The Foreign Missionary by Mrs. Iva F. Cady

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 28, 1915

The Foreign Missionary

By Mrs. Iva F. Cady

MRS. IVA F. CADY

CAN we not truthfully say that Christ was a foreign missionary? and a model missionary? And now he has made us ambassadors in his stead, and commands us to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. In order to fulfill this command, many of us must become foreign missionaries. Any one contemplating taking up this work should first of all count the cost. He should learn all he can about the field he expects to enter, and the people for whom he is to labor. If it will be necessary to acquire a knowledge of a strange language, it would be a great advantage if the missionary enjoys study and learns language easily, and it would be well to take that matter into consideration when choosing one’s work. The missionary should not only be able to say, “I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,” but also, “I’ll stay where you want me to stay.” It is not so trying to go to a foreign land for a short visit. People of the world consider it a pleasure to do so, and do a great deal of traveling and sight-seeing at their own expense. But if one wishes to accomplish any good, he must plan to go to his mission field to stay. One or two years will be consumed in learning the language before he will be able to help the people. After acquiring a thorough knowledge of the language, he should remain to use that knowledge in teaching the precious gospel of salvation to the people, and in preparing literature for them.

The foreign missionary, as much as any one in the world, needs to exercise patience and perseverance. When he reaches his field and begins to prepare himself a home, he finds almost everything new and strange. The ways and customs of the natives among whom he has come may be very disagreeable to him, and the few white people he finds may be not at all like those in his native land. He has come from a school, a sanitarium, or a church or conference where he has been surrounded by friends and acquaintances who appreciated his ability and made much of him. But here he finds no brethren and sisters or relatives to rally around him, and perhaps no friends until he has made some. And so he needs to remember, “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly.” Our missionary represents a strange and unpopular religion, and because of this, many look askance at him and seek to avoid meeting him. It is well for him to lay aside his sensitiveness, and try to be friendly with the people, whether they act friendly or not. If he can do this, some who have been the most prejudiced will turn to be his best friends. I am sure that the Saviour manifested a friendly spirit toward all. One example of this is his talk with the Samaritan woman at the well. As he was a Jew, probably she was prejudiced against him and meant to ignore him, and was therefore surprised when he addressed her. To help the people spiritually, it is necessary first to gain their respect and confidence.

The first year in the mission field is liable to be one of the most trying experiences of one’s life. It is very natural for one to like his native country, its people, and their ways; but the missionary in the foreign country finds all very different. Many things may be quite contrary to his liking, and even obnoxious to him. Then, not knowing the language of the people, he misunderstands them, and they misunderstand him; and since he cannot use the language well enough to teach them the truth, he may feel that he is accomplishing nothing, and that he might better have remained in the homeland.

But better days are ahead. He is gradually becoming acquainted with the people and their language, and is learning to adapt himself to the customs of the country and to the climate. It takes time, but if he stays long enough, he may come to feel more at home in his chosen field of labor than he would in his homeland. When he becomes able to teach the truth to the people, and the Lord gives him some fruit of his labor, how he rejoices over these first precious souls! and what sweet communion he holds with them, because of their mutual interest in the Word and work of God! He loves to meet with them, and to plan with them for the work; and these dear brethren and sisters , his children in the Lord, form one of the strongest ties to bind him to the mission field.

So let the young missionary who is spending his first lonely year in a new field, read the words of the Lord in Joshua 1:5-9. These words are for him, and the Lord will do for him all that he promised to do for Joshua: “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left.” If one makes the Lord’s Word his meditation day and night, that he may observe to do according to all that is written therein, then his way will be made prosperous, and he will have good success.