Your ShelfYour Projects

Korea

8%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 15, 1909

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 15.

Read the full edition

Korea

By Riley Russell

RILEY RUSSELL, M. D.
WE have been in Korea for almost four months, and enjoy our work very well indeed. I have visited almost all the Korean companies. Most of our traveling has to be done by foot or on horseback, as the different companies are scattered among the small villages. Last week we went on a trip of two hundred li (about seventy miles), and remained three days with an isolated company. We left Soonan about noon, and, after passing over several low mountains, and through fertile valleys, we stopped for the night at Morokdongkoda, staying in an old Korean hotel. There was one room, and fourteen persons slept in it. It was about ten by fifteen feet in size. And as the Koreans have no ventilation, and all smoke, the atmosphere gets rather dense.
AT THE WELL IN KOREA
AT THE WELL IN KOREA
Among the company were traveling merchants from all parts of Korea; so we did not miss the opportunity to scatter a good supply of tracts, and see that every man had a copy of “The True God and His Sabbath.” Two of the men were much interested, and Brother W. R. Smith gave a Bible study to one of them. We have this man’s name and address, and will correspond with him.
The natives have no furniture, no stove, no glass. They build a fire under the floor, and then spread down a blanket, and lie down. A company of boys and young men kept up a continual howl until about midnight, and on inquiring we found it was to frighten away the robbers; for the town had been robbed about one month before.
The next morning we had a bowl of rice, and started on our way. While we were riding through a small village, a man ran out and called, “We Won! We won!” or, “O doctor.” When we stopped, he said his wife was very sick, and he wished us to come to see her. When we turned aside, all the rice-threshing ceased, and the natives gathered around. We were able to help the patient, and did not fail to distribute our tracts, while Brother Smith asked them if they were Christians. We quickly bade them good-by, and rode on, while they followed to the edge of the village,
and bowed, saying very politely: “We thank you so much.” We hastened on, passing through snow-covered rice-fields, and over mountain trails. At one place we saw about ten men with a falcon, hunting pheasants. We were told that there were many tigers in the mountains, but we did not see any, although I have seen many beautiful skins for sale.
Our destination was reached about 10 A. M., and soon we had the company collected. We studied and preached for three days, and between times visited at their homes, or saw their sick,—of whom there were many,—for they are more than one hundred li from any physician. The people said we did just like the Saviour, preaching the gospel and healing their sick. This caused us to lift our hearts to God that he would help us to be true ambassadors for him.
On our way home we passed many people. They asked us who we were, and when we said we were Ansikel makzos, or Sabbath-keeping missionaries, they would say, “O! you live at Soonan.” Some of the other missionaries had warned the people against us, but it only made them the more interested and ready to read our literature; for man can not stop the third angel’s message.
I never enjoyed a trip more in my life, and never was more busy. We in Korea ask an interest in your prayers. Three men of us, and two Bible workers, have thirteen million people to warn. But God will help us.
Soonan.