p. 18 | Cook Islands by A. H. Piper

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jan 4, 1906

Cook Islands

By A. H. Piper

RAROTONGA.—Our work in this field is gaining ground, but it goes slowly. The Cook Islanders are very slow in comprehending the message and the necessity of obeying it now. The most familiar word in their language is arikana, which means “by and by;” and to procrastinate is one of the great weaknesses of the Maori. It is seen in all that they undertake. All around us are half-finished houses, which have been in this condition for years. In some cases, trees have grown up within the four walls, so long have they been waiting to be finished.

But from every “nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” are God’s people to be gathered; hence, the inspiration to work for these poor people. As opportunity presents itself, we are still working with our literature, and are using every means possible to spread it throughout the group. A few months ago I sold to a Mansahiki native two of our books, and a few days after, he came to me, and wanted me to let him have some literature to take to his own island. I made up a parcel for him, and he was much pleased to have it for his relatives and friends. I did not think that he would want to give me anything for it; it is unlike the native to give money when he is not asked; but this man gave me fifty cents and a beautiful wreath of shells, which quite covered the cost of what I gave him. I was very glad to get the opportunity of sending something in the way of literature to this island, for an opportunity presents itself only once or twice a year for reaching it, so infrequent is the shipping thereto.

Sister Gooding’s health was such that she was obliged to leave us. We were very sorry to lose her, as she was a most faithful worker, and had a great burden for the souls of the people. Her successor is a young man. This young man may be able to take burdens that will free me and let me go to the other islands of the group, so long neglected, as far as our personal presence there is concerned. A compelling power seems to urge me onward in this work. Although literature has been distributed on several of the other islands, no personal work has been done, and this must be done without delay.

This group is in such an out-of-the-way place that no map of it has been published. Rarotonga is the only island on which some have fully committed themselves to the Sabbath truth, although we have friends scattered on all the islands. I have no doubt that with a little personal work some of them would take their stand with us. One man sent his son to us to educate; he was converted and baptized, and is now in our training-school at Raiatea, in Brother Cady’s field, six hundred miles to the east of us.

Two young people have recently been baptized, and are doing well. One, a young man, is anxious to be trained as a missionary for New Guinea. He is living with us, and studying hard. Thus the Lord is going before us, and preparing workers for that great island. Another instance of how the Lord prepares matters for the prosecution of his work lies in the fact that the deacon of our church here, an excellent man, knows three island dialects, one of them being that of Savage Island, the people of which so long refused to receive the gospel, and at last did so by permitting a native and his wife from Tonga to teach them. This man is desirous of giving his life to the work. I wish you could have heard him preach last Sabbath afternoon, on the tithe question. It seemed to me no white preacher could have put the matter more plainly before the people. His banana plantation is a verification of Mal. 3:10, and is the wonder of the community.

We are of good courage in the Lord, and full of hope and good cheer for the future. Our health is very fair, although Mrs. Piper is not so well as I would like to see her. But we are thankful for the many blessings that are ours, and above all, for a part in this glorious work. A. H. PIPER.