Mission Notes

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 7, 1908

IN the work upon the island of St. Thomas it has been found that a boat is a necessity in reaching places which would not otherwise be easily accessible. Elder H. C. J. Wolleker writes once, that for several weeks he has been working hard on a boat and the addition to their little church. He reports that the former is finished, and in the water for service, and that he hopes to have the latter completed in about a month.

LAST summer Brother Enns made a trip around Lake Victoria, in East Africa. He was greatly impressed with the missionary situation in that field. He writes that the people literally ran about seeking the truth. He had at least twenty calls asking him either to stay or to come back to them to teach the truth of the whole Word of God, such as the Sabbath, the near advent, and kindred Bible truths. Inasmuch as it is impossible at present for missionaries, as such, to settle among these people and teach them. It certainly is a rare opportunity for devoted, God-fearing families to do much to advance the interests of Christ’s kingdom. In closing his letter, Brother Enns says: “I would to God that many families would come to Buganda, where I left fourteen persons who desired to be rebaptized in the manner that Jesus was, and to be taught the Sabbath and advent truths of the Bible.”

NONE are too old to accept Christ. It is a precious tribute to the power of redeeming grace when an old servant of Buddha yields allegiance to Christ Jesus. Here is an extract from the testimony of a native in Japan, who recently was won to accept Christianity: “I am just sixty years old, yet I became a Christian only last year. I am persuaded that it is only through the great mercy of God that an old woman like myself could be saved and live happy the rest of my days; because I was not only born and reared a Buddhist, but during the last ten years I have been extremely earnest, persistently studying its literature and learning prayers.” After becoming aroused to seek Christ, she further relates: “My interest became intense, and I realized that sin must be gotten rid of. Being physically weak, I took liquor, which I believed would strengthen me, and so drinking became a daily habit. I had smoked for forty-two years. Doctors had forbidden me the latter, but I had answered more than once, ‘Though I die, I can not give that up.’ But to give up Buddhism was still harder. The struggle was most desperate—time and again I was drawn back to my former gods. But finally they were divorced forever. I was liberated from all my sins and bad habits by faith in Christ, who redeemed me. Redemption, forgiveness of sins, peace, satisfaction, contentment, and joy can not be obtained through Buddhism. Only through the death of Christ on the cross did my weary heart find peace.” She closes with the following powerful testimony for Christ: “Dear friends, if an old person ensnared in so many awful things as I was could by the power of God be saved,—made a new creature,—I am convinced no one need despair of being saved.” It is in search of such conversions as this that we are called into the heathen lands of the great East with the gospel of life. And it is worth while.