A New Language Experience
For twenty-seven years the hope of the soon coming of Jesus has been as an anchor to my soul, and the reality of that great event has been constantly with me. In my school life I recognized the presence of God in a very marked manner, strengthening me and enabling me to accomplish my work; and when later I responded to what I knew to be His call to enter the ministry, I distinctly realized that I was under bonds to preach the gospel of Christ, and that in all preaching Christ was ever to be made the center of every theme.
When called to the mission field, I found in my heart a willingness to serve anywhere, just so that I was sure that I was doing the Lord's will. Upon arrival at the mission station to which I had been assigned, I was profoundly impressed by the impossible situation confronting the missionary until he had mastered the language of the people to, that degree which would enable him to engage in personal heart-to-heart conversation and thereby point the soul to Christ. My one great desire was to be a successful soul winner, and the sense of my need spurred me to study as I had never done before.
Almost before I was aware of it, my language study had taken much time from my Bible study; and as the days went on, the study of the Bible was more and more neglected, and I became the sad loser. It is true that I prayed while working hard with my language study, but I did not feed on the word of God, and spiritual power grew weak. Leanness of soul was very apparent; I knew I was losing ground. Of what use would the foreign language be to me if, after I could speak it, I had lost contact with the Source of spiritual power?
In my desperation I came to the Lord and humbly confessed my neglect, and there came into my life a new and blessed experience. The study of God's word has become my meat and drink, and I have learned by experience that the sure promises of God will be fulfilled to the trusting soul. Since this new experience has come to me, God has helped me learn another language, —the language of His Spirit as taught in His word. I praise Him for this added power, My prayer is that I may ever lay all my burdens upon the One who has promised to bear them, and rest in His love. A new realization has come to me of the meaning of the Saviour's statement, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."
Mission Director.
