Amazing Faith!

I was recently reading about the life of Allen Gardiner, who became a missionary to South America in the 19th century, and who suffered greatly in the process. I wanted to share his struggles with you, but, most importantly, I wanted to share his faith-full responses to these struggles. Reading it was an encouragement to me, and I trust it will be to you.

Gardiner became a Christian near the age of 28 in 1822. A year later he married. By the time of his 10 year wedding anniversary, 3 of his 5 children had died in infancy, and his wife died too. Gardiner wrote these words in his journal in the midst of his grief over losing his wife:

"My earthly comforts have been removed, and I pass my days in sorrow. Blessed be God! He remembers that we are dust. In my deep affliction he has not left me without mercy and great sources of comfort. The chief of these is drawn from a review of the manifold grace and love which he vouchsafed to my dear wife, making her last days the brightest and happiest of her life...It is ony my earthly affections that weep...I sorrow not as those who have no hope, but have every encouragement to make my calling and election sure..."

Wow! I wonder, would we be able to say, "My earthly comforts have been removed, and I pass my days in sorrow...Blessed be God!" if we were in similar situations?

After his wife died, Gardiner decided to become a missionary and take the gospel to parts of the earth that had never heard it before. He set his sights on the Zulu tribe in Africa, a tribe known for its fierce violence against outsiders. This, however, did not ultimately work out. And, Gardiner set his sights, instead, on the continent of South America. His goal? To bring the good news of Christ to the aboriginal peoples there. Constant persecution and hostile behavior toward him by the tribes he was attempting to reach caused him to return home to England in 1843. He needed to raise more money, supplies, and help in order to return.

For 4 years, Gardiner attempted to raise the necessary funds, supplies, and assistance, all to no avail. His efforts met with great apathy on the part of Christians. Finally, he formulated a plan that he thought would work and that he thought would enable him to get back to South America sooner rather than later. He thought if he could purchase a ship and enough supplies to last for twelve months, they could go. Then future replenishment could be brought to them from additional ships after that 12 month period. Well, they could only raise enough money to purchase the ship and 6 months supplies. So they set off in September 1850, with what they had and arrived in Tierra del Fuego in December.

After a number of mishaps, tragedies, and natural disasters, the missionary party was left stranded after only 6 weeks. They were not able to sail back to England and they did not have provisions enough to live. They needed a resue ship to come for them from England. So they waited.

Back home, no one could be found who was willing to set sail for that part of South America.

So Gardiner and his fellow missionaries waited. Soon, their supplies began to dwindle. As winter set in (in South America), the poor diet and rough conditions took their toll on these missionaries. One-by-one they weakened, became sick, and began to die.

Soon Gardiner himself was too weak to get up. This meant that death was imminent. Not getting up meant not be able to get to the water supply for a drink. After days without food or water, Gardiner wrote the following journal entries:

"I know, O Lord, there is a deep necessity for this trial, or thou wouldst not have sent it...may thy Holy Spirit work in me the grace of true contrition, and renew in me the graces of love, faith and obedience."

And most amazing of all, as he lay dying, just a couple of days before his death, he wrote a final letter to his wife (he had remarried) and his children, and added the following in his journal:

"Great and marvellous are the loving kindnesses of my gracious God. He has preserved me hitherto, and for four days, although without bodily food, without any feelings of hunger or thirst..."

"Yet a little while...the Almighty to sing the praises....I neither hunger nor thirst, though...days without water...Marvellous kindness to me...sinner."

And the angels who looked on this, were amazed at the "manifold wisdom of God" (Eph. 3:10) in so transforming a miserable wretch like Allen Gardiner that he, a mere creature, could praise God to this degree, even under the most extreme and dire circumstances!

Oh for grace to do the same!