Graham guardian., 1906-10-12

at home some of my friends tried
to persuade me to have my mission
changed to another field, saying
that it would be better for me in
every way. "Go to England or
Germany and learn to be cultured
and refined" said some. what is
there in those horrid Hawaiians
that will cause one to become ele-
vated," said others. "They are a
low class of maneaters, ETC." | can
not now think of what all was
not said but know that all that
people said and do say about these
people is owing to mlsrepresenta.
tion and non acquaintance. A
great injustice is done them, too,
by people talking as some do.
/ thank God from the bottom of
my heart that | am here; that He
has so favored me by sending me
to labor among His chosen seed,
the children of Israel. No truer,
God fearing people ever lived than
the Hawaiian people. They are
as humble, honest and sincere as
our best saints. at home. They
love the gospel principles and they
know what they mean too. They
can set many good examples and
patterns for our people at home
Young men who come to Hawaii
on u mission are the most fortunate
indeed. They gain experiences
here that can never be gained in
any other mission. Here we are
sent among the saints to lead them;
here we gain the same experiences
of leading and managing branches
and auxiliary organizations as
those at home do. We have to
take the places of bishops, Of ward
teachers, of clerks and of all the
various ca!lings.
While laboring among these peo
pie, one need not worry about his
next meal or where he will sleep
tonight. Although some meals
are not the best and some beds
have few fleas hiding away in
their folds. still we have the bless
ed assurance that we get the best |
the people can give and In the ma
jority of cases much better than
they themselves have. The
"alakals" (Ieaders) come first with
them and then they consider them
selves.
| have grown to love these peo |
pie and assure you that it took !
no effort on my part to do so.
True, their skin is dark and they |
have some ways that are a little
distasteful, but then the fault is
not theirs but OF their forefathers,
Il people that once lived on the |
shores Of our own land. They are
one with us in the eyes of our
Heavenly Father and are just as
good as we are and some of them Il |
little better.
| am now Iaboring among the
people as travelling missionary, |
having been sent out by our presi.
dent last July. Most Of my time
bas been spent at Eaie, our head.
quarters, where | have been en-.
gagged in teaching. Concerning
my labors there | can say that !
never did enjoy teaching school at
home one half as much as | did
while laboring with these little
dark-skinned children.
so far have labored on four of
the islands, namely, Oahu, Maui,
Hawaii and Kauai. On each
island there are some of the most
wonderful of all natural wonders.
On Oahu is the famous "Pali Pass"
or road which winds its way down
"a mountain side and which pre-
sents a view unsurpassed by any
other in the world. On Maui is
the extinct volcanic crater Of
"HaIeakala," (the House of the
Sum- which is the largest in the
world, and again the crater
"Kllama," the present abode of
MADAM Pele," which is on Hawaii,
is the largest active crater known.
Perhaps at some future time
may have the pleasure of telling
you of my trips to these places.
l am enjoying excellent health,
having experienced not single
day Of trouble any more than sore
feet aud shoulders from having
walked a good days journey, at
the same time carrying heavy
luggage.
With kindest regards to you all
and an earnest prayer that God
will ever bless you and preserve
your lives, that we may some day
meet again, | remain
Your sincere friend
O. G. JoNE3