Among the Indians at Samabula, Fiji
By Ellen Meyers
The building at Samabula is almost finished, and after house cleaning, settling, visiting in the locality, and becoming acquainted with the people for whom I labor, which has all been interesting in its way, I spent most of Sabbath, August 1, alone with God, seeking for wisdom and guidance and the baptism of the Holy Spirit for this great work. On Sunday, a week later, at 9:30 A. M., the bell, given by a few of the members of the young people's society in Fiji, rang out an invitation for the people to come to hear the word of God. The previous Sunday it had been rung at 3 P. M., and no response had been made; so I decided to find a man with whom I could talk intelligently, and to whom I could explain why we had come among them. I found just the man, evidently, and I sought his advice concerning the most convenient time for the people to attend church on Sundays. At his suggestion the bell rang at 9:30 A. M. Knowing the Indians' dislike for Christianity, I had made this the subject of prayer. Israel's experiences in crossing the Jordan, and also the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, with its record of what faith has done, gave me courage. At first there was no sign of any one's coming, but the bell rang on. I wish you could have heard it. It sounded as if we were in earnest. I thought of the way the walls of Jericho fell down when God's people exercised faith. The bell rang for half an hour. I decided it would influence the people to come, and by ten o'clock, the appointed time, forty persons were present. This meant much to me after my first experience. The next question was where to seat them. I had by faith prepared my subject, an exposition of the second chapter of Daniel. I invited them to be seated, but we had only two benches, and they hesitated to sit on the floor. So Aveti, the Fijian boy from Buresala, helped by bringing his mat. The Indians sit on the floor in their own homes, but they are accustomed to have seats when they go into a house of worship. They usually exercise some respect for God's house. I remember taking a Mohammedan boy to the Masonic Hall to hear Pastor Butz when we were having a series of meeting in Fiji. Our entering a place of worship wearing our shoes made him feel that we had no respect for the house of God. He himself had been taught to take off his shoes before crossing the threshold of a place where prayer was offered. We spent an hour studying together, and the Indians listened somewhat attentively. After the service was over, Aveti, having made up his mind that we should be better fitted up next Sunday, made a neat little table and two benches. The following day, Monday, school opened with three boys; when the week closed, we had sixteen. I fear we shall not find it so easy to secure the girls. The Indians are not eager to give them an education, but later the way may open to do something for them. Suva is passing through a trying, unrestful experience. Men's hearts are failing because of what is taking place in the world. Soldiers patrol the streets day and night in fear of German invasion. Ships are prohibited from coming. The wealthy have made provision for the flesh; they have bought their food supplies, and the result is that everything which is left is very expensive, and there is no prospect of more shipments for a while. I have held to my post. 'The just shall live by faith' is the message for this time. Orders have been issued that when six rockets are fired, the women and children must leave the town and run out to the neighboring districts, where places of safety are provided. So I am fortunate to be out of Suva. My one regret is that at this time we have no English worker to give prophetic lectures directing the attention of the people to what the Word of God says concerning the days in which we live. Surely these people would see the literal fulfillment of the things that are predicted. Perhaps after the union conference this great need will be supplied, and after the experience we are passing through some may be led to see the truth. It is comforting to feel that God is great, and that he is able to meet every emergency and to supply our every need. I do not know how long these conditions will exist in Suva. I may not be able to write again until normal conditions are restored. I believe that steamers are all prevented from coming or going, so communications will be suspended; but nothing can prevent us from communicating with heaven. I ask your prayers.