One of the Lost Sheep Found by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 23, 1913

One of the Lost Sheep Found

By W. A. S.

“I WILL seek that which was lost,” says the Good Shepherd, “and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken.” Eze. 34:16. Go where one may, to the uttermost parts of earth, and one finds the footprints of the tender Shepherd seeking the lost sheep.

While asking questions of the workers in Montevideo, Uruguay, and listening to the recital of some of their experiences, Miss Frances Brockman gave me this incident of service in one of the Montevideo hospitals:—

Sisters Frances Brockman and Meda Kerr—pioneers of our nursing sisterhood in Uruguay—were working in the hospital. They had been forbidden to speak of religion; for they were known to be Seventh-day Adventists. They had, however, refused to be bound by this prohibition, and had declared that they could work there only on condition that they should be free to speak of spiritual things to patients as might seem to them duty. So matters stood, rather undecided, for the hospital evidently desired the services of our workers.

Just at this time a foreigner, a German who could speak but broken English and Spanish, was brought to the hospital, a hopeless case. His countenance showed the anguish and hopelessness of his spirit. Sister Brockman saw that the man was troubled. He knew that he had to die. As our sister ministered to him in his physical need, she felt she must speak to him of his soul and try to help him, even though she had been strictly ordered not to do so.

So she spoke to the man of Christ and of his saving power. The man turned away the thought of salvation. “My mother was a Christian,” he said, “and taught us children; but I have been too wicked. God will not help me.”

“But Jesus died for sinners,” Sister Brockman pleaded with him. And from time to time she would speak to him of the way of salvation. She repeated to him the parable of the prodigal son, and of the lost sheep, and of the lost piece of money, and told over and over how Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.

“He listened eagerly to me,” she said, “and was glad to have me pray. I felt that this was his last night. From one to three o’clock in the morning he slept. Then he awoke, and I talked with him further, urging against all his fears that the father in the parable of the prodigal son went out to meet the son while he was ‘afar off.’ I told him how the woman who was seeking after the lost piece of money called her neighbors in to rejoice, and how there was rejoicing among the angels in heaven over one sinner that repented.

“At last he was emboldened to pray himself. I could only watch the movement of his lips, as he was so weak I could not hear the words; but he prayed for himself, and a burden seemed lifted from his heart. His countenance changed. At eight o’clock that morning he fell asleep in death with a peaceful, satisfied look, as of a child at rest. I could not but believe that he had made his peace with God and found his Saviour in those last hours.”

What a blessed thing to stand alongside a sinful soul on the verge of a hopeless eternity, and help that soul to lay hold on eternal life! W. A. S.