p. 11 | Hilo, Hawaii by Mabel Mc Keague

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

Hilo, Hawaii

By Mabel Mc Keague

MRS. MABEL MC KEAGUE

In my last report I told you of a Hawaiian woman and her seven children who had accepted the truth. They were few then in the country, but have since moved to Hilo, near us. The husband was also convinced of the truth, but in his struggle to withstand his convictions, he made it very hard for his wife. Still we prayed and pleaded, and just recently he yielded.

He told his employers he was going to keep the Lord’s Sabbath. Although he was ridiculed, and had many testing experiences when it seemed that he would be without work, now he has more than he can do.

He called in two men, a Hawaiian and a Porto Rican, to study in his home with my husband. These also have determined to keep the Sabbath, and have witnessed the power of God in opening the way before them. The Hawaiian held a position where he had been trusted for several years, but when he told his employer of his desire to keep the Sabbath holy, the man became very angry and said, “Every day will be sabbath for you, then.” He accepted his dismissal meekly, trusting in God. At the end of six days, his employer sent for him to come and take up his work again, with the Sabbath off. So now our brother is rejoicing in the

Lord, has given up his bad habits, and is determined to live up to all the light.

The Porto Rican had been in the Salvation Army corps, but was not satisfied. He has taken only a few studies, and we need to pray that he may accept the whole message and become a valuable worker. He can speak English equally well as Spanish. The first-named brother has given him a home, and also work.

A young Hawaiian woman who has the responsibility of caring for an aged mother, has become more and more interested, first paying tithe, then securing all our books and papers she could afford, taking part in missionary work, and attending all our meetings and readings. We were very glad yesterday when she told us of her intention to ask her employer for relief from all Sabbath work. Her mother and niece are also keeping the Sabbath, and others of the family are interested.

Another young woman, one of my patients, has taken her stand and is happy in the new-found light. She obtained relief through the treatments, relief which she had long been seeking from different doctors, and this opened the way for Bible studies. She also is working for her relatives.

Our medical work is very encouraging and interesting. We have many calls from the doctors for private nursing, which we cannot fill. As there is only one hospital here, operated by the Catholics, there will be an increasing demand on us for help. One doctor urged us to start a small sanitarium. While this may not be possible, what an opportunity there is for one of our physicians to come here and help us to educate the people while giving them physical relief.

My Sabbath school class of eight children is doing good work, and we can see some improvement in the daily life of each child. But they are calling for a church school, and they have friends who would like to attend also. The Hilo company, by tithes, offerings, treatment returns, sale of books and papers, and the large Harvest Ingathering fund which the Lord helped us to raise, are doing their share. We need help, and need it badly. We have been promised medical help so that we could give our time more fully to missionary work, but we feel that we must also have a church school by the next school year.

Then there is the country work. Hilo is only one town, and this is a large island. Its towns are widely separated, and often inaccessible by railroad, which is a slow and expensive means of travel here. Last Sunday my husband spoke in the Olaa church, and today he is holding a study with a company of Hawaiians there. Several others at different places are studying, and the calls keep coming. We hope to raise up small companies all around this island. But the roads are very bad, owing to the heavy rains; and the carrying of books and equipment on his person is fast telling on my husband's health. Too long have the people sat in darkness, and we must redeem the time with all haste before the terrible calamities which the Lord has thus far mercifully withheld from these fair islands, shall wipe out her people in a moment.

We have marveled at the goodness of God in using us, weak as we are, to proclaim his message and to win souls, and we long for more of his Spirit and power in our lives. We are determined to seek and obtain many blessings in the week of prayer just upon us. Pray for us, as we pray for all of you.