p. 16 | Medical Missionary Work in Java by Lily M. Thorpe

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 9, 1909

Medical Missionary Work in Java

By Lily M. Thorpe

My husband and I set out early one morning for a village some thirteen miles from Soember Wekas, on horseback. It took us the best part of the day to go and come, and to treat forty sick people. It was a good experience.

We passed through lonely gorges, where the mountain streams, flowing over the rocks and pebbles, made the sweetest music. Wonderful tree ferns, tropical growth, and bright-plumed birds lent a charm to the scene. We climbed up the mountainsides, which were almost perpendicular, and went down their rocky steeps. It was so cold in the gorge that our ponies shivered, and we were glad to get out into the warm sunshine. Our sturdy Arab ponies were very sure-footed, and although at times it seemed that we would be hurled into the gorge below, we came out safe and sound.

We reached our destination by ten o'clock, and then a real rallying began. Each native called to his fellow as we went along, and soon there was a motley crowd of sick and maimed and lame. Messages were sent far out over the rice fields to the toilers, saying that “Dokter Pundita” had come. We treated sore eyes, sore legs and heads and backs, skin diseases, rheumatism, malaria, etc. We were asked to go to other villages, but the distance was too great. We treated forty persons at this village.

A few weeks ago a man from this village had come to us begging for medicine for his father, who was an opium fiend. We procured some herbal medicine from the antiopium society in Singapore, and made it up, which was considerable work. Before we received this medicine, Mr. Thorpe visited this village and saw the man, and many others who were treated. He had received some simple help and medicine, and had gone away. This time on visiting the village he came also, and asked for some of the same medicine that he had received before. He said that since taking the other he had no more desire for opium. He said, very emphatically, “I do not want it now,” and others witnessed to this testimony. We can scarcely credit this case, as this man had been a terror to his family and neighbors. As we looked into his countenance, then eager in its earnestness, we thought of Pastor Hsi and others who had been reclaimed from the devil’s grasp, and realized that this man, too, might be reclaimed for Christ. We had brought much medicine and ointment with us, and used the last of it on one poor woman who came panting and perspiring in her efforts to get to us before we left. When we returned their greeting of peace as we rode away, we realized that Christ’s methods of reaching the people truly opens their hearts and homes.

Since that time many have come to us from villages near the one of which we have written, and far beyond. They said, “We heard that you helped the sick at Cambang, and that they are all well. We have come for help, and to ask that you will come to our village also.” One man came to us, leaving home at one o’clock and walking through the dark, reaching us at 10 A. M. It is unusual for a Mohammedan Javanese to be out alone in the dark like this. He is afraid of the spirits of his ancestors who inhabit the trees and leaves. This man came to ask help for an elderly man who had not walked for one year. His legs were much swollen to the knees with dropsy, and he was very sick. It was impossible for us to go to that far village at that time, so we sent some simple directions. This morning two patients came from that village, and told us that the man was well and able to walk about. Now we know that the power of Jesus of Nazareth worked on behalf of that man as on behalf of every other hopeless case. God is establishing a witness for himself in these places, and we believe that a harvest from dark Java will be gathered into the heavenly garner. Pray that this may be the case.

LILY M. THORPE.