Ebba Lundborg and other colporteurs (full-time preachers) from Sweden placed Swedish literature in the coastal areas of southwest Finland, where the population was mostly Swedish-speaking in those days.

The report from the branch office in Sweden spoke of Emil as a dear brother when it said: “About ten regular Colporteurs have been at work during the year . . . Six or seven new ones have come into the work​—one of these is a dear brother in Finland who, no doubt, is a chosen instrument in the Lord’s hand to serve his people in that country. . . . Another brother also in that land seems now to intend to sell his farm and go out as a colporteur.”