Untitled article by E. Kotz

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 31, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, Nos. 43, 44.

By the Wayside

By E. Kotz

ONE of our native women converts, Maria by name, started to visit a neighbor who was ill. On the way a heathen woman accosted her. A report of the conversation will show what these new converts from heathenism have to meet:

Maria: "Why do you interrupt me?"

Heathen woman: "I wish to tell you something."

Maria: "But I am in haste, as I desire to visit one who is ill."

Heathen woman: "But sit down a moment."

The request was somewhat unwillingly complied with, and the heathen woman began to speak of very commonplace matters. Finally,—

Maria: "What did you desire to tell me? for I must hasten."

Heathen woman: "Well, I will tell you: You will now have no more children looking like you."

Maria: "Why not?"

Heathen woman: "You have forsaken the spirits of our ancestors, and bring no more offerings to them."

Maria: "But God will be with me."

Heathen woman: "However, our spirits will prevent this anyhow."

Maria: "Tell me, as I became a Christian, was I a child, or was I grown up?"

Heathen woman: "You were grown up."

Maria: "Had I not always appealed to the spirits of our ancestors in all my distress, as you all?"

Heathen woman: "Yes, you had."

Maria: "Well and good; but they did not help me. You remember that three of my children died, and the spirits did not help me. But since I have been a disciple of Christ, my fourth child has remained alive."

After Maria had given further testimony in behalf of her Lord, the old heathen woman acknowledged: "Truly, your God is more mighty than the spirits; but how can I pray to Him? I can not now learn to read."

Maria: "Have you not formerly prayed to the spirits?"

Heathen woman: "Yes."

Maria: "Well, then, in the future bring all these requests to the God who is really able to hear them."

Such experiences as these fill the hearts of us missionaries with the greatest joy; for we often must watch over these young Christians who have just been received into the church of Christ direct from heathenism, with fear and trembling, because they are just like the tenderest of plants, and every evidence of their growth fills us with unspeakable gratitude.

E. KOTZ. Friedenstal, German East Africa.