ELLA CAMP RUSSELL by Ella Camp Russell

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

ELLA CAMP RUSSELL

By Ella Camp Russell

Korea

ELLA CAMP RUSSELL

If those in the home land should exchange places with the foreign workers, what do you suppose they would want the ones at home to do? Having been so situated as to view this question from both sides, let me venture an answer as it appeals to me.

Here in the foreign work, we are brought face to face with conditions wholly unknown to the people at home, unless we except those working for the very poor in our large cities. It is a common circumstance in all Eastern mission fields that the people are poor, desperately poor; therefore they are hungry, cold, and dirty. The suffering of widows and orphans is pitiful.

I do not know whether or not there is a fund for supplying food, clothing, and soap; but I am sure if there were, the missionary's wife in every field would draw heavily from it. Why don't you sisters at home clear out your clothes-presses and closets, and send us out-of-date or partly worn garments? Send a few at a time by mail. [Between the United States and Japan — now including Korea — there exists a foreign parcel-post. The limitation in weight is eleven pounds. In value the package must not exceed eighty dollars. The rate of postage is twelve cents a pound or fraction thereof. In every case the postage must be prepaid.] Any sort of garment can be made over into children's clothing here. Also if some would send small pieces of cloth, such as scraps left over from gingham and calico dresses, they would go a long way toward dressing a child. Old silk waists can be sent in very small packages, and can be used to good advantage. Pictures and flower seeds might also be sent; the little children love these, and are taught beautiful lessons from them. Church-schools could find great pleasure and the blessing of God in collecting articles to be sent to foreign mission schools.

Just let me tell you about our girls' school here. These poor girls are willing to eat boiled millet three times a day,—nothing else,—so as to have the money to buy books and pay tuition. Outside of school hours, they do sewing or any work they can find. They make and sell the white cotton hose which Koreans wear. These hose are made of strong cotton cloth, almost as heavy as canvas. It is sewed by hand, and they sell these hose for two and one-half cents above the cost of material. I would not make a pair for fifty cents. Poor little girls! If they were sent some good cloth, then they could make twelve and one-half cents clear on a pair.

Don't be afraid that too many will send. You send a yard anyway, or two or three yards,—white cotton cloth, drilling, or duck, or light canvas, strong, but not too stiff to be sewed by hand. This can be sent to the Korean Girls' School, Soonan, Korea.

And last, but not least, write once in a while to the ones in distant parts of the world. No matter if you have never met them, it will cheer them wonderfully to receive letters. Ask them questions, and by establishing a closer connection the foreign work need not be far from any door. It is the simple, common duties in service for humanity that the Saviour has taught us by precept and example. I am so glad to be where I can actually, with my own hands, “feed the hungry” and “clothe the naked.” How similar were the conditions in the time of Christ to what we see here!