Thoughtful Moments.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 8, 21 September 1945, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments.

(Supplied by the Whakatn

MEET "MOMMA'"

She is a huge woman with tremendous organising ability and affectionately called by the children and adults as "Momma-" Our lirst sight of her was on the platform of a great hall one Sunday morning about Egyptian men were conducting the Sunday School service in Arabic, imagine the thrill and surprise we had as we sat down at. the back of the hull. There ( JOU children in ages from ."> to 11 all' kneeling in prayer. H was the Lord's Prayer in Arabic. All these poor kiddies dressed plainly yet clean cared lor in this corner of the world and saved from the poverty and disease —best of all ( welcomed into our Master's largely through the vision and faith of a devoted American woman. Truly in these minutes that we were there came the warm assurance, that mighty things are done by prayer and faith. In Lilian Traslcer's booklet she tells of years when she didn't know where the next meal was coming from for her huge fam.ly. But on her knees she claimed His promises and the next mail brought her the necessary money. Today the children are trained to do all sorts of useful work, providing food furniture and clothes for the orphanage. We were taken through their living quarters and school, wonderfully organised and kept bj a middle aged man who told us that he had been one of Momma's first ''bailies." He had grown up been educated at th-> Mission married one of the orphan girls and now Avats rewarding his benefactor by life service as tcacher and missioner to the. present generation. Many other girls and boys had done likewise and so already "Momma" has her Christian sons and daughters to carry on this wonderful work. We met "Momma" after the service; she looked like the Pied Piper with hundreds of chattering, ■ smiling dark faccs all round her as they made their way back to their orphanage home. She talked to us for a few minutes but wc could see she had work to do so we thanked her for the opportunity we'd had ox .seeing her work and made our way back to town. One thing struck m<j very forcibly when we'd been shown through Momma's room. On the piano stood a card "God Answ--1 \ ? ers Prayer," That was the keynote co her great work.' it was a. ringing challenge ! The American Mission not onh r runs it's hospital—asociated with, it are two big modern ■» > j

Miro«t ers' Association).

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

'well-equipped colleges which educates Christian boys an'd girls, (and also nome Mohammedans) from, the kindergarten to senior .secondary. They are stalled by Egyptian teachers (Mainly Christian) and a supervising staff of American Mission folk. We spent half a day at the Boys' College and listened with interest to a senior class (1(5-21) in English. The Girls' College was nearer to us and seemed more attached! to the stall' of the hospital. Thus we met Miss Helen Walker, and Miss Edna Sherriff and other missionaries. Helen was very interested in music and Edna was a real "trick"—full of fun and a great conversationalist. ft would take pages to describe the numerous vis--i-t , s < .suppers and afternoon teas we enjoj'ed at the IVM.I. (Pressly Memorial Institute a.s the Girls' College i 3 called). Edna sheriff arranged for me to teach several senior classes— it was yet a real joy to tell them about the history of early New Zealand Marsden and the Maoris and the general geography and life of New Zealand and its. people. These girls are mainly Captic Christians from we.ll-<to J do homes but quite a number are Mohammedan. i naturally asked why the parents of the latter send their girls to a Christian college. Miss Criswell the head mistress, said that ' . * invariably the answer of the parents was: "'We want" our girls to have the advantage of the company of the girls at your school—the atmosphere is so friendly and healthy !" That's a tribute to Christian iniluenee from ihe Mohammedans t'hemselves. DON'T QUIT When things go wrong as they sometimes will, And the road you're trudging seems all uphill ; When the funds are. low, and the debt.s are high And you want to smile ? but you have to sigh ? When care is pressing you down a bit, Tlest i if you must —but don't you quit. Success is failure turned iinside out — The silver lint of the. clouds of 'doubt, Ami you never can tell how close vou are It may be near when it .seems afar, So stick to the light .when, you're hardest hit. It's when things, seem worse that .you mustn't quit. —Ethel M. Smith.