Twenty Years of Missionary Service

A personal account from an experienced missionary.

H. E. HARGREAVES, M.D., Director, Adventist Eye Clinic, Tabriz, Iran

While on my third furlough during twenty service in Persia, I am able to look dis­passionately at the time that has passed since I left my home and country to carry out the great commission given to all Christians by their Master. It has occurred to me that a recital of some of my experiences may be of value to others as they cbnsider entering upon similar service.

First I would say that, considering the mo­mentous happenings in the world at large and the positive evidence that we have of our Lord's soon coming, I am truly glad that I responded to the call that came to irre twenty years ago. Although the way has sometimes been hard, yet if I had a choice to make again, I would wish to decide in the same way, as I did then, for I know of no other service that gives a man more satisfaction than service as a missionary, whether he be doctor or preacher.

There are, however, some things that I would try to alter, and which I do alter when I can, for new men in the field. For instance, when I arrived as a new recruit I found no provision whatever made for me to begin work as a medical man, so that for the best part of a year I was seeing my patients in my own sitting room, which was quite unsuitable for such a purpose. In fact, many a time during my first three years, I debated whether I should not be better employed elsewhere than where I was, and many a time I told my friend and colleague, F. F. Oster, that it seemed so to me. But I am forever grateful that he advised me to hold on and to put all my time in on the language. Said he, "You will never get such an opportunity again to learn it." And so it proved.

When this war broke out, I was the only Euro­pean missionary left speaking the languages of the country. As Persia was overrun by foreign armies, and other doctors left or were interned, their work was soon handed over to me, and I found that those early days were not wasted after all. The Lord knew that, of course, and had made provision for it. New men are coming into the country now, prepared beforehand for their tasks, so that we who have borne the burden and heat of the day can willingly hand over our work to them.

Came the time when, after my first furlough, I was able to begin a modest hospital with good equipment, and a European nurse was provided to look after my patients. And then began an era full of professional interest and a pride in a good job well done, for in such a country and with such a need, any doctor trained in the European manner has no lack of opportunity to treat cases which he would seldom see and still more seldom treat himself. But now came the feeling which ought to come to every workman, that perhaps I was not, after all, such a good doctor, and that perhaps I ought to be giving my patients better service than I was giving, and so on my second furlough I decided to qualify myself to serve those who seemed to need help most—those multitudes of poor, helpless people suffering from eye diseases, so abundant in Eastern lands.

There is no doubt that this class of patient is the most needy of all in Persia, and if there were young men and women with the training and de­sire to serve, I do not doubt that they would have great success in this work. Most of all they would get a satisfaction from their work which would last them the rest of their lives. If, in addition,  there were those who could carry on schoolwork for blind children, and if there were money to start such a school, we could at once fill it with boys and girls who otherwise would be thrown out on the roadside to beg.

We do not know what the conditions in the Middle East will be when our present furlough comes to an end, but we desire to return to our work in the country that we have learned to call "home." It will not be easy this time. Our chil­dren must be educated, and one has to be left behind, but we know that our Father will make provision for all our needs. And so we are ready, as we take the road again, to place our hand in IEs and trust Him to solve all our problems so that we may again carry out our part in the work of the great commission, which will soon be finished.


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H. E. HARGREAVES, M.D., Director, Adventist Eye Clinic, Tabriz, Iran

March 1946

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