Years ago we were told through the Spirit of prophecy that the medical work is an entering wedge. We may be sure that this statement is as certain as everything else that God has seen fit to reveal to us in the Bible as well as through his-messenger, Mrs. White. In America it may not be so easy for one to understand why the medical work should be an entering wedge, but striking examples are seen of that in China.
As nearly all our hospitals in China have out--patient departments connected with them, and these are closed on the Sabbath and open all d Sunday, many patients wonder and often ask wh that day is being kept instead of Sunday, as in other hospitals. This gives us an opportunity to tell them about our message. As patients come to us on Friday, we have found it very helpful for increasing our Sabbath school attendance, as well as offerings, to tell them that tomorrow there will be no treatments given, as that day is the Sabbath,. but we shall have meetings in the church instead. If the patients are then personally invited to attend,. some make it a point to be there.
One such patient, a well-educated man, came for the first time on a Friday for treatments, not knowing we were Adventists. When he was told that the next day the hospital would be closed he looked at us in surprise. He had never heard of a people. who kept Saturday, although he had received part of his education in America. He then said he wanted to know more about our religion. Arrangements were made to give him Bible studies. He came faithfully every day for studies, and each evening he gathered together the people at the place where he stayed and repeated the Bible study to them. They often stayed up until late, studying. He also invited them to come for studies and attend Sabbath school.
After about a month he had to leave our section of the country. The evening before the day of departure some of his friends invited him for a feast. As he left their house he stumbled into a ditch and injured one of his knees so badly that he could hardly walk. The next morning he came to us for treatment and told us what had happened Instead of feeling discouraged he seemed happ and we asked why he should feel so cheerful ove a misfortune. He then said, "I am sure this misfortune is providential, for now I have an opportunity to study some more of your doctrine." He stayed nearly another month and seemed actually to drink in the message.
One thing which apparently impresses the patients who enter our hospital is that no meat is served. This, of course, also presents the opportunity to tell them about our health principles. Because of our meatless diet we had found that Mohammedan patients do not fear to come to our hospitals. In going to other hospitals, they cannot be sure that they are not served swine's flesh or things fried in such fat.
Patients in the hospital, sick and helpless, are often more willing to listen to things eternal than well people. Here every worker in the institution can have a part in bringing the gospel to the sick, and God, through various channels, brings His message to the suffering ones. We saw a good example of that once. The wife of one of our national workers was in the hospital, having undergone a major operation. In the same room we placed another woman who had been very ill for some time before she came to us for an operation, and, in fact, had given up all hope of getting well. Our sister talked to this woman about our belief, before this patient left the hospital she had y made up her mind to join us in church fellowship. Said she, "There must be something to your religion. Before coming here I was a very sick woman. I did not expect to get well, nor did my friends hold any hope for me, but now you see me well on the way to recovery."
Might it not be that God sent that worker's wife to the hospital in order to save a soul? That patient not only accepted the truth herself but went home with a missionary zeal and brought this message to her father. The two were later baptized, and the last we heard were still rejoicing in the truth.
