Appendix
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There are also other families to be supplied. And now comes another
request, and we must supply them with things for winter wear. Thus it
has been ever since we came to this country. We shall certainly heed
the call to send a box of clothing to these needy ones. I merely tell you
these things that you may know that we are surrounded by poverty.
The wife of this fisherman is to be baptized next Sabbath. The poor
have the gospel preached unto them. The people of this locality have
very little of this world’s goods.—
Letter 113, 1897
.
Assisting the Sick and Destitute—The sick call upon us for help,
and we go to their assistance. Sister McEnterfer, my helper and nurse,
is called upon from miles around to prescribe for them and give them
treatment. She has had wonderful success. There is no physician in
Cooranbong, but we shall build a hospital or sanitarium soon, where
the sick can be brought in and cared for. In the past we have brought
them to our own home and cared for them, for we cannot let human
beings suffer without doing something to relieve them....
We take no pay for anything we do, but we must have a hospi-
tal, which will cost as little as possible, where we can have some
conveniences and facilities for caring for the sick.
This is the work of Christ, and this must be our work. We want
to follow closely in the footsteps of the Master. We find in this place
intelligent people, who once were in comfortable positions, but poverty
[335]
has come to them. We find these work, and pay them for it, and thus
relieve their necessities. This is the very work to be done in order
to heal the maladies of the soul as well as of the body. Christ is the
mighty Healer of soul and body.
Christ declared, “The poor always have ye with you.” Oh, how
I long to do more than I am now doing. May the Lord strengthen
me, is my prayer, that I may be able to do all He has appointed me
to do. Yesterday a box of clothing was sent to a poor but intelligent
and industrious family. The father is a fine workman, a coachmaker
by trade. He works when he can get work. This is now the third box
of clothing we have sent him. Souls are coming into the truth through
the influence of this family, and Brother Starr is going to Sydney to
baptize several who have been converted to the truth.
I long to see the work advancing. We shall labor on patiently, and
the Lord will do the convicting and the converting. We cannot neglect
the poor. Christ was poor. He knew privation and want. I use every