Burma by OLLIE OBERHOLTZER, M. D.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 10, 1908

Burma

By OLLIE OBERHOLTZER, M. D.

OLLIE OBERHOLTZER, M. D.

THE work is onward, although at times Satan has made desperate efforts to overthrow us. But prejudice is breaking down, and there are some who are deeply interested. When I see the teeming mass of people, with their many languages, and remember that to all these the message must go, I can not help asking, “How?” but I know a short work will be done. We are laying plans to extend our work to many of the villages along the rivers. Many of these have never been visited by a missionary. Sister White tells us that in these darkest corners there are honest souls crying for light. Our plan is to purchase a boat, — one in which we can live,— and make monthly visits. We shall first have a small tract to distribute; and if we can do something for their sick, shall do it, and push on. The next time we shall have a larger tract, that can be sold for about four annas. Revisiting the villages, we shall search out the honest in heart. We want to begin this work after the rains.

The Lord has given us a glimpse of what can be done. One day, when out in a little village, Hpo Hla, our Burmese worker, spoke to a Buddhist priest. He showed some interest, and Hpo Hla invited him to his house to study. He came, and they studied all that day. Early the next morning he came back. This went on for the greater part of the week, until he said he would never bow down to an image again. In a few days more he said he was willing to take off his robe, which he did. Then, as he had nowhere to go, he came to us, and is studying and helping what he can. You can hear him early in the morning or late at night reading the Bible. It was a pleasant sight to see him sitting in Sabbath-school class. When there was a little lull in the review, he answered also, as loud and clear as if he had been accustomed to it — and only ten days before, he had on the yellow robe, and was begging his breakfast, as other priests do. For the past five years he has not eaten anything after twelve o’clock in the day. When he began to eat in the afternoon, and to partake of a different diet, he had considerable trouble with his digestion. He was taken very ill one night, and was brought to me early the next morning. I did what I could, but it seemed nothing would help. Never before had I felt that the name of God was so much at stake, or realized how Satan would triumph could he cause this man to be laid away. All his heathen acquaintances would say it was because of the wrath of the devils. While I knew the devil was wroth, I also knew there was One stronger. I pleaded with God for his own name’s sake to spare and to heal — and he did.

When this man took off his priest’s robe, he gave it to me. I shall keep it, and prize it much. Every time I see it, I remember that there is power enough in this message to take off even the robes of a Buddhist priest, and to clothe him in his right mind, with the Word of God in his hand. We are teaching him the message as fast as he can take it.

Yesterday, at our prayer and social meeting after our Sabbath-school, the Lord came in to bless. One man, not a Sabbath-keeper, testified that he was thankful he had been transferred to Moulmein; that since he had heard the third angel’s message, so much had been cleared up before him, and some things he thought clear before were not now. A family, who had had the life of a child miraculously spared the week before, said they praised God that they were brought to Moulmein to learn the Sabbath truth.

There is a deep interest on the part of some, and I long for the time when I can have some help, especially for Sabbath-school and meetings.

The plague has been very bad here. I trust it will never rage in the homeland as it does here; but it would not surprise me if it were yet felt there. The first case I was called to attend was that of a large, strong woman. I went in the afternoon, and found her sitting over a charcoal fire. I tried to impress on her, as well as on her friends, that she must lie down. I left the room, and halted at the door to talk with some one, when they came and told me she was dead. I could hardly believe it, when less than two minutes before I had told her to lie down.

Patients have not only the disease to contend with, but the native treatment also. Even if a physician has the case, the friends of the patient may have a Burmese, Chinese, or native doctor, or all, called in with their “healing balms.” One patient I went to see could not open her eyes. They told me that to cast the devil out of her eyes, they had first put some native medicine in them. And, as her fever continued, they called a Burmese doctor. He put in some medicine, as a result of which, had she lived, I fear her eyes would have been ruined.

I hold some Bible readings. At one held last week on the subject of the twenty-three hundred days, a man was interested to know what the sanctuary was. When I told him it was a large subject, and we would take it up the next week, he was hardly satisfied. At the next reading, as soon as he saw me, he said, “I believe I know what the sanctuary is,” and he gave me quite a good outline. He had been studying. Just eighty-one years ago Judson opened up work here. Almost every time I pass his mission ground, I feel to thank the Lord I do not have to endure what he endured. The Lord has sent his messengers before us, to prepare the way for the truth. He now will soon close it up triumphantly. I do not think any will welcome the day more than those alone in these corners of the earth.

Moulmein.