John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, volume 2 (of 3) : $b An autobiography edited by his brotherPaton, John Gibson
Religion
John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, volume 2 (of 3) : $b An autobiography edited by his brother
Paton, John Gibson
Missionaries -- Vanuatu -- Biography; Paton, John Gibson, 1824-1907
His great friend, Ruwawa the Chief, had waited by Nerwa like a
brother till within a few days of the latter’s death, when he also
was smitten down apparently by the same disease. He was thought to be
dying, and he resigned himself calmly into the hands of Christ. One
Sabbath afternoon, sorely distressed for lack of air, he instructed
his people to carry him from the village to a rising ground on one of
his plantations. It was fallow; the fresh air would reach him; and all
his friends could sit around him. They extemporized a rest,—two posts
stuck into the ground, slanting, sticks tied across them, then dried
banana leaves spread on these and also as a cushion on the ground,—and
there sat Ruwawa, leaning back and breathing heavily. After the Church
Services, I visited him, and found half the people of that side of the
Island sitting round him, in silence, in the open air. Ruwawa beckoned
me, and I sat down before him. Though suffering sorely, his eye and
face had the look of ecstasy.
“Missi,” he said, “I could not breathe in my village; so I got them to
carry me here, where there is room for all. They are silent and they
weep, because they think I am dying. If it were God’s will, I would
like to live and to help you in His work. I am in the hands of our dear
Lord. If He takes me, it is good; if He spares me, it is good! Pray,
and tell our Saviour all about it.”
I explained to the people, that we would tell our Heavenly Father how
anxious we all were to see Ruwawa given back to us strong and well to
work for Jesus, and then leave all to His wise and holy disposal. I
prayed, and the place became a very Bochim. When I left him, Ruwawa
exclaimed,—
“Farewell, Missi; if I go first, I will welcome you to Glory; if I am
spared, I will work with you for Jesus; so all is well!”
One of the young Christians followed me and said,—“Missi, our hearts
are very sore! If Ruwawa dies, we have no Chief to take his place in
the Church, and it will be a heavy blow against Jehovah’s Worship on
Aniwa.”
I answered,—“Let us each tell our God and Father all that we feel and
all that we fear; and leave Ruwawa and our work in His holy hands.”
We did so, with earnest and unceasing cry. And when all hope had died
out of every heart, the Lord began to answer us; the disease began to
relax its hold, and the beloved Chief was restored to health. As soon
as he was able, though still needing help, he found his way back to the
Church, and we all offered special thanksgiving to God. He indicated
a desire to say a few words; and although still very weak, spoke with
great pathos thus:—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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