p. 14 | Opening of the Work on Tortue Island

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 6, 1916

Opening of the Work on Tortue Island

By Albert F. Prieger

At the last meeting at Port de Paix, arrangements were made for Brother Gregoire Obas to visit the island of Tortue, which is just across a narrow but deep strip of water from Port de Paix, north of the island of Haiti, and ascertain the situation among its 4,000 inhabitants. Brother Obas left in February. Through others we learned that quite an interest was awakened, so I decided to go over. A nephew of the deacon of the Port de Paix church kindly offered his assistance, and made arrangements with a boatman. We started April 3, at 4 A. M., and by five o’clock we were in a boat twelve feet long and five feet wide. I thought it was a rowboat to take us to a larger vessel. However, the owner, with a Haitian helper, rowed us along the shore until sunrise, the boat leaking much because it had been in the hot sun a week or more. It kept me busy dipping out water with a little cup five inches across and with a hole in it, which necessitated rapid movements.

By 6 A. M. the boatman put the mast, or pole, in place and hung up a sail, while we beheld a beautiful sunrise. The sun came up like a large ball of fire, so majestically and slowly that one man involuntarily exclaimed, “Terrible!” It was sublime.

We then started across the channel. The boatman told me to take off my coat and vest. I certainly felt thankful for the suggestion, as the wind and waves rose with the rising of the sun, giving me barely time to place my clothing in my suit case, and soon the waves went right over us and poured their salt water into our little boat. This kept me at my work, dipping with the leaky cup. Soon we were all as wet as the sea itself, and while I worried some over my suit case, yet my dipping gave me little time to think of anything else. At one time a wave filled the boat nearly one third, giving me plenty of work. One hour and five minutes brought us across. I shall never forget the journey. It was a new experience, vivid and full of action.

On reaching the shore the sail and the mast were taken down, and the boatman and his helper rowed eastward along the coast of Tortue. We passed some rocks in the sea which were full of holes wherein little black birds had their nests, and seemingly were surprised to see strangers. At 9 A. M. we landed at Cayonne, and then walked over the hill to Mr. Castan’s home, arriving there about ten o’clock. It was twelve o’clock when Brother Obas came to visit us. In the meantime about twelve persons had arrived, and I had sold five Bibles. It was a pleasure to see the women embrace one another when Brother Obas and I exchanged greetings. Their hearts overflowed with joy.

After drying my paper money in the sun, we had dinner, and I then spoke to them about the love of God in sacrificing his Son; the love of Abraham toward God in doing likewise; and then asked them if they were willing to bring a sacrifice also. They all said they were. Although twelve had taken their stand to keep the Sabbath, yet they all wore chains, beads, and strings with Catholic emblems around their necks, and rings in their ears and on their fingers. None in our homeland know how great a sacrifice it is for them to give these up, for they superstitiously guard these things. But the love of God appealed to them more strongly than the beads, and to my surprise, at the next meeting they entered stripped of all jewelry and beads, and seemed filled with an inexpressible joy that they had done something for the Saviour who gave his life that they might live.

It is a joy to report that Brother Obas has worked untiringly until forty-four are very much interested, and twelve are keeping the Sabbath.

As only two or three could read, I asked how many would be willing to learn to read the Word for themselves. About thirty hands went up, so Brother Obas is giving instruction three times a week in reading.

We parted the next morning, and the words of Isa. 42:4 came to my mind with a new meaning: “The isles shall wait for His law.” There are people on these islands waiting for us to take God’s law to them, so that they too may sing that song of deliverance and victory, and stand with God’s people on Mount Zion.

ALBERT F. PRIEGER.