Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

The Children's CornerDR. PEOPLES AT WORK IN TURKEYby Mrs. Kenneth SandersonThe summer of 1910 was a busy one for Dr. Peoples.Most of the missionaries went to the summer resort in themountains, Guzne, but John had to go and come as businessand pleasure required. Judging from a letter to his familywritten in early July he seemed almost as busy as whenworking in Adana with the refugees. "Now it is Saturdaynight. Last Saturday afternoon I went up to Guzne because acouple of the missionaries there are not well. I was down inMersine by seven a.m. on Monday. Then at 9:40 p.m. Iwent up again to be at the Patton-Edgar wedding onWednesday. I got up there at 2:30 a.m. and left at 10:10that night, arriving in Mersine about 2:30 a.m. Thursday.Miss French was the bridesmaid and I was best man. Inbetween times when I was down here I have been making astable. The weather has been hot and oppressive so onedoesn't feel able to move. Since last Saturday night I havebeen averaging about four hours of sleep a night. Tuesdaynight when I went up I was tired and hot and didn't feel likemoving. I hardly knew whether I could sit on the horse, butwhen I got up into the mountains near Guzne it got somecooler and that made me feel like living again. You havehotter weather than we have here, but you have some rainnow and again and you have some cool days sandwiched in,which make it bearable. Here we have no rain for months ata time and just one continuous dose of heat. There is muchfever among the people these days. I will have to return toGuzne in the early part of the week to see the sick. I havemade that trip eight times already this summer, that is fourround-trips. Thursday was the last of the quarter andanother of my duties has been to try to get the quarterlytreasurer's report out."The long hot summer came to a joyful conclusion forDr. Peoples when he and Evadne Sterrett were married, onSeptember 28, in Mersine. The newlyweds were soon settledin their home in Mersine.The largest snowstorm Mersine had seen for years fell,on January 24, 1911, and the same night a terrible firebroke out two doors away from the mission property.Fearfully the Peoples watched the flames shoot high into thesky and wondered how soon the building separating theirhome from the fire might catch afire too. If it did, then theirbuilding was sure to be the next. From two a.m. till five Dr.Peoples was out trying to help fight the fire. The God theyloved and worshiped protected them and their home thatnight, just asHedid Daniel's three friends and no harm cameto them at all. The following morning as they opened theirPsalm books they were especially impressed that the nextPsalm in order was the 91st Psalm. As you read the words ofthe first stanza can you see why?"The man who once has found abodeWithin the secret place of GodShall with Almighty God abide,And in His shadow safely hide."Maybe you'd like to sing part of this Psalm right now. It ison pages 224 and 225 of the Psalm book.Dr. Peoples described a method which the Turkishpeople used in treating wounds. ' 'A patient is brought to thenative doctor and they put a poker in the fire and get it redhot. Then they place the poker on the skin as near to theplace of the pain as possible and burn a hole. Presumably thisis to let the pain out. Then they get a pea and put in the holeand cover that with a leaf, which may be dirty or otherwise.On top of it all a bandage is placed, seemingly the dirtier thebetter. This is left on the wound until it falls off or the infectionis so great that they come to the doctor who is expectedto deal with the awful mess."Now after almost seven years away from his family andthe United States it came time for Dr. Peoples to return forhis furlough. This time he had a new wife and four monthsold David to introduce to his family.Before the year was up the doctor felt the needs inMersine were too pressing and purposely cut short hisfurlough to return in January 1914. The Christian Nationreported, "Dr. and Mrs. Peoples and their two littlechildren boarded the steamer, "Adriatic" on January 10,to sail from New York for Mersine. Beside their family, anumber of the Foreign Mission Board members gatheredaround them on the ship expressing their affectionate interest,speaking words of good cheer, and saying farewell intones that lay close to tears. . . .The little group gathered inthe Peoples' cabin where prayer was devoutly offered forthose who would be dwelling here for three weeks while onthe sea. The little home became at once a consecrated spot.— As the ship moved out from the pier, Dr. and Mrs.Peoples waved their final salute with little David, betweenthem, doing his best to be recognized. The sweet baby wasfast asleep in the cozy cabin. — They deliberately cut theirhome visit short that they might be back at work where thecry for help is imploring."Once more Dr. Peoples was involved in treating warcasualties for World War I had broken out in Europe.Gradually he increased his twelve-bed hospital to one with105. Of course he admits, "These beds were of the roughestkind of lumber made with four corner blocks, a couple ofboards along the side with ropes across from side to side andboards placed on top of the cords." Not the most comfortablebed to say the least.(To be continued)^^10 COVENANTER WITNESS