The Love of Christ Constraineth Us by William A. Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 9, 1913

"The Love of Christ Constraineth Us"

By William A. Spicer

As I talked with Sister F. A. Stahl of her work among the Indians of the Lake Titicaca mission, in Peru, it seemed to me I caught in an incident or two the secret of success in winning the hearts of those women and children of the Andean plateau. She loves them, and her heart goes out to them in a warm affection that melts down every barrier. From notes made as I asked her for incidents of mission life, I may give a few illustrative experiences.

"As I was riding horseback along the road," said Sister Stahl, speaking of the first days of the mission, "I would see two or three women coming. I was so glad; for I wanted to meet them and to speak to them. But as I drew near, they went out of the road and into the fields, and took a round-about path to get round me and back into the road, so as to avoid meeting me. I felt so bad, for I wanted to get to them. One day a woman whom I was meeting just hurried away. I had to cry, I felt so disappointed.

"I asked Brother Camacho what the trouble was. He said, 'The priest teaches these people that they must never meet you, or they will have bad luck.' 'But,' he said, 'never mind, they will soon be sick, and will need you.'"

"And so we have found it. As soon as we began to help some who were in trouble, their prejudice gave way, and now they are always glad to have us notice them."

Again, Sister Stahl told me of a call that came to her to visit a sick family in a distant village. When she got there, she found the mother sick, and the children sick, all lying about on the ground in the little mud hut. Things were in a wretched condition. "It was so terrible and so pitiful," Sister Stahl said, "that I just had to sit down and cry before I could begin to do anything."

The loving sympathy for souls in darkness that brought those tears is the power that has melted down barriers and enabled our sister to win the confidence and the love of the people among whom she labors. To weep with those who weep and to rejoice with those who rejoice is the divine gift to the missionary that comes with the shedding abroad of the love of Christ in the heart through the Holy Spirit.

W. A. S.