Starting School on Atchin
By Myrtle S. Parker
[Since this report was sent us, an uprising of the wild islanders has occurred. The white trader and his people were compelled to flee, and our missionaries were warned by friendly natives to leave. But they barricaded themselves in the mission house, and the storm passed by. Now the people are more friendly than ever, and the missionaries are treating their sick, and barriers are breaking.] FOR four months we worked and prayed and wept that these people would desire to come and learn. A school to them meant joining “the worship,” and they were afraid. But after all was ready, we invited them to come, assuring them that they need not belong to “the worship” unless they wished to by their own free choice. We taught a few of the young men to sing “Precious Name” and “Hark, ’Tis the Shepherd’s Voice I Hear.” They learned a few letters and small words, and an interest was created. At the opening of the school eight came. Now the average attendance is thirteen. Our hearts are full to overflowing as we see them listening to the story of Jesus. We said nothing to them about clothes, as we did not wish to exclude any. It was gratifying to see four wearing a loin cloth; one wears only a vest, another a shirt, the others a ball and string about the waist. We expect they will have small Gospels in English for their reading books, and this will bring them under the influence of the Spirit of God. Already we can see a change coming over these heathen boys. The breaking of their customs and superstitions will be a miracle of grace. The other day, as a boy accompanied us to a near-by village, and was telling us about the wooden images dedicated to the spirits of the dead, which we saw, we asked the boy why his people did not worship the God who made heaven and earth. Narli replied, “Missi, we know savvey talk belong God. S’pose we savvey,—we talk along him.” [He was saying that wisdom (savvey) belongs to God. But they were ignorant. When they got wisdom, then they would talk to God.] We have hopes for this little boy and others.