Jottings From Samoa by Edith B. Howse

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 19, 1911

Jottings From Samoa

By Edith B. Howse

EDITH B. HOWSE

It is now over eighteen months since we came to work in Samoa, and many and varied have been our experiences. Strangers in a strange land, among a people of a strange tongue, we felt very helpless; but we had come at the bidding of One who said, “Go, . . . teach all nations,” and we knew we had a never-failing Helper.

At first we visited much, distributing many tracts, and by request teaching many native choirs our hymn-tunes. In this way we became acquainted with many of the natives, and won their good will and friendship. Two of these, a man and his wife, now meet with us regularly and are keeping the Sabbath. They are a fine, intelligent couple. Since the new year we have had their eldest girl, aged sixteen years, living with us. She is a great help to me, and promises to become a good and useful young woman.

A little over a year ago we took a child of seven years into our home. She now speaks, reads, and writes English readily, and is having a Christian experience according to her years. We also had a young man living with us for several months. He had elephantiasis in both legs, of a very painful and severe character. He rapidly improved on a vegetarian diet and two meals daily, so that from being able to walk only with pain and difficulty, he lost all pain and could walk and run with ease, and even climb the coconut-trees, a thing he had not done for years. The swelling also was much reduced. Mr. Howse had Bible studies with him daily, and he soon began to regard the Sabbath, and is still keeping it. He returned home after four months, and is doing missionary work for his own people. The family is interested in health principles.

Last February an epidemic of measles visited this place, the first in almost twenty years. Hundreds, mostly children and young people, took the disease, and a great many died through the ignorance and gross living of the natives. It was truly a reign of gloom and death for some months. Daily the children were buried; sometimes we would hear the bell toll as often as four times a day.

Frequently we were sent for to minister to the sick or dying, and in every instance God blessed the simple treatments we were able to give. At this time I had a school for the natives, but closed it for a month, as many of the children were ill. One of them, a bright girl of twelve, was brought very low through a relapse. We visited her daily, carrying nourishment, but one day we found her dying. She dearly loved her school, and had just been talking of it and of me, her mother said. We were asked to pray; and while we did so, she fell asleep in Jesus. The grief of the father and mother was sad to witness.

Another of my pupils, a child of seven, also had a relapse. Mr. Howse found her lying, weak and emaciated, in a room foul with the odor of tobacco, and needing apparently only a little more time in such surroundings to see her carried to the cemetery. We brought her to our home, and in less than a month sent her away, a healthy, happy child.

These experiences brought us into close contact with the people, and we know they have exerted an influence for the truth.

When I reopened school, the children came in until soon I had thirty-five of the most obedient, earnest, industrious young persons one could wish to teach. They ranged in age all the way from six or seven to sixteen years. How they delighted to come! And each day we sensed the presence of the One who loves the children, and I could see impressions were being made for eternity on each young heart and life.

But one day a government official came to investigate, and I was told to report the school. So Mr. Howse and I went to see the governor. He met us kindly, but said he must refuse permission for natives to be taught English, as

the instruction must be given in Samoan; and if any foreign language was taught, it must be German.

So, very reluctantly, I closed the school. It was a sad morning indeed for them and for me, when I had to dismiss all those dear children. When I have learned Samoan, I may keep school again. We find the language difficult, and do long for the time when we shall be able to teach the truth unhindered.

Our little paper, Tali Moni, which began to be printed with the new year, is a boon to us. Mr. Howse much enjoys taking it to the natives, as they are so eager for it. Many are yearly subscribers. At present we get five hundred papers, and could use many more.

A few weeks ago we were able to help another sick person, a fine girl of sixteen, one of my recent pupils. She had been lying for weeks in much pain, with a swelling on her back. She also had an ulcer on her arm. She was taking medicine six times a day, but was none the better for it. We brought her here, and simple treatments and healthful living cured all her maladies in a week, and she went home a very grateful girl. She was almost a slave to the tea habit, but has promised to discontinue its use entirely. She had been brought up a Catholic, or christened in that church; but while here she loved to read the Bible and “Christ Our Saviour” in Samoan. As a token of love and gratitude, she presented me with the finest Samoan mat I have ever seen.

These are a few of our experiences here. At present I am holding Bible studies with an intelligent half-caste woman, whose babe Mr. Howse was called to bury when the measles prevailed. She and her husband are good people, and have an interest in the truth through the labors of Brother Steed. Pray that this interest may deepen and ripen.

Another young woman, also a half-caste, comes to me twice a week for lessons in Bible and English. We have become much attached, and I feel sure that she is gaining a real Christian experience, which I trust will develop until she grasps and accepts the truth for this time.

Pray for us, brethren and sisters, in our work here, that God may use us abundantly to the glory of his name and to the salvation of many precious souls in this field.