Life of John Coleridge Patteson : Missionary Bishop of the Melanesian IslandsYonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
Religion
Life of John Coleridge Patteson : Missionary Bishop of the Melanesian Islands
Yonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
Missions -- Melanesia; Patteson, John Coleridge, 1827-1871
On June 12 Mota was reached, and the next morning the Mission party
landed, warmly welcomed by the inhabitants. The house was found safely
standing and nearly weather-proof.
'June 13th.--This morning I put up the framework for another small
house, where I shall put Wadrokala, his child-wife, and many of our
boxes. We had to carry up the timber first from the beach, and it was
rather hot work, as also the carpentering, as I chose a place for the
house where no falling bread-fruit or branches of trees would hurt it,
and the sun was so hot that it almost burnt my hand when I took up a
handful of nails that had been lying for ten minutes in the sun. So our
picnic life begins again, and that favourably. I feel the enjoyment of
the glorious view and climate, and my dear lads, Tagalana and Parenga,
from Bauro, are with me, the rest in Port Patteson, &c., coming over
in the vessel to-morrow, which I shall then discharge. I see that the
people are very friendly; they all speak of your bread-fruit tree, your
property. The house had not been entered, a keg of nails inside it not
touched.
'Tagalana's father is dead. His first words to me were, "Oh that the
Word of God had come in old times to Mota, I should not then cry so much
about him. Yes, it is true, I know, I must be thankful it is come now,
and I must remember that, and try to help others who may die too before
they believe it."
'"Yes, I am quite your child now! Yes, one Father for us all in Heaven.
You my father here! Yes, I stop always with you, unless you send me
away. They ask me with whom I shall live now; I say with the Bishop."
'How I was praising and rejoicing in my heart as the dear boy was
speaking: "Yes, I am feeling calm again now. When people die at Mota,
you know they make a great shouting, but soon forget the dead person.
But I am able to be quiet and calm now, as you talk to me about God and
Jesus Christ. Yes, He rose again. Death is not the end. I know you said
it is for those who repent and believe in Christ the Door to enter into
life eternal. How different it all seems then!"
'When you read this you will say, "Thank God that I sent him out to
Melanesia with my blessing on his head. I too may see Tagalana one day
with Him who is the Father of us all."
'One soul won to Christ, as I hope and believe, by His love and power,
and if in any degree by my ministry, to God be the praise!'
The comfort sent home to the sisters with the letter respecting this
voyage is:--
'Mota: June 14, 1861.
'Now, dear Joan, don't any of you think too much about the murder of Mr.
and Mrs. Gordon, as if my life was exposed to the same kind of risk.
'Certainly it is not endangered here. It may be true that at places
where I am not known some sudden outbreak may occur; but humanly
speaking, there are not many places that as yet I am able to visit where
I realise the fact of any danger being run.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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