W. ISING by W. ISING

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jul 23, 1908

W. ISING

By W. ISING

_From Hamburg to Beirut_

W. ISING

WHEN the European section of the General Conference Committee held their council in Hamburg early in March, this year, it was voted that I should make the Syrian Mission Field my place of labor, with headquarters in Beirut. This was rather a surprising call to us. Having been connected with the German Union Conference as secretary for over three years, I may say that I had enjoyed the work very much during this time, and was much encouraged by seeing the cause grow in all its fields. It is thus with some feelings of regret that I depart from this field. However, believing that God knows best where he calls his workers to labor for him in his harvest, and knowing that in the Orient there is need of laborers, we have gladly accepted the call, trusting in God that he will guide us in opening the way for the message in this dark field.

As the hot season was approaching, it was deemed advisable that we leave at the earliest opportunity. We were very grateful that the Lord assisted us in clearing the situation at home, so that we were released from three months' rent, and by the end of March we were en route to Marseilles, where we expected to take the steamer, after visiting our relatives in Germany and Switzerland. We met our boat in Marseilles on April 10, and saw Brother Krug, a nurse, who was to accompany us in order to help in the Jerusalem institution. On our way to Port Said, we were glad to meet Elder Giraldi in Naples, and to stay with him one day. He was so kind to conduct us in visiting the ruins of Pompeii. After a pleasant voyage we reached Port Said on April 17 at midnight, and as our boat was detained a few hours en route, we unfortunately were obliged to stop in a hotel for forty-two hours until the departure of the next boat, which was to take us to Beirut. We improved this opportunity to get a glimpse of the Oriental life. We were

surprised to see so many intelligent, tall, well-built people. On Sunday, April 19, we left the port on the steamer "Assuan" and arrived at Jaffa the next morning. Brother Krug left us here. Owing to a case of pest in Alexandria, from which our steamer had come, we were obliged to stop at the quarantine station all day. The passengers of the third class were compelled to leave the ship, and had to allow a general cleansing of their bodies and a disinfection of their clothes and luggage to be performed by the Turkish officials, while the passengers of the other classes were permitted to stay on board by paying one shilling. This occupied the day until a sign was given in the evening that the ship might leave the port.

Without any further delay we reached Haifa the following morning and proceeded on our voyage to Beirut, where we arrived in the afternoon. After making preparations for the examination of our luggage by the customs, we went to the home of Brother and Sister Haussmann, who have been conducting private treatment rooms here for a few years. After two weeks' stay with them we were able to secure a suitable dwelling in a favorable location.

Now as the hot season is rapidly approaching we shall during this time make our preparations for the work in winter by becoming acquainted with the field. We are endeavoring to pick up the Arabic language, which will be one of the tasks to be overcome. During our one month's stay we have become accustomed to the place, and have made ourselves at home. I expect to report some of the details after I have become better acquainted with the field and the whole situation here. We have, however, already observed that this will be no easy field of labor considering the diversity of languages, interests, missions, etc., and therefore ask to be remembered before the throne of grace by our brethren in other parts of the field. We are of good courage, and are sure that God will give us the victory if we keep close to him and yield our hearts to him, to be controlled by his Spirit.

Beirut, Syria, German Post.