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In the Maori Mission Field

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 31, 1910

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 13.

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In the Maori Mission Field

BROTHER READ SMITH in a letter written from Tologa Bay, New Zealand, gives the following interesting information in reference to their work for the Maori people:—
“Our work among the Maoris continues to be interesting and varied. We have Sunday-school at 3 P. M. in their hall. At this time of the year they are a moving population. It is shearing time, and the natives move from one station to another, so that the number present at the school fluctuates. Sometimes we have only six or eight, another time over fifty of all ages.
“The teaching needs to be simple, yet interesting and well illustrated. They are teachable, easily pleased, easily offended, easily spoiled, and therefore need much teaching and training and development.
“We of necessity sing until we are tired. They are passionately fond of music, though the masses are in no way trained. They do not assemble by appointment, but wait until we sing, and the singing draws them. Those near by hear and communicate to the next neighbor, and so on, and thus it takes about half an hour of continued singing to get the congregation together.
“This month sickness has not been so general, but last month was an exceptionally busy one, for we gave over three hundred treatments. This means much labor, for they are all given in the homes, and one can imagine the lack of facility in some. Nearly every baby and child was ill, and adults also. It kept us going from very early in the morning until the late hours, but we rejoice that we have the privilege of helping those who need help, and we are able to praise the Lord with all our soul and mind and strength that he has helped us so much, for, so far, not one of the cases we have had in hand has been fatal—all recovering under the blessing of the ‘Giver of every good and perfect gift,’ and among them were some really serious cases.
“We delight much in the work our Lord has called us to, and praise him for the honor he bestows upon us in that we are colaborers with him.”