The Hand of the Lord by G. F. Jones

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 3, 1903

“The Hand of the Lord”

By G. F. Jones

G. F. JONES

ONE can do but little for the people of these islands until he has acquired a knowledge of their language. We are glad that our difficulties in mastering the native tongue are nearly over, and that we can understand and be understood. So it is only a question of time before we can feel perfectly at home with the people. We long for this above all things. Seven months with our tongues tied, as it were, has been a most trying time, with the need of workers staring us in the face. Yet we have endeavored to improve every opportunity and have held Bible studies through an interpreter.

Hanging together in our house, one over the other, are a prophetic chart and a map of one of the American States. One morning we were impressed to place the prophetic chart on top. During the course of the day a young man came in, stared at the chart, and desired to have it explained, which we immediately did, and also planned a course of study at his father’s home, where each week we had an interesting time with a roomful of people. This young man recently left for another island, to build himself a home, and, as he told his parents before leaving, to keep the Sabbath, and have his home for a meeting-house.

The hand of the Lord is further seen in this. Another brother, hearing of our Bible class, desired one at his home. We met two nights in the week, and many of the neighbors came in. This is the way the Lord is working for us, even before we are prepared to speak to the people in their own tongue.

My chart story is not yet finished. About two weeks ago a young native woman who comes to see us occasionally would steal away from us, and go to the room where the chart was hanging, and sit on the floor and look at it as if an angel pointed it to her. One day she brought her husband, and seeing they were anxious to know what it meant, we began holding studies with them twice a week. The young husband is very quick and intelligent, and we trust will take his stand with us some day. We long to see these young people efficient workers in the cause. We feel sure that what is needed to make the work a success here, as elsewhere, is native laborers. A conscientious native laborer is worth half a dozen foreigners in any country. There are other young men whom we visit, of whom we have great hopes.

We are known everywhere here as “the Pittarnia people,” meaning “Pitcairners,” so called from the “Pitcairn,” when she sailed in these waters. The prejudice against us is very strong in this island, and we are closely watched, especially by those who keep alive this flame of prejudice. I overheard the following jocular remark from a group of this class: “The Mormons can show you how to make money, and the Adventists how to go to heaven.” So, notwithstanding their enmity, they have learned concerning us the best thing worth knowing. Thank the Lord, we are not afraid of the lions’ roar, but know that, like the two lions in “Pilgrim’s Progress,” they are chained.

A young man—a leper—through his isolation has been brought to study the truth for himself, and I have been privileged to meet with him and read the Bible with him. He is more firm every time I see him, and has begun to observe the Lord’s Sabbath. When his relatives heard this,—and he has a great number of influential ones,—they tried to dissuade him. But he has made the Bible his trust, and has become another channel through which the Lord can pour his holy oil to give light to others. He uses the outcast and despised. “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; that he may set him with princes.”

Dear friends, if we have omitted to tell you anything about the deep blue sea, the blue and starry heavens, the high mountains, the sparkling brooks, the tall trees and lovely fruit, the tropical beauty, etc., it is because we believe you would rather hear of that which will endure forever, and of those who will meet upon the “sea of glass,” and upon “Mount Zion,” who will drink of the “pure river of water of life, clear as crystal.” All this beauty from heaven is reflected in earthen vessels, and by beholding such scenery our hearts rejoice with you.

Papeete, Tahiti.