Lomai of Lenakel – Hero of the New Hebrides

Frank H.L. Paton tells the story of Lomai of Lenakel, evangelist to the New Hebrides (modern day Vanuatu). My thanks to Redcliffe College for providing me with a copy to scan. This volume is in the Public Domain.

Frank H.L. Paton [1870-1938], Lomai of Lenakel. A Hero of the New Hebrides. A Fresh Chapter in the Triumph of the Gospel. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1903. Hbk. pp.315. [Download complete book in PDF]

Contents

1. Landing Among Savages
2. Feeling our Way
3. Progress and Opposition
4. Exploring and Preaching
5. Recruiting Troubles
6. Our First Christmas on Tanna
7. To Aniwa and Back
8. Clothed and in His Right Mind
9. The Spirit Working
10. Decision For Christ
11. Among the Iounmene
12. Battling With Heathenism
13. Gaining Ground
14. Sunshine and Shadow
15. First-Fruits
16. Back to Tanna
17. Aniwa Once More
18. Reinforcements
19. Beginnings of a Native Ministry
20. Numanian the Martyr
21. Our Fourth Christmas (1899)
22. The Raging of the Heathen
23. The Fellowship of Suffering
24. Lomai and Iavis Ordained as Elders
25. Our Fifth Christmas
26. Letters From the Natives
27. Back to Tanna Once More
28. The Horrors of War
29. Memorable Scenes
30. Farewell To Tanna

Chapter 1: Landing Among Savages

Towards dark on the 12th of May 1896, the little Dayspring weighed anchor at Futuna, and steamed away for Tanna. After evening worship we gathered on the deck, our hearts full of thoughts of the morrow. Futuna gradually faded into the darkness behind us, while far before us a dull red glow from the volcano marked the south-east point of Tanna. A solemn hush fell upon us, and Mr Smaill of Epi proposed that we should have a time of special prayer for Tanna and the work of the coming day. It was a quiet and helpful hour as we laid all our hopes and fears and plans before Him in whose name we were going forth. We all felt that God was very near to us that night on the deck of our little ship, and we felt that He would enable us to do and endure anything.

At daylight we anchored off Port Resolution, where Turner and Nisbet landed so long ago, and where my father worked until he was driven out by the fury of the savages. Here we picked up Mr Watt, who has so heroically done battle with the Heathenism of Tanna; and then we steamed on along the south coast to Kwamera, the early home of Mr and Mrs Watt. We did not stay long here, but pressed on up the west coast. The scenery was lovely: now a white fringe of sand, now a bold and rocky headland, and always a background of magnificent mountains clothed to the very top with luxuriant vegetation. [Continue reading]