Friendly Islands by Edwin S. Butz

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 28, 1902

Friendly Islands

By Edwin S. Butz

NUKUALOFA, TONGA.—We were detained in Samoa nearly a month, waiting for the steamer for Tonga. The work there is very similar to the work in this place. The most important thing to be done is to get the Bible truth before the people; but in this the laborers there are handicapped as well as we, because of a meager knowledge of the language, and the difficulty of putting our literature into the native tongue.

On reaching Tonga we found the few brethren who had not removed from this place, of good courage. The secret of this is that they have felt that they were responsible for letting the light shine which has been given to them. They have faithfully kept up the Sabbath school and the little prayer meeting, and have done what they could to hold forth the word of truth.

We have two interested families with whom we are laboring. They seem to be earnest Christians, and we hope they will take their stand for present truth. Quite a number of the natives are convinced of the truth, but they say that the way is too hard. We hope that you will remember our work in prayer. Our courage is good in the Lord, who will open up the way before us.

EDWIN S. BUTZ.