Personal Work In Australia

"Prejudice in the community in which the school was established was broken down by the medical missionary work that we did. The nearest physician lived twenty miles away. I told the brethren that I would allow my secretary, a trained nurse who has been with me for twenty years, to go to visit the sick whenever they called her. We made a hospital of our home. My nurse treated successfully some most difficult cases that the physicians had pronounced incurable."

Ellen White's "Sunnyside" home in Coorangbong, Australia. Photo courtesy of the White Estate.

Introduction

Ellen White lived in Australia from 1891 to 1900. She arrived in Sidney December 8, 1891 with her son Willie and a staff of four women. She lived in Melbourne until August of 1894, at which time she moved to Sidney. In December of 1895 she moved to Cooranbong, where she remained until her return to the United States in 1900. While in Australia a great work was accomplished, including the writing of several books: Thoughts From The Mount Of Blessings (1896), The Desire of Ages (1898),  Christ Object Lessons (1900), Testimonies for the Church Vol. 6; and the establishment of churches, a sanitarium and a college. The work was not easy, however, since there was a great deal of prejudice. In the following paragraphs she shares how some of the challenges at Cooranbong were overcome. You can read the rest of the sermon, “And they when they had ...” in this document: {Ms126-1902.1}—Dan

Personal Work In Australia

Ellen G. White

[An Excerpt of a longer missionary sermon given in Fresno California in 1902.]

When we went to Australia, we found a little band of workers there, doing what they could; but they greatly needed help. We united with them in the work that they had begun, and during our stay in that country, about fifteen churches were raised up and fifteen meeting-houses built; a school was established; and medical missionary work was begun, small institutions being opened in several places. Since our return to America, we have been trying to help the laborers in Australia by sending our letters across the broad waters, encouraging them to trust in God, and bidding them to do as we were bidden to do while there—that is, annex new territory to the territories already worked. {Ms126-1902.36}

We passed through many interesting experiences while in Australia. We helped established a school from the foundation, going into the eucalyptus woods and camping while the trees were being felled, the grounds cleared, and the school buildings erected. {Ms126-1902.37}

Medical Missionary Work

Prejudice in the community in which the school was established was broken down by the medical missionary work that we did. The nearest physician lived twenty miles away. I told the brethren that I would allow my secretary, a trained nurse who has been with me for twenty years, to go to visit the sick whenever they called her. We made a hospital of our home. My nurse treated successfully some most difficult cases that the physicians had pronounced incurable. This labor was not without its reward. Suspicion and prejudice were removed. The hearts of the people were won, and many accepted the truth. At the time we went there, it was regarded necessary to keep everything under lock and key, for fear of theft. Only once was anything stolen from us, and that was shortly after our arrival. Now the community is law-abiding, and no one thinks of being robbed. {Ms126-1902.38}

Personal Interest In People

We tried to take a personal interest in the people. If we should meet some one walking as we were driving to the station four and a half miles away, we were glad to let them ride with us in our carriage. We did what we could to develop our land and encouraged our neighbors to cultivate the soil, that they, too, might have fruit and vegetables of their own. We taught them how to prepare the soil, and what to plant, and how to take care of the growing produce. They soon learned the advantages of providing for themselves in this way. We realized that Christ took a personal interest in men and women while He lived on this earth. He was a medical missionary everywhere He went. We are to go about doing good, even as He did. We are instructed to feed the hungry and to clothe the naked; to heal the sick, and to comfort those that mourn. {Ms126-1902.39}

Interest In The Little Things Of The Household

I wish to say to these our friends who expect soon to go from us to other lands, Remember that you can break down the severest opposition by becoming interested in the little things in the household where you are staying. If you see the water bucket empty, be thoughtful enough to fill it. Help the tired father do the chores. Take an interest in the children. Be considerate. {Ms126-1902.40}

Loving The Children

The sisters can do much to reach the heart and make it tender. Work in simplicity wherever you are, my sisters. If you are in a home where there are several children, be a mother to them. Take them in your arms, and show their parents that you love children. If one is sick, <act the> nurse, and show the careworn, anxious mother how properly to care for her suffering child. {Ms126-1902.41}

Jesus loved little children. When the mothers, dusty with travel, brought their children into His presence, the disciples told them that their Master was too busy to be annoyed by them. Christ overheard this, and “was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. ... And He took them up on His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them.” [Mark 10:14, 16.]

We know not but that this blessing rested upon them until they were converted. Some of the children whom we treat kindly may yet be workers by our side. {Ms126-1902.42} God desires us to become as humble as little children. Christ’s sermon to His disciples, when they were striving over the question of who should be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, was to place a little child in the midst of them. “Except ye be converted,” He declared, “and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” [Matthew 18:3-6.] {Ms126-1902.43}

Reaching Others Through Joining Them In Their Labor

If you go out as a canvasser, and meet a man toiling in the field, join him in labor. Take the hoe, or whatever instrument he may be using, and work by his side while you are talking with him. Tell him that you know he is busy, and that you have no desire to hinder him. Let me assure you that the sermon which you preach with the hoe will be in harmony with the sermon which you preach with your tongue; and the two, together, have a power which words alone could never have. Work in humility, and the Lord will work with you. {Ms126-1902.44}—Ellen G. White, Manuscript 126, 1902.