It was a warm, sultry morning late in December. The tropical air was
scarcely fanned by a breeze. The missionary heard the peculiar tapping
of the postman at the gate and hurried to get his morning mail. He took
the single letter that was handed him, and with a pleasant nod to the
postman broke the seal as he stepped back to the veranda.
It was a long letter; so before reading it the man sank into a chair and
glanced away to the gleaming sea; but meeting only the dazzling light
there, he let his eyes rest upon the distant blue-green mountains for
a moment. Then for some time he was occupied with the contents of this
lengthy letter. It was written in a neat, scholarly manner, and the
missionary noted it all as he read.
As he finished reading, a bright-faced woman came through the garden
with a baby in her arms. "Come here, Jennie," he said; and his wife
came quickly to him. "Here is a letter, Jennie, that requires very
careful answering. You know how busy I am; so I will commit this into
your care. This person, a Mr. K. L. Jones, has asked many questions on
the church and other points of doctrine." He looked up as he spoke, and,
finding the baby holding out its chubby arms to him, he took it and
handed the letter to his wife.
Thoughtfully she took it and began reading. She loved to write letters,
and this, she felt, was her special part of the work. But here she
perceived she had a task that was very difficult; for the writer,
evidently a scholar, had put forth a dozen numbered questions that must
be carefully answered or this dear soul would be hindered from walking
in the truth. God would give the needed wisdom, she knew, and she folded
the letter back into its envelope and sat meditating on the different
points he had raised. After a while, she asked:
"How was the meeting last night?"
"Very good! Brother Owen spoke, and he did very well indeed. He used the
text: 'Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall
ye be my disciples.' Several came forward for help afterwards. Ah, by
the way, do you remember Sister Tilton? She was out to meeting last
night."
"Sister Tilton? She must be a new sister!"
"Ah, well, perhaps we did not tell you about her. This young girl came
to meeting once some time ago, but afterwards became very ill. Her folks
wanted the doctor for her, but she refused, not telling them why. But as
her sickness increased, they became alarmed and insisted on calling the
doctor. But the girl still refused the medicine. The doctor said she
would probably not live. Her people begged to know the reason for her
refusal to take the medicine, and she then said that she had been to
the church of God meeting and had been made very happy, and that she
believed if they would send for the elders of that church she should
be healed. So word came, and Brother Owen went and anointed her in
accordance with Jas. 5:14, 15. She has been getting better right along,
and tonight she was at the meeting. She is saved now and seems to have
a clear experience."
"Thank God!" was the hearty response. "How I should have loved to be
at the meeting last night!--but for the present here is my meeting,
and here is my work," and, catching up the baby and waving the letter
happily, she ran into the house at the sound of children's voices
within.
After the baby had been bathed and put to sleep, and the other children
were sitting quietly at play on the side veranda, Sister Patience
settled herself with her Bible at her husband's desk to answer this
important letter. Bowing her head she besought God for this soul and for
wisdom to answer his difficult questions aright. Then taking up her pen,
she began the letter. She was so glad to write; she loved writing; and
the joy of it always seemed to get into the very letters and shine back
from the pages. She addressed Mr. Jones cordially and kindly, and then
took up the substance of the letter itself. In calling his attention to
certain truths she referred to the Bible time after time, and again and
again she prayed, for the letter seemed particularly important to her.
Long she meditated over some of the knotty questions, endeavoring to
find the wisest explanation. Sometimes she was interrupted by the
children just when she most needed to be quiet; but she had learned that
interruptions often come as blessings in disguise, for often God had
given thoughts that were clearer and better when she had patiently gone
to attend to the children, and when she was free to return to her work
she had found an answer preparing itself in her mind without an effort
on her part. Thus, after several hours of close application, she
finished the letter and sent it off with a trusting spirit.
Sister Patience hoped to receive an answer to her letter immediately,
but week after week passed, and there was no response. Dread began to
creep upon her that this soul would not accept the truth. She took him
earnestly to God many times and trusted that God would in some way
overrule. However, as four months passed and she had not heard again,
she gave him over as being no longer interested.
Then it was that one morning there came, to her surprize, a letter in
the same fine handwriting. How cordially he wrote! He thanked her for
answering the former letter so fully and said he had been searching and
proving her answers by the Word during the long interval. And now there
were still a few points remaining that he disagreed with her upon; again
she found a few numbered questions to answer.
These, like the first, were very shrewd, puzzling questions, and only
sagacious answers would satisfy the inquirer. Again Sister Patience
labored over the letter with prayer and meditation. Then, leaning hard
upon God, she wrote another encouraging letter setting forth expositions
of Scripture as clearly as possible. This time she invited her
correspondent to a series of meetings they were expecting to hold during
the coming winter season, when they hoped to have with them one or two
ministers from America for a short period.
Again she waited long for an answer; but this time she did not give him
up. Several months passed, and then one of the brethren, a colporteur,
came. He had been away for several months, and Sister Patience was very
glad to see him.
"And tell me now, Brother Delworth," she said, after the first greetings
were over, "where have you been all this time?"
"Mostly in Arendon and Lawney. I went from Panville to Mayfield, and
from there to Paldings."
"Paldings! You were at Paldings? Do you know one K. L. Jones?" asked
Sister Patience with great interest.
"Ah yes, a fine old gentleman, a school-teacher. He is saved. I sold him
some books. He seems very much interested. And, by the way, he asked me
to say to you when I should see you that he hoped to come over to the
meeting next month, when the brethren are here from America. You will
hear from him soon."
The time was drawing near for the coming of the brethren from America.
Arrangements had been made for a meeting during their stay, which would
be only for a few days. And then one day a letter came from Brother
Jones inquiring as to the date of the meeting, and saying that if
possible he should like to attend it. So again Sister Patience wrote
him, urging him to be at the meeting, if possible.
Thus it was that during the exciting days of the meeting, when many
from different parts of the country had gathered in to meet the brethren
from America in this meeting, Sister Patience first met Brother Jones.
It happened in this way: One morning before meeting-time, she was
passing through the little sitting-room in her home, when she noticed a
fine-looking native man of venerable appearance sitting at one side of
the room. People were all about him, but he was looking over some tracts
that had been handed him. Making her way to him, she said:
"Good morning, Brother, I have not met you before, have I?"
"Ah, no," he said, and, quickly rising, he gave her a courteous bow.
"Can this be Sister Patience? My name is K. L. Jones, of Paldings."
"How glad I am to meet you!" she replied. And then followed an animated
conversation in which she was able to recognize and admire the fine
qualities of his matured mind. Finally he expressed the desire to speak
with the foreign brethren himself, and so an audience was arranged
for him after the next service. Then it was, Sister Patience learned
afterwards, that Brother Jones inquired deeply into the subjects of
sanctification and baptism. Later in the day it was announced that there
would be a baptismal service early the next morning to accommodate
Brother Jones, who was to return home by an early train.
Some years have passed since then. God has wonderfully used the dear old
brother, and a congregation has been raised up about him, who look up to
him as their pastor. These are backward mountain people where he has
labored, yet such has been his patience and faithfulness and love that
they have become established in holiness and truth. Brother Jones, as
we call him, is becoming feeble now, but he is still standing faithful
as the shepherd of this little flock, faithful unto death.
Does it pay to use patience and prayer when dealing with precious souls?
Ah yes; eternity alone can tell all that it means.