The Hillsdale Mission by Anna M. Nelson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 23, 1903

The Hillsdale Mission

By Anna M. Nelson

ANNA M. NELSON

Like all other missionary enterprises, our work necessarily had a small beginning, but we hope gradually to strengthen, grow upward and onward. Though our mission is not yet one year old, we have had many precious experiences and enjoyed much of the blessing of God. This is God’s own work, and we know he is pleased to see us carry it forward. The Lord loves the young people, and wants them brought to him to be educated for his service. We have reason to believe that our labor even to this time has not been in vain.

Home life in the south sea islands is in some respects different from what it is in America; yet, like all other places, it is filled with the common duties of life, with its trials and perplexities as well as joys. And the amount of joys we experience is in proportion to the trials and perplexities which we overcome from day to day. The picture shows you our plain but pleasant home.

If you could have the privilege of stepping across the wide ocean to call at our home in the morning, you would find us at work at the different duties in and about the house, and the boys around on the plantation. But if you should come later in the day, you would find us more quiet—the students in their respective rooms, studying, and I myself conducting recitations on the veranda. On Sunday you would see us, boys and girls alike, washing, or, sometimes, down on our knees, scrubbing our unpainted floors with cocoanut husks. Thus you see it is the life in this place, as well as in any other, that “life is real, life is earnest.” We hope to develop the right spirit of labor by doing faithfully all these common duties, and at last be among that number “to whom it shall be said, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.’”

Sickness must also reach us in these places from time to time. Recently the measles have been very prevalent, and quite severe. It has been twenty-eight years since this disease was known here, so a large majority were taken sick, and a great many died. Our family was not passed by, either. The oldest girl was taken sick first. Then five of the others took the measles from her, and came down just as she recovered. I was very thankful that she was able to help me wait on the others. But in two days word came that her mother, a widow, had taken sick, so she must necessarily go and care for her. This left one boy and myself to do the work and look after the sick. For two more days there was not much rest day or night. Having neither doctor nor nurse to call in, I followed Dr. Kellogg’s directions, and by means of hot packs, fomentations, and hot and cold baths, as the case required, we relieved the one who had trouble on the lungs, and also the one with the sore throat, as well as the delirious one. These were busy days, but the Lord strengthened me through it all, and I found a little extra time and strength to help care for a sister who was very sick and delirious. During it all God greatly blessed, and taught us new lessons of trust. I am glad there is One who is ever near to help in time of trouble, though earthly friends are far away, or may be afflicted in the same manner that we are. How thankful we should be for the light God has given us in the use of water for treating the sick! Many have died through lack of proper care, as the people in general trust to medicines to cure them.

We have no reason to be at all discouraged for we know the promises in the Word are sure. Sometimes the way may look dark; but if we will look up, through the eye of faith we may always see light ahead. So, ever encouraged, we labor on, glad to have a part in hastening the coming of our dear Saviour.

Raiatea, Society Islands.