Lisa Newland

While doing some packing yesterday, I found my 600-page biography of Adoniram Judson, written by his son Edward. I thumbed through it and found a letter in the appendix written in 1812, advice from Judson (missionary for many years in Burma) to some missionary candidates.

Although this paraphrase is rather lengthy and some of Judson's verbage is old-fashioned, his wisdom is still applicable today and worth reading!

Firstly, let it be a missionary life; that is, come out for life, and not for a limited term. Do not fancy that you have a true missionary spirit, while you are intending all along to leave the heathen soon after acquiring their language. Leave them! for what? To spend the rest of your days enjoying the ease and plenty of your native land?

Beware of the reaction which will take place soon after reaching your field of labor. There you will perhaps find native Christians, of whose merits or demerits you can not judge correctly without some familiar acquaintance with their language. Some appearances will combine to disappoint and disgust you. Beware of this reaction, lest you become disheartened at commencing your work or take up a prejudice against some persons and places, which will embitter all your future lives.

Then...beware of the greater reaction which will take place after you have acquired the language, and become fatigued and worn out with preaching the gospel to a disobedient and gainsaying people. You will sometimes long for a quiet retreat, where you can find a respite from the tug of toiling at native work. And Satan will sympathize with you in this matter; and he will present some chapel of ease, in which to officiate in your native tongue, some government situation... anything that will help you to slip out of real missionary work.

Beware of pride; not the pride of proud men, but the pride of humble men-that secret pride which is apt to grow out of the consciousness that we are esteemed by the great and good. Confess your faults freely...be glad not only to make reparation, but to improve the opportunity for subduing your pride.

Beware of that indolence which leads to a neglect of bodily exercise. The poor health and premature death of most Europeans in the East must be eminently ascribed to the most wanton neglect of bodily exercise.

Finally...beware of genteel living. Maintain as little connection as possible with the fashionable European society. The mode of living adopted by many missionaries in the East is quite inconsistent with that familiar connection with the natives which is essential to a missionary.

Whew!! There's a convicting level of commitment in his words that challenges my heart!!