Society Islands by GEO. L. STERLING.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 26, 1909

Society Islands

By GEO. L. STERLING.

RAIATEA.—“There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” Ps. 91:10.

I believe that we do not realize the blessedness of this assurance of God’s keeping power until we pass through some experiences which, when looked back upon, show us how narrowly we escaped injury, and perhaps even death. I am daily led to believe that God has a special care for his people, and that when “a thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand,” from various plagues and pestilences, it is only the power of God that keeps us from falling also.

I have seen the power of the Lord manifested very plainly in my own life. When I was seventeen years of age, I was stricken with typhoid fever. Complications set in, and with the best of care, I came so near death’s door that I was given up so far as earthly help was concerned by both doctors and friends. Then it was that the earnest prayers of God’s people turned back the power of disease, and I was soon a convalescent. I have never doubted for a moment that it was the hand of God that raised me to health; and with it came the belief that my life had been spared for a purpose. And when the call came for my wife and myself to come to this field to labor, I could not say No. I believed it was the call of God to do the work for which my life had been spared.

But that is past. Do we meet experiences here which remind us that God is still keeping us?—Many of them. A short time ago an epidemic of what the French call dangue, was raging in these islands. It was very severe. Nearly every one suffered an attack of it, and not a few died. It is now past; and we can thankfully say that none of the three white workers here had it. We took what precautions we could in the way of diet and healthful living, believing that God would bless such efforts. We are thankful for health reform.

My work here at the mission home takes me out on the plantation quite a little, looking after the work. It was in the garden about six months ago that I had another experience. This time it was with a centipede about five inches long. The sting of the centipede is often quite poisonous, sometimes making one very sick several days. This one had succeeded in crawling up from the ground on my clothing when I was hoeing, and when discovered was crawling on my back beneath all my clothing. It took considerable nerve to be quiet until it could be gotten out, but, thanks to the Lord, it was done, and I was not injured.

In these islands we meet scorpions as well as centipedes. I might mention other experiences through which the Lord’s protection has been seen. I do not mean to say that this place is fraught with more dangers to life than other places, for I think we all can recall instances where the hand of Providence has shielded us from danger.

We are nicely located on the mission plantation on Raiatea. We have a good home, and things are quite pleasant, much more so than we anticipated on leaving America. While learning the language, we are engaged in caring for the mission home and teaching a few children. I have learned enough of the language to enable me to do a little work among the native people.

There is much to be done in these islands. The people are steeped in sin and wickedness. I know of nothing that can reclaim them but the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are very difficult to work for.

The Lord has blessed us abundantly during the past year, and we are encouraged to follow him in his work. We ask that you remember us in your prayers. GEO. L. STERLING.