[Occasionally a letter is received from one of our missionaries that is somewhat out of the ordinary in stating the writer's personal convictions and giving an insight into his thinking on the life of a missionary. Such a letter was recently received by W. P. Bradley, of the General Conference Secretarial Department, and is reproduced in part below. The subject under discussion was the salary and allowances paid to the missionary. We believe all our worker group will appreciate sharing it]
The thing is this: We here want the work to go forward. That is why we have left our homes. While I was home on furlough I had the privilege of attending some of the closing meetings of the Bible Conference, which preceded the Autumn Council of 1952. My mother was with me. I took advantage of the opportunity of having my mother meet several of our South African workers, because I wanted her to know some of the people I know here. Among these was A. F. Tarr, who, as you know, is president of the
Northern European Division. I had first met him in South Africa, and had also seen him in England and Norway. When he met my mother, he asked her: "Don't you dread seeing your daughter return to Africa?" She said, "No, I want the work to be finished." My mother always wished that she could go to the mission field, but it did not work out that way. One time she wrote me saying that I was doing the work that she had wanted to do. I feel that I am being my mother's proxy.
We have made a few contacts with missionaries of other societies. We pride ourselves on having the everlasting gospel to give to every nation, tribe, and people; and we are right. But we have learned that most of these other missionaries are working under conditions of much greater hardship and difficulty than we are, and it makes us ashamed. They may believe in doctrines that are in some respects defective and may even be teaching some errors to their people, but they are showing evidence of greater faith and devotion than many of us. They are making greater sacrifices than we.
I am very thankful for our well-developed organization. I know that God has led out in the pattern of organization and in the financial setup of our work. I feel that we are the best-cared-for missionaries in the world with the support and help we get and the future provided for with our sustentation policy. When I was home on furlough it was a wonderful feeling, when I walked into the General Conference offices, to feel that I belonged there, that I was one of those directly connected with the work being carried on from there. It is a wonderful feeling, but it also makes one humble to realize that he is a part of such an organization. I never cease to marvel that I have actually realized the dream of my life—to be a missionary.
I Want to Feel I Am Making a Sacrifice
So far as money is concerned, I am thankful to have enough for my needs. I know that I could earn much more if I were at home. But while at home, I never once envied those who were connected with our work there, especially the nurses working at the sanitarium, whose earnings were much greater than mine. Having been in the mission field I found that my perspective had changed, that I would rather be in Africa than at home. It seemed to me that many of those at home were filling routine jobs, no doubt necessary and vital to our worldwide work. But there seemed to be an ingredient missing, at least to some extent—that of being fired with a sense of vocation and of the urgency of a great need.
I want to feel that I am making a sacrifice. I know I am doing that in being away from my mother in her old age. But I also want to feel that it is true regarding the financial side. How could I feel contented with high wages if it meant that the work itself was being handicapped? It is nice to have comfortable living quarters, but I don't feel that that should be the deciding factor in considering the mission field as a place of service.
We have so many compensations. One great privilege is that of travel. We have the opportunity of visiting many parts of the world that are interesting. I feel that it is a wonderful privilege to be able to speak of seeing this and that in London, Copenhagen, and Oslo. Thus we are able to see many parts of the world that we could never visit by our own planning. It is also a privilege to be acquainted with our workers in the various fields, and see how our work is going in so many places.
My greatest desire is to do my best for the Lord, to feel that my strength, energies, and thinking powers are being put to the stretch, to do a satisfactory work, and to try to meet the needs. I could never be satisfied with merely a routine job.
It is a wonderful privilege to see the people come to our hospital, to see them receive a new lease on life, to see the blind regain their sight, to see some of them get a glimpse of the Bible truth we want to share with them, and to see some of these take their stand for God. One man who was baptized about a year ago is now taking an important part in our evangelistic work. Not long ago he preached at our church service on Sabbath morning on Genesis 3:15, and did very well. On a piece of paper he had only a list of his texts, with no notes. His talk was very good. This is our real pay!