The following words by Raymond Kennedy, in his book The Ageless Indies, graphically picture the land where we arrived as missionaries on October 28, 1915, and served for the next twenty years.
"In addition to heat and constant dampness, the Indies offer two other great annoyances: constantly lurking insects and animal life, too abundant for comfort. Snow and cold never come to drive away the insects. It is impossible to sleep except under a mosquito net ; flies and ants swarm everywhere ; and spiders, and scorpions, and giant leeches demand constant wariness. Disease parasites are a steady danger. All water must be boiled or otherwise treated in order to avoid dysentery, typhoid, and cholera. Vegetables and fruits have to be peeled before eating, and preferably cooked. Lettuce is virtually taboo."
"Malaria, carried by the anopheles mosquito, is perhaps the greatest threat of all; few white men who stay for any length of time in the Indies escape it."
The picture is not overdrawn. Very soon after our arrival we experienced three weeks of tropical rains without any sunshine. Native believers came to the mission home for refuge, for their bamboo huts were flooded by overflowing streams. The chapel floor became sleeping quarters. Before the rains stopped, the mission home was completely surrounded by water, and conditions were not wholesome. This emergency situation, along with partially clad natives and unhygienic conditions, was our introductory challenge. We also had the problem of saving our supply of clothing and books from ruin. Shoes and books could be wiped to remove mildew, but our clothing must wait for sunshine.
Our course in hydrotherapy and home nursing, taken before leaving for the Indies, proved invaluable. Soon after our arrival I formed a friendship with a Dutch deaconness (missionary nurse) with whom I rd'ad The Desire of Ages. Having some knowledge of English, she desired guidance in proper pronunciation and a better understanding of the language. Together she and I visited the sick in the villages of Batavia with its 450,000 inhabitants, most of whom were Malays and Chinese. This afforded me the opportunity, of observing her skilled treatment of many tropical sores and infections as well as the care of malaria and other fevers. The Dutch physicians, too, were very generous in discussing symptoms and treatment of prevalent diseases with us. All this proved a wonderful background for the work so necessary to relieve physical suffering in a tropical country.
My deaconness friend carried on a number of projects for underprivileged Dutch children. One of these was the conducting of a sewing and handwork class twice a week over a three-month period. Gladly I accepted her invitation to assist in this practical endeavor. All the while we were making new contacts and overcoming prejudices through this providential friendship. When a prolonged nervous breakdown interrupted the work of this experienced worker, it was my happy privilege to study our doctrines with her. Her religious background made these hours seasons of mutual spiritual blessing, and she finally became a member of our church in Batavia, Java.
Practically every day we dispensed simple medicines from our home supply, for we could not betray the growing confidence of needy souls. We also adopted the use of the -"castor oil shake" so insistently prescribed by Dutch physicians—castor oil emulsified in warm milk, topped off by some orange juice and a bit of peppermint, administered in the accepted fashion of holding the nostrils with a tight grip. Sometimes it was quinine for the servant girl's father 'who had malaria ; another time, eucalyptus oil for one who had a cold, .or so simple a thing as some oil of cloves on a bit of cotton put into the cavity of a man's aching tooth. Often there were calls to visit the sick in their homes, for they had confidence in the "missionary's medicine" but were afraid of the doctor's "knife." When we found it advisable to call a physician, the patient usually urged us to remain with him until the doctor came.
Work for Wealthy Chinese
The better class of Chinese of the islands often abuse their stomachs not only with unhealthful foods but also with a great variety and quantity at each meal. It is not uncommon to serve ten to fifteen varieties of food with the daily rice meal, and on special occasions thirty or more. The result is the natural outcome of indulgence. In our approach to this class we presented in very simple language the physiology and functions of the body, and the effect of foods on its processes.
A wealthy Chinese woman who lived in a town several hours by train from Batavia spent some time in our home seeking relief from insomnia.
This circumstance gave opportunity to make suggestions and practical demonstrations in regard to her eating habits, which in turn made the sedative fomentations more effective. She was amazed at the favorable results of the simple use of water.
Often, during the years which followed, we enjoyed the hospitality of her fine home. She and others of her household began attending Sabbath services. She gave of her means to augment the of the little group in Sukabumi (joy of the earth), where she lived, and was an encouragement to them. Later she began to pay tithe. Patience and continuous effort with this class is rewarded with tangible results.
At another time our attention was called to a wealthy Chinese woman who was mourning the death of her husband. Grief had reduced her weight and affected her general health until she could neither eat nor sleep. Several visits with this woman resulted in an appointment for fomentations just before she retired. The servant had hot water and ice in readiness. In about one-half hour my patient was fully relaxed, and I returned home with the wet cloths. The following day she telephoned to report a good night's rest which continued until late in the morning. I thanked God for answered prayer and for fomentations.
This contact was the beginning of Bible studies.
Do you wonder that this woman listened intently as Bible truth was unfolded to her? I am profoundly impressed that even a limited knowledge of nursing, healthful dietary, and cooking, is a very natural, effective approach at home or abroad. A sympathetic interest, especially in time of illness or physical need, often has far-reaching results.
A Family of Dutch Descent
More study and prolonged experience encouraged us to attempt new methods. During our last term of service, we conducted a small clinic in connection with a mission school in Semarang, Java. It was a necessary part of the school with its more than three hundred Chinese children. We taught the teachers fundamental health principles and how to give fomentations. They often used this information in the homes of the parents.
Four years before our return to the United States, my husband was called to take up work in the Netherlands East Indies Union, with headquarters in Bandung, Java. During the last two years we remained in the Orient he had charge of the training school for Dutch territory. We continued the clinic which we found already established there, and made many helpful contacts with those living in near-by villages.
A rather outstanding experience was that of a family of Dutch descent who lived near the school. The mother and father had accepted the advent truth, but there were four daughters, a son, and the grandmother who were far from friendly. Ministering to the mother, who was in poor health, made a favorable impression on the older girls of high school age. At the time of my story the daughter Annie was out of school doing the cooking and housework so that the mother might regain her health.
Annie frequently came to the school to visit with our daughter, for she missed the association of her classmates. We often spent some time singing gospel songs and soon found that Annie loved music. At the time I was teaching some of the boys in the training school to play the organ, and suggested to Annie that she might take up the study of music while unable to attend school. To this she readily agreed. We enjoyed the time thus spent together, and Annie became more and more interested in our chats on Bible topics. Erelong she came for a weekly Bible study. Occasionally, when homework was not too urgent, Annie's sister, a senior in high school, also came for the study.
Influenced by the Spirit of God they accepted the truths presented each week, and in due time requested baptism. When these sisters were baptized in the lovely, cemented pool in the back yard of the school premises, we felt amply rewarded for our efforts.
Soon after Annie and, her sister joined the church, the son of the family became very ill and had to be taken to the hospital. We spent much time with the family during this trying experience, praying with them for the boy and visiting him in the hospital. When, after a long illness, their loved one was permitted to return home, the entire family felt that prayer had saved the boy's life.
This experience broke down the prejudice of the grandmother so that she, too, was ready for Bible studies. Although the boy and two other girls were young, we considered this an opportune time to do something in a definite way for them. We felt impressed to include the entire family in the study hour. While the study was primarily directed to the grandmother, the newly baptized girls enjoyed the review, and the younger children learned to love Jesus and the Bible. Although the grandmother was not an educated woman, she understood the truth and was soon baptized.
After a year at home Annie took nurses' training, followed by a course in midwifery, fitting her for a wide field of service. The oldest girl married a fine Dutch young man attending our training school. They became workers in one of the cities of Java. It was gratifying to us to learn from the mission director of the East Java field some years later that this couple had developed into excellent missionaries.
And now, while the curtain is drawn and we are not permitted to. know what is going on behind the scenes, we are confident that the work of ministry to body and soul is being continued in this mighty hour.
