p. 16 | Society Islands by L. A. Roth

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Oct 1, 1903

Society Islands

By L. A. Roth

PAPEETE, TAHITI.—The Lord has been good to us, and has opened our eyes just at the time when we needed to have them opened, so that we could see how Satan is watching us, and trying all the time to defeat us, when we are making special plans to defeat him. The promises of the Lord are yea and amen. He tells us that if he permits the temptations, he will also give us strength to bear them, and will open a way for us to escape from the power of Satan, and will be near to receive us and comfort us in our trials. We have found that the Lord is the only one to be trusted, and that as long as we abide in him, he will take us safely through.

It is just a year since we moved to the place we now occupy, which we call our little island home. It is about a mile and a half from Papeete, in a suburb called Pirea. It is a fine place for us to rear the little ones the Lord has given to us. We have all kinds of fruits growing on the land, and a comfortable house in which to live. It is only about three hundred yards from the ocean on one side, and about the same from the river. We feel that the Lord opened the way for us to secure this little home.

From November, 1902, until June of this year, I worked in the bakery. Although there are twelve or fifteen bakeries here in Papeete besides our little one, the Lord certainly blessed; for in eight months we had as many customers as some of the old bakeries have after twenty or thirty years’ residence. We supply the governor and several of his friends. On Friday we furnish bread to our regular customers to last them over Sabbath. It is amusing to hear the people call to one another when we come along with our load of bread, “Pitania faraoa!” Adventists are called here “Pitania,” or Pitcairnians. The natives, and even some of the white people, call all the Adventists by this name. Our bread is also called by the same name. I wish the people would care as much for the truths we have for them as they do for the bread. But we believe the bread will be the means of getting the people interested. Some say, “Well, Adventists have some good bread, anyway.”

At the workers’ meeting held in Papeete in May, it was decided that I should spend my time in the field, with the French people. I can use to good advantage a number of French papers and tracts, as we have very few. We ordered a club of twenty-five French papers by the last mail, but this is only a drop in the bucket. We could use many more. We would be glad for French Signs of the Times, Le Messager de la Prophetie, and Le Vulgarisateur; and

any amount of French tracts will be confidently and gladly received. Small bundles could be sent directly to me, and large bundles to the Pacific Press in Oakland, Cal., which will forward them to us. Or if there are those who desire to send small donations to help us in securing literature, we would be glad to have them send these to the Mission Board, 222 North Capitol St., Washington, D. C., and the papers can be ordered for us.

If we had plenty of papers, the work here could be done quickly, as the French are not very numerous; and when we finish this place, there are many other places that are waiting to receive the message. Although the French people are difficult to labor for, the Lord has some precious souls among them, and we are glad for the privilege of searching for these. Yes, we are indeed thankful to the Lord for the humble place he has given us in his vineyard. As David of old, I can say that I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

We are of good courage, and are trying to follow the good instruction we are receiving through the REVIEW and the Conference Bulletin. Our desire is that all may know that dear Saviour who died that we might have life.

L. A. ROTH.