Into the Harvest by Joel C. Rogers

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 18, 1913

Into the Harvest

By Joel C. Rogers

JOEL C. ROGERS

AFTER furlough the worker who has experienced his call into the harvest-fields abroad, welcomes the time of his return. The winter has found little to attract his attention from his chosen work while sojourning in America. He has learned “to love his country and people none the less, but his work for souls the more.” He has appreciated and been thankful for the kindly greetings and hospitality of many friends and brethren. He is grateful for the liberal provision made by the General Conference for his rest. And now he is most happy to be off again to greet his waiting native friends and brethren. He feels sure of a warm welcome back among them.

We found comfortable accommodation on the “Oceanic,” leaving New York June 28. By this boat we were able to connect with the East African mail-boat at Southampton, transferring all baggage without the expense of crossing England. Then we could have a week

in London while the steamer made the passage around the Mediterranean to Naples, where we embarked July 19. The trip overland to Naples from London occupies only two days direct.

In London we were able to secure a few supplies not found in Central Africa, such as a nice little tent, 8 x 8 feet, for traveling. Two natives can easily carry it, including poles and a water-proof canvas floor-cloth. It can be set up in a few minutes, and easily made mosquito-proof. Its cost was $32. We purchased also a small camp cooking outfit, camp-chairs, a supply of simple medicine, lead- and slate-pencils for native school, linoleum for blackboards, and little items of personal supplies. All these were packed in a large hamper and put on the steamer, which called at London July 9. After all business was finished, we had the Sabbath for rest, attending the North London church service. On Sunday Brother Bacon was on hand as usual at Victoria Station. This is the third time he has seen us off to Africa, the first time being almost twenty years ago. We very much appreciated his attention to our business affairs in London.

While crossing to Naples, our time did not permit us to visit any of our people, but we enjoyed seeing Elder Tieche and his son at the customs house on the border of Italy. We were hoping to have the pleasure of his company to Genoa, but train arrangements prevented even this.

To break our long journey and save expense, we stopped for a night each in Lyons and Marseilles. One is obliged to pay first-class fare to get a chance to sleep on these trains, which would be about double ordinary fare. In Rome we had only four hours, but in Naples nearly two days, our boat being a half-day late. We availed ourselves of this opportunity to see the ruins of Pompeii, and I to ascend to the Vesuvius crater. It is an awe-inspiring scene to stand on the hot, steaming lava at the brink of that mighty hole in the top of the mountain, large enough to make a lake that could float several big ships; to see steam and smoke issuing from the small crater which fills the greater crater, the steam and smoke rolling from side to side and forming a cloud over its top; then to push off a ledge of crumbling lava, and listen as it rolls down, down, a thousand feet into space, with echoing sounds! My heart was lifted in prayer for God's lingering mercy to spare the people of Italy until they hear the message that is able to save them from the coming destruction of all the world.

We are now in the Red Sea, midway from Suez to Aden. We are both in good health and looking forward anxiously to the day of our arrival at our destination, still six weeks or more ahead of us. A missionary of the London Missionary Society, located near Lake Tanganyika, where we intend going, tells us that sugar, flour, and oatmeal each costs thirty-two cents a pound at the nearest store. So they get all their supplies from London, which comes out one fourth less!