p. 16 | The Hindustani Work by L. J. Burgess

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 19, 1909

The Hindustani Work

By L. J. Burgess

AFTER OUR conference in Lucknow, India, we went to the Garhwal district in the Himalaya Mountains and spent two months. Over two years ago these people asked us to come and start a school among them; and although we have encouraged them to believe that we would do so sometime, we have not been able to fulfil their hopes. We have the prospect of a small piece of land, but as yet have not received the title to it. If this is obtained, we hope to start a small school there soon. It is a beautiful and healthful location, and everything seems to indicate that it would be a favorable place in which to open a school and mission station.

The people of the Garhwal district are mostly farmers. For the past two years they have had little rain, which has caused very hard times on account of failure of crops. Notwithstanding their poverty, the people brought us frequent donations of rice, vegetables, milk, etc. They also promised to help in building a school. If they should have a season or two of good crops, I doubt not they would be quite liberal in making donations.

We are now spending a few months at Mussoorie, and hope to have a few Hindustani men with us here for a course of Bible study. We are also working to get out some more literature in the native language, as that is our greatest need at present. We enjoy the work of preparing literature, and experience much of the help of the Lord in it. It is a satisfaction to us to see how the literature is received, and how it is the means of spreading the truth. We receive letters in nearly every mail from some one who has become interested through reading something that has been printed in the Hindustani language.

We are learning to be more conservative in writing reports as we get more experience in the work. Some time passes before a report comes out in print, and sometimes the things which were reported do not look so well when we read them in the paper, the circumstances having changed, and a prospect which seemed very promising at the time of writing, having failed to develop as we hoped. But we continue to sow beside all waters, both early and late; for if we sow the good seed, we know the Lord will give the increase, and in due season we shall reap if we faint not.

We are praying that the General Conference will mark the beginning of still greater things in the work of the third angel's message. L. J. BURGESS.

Mussoorie, India.