Need of Homes for Our Workers in Mission Fields
By R. R. Cook
If the brethren and sisters in the home land, surrounded not only by friends and loved ones, but supplied with all the conveniences of civilization and the comforts of home, could but get a glimpse into some of the great mission fields, and see the conditions as they exist there,—could really see things as they are, and not only see them, but feel them,—I believe that some of the comforts and even what we call necessities, would gladly be given up that the work in distant lands might be advanced, and the health of our workers safeguarded. I will note a few of the things that a missionary in India must face. A large part of our workers must labor in the districts away from the cities, must spend months without seeing a white face or hearing a word in their own language. They labor under a treacherous tropical sun, where a few moments' exposure to its rays might mean death to them or their children. If homes are not provided for them, they must live in the native villages, in mud huts that many would not use for their cattle. They are surrounded by all manner of deadly diseases, such as cholera, plague, leprosy, etc. Sanitation is unknown, and the dust from the filthy streets fills the homes, bringing disease with it. They may be hundreds of miles away from medical help when disease enters their home. What do our brethren and sisters who are laboring under these conditions need? They need more than our prayers; they need of our abundance. They need homes to live in, a little piece of ground, and a comfortable house far enough removed from their filthy surroundings so that they can keep clean, and so that their children can play out-of-doors without coming in contact with some loathsome disease. A short time ago one of our most valuable workers died in India. He was laboring in one of the most unhealthful parts of the country, surrounded by low, marshy land, that for several months of the year is covered with water. The only means of conveyance during this time is by boat. About two years ago at one of our meetings in India, this brother asked for means to purchase a piece of high ground, and to erect a home for the workers in that part of the field. There was no money in the treasury, so it was denied him. A few months ago, while taking a fellow worker, who was in a very critical condition, to Calcutta for treatment, he contracted cholera and died. He had been in poor health for months, so he was an easy prey to the disease. There in that desolate country, stranger hands hewed a coffin from old railway ties, and buried him, away from wife and children. I wonder if, had those at home been more careful to bring in the tithes and offerings, this sad occurrence might not have been prevented? Another has gone to take his place; but years must elapse before he can hope to fill the gap,—years of study, of labor, and it may be of suffering, before he can take up the work where the other laid it down. Dear brethren and sisters, are we by our faithfulness in giving of the means entrusted to us hastening the work? or are we by our indifference, and by withholding our gifts, hindering it? Are we responsible in a measure for the death of any of the faithful workers in the dark heathen lands? R. R. Cook.