The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1928, Page 10

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10

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

dissenters refused to return to the Roman Catholic
fold and insisted on the ministrations of our mis-
sionaries.

After this little digression let us return to our
resting-place for the night. We are quartered in
the church. When I say “church,” you must not
think of the beautiful structures we have in the
United States. The church of which I speak is
a structure about 35 feet wide, 60 feet long, and
10 feet high in the middle and is covered by a
thatched (overhanging) roof. It has no front.
Immediately attached to this pandel (hut) we see
a small chapel, which, because it is entirely unsuit-
able, is no longer in use. To-night the whole struc-
ture has been decorated in a very artistic manner
with garlands and palm-leaves. The good people
have gone to considerable expense to give us a
worthy reception. This paftdel is our bedroom.
As there is a Fady with us, the missionaries dis-
creetly set up their cots at the extreme end of the
building.

Oh, how restful the night is!
breezes from the near-by ocean play through the
drooping palm-leaves and whisper their good night
to the weary wanderers. From a distance the roll
of the ocean waves and their wash on the shores are
distinctly heard. _We’commend ourselves to the
gracious care of our Lord, who neither slumbers
nor sleeps.

The next morning is Sunday. Almost before
break of day we are compelled to rise, as the zeal
and the curiosity of our Christians will not permit
us to slumber longer. Here and there we can see
them peering into the pandel to see whether we
are not yet astir.

The little old chapel becomes our dressing-room
as well as our kitchen and dining-room. Never
has food tasted better than the simple meals we
ate at Ovari.

_ At the appointed hour we find a large congre-
gation, probably 250 people. All are seated on the
sand, the men here, the women there, and the
children towards the front. It is a heartening
sight. The missionary, in his white gown, conducts
the service in Tamil. The very hymns and the very
tunes so well known to us as Lutheran chorals
are sung to the praise of God. The liturgy is
antiphonal and is executed in a beautiful way. It
is evident that the congregation has come to hear.

In the afternoon a second service is held with
the accustomed “flowery reception” in honor of the
guests. Then follows a congregational business

The salt-laden °

meeting, in which the missionary finds much room
for admonition, encouragement, and comfort.
Between the services some of the stay-at-homes and
infirm are visited and shepherded.

The members of the Ovari congregation are all
expert fishermen. Only a few have boats. They go
out to the sea on catamarans, two or three very long
logs, securely lashed together. They are wholly de-
pendent on the sea for their livelihood. In off-
seasons they must often repeat the plaint of the
apostle-fishermen: “Master, we have toiled all the
night and have taken nothing.” Luke 5,5. Day
after day they may let down their nets in vain.
Then abject poverty enters their huts.

Late in the afternoon we bid our friends at Ovari
good-by and again begin the weary tramp across
the desert. It is well in the night when we finally
reach Nagercoil, thankful to God that He has per-
mitted us to visit the little band of Lutheran
Christians at Ovari.

The missionaries visiting Ovari are now no
longer forced to camp for the night in the open
pandel. Quite recently we erected a dwelling for
the schoolteacher, to which a room was added for
the missionary. The building is plain, but it
answers its purposes very well.

A few weeks ago the missionary in charge visited
Ovari and spent several days with the congregation.
At the end of the last service, immediately follow-
ing the benediction, an elderly man arose and,
addressing the missionary, said: “Father, such
preaching we want all the time. If we could hear
this Word every Sunday as we have heard it in the
course of these days, we would be better people.
But now you leave us, not to return for four or
five weeks. By the end of the week we shall have
forgotten what you have told us and shall fall back
into our old ways. Please come yourself or send
another missionary at least once a week to preach
to us.”

The missionary was deeply moved, but it is
impossible for him to return to Ovari for four or
five weeks, as other duties engage him.

Friends, you have the Word of God in its
purity and fulness. Does your gratitude move you
to bring and send it to those who are languishing
for it?

Dear Lord, melt the hearts of Thy people, so
that they will be filled with Christian pity for
those benighted heathen and kindled with genuine
zeal for larger missionary endeavors!

FREDERICK BRAND.