class.

Every year in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, there is a stenography competition. The Director knew I did not attend school on Saturdays, but when the people in Budapest asked for persons able to compete in this tournament, the Director of the school, without asking me, turned in my name. There were two candidates. Afterwards, she came and told me what she had done, and ordered me saying:

“You are going to Budapest to compete on May 10, 1958.”

When I checked the calendar to see on which day of the week it would fall, May 10 was on a Saturday! I approached the Director and said:

“You know I don’t go to school on Saturdays.”

“I know that,” she replied. “It is nothing wrong though, it is only for this time! And don’t tell me you are not going!”

“I beg your pardon, Director, but I cannot go to Budapest on May 10. Even if it is for one Sabbath only, the Sabbaths are all the same–holy. I’m sorry.”

I did not tell her anything more and went home to ask my father and mother what I should do next. They told me to inquire directly from God, and that I did.

Again I talked to the Director and told her: “Sorry, Director, you know I never come to school on Saturdays, and you agreed to that. Sabbath is not my day, it is God’s day as written in the Bible in Exodus chapter 20.”

She became so furious, she screamed at me: “Out of here, now!! I never want to see you again!”

I immediately left the school in Bekescsaba and took the train to my little town of Mezobereny. When my mother saw me home so early she asked:

“Why are you home earlier than usual?” I told her what had happened, but she encouraged me:

“It’s OK. You are the only one that must decide what you will do. Just keep in mind that God and His law always come in the first place. Everyday you will have trials, and God will allow you to have only what you can take. He will give you the strength you need. Trust Him.”

In the year 1958 no one in the city of Bekescsaba won the competition, and the Director was very ashamed. All the students in the school were supposed to have a final examination on July 22, and two weeks prior to the exam, the Director called me and told me that I would be allowed to take the final examination together with the rest. Immediately I sent a thank you prayer to God because He had changed the heart of the Director.

That was my first trial and I was able to witness for God and for the Sabbath, by His strength. “I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude. For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul” (Psalm 109:30, 31).