Rarotonga by F. E. LYNDON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 31, 1908

Rarotonga

By F. E. LYNDON

We have been here just one month. Brother W. H. Pascoe remained with us about ten days. He gave us, as best he could in that short time, an insight into the work here, and then took his departure for Auckland. We are pleased to be here, and to have a part in giving the third angel's message to the natives of the Cook Islands.

This island is a beautiful place. Flowers and prettily marked leaves in bright colors, show us on every hand the work of the Master Artist. The coral gives to the sea a remarkable clearness, and also a greenish-blue color, which greatly add to the beauties of the place. The constant roar of the waves, night and day, breaking over the coral reef, deadens almost every other sound in nature, but to the listener for truth, speaks of the power of God, whose voice is “as the sound of many waters.” Mrs. Lyndon thinks that this is the most beautiful place that she has ever seen. We are hedged in with nature all around. These wholesome surroundings have greatly blessed us with a fresh sense of God's presence and goodness, and have drawn us nearer to him.

It would not be right to have all blessings and no troubles during our probationary life. The greatest thing we have to contend with is the mosquito. Our beds are all well equipped with netting. Before retiring for the night, we hunt all the mosquitoes out from under the nets, and tuck the netting well under the mattresses, and then quickly crawl under the netting. By doing otherwise we could get but little sleep.

Next to the mosquito for trouble is the cockroach. When the lights are all out, this large insect begins its nightly prowl. Into the pots and pans and ovens it penetrates, to find, if possible, a trace of food; and woe to the flour if the lid of the bin is not securely fastened. Cockroaches are like the frogs of Egypt for zeal, for nothing in the form of food escapes their notice.

All our tables, and boxes for food storage, have their legs standing in small tins of water, to protect our food from the vigorous attacks of the little black ants. Sometimes a table with food on it, gets pushed, by mistake, against the wall, thus making a road for the ants to run onto the table. In an hour or two that table will be covered with the busy little creatures hurrying off with the food.

Soon we shall have the red ants, which devour the black ones, and also become an enemy to the mosquito. The red ants are carnivorous, and are therefore not troublesome in the house.

Wasps are troublesome when the hot season is over. In search of warmth, they enter the house in swarms, get behind pictures, make their way into the wardrobes, and finally get satisfaction, if possible, in the sleeves of blouses, coats, etc.

We are studying the new language under a tutor, and hope that within a short time we shall be able to speak to the natives in their own tongue.

We love the people, and our greatest wish is to get many of them, in all the islands of this group, to stand wholly for Christ and his commandments.

The warm weather is quite an agreeable change, after the cold of a New Zealand winter. Mrs. Lyndon and our two girls are putting on flesh rapidly.

We ask an interest in your prayers that we may be successful in our work for the Master in this part of the vineyard. F. E. LYNDON.