VESSELS OF HONOR / by Ruth Samarin With the New Nates
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E ditor ’ s N ote : W e continue in this issue of the King’s Business, with a series of articles on missions for young people. They are printed by permission of the Brethren Missionary Herald. Ruth Custer Samarin and her husband are graduates of BIOTA. They are laboring in Africa under the Brethren Missionary organization. I nside the little round hut the air was hot and humid. Sara stirred restlessly on her mat. A distant roll of thunder awakened her. She sat up and hugged her knees. The cracks between the wall and the ceiling let in the first gray light of day. Dark swirling clouds invaded and dry heavens. Sara stirred up the embers of the fire. The rain that fell today would hardly dot the dust. There was no need to build the fire under the veranda. A sudden gust of wind sent the dust swirling. The little fire burst into a bright flame. W ind and dust swirled past the house bringing the black clouds with them Suddenly the wind was quiet and a gentle rain fell for a few refreshing minutes. Sara lifted her face to enjoy the first rain of the year. The girl had guessed correctly. Before her sleepy brother had time to get wet dancing in the first drops, the rain had stopped. There was no more time for play. Sara’s father informed the fam ily: “ W e must eat quickly and be on our way to Bossangoa before the sun gets hot.” By walking with long strides the fam ily was able to reach the market village by nocm. After a fam ily conference it was decided that they should go directly to the house of David’s father. David, very solemn and nervous, was there to greet them. The boy’s father and mother and assorted aunts and uncles were all there to greet their future in-laws. The handshaking was very formal. The only smiling face was that of Sara’s small brother. H e was not awed by the new relatives. The men gathered around a bow l of manioc to eat and discuss the wedding. Sara knew that she was not needed, so she went to see her cousin. Sara greeted her Christian cousin with much blow ing in the ears and many pats on the back. Sara’s cousin was full of ques tions. Soon Sara looked at the sun. “ I must go back to m y parents. Come with me and I w ill put on the new clothes that David gave me. Then you can go with us to the office of the commander.” A t three o’clock the whole fam ily was gathered outside the whitewashed office building of the post commander. A dozen other families were there to obtain wedding licenses. Sometimes it was hard to tell just who were the engaged couples, for each girl and boy stay with their own families. As their turn came the families moved onto the porch. Sara’s fam ily was third to file before the office window. Sara kept her eyes fastened on her bright new patent leather oxfords and looked at the white official only when he asked her name. The questions and the writing were finally over,
and David held the wedding license in his hand. That night Sara and her fam ily stayed with their cousin. The next day was Sun day, and Sara would be married in the large Bossangoa church. The Sunday morning sky was bright and dry. The only evidence of yesterday’s rain was the humid air. Sara, her mother and her cousin found seats near the center o f the large brick church building. Sara won dered where David was sitting. The con gregation became quiet as Kobo, the pastor, entered the front of the building. Behind him came someone Sara did not recognize. Then Sara’s eyes widened. David entered behind the two older men and took his seat on the platform with th em Sara’s cousin jabbed her elbow into Sara’s side to point out the obvious fact of David’s entry. Kobo opened the service with prayer, and then David led the song service. There was an offering and a sermon by Kobo, but Sara heard nothing. She sat rubbing her hands nervously. W hen the service was over, Kobo said that this morning there was to be a wedding. He told of David’s work and expressed his joy that David was now marrying a Christian girl' and going out to serve God. He asked David to stand before him. Then he called Sara’s name Sara’s first reaction was to duck lower in her seat. Her cousin gave her a helpful push. The little bush girl blindly stumbled out of her seat and went to the front o f the church. She stared down at her shoes, but Kobo’s kind words gave her courage, and she lifted her eyes to his face. W hen the wedding service was over, Sara hurried back to her seat, and David returned to the platform. A new life had begun for Sara. The next day she and David would go to a distant village, where their new house awaited them. W ould she like the villagers? W ould the Christians like her? W ould David be kind or would he scold? H ow often would she see her mother? A ll these questions Sara had asked herself a dozen times. But as the benediction was said and she turned to go out of the church, she had no fear. God’s road was not a fearful road. Both families gathered to eat together a n d celebrate the wedding. Only a few of the fam ily were Christians, but the rest of the fam ily respectfully abstained from drinking the usual native beer. Sara noticed that one of David’s relatives had drunk much beer before com ing to the wedding dinner. The rowdy relative was dressed in long pants and a beautiful shirt His bright leather shoes, cork helmet, and gold watch made him look like a white man. T o the sober guests he seemed very rude. His loud conversion broke into the quiet afternoon. Sara’s cousin, helpful as ever, leaned over to answer Sara’s unspoken question. “ That’s David’s older brother. You know, the tailor, the one your uncle wanted you to marry.” Sara breathed a prayer, thankful that God gave one more reminder that His way is best!
HONGKONG
The Door to 25,000,000 Chinese outside the Mainland The Colony that has the largest dis placed personnel with the greatest amount of suffering per square mile in the world The Bible Institute of Los Angeles in a great ministry Dr. Charles A. Roberts, Supt. EVANGELISM — Services in three dif ferent centers. MED ICAL — A doctor and nursing staff treating over 1,500 a month. BOOK ROOM — Downtown distribution point for Bibles and literature, Chinese and English. SCHOOLS — Christian education for 1,300 underprivileged children. NURSERY — Tiny tots of refugee par ents seeking love and home and work. Daily program caring for health, meals and instruction. Gospel antidote to communist propaganda. In operation early 1960. For complete information and gifts write: The Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Inc. Hongkong Department 558 South Hope Street Los Angeles 17, California
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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