In 1797, Henry Nott was the first missionary to Tahiti. During his
first five years on the mission field, three missionaries were killed
and four others deserted the field. Henry built a friendship with the
island’s chief Pomare, and soon new missionaries arrived to help support
Henry.
Then in 1803, Pomare he died and his son assumed the title Pomare II.
He was even more vicious and violent than his father. After eight years
of fruitless labor and the missionary house being ransacked, six more
missionaries abandoned Tahiti, again leaving Nott alone to minister. He
repeatedly went on long, arduous preaching tours throughout the island.
He spent months and years over his lexicons, in the study of Hebrew and
Greek, and in the translation of the New and Old Testaments into the
language of Tahiti.
Henry did not see his first convert until he had been in Tahiti 22
years. It took several decades, but he was successful in translating the
Bible into the Tahitian language.
Henry returned to England only two times during 47 years on the
field. His perseverance at preaching the Word finally took hold in
Tahiti.
The Lord asks us to be faithful both in season and out of season. In
His time, He will bless. Today in prayer, praise Jesus for His great
patience and seek to be patient in all that you do.
"Obedience is the fruit of faith; patience the bloom on the fruit." - Christina Rossetti
By Peter Kennedy
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