On Furlough by Petra Tunheim

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 23, 1916

On Furlough

By Petra Tunheim

It has been a great joy to me to meet so many of our dear brethren and sisters in California, and to attend several of their camp meetings during the summer and autumn. It had been nine years since I had had such a privilege, and therefore these meetings were a great inspiration to me.

It was good to see the deep interest manifested by our people as they listened to the good news from across the sea. What great things the Lord has done for the poor heathen who are sitting in dense darkness! He has sent this last message with converting power to them through his humble instrumentalities. Little companies of believers, bright lights here and there, have come out from raw heathenism, Mohammedanism, or Spiritualism. They were formerly thieves and robbers, gamblers, opium smokers, betel-nut chewers, and lived very immoral lives. Now their filthy garments have been laid aside for the beautiful, pure garment of Christ’s righteousness; they, like Mary of old, love to sit at the feet of Jesus and to learn of him who is meek and lowly in heart.

When earnest pleas have been made in behalf of those who never had the glorious light, hearty responses have been made by our people in giving of their money. On hearing how the heathen have given up their idols that they had worshiped all their lives, many here in the homeland, realizing that they themselves were not free from idolatry, have taken off their costly gold chains, rings, and other worldly ornaments, and given them for the work.

A great joy has come to me in seeing so many children willing to make sacrifices and give up some of their little treasures, to aid in the work of winning souls. Among these was one poor little barefoot boy, whose self-denial touched my heart greatly, when he offered to give up his little pocketknife, the only real treasure he possessed. The knife was purchased immediately for a dollar, and prayer was offered that this little boy might see at least one soul in the kingdom as a result of his sacrifice. The riches of the world cannot equal the value of a soul that will reflect the brilliant glory of the King through the ceaseless ages of eternity.

One poor sister who takes in washing has offered to support a student in our training school in Singapore, and has already sent sixty dollars for that purpose. While she stands working over the tub, she is preaching the third angel’s message away across the ocean in Malaysia.

Dear brethren, if we all would become as earnest in giving and would make such sacrifices as these, would not the work soon be finished, and we have the great joy of moving to our heavenly home?

How can we spend one cent in anything that is unnecessary, when there are thousands daily going down to Christless graves? Several sisters have offered me gum to chew since I came to America, but I immediately thought, “How hard it is to get the people in heathen lands to give up the chewing of betel nut!” Surely I should hardly like to begin to chew something here in the homeland that looks just as foolish and uncalled for. In the United States $24,000,000 is spent yearly for gum, $107,536,000 for soft drinks, and $98,229,310 for tea and coffee. Hundreds of parents buy candy for their children and for themselves, which is both expensive and injurious, while the Macedonian calls are sounding louder and louder across the deep sea. In the United States $178,000,000 is spent yearly for confectionery, while only $7,500,000 is given for missions. Shall we not all do our utmost to increase the mission funds and decrease the funds spent in these other ways? The test comes to us now, and the day of account is near at hand. Have we more love for souls for whom Jesus shed his blood than for these needless, injurious things? Shall the blood of those precious souls be upon our garments? Let us lift our voices together in a loud cry: “Spare thy people, O Lord.” Should not the calamities that are taking place around us almost daily, stir us to quick action as never before? The King’s business requires haste, and it must also have funds.

It is indeed good to be here at Loma Linda and take the medical evangelistic course this winter while on furlough. This good instruction will surely be of great value in building me up physically as well as spiritually, in fitting me to do better work when I return to my mission field in Java. We have godly teachers in these classes, who are giving faithful instruction in the different phases of the message. Are there not many young people as well as older ones who should begin to plan now to attend this valuable two-year course next year, to be fitted quickly for a part in the speedy finishing of the work? PETRA TUNHEIM.