We have among the Hakkas a work of tremendous opportunities. Others outside of our Hakka mission have said it was "the most important mission field in China", though fraught with difficult problems.The Hakkas are a freedom-loving, literature-loving people. The women do not bind their feet. They are patient, hard-working, and open to the Gospel when preached in its simple purity, the kind that reaches all mankind.
A Situation. When Mrs. Roach and I came to China over three years ago, we made the seven Baptist missionaries in this field. Even then there was more work there than we could all do, and the work has greatly increased. Lately three of the seven have gone. Miss Pearl Harrison has since joined us and is now studying the language. New out-stations have been opened; the number of members have [has] been increasing; we have built and opened a boarding school for girls, a boarding school for women; rented a building and opened an academy for young men.
Miss Harrison will soon take charge of the girls' school. We need, at once, another young lady, strong and well-trained, for work in these schools. Two men should be teaching in the academy all the time. At least two men and their wives should give all their time to evangelistic work. Then there is imperative need of at least one or two good physicians to open a hospital at Ying-tak, and do dispensary work throughout the field. In other words we greatly need, right now, two more preachers and their wives, one more young lady and one or (better still) two physicians.
Bro. and Mrs. Saunders are going home for a needed rest. Mrs. Saunders is "holding on" now with much difficulty. She must go. I am looking, waiting for some one to answer the call of God. Are there not some strong hearts who will say: "Here am I, Lord, send me"?
I am now in Hong Kong near Mrs. Roach who is sick in the Matilda Hospital on the “Peak” rather high mountain nearby. She was improving some yesterday, after almost three weeks in the hospital. I trust we may be able soon to return to our work among the Hakkas.
We hope, very soon, to hear that reinforcements are coming. Under God we are not going to leave the battle, but here is a glorious opportunity for several servants of God to do some joyous service and gain for themselves a sweet reward. I rejoice that I came to China.
Hong Kong, China.
========== FromThe Baptist World, October 8, 1908, p. 7; via Baylor U. digital edition. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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