G. F. JONES by G. F. Jones

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 31, 1916

G. F. JONES

By G. F. Jones

Pioneering Experiences in the Solomon Islands — No. 2

G. F. JONES

“The light is to shine to all lands and all peoples.” During those gloomy, unpleasant days when we first landed on the islands, this light of prophecy did shine in our hearts, and in spite of forbidding circumstances, it sustained us, and enabled us to look forward to a prosperous future for our work. We knew success would come, and now, after nearly two years of labor, we can see the light quickly penetrating among the different tribes of these islands. Instead of two workers, we now have three couples and a single man, four mission stations and two others waiting to be opened. The two motor launches already in the field cannot keep up with the work. Yes, “God’s people have a mighty work before them that must continually rise to greater prominence. . . . The whole earth is to be illuminated with the glory of God’s truth.”

The Lord does not need so much that we plan as that we enter the fields, “for they are white already to harvest.” Out here God plans and we work. When we first came, there was no way of getting natives to help us on our vessel unless we went recruiting amid great dangers; for recruits are obtained only by pointing a dozen rifles at the savages on the beach to protect the one who lands to make the bargain. The men obtained are taken to a government inspector, who sees that they are fit, properly dealt with, and “signed on” for two years’ service, to be returned at the end of that time to the place whence they came. The recruiting vessel takes its men to the different plantations, where at present they get $68 a man. They are then bound, under government regulations, for two years to be properly fed and paid. The men thus obtained are not nearly sufficient to supply the demands of the large plantations, so you see that if the Lord had not worked wonderfully for us in the beginning, we never could have moved our vessel from our first landing place, for we were obliged to have help to sail her.

After the steamer was gone, and the storm abated, there sailed into harbor with his cutter a very gentlemanly young man, a planter, who asked: “What can I do to help you? I will send four of my men on board to rig up your vessel, and will come myself.” I thanked him, and said I should be glad to have his men, but that he need not give his valuable time, as I understood how to manage. I did not see him again for several days, but his men stayed with me, and I was able to rig up the boat, getting everything stowed away ready for sea.

When the young man returned, he came on board our “Advent Herald,” and offered to pilot us anywhere we wanted to go, saying he would bring three men with him. This he did, and sent his own vessel back with the men who were not needed.

This is how the Lord planned for us. We could have done nothing without this help, while with it not a day was lost. We knew not where to go first, but the Lord knew where he wanted us to go. He sent this man to help and guide us. The Lord has blessed him for it, too; for he is much interested in the truth. He has since married, and bought a coconut plantation only one mile and a half from our Marovo Mission. About two months later, I was obliged to rush him in our swift motor boat to the steamer for Sydney, for he had black-water fever, and thus we were enabled to save his life.

O, if we only had several more workers, those who would be trustworthy, humble, and kind to the natives, to enter these benighted islands, from which calls are coming to us! How quickly the message would then go, and what joy it would bring to the hearts of God’s people!

Marovo Lagoon.