Sketches of Missionary Life

by Edwin F. Parry

Although people are inclined to regard it as a trifling ailment, and extend no sympathy for those who suffer with it, homesickness is a very serious affliction. It is even fatal in some instances. A soldier of a Massachusetts regiment is reported to have died in Cuba recently through homesickness. Fortunately there are remedies for the complaint in cases where missionaries are attacked with it. The most effective remedy is for the one afflicted to go to work at once upon his missionary labors. He may meet with rebuffs, but such experience will be just what is needed to dispel the feeling of home-sickness and to inspire him with a determination to battle against discouragement.

A young man who lately returned from the mission field related that when he first arrived in his place of labor he felt symptoms of home-sickness. He determined to shake off the feeling at once, and went out to deliver tracts and seek to get Gospel conversations with the people. The first man he met opposed him and used considerable abuse. This treatment aroused him to put forth efforts to defend the cause he represented as well as his own character, for both were attacked. It also furnished a favorable opportunity for doing so, as the man made charges which he felt fully able to refute. The young man did not retaliate with abuse, but patiently and in a kindly spirit undertook to set the truth before his misinformed opponent. His pleasant manner and humble spirit conquered his antagonist and made him a lasting friend. The missionary received a standing invitation to his house, and besides this the gentleman who first opposed afterwards, with his family, attended meetings and they all became interested in the Gospel. The missionary continued his active efforts and had no more feelings of home-sickness. He subsequently became one of the most energetic and successful workers in the field.

Quite a number of missionaries who at first have become somewhat discouraged, and partially made up their minds to return home, have had dreams just at the critical time, and have been influenced thereby to continue in the field. They have dreamed that they had returned home without fulfilling their mission. The humiliation and chagrin they experienced in their dreams appeared so real that they have thereby had their minds changed by it, and once more determined to continue their efforts.

There have been instances where missionaries have returned home on account of home-sickness, but almost invariably they have felt dissatisfied with themselves until they have returned to their fields of labor and made a more successful effort to fill a mission.

It sometimes occurs that a missionary goes to his field of labor with a misapprehension of the nature of the work. Returned Elders in reporting their labors abroad often speak of the success they met with, and of the opportunities and needs there are for missionary work in the world. In listening to such reports a person sometimes gets the idea that those who go out as missionaries will find people anxiously waiting for them, and ready to receive their message. A missionary soon learns that such is not the case, and sometimes feels that it is only a waste of time for him to remain and try to do anything. How frequently has the remark been made by a newly arrived missionary, "Why, I could do more good at home than I am doing here!" But he soon discovers that to gain success he must work for it. If the people will not come to him, he finds that he must go to them. He must awaken an interest in the message he bears, and to do this he must be patient and diligent as well as prayerful. It is a common remark among missionaries that they are just beginning to do real missionary work that is satisfactory to themselves when they are about to be released.

CHAPTER VI.

LACK OF ABILITY.

If he has not done so before, a young missionary, just beginning his labors, will soon discover his lack of ability to express his thoughts as he would like to. He may fully believe in the Gospel or may even have a strong testimony of its truth, yet he will find that it is not so easy to intelligently and fluently explain his reasons for the belief within him. He may be somewhat familiar with passages of scripture that go to prove the truth of the ideas he entertains concerning the Gospel but cannot readily turn to nor repeat these passages. By contrasting his ability in this line with that of missionary companions who have been longer in the field, he keenly senses this fact. As is sometimes the case, he may have gone to his field with the expectation that the Lord, through His Holy Spirit would inspire him with words to say, immediately when he made the attempt to speak, without any study or thought upon his own part. In his little experience at home he might have observed the remarkable improvement in some young man's speaking abilities after performing a mission. Not knowing what discipline this particular young missionary had to go through while absent, a person may thoughtlessly get the idea that his ability was acquired without much effort.

It is not long, however, before the new missionary realizes that it is necessary for him to do his part if he expects to make progress. He learns the truth of the saying, "The Lord helps those who help themselves." He discovers that he must store his mind with knowledge in order that the Holy Spirit may bring things to his remembrance. He finds that the Lord does not, unless for special purposes, reveal direct through His Spirit truths that are already known to mankind: for has He not commanded His children to "search the scriptures," to seek "out of the best books words of wisdom," and to "seek learning even by study, and also by faith"? These facts dawn upon his mind in an early stage of his experience. His very first attempt to present the Gospel in private conversation or by public speaking may cause him to realize the necessity of study and preparation. He may perchance, as is most likely, be confronted with a question that he cannot answer. He is baffled for the time being, but it only serves as an incentive to study and prepare to meet the question in the near future.