Finished by Faith Under Difficulty

It fell to my lot to lead out in raising money for the land we had secured. My own courage was at a low ebb. Doubtless my personal misgivings helped to make it impossible to interest our brethren and to persuade them to give toward the enterprise.AGP 315.2

Thus months passed, with but little progress having been made. Then in August, 1896, we learned that Mrs. White had borrowed $5,000 from a personal friend, and had lent it to the school for the erection of buildings. This generous act of faith and courage on her part made a powerful impression on our hearts. We felt much condemned, and confessed our wrongs in allowing our unbelief and dallying to increase the burden, perplexity, and heart sorrow of the Lord’s servant. From that day forward, our faith, courage, and zeal in and for that school never wavered. We were able to throw all our energies into the effort to provide the buildings.AGP 315.3

Our first unit consisted of two buildings—a small dormitory, and a dining hall and kitchen. We were so short of funds that in finishing the dormitory we were obliged to call for volunteers to give free labor. Work was continued into the night, some holding lighted candles while others drove nails. Only those whoAGP 315.4

were on the ground and passed through the struggle can realize how great it was.AGP 316.1

When these two buildings were finished and furnished, the first term of what is now known as the Australasian Missionary College was begun. On the first day of our new school (April 28, 1897), we realized our need of the admonition, “Despise not the day of small things,” for we opened the term with four teachers and but ten students. The long delay, the perplexities, and the discouragements in getting the location and in providing the buildings and equipment had caused our people to lose heart. But when it became generally known that Mrs. White was encouraging the enterprise, and that the school had really opened, a new interest was awakened, and before the term closed there were fifty or sixty students in attendance.AGP 316.2