A great read but so sad.....

Ann Hasseltine received a proposal from Adoniram Judson who was shortly to leave for Asia as one of America's first overseas Missionaries. He wrote to her father as follows

"I have now to ask, whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world; whether you can consent to her departure for a heathen land, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life; whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution and perhaps a violent death. Can you consent to all this, for the sake of him who left his heavenly home, and died for her and for you, for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion, and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with a crown of righteousness, brightened by the acclamations of praise which shall redound to her Saviour from the heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?"

Amazingly, Ann's father left the decision to her and she immediately consented, against the advice of most who felt that women should not travel to the mission field. But Ann was an unusual woman with a strong faith in God

"We found it exceedingly hot the first tikme that we crossed the equator. When going round the Cape of Good Hope, we had rough, rainy weather for twenty days. I never knew till then "the dangers of the deep." I never felt before, my entire dependence on God for preservation. Some nights I never slept on account of the rocking of the vessel and the roaring of the winds. Yet God preserved us- enabled us to trust in Him and feel safe. Surely we have every reason to confide in God, and leave it with Him to dispose of us as He pleases....."

Completely committed to evangelising the "heathen" they persevered through many trials and sought always to thank God in the midst of them

"As it respects our temporal privations, use has made them familiar and easy to be borne; they are of short duration, and when brought in competition with the worth of immortal souls, sink into nothing......When we feel a disposition to sigh for the enjoyments of our native country , we turn our eyes on the miserable objects around.....While they vainly imagine to purchase promotion in another state of existance, by strictly worshipping their idols, and building pagodas, our hopes of future happiness are fixed on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.....(we have) one wish remaining- that of being instrumental of leading these Burmans to partake of the same source of happiness with ourselves."

This couple faced unbelievable hardship yet continued to serve God and each other. Theirs is one of the most tragic missionary stories I have read but also one of the most inspirational as they continued their work and eventually saw souls saved in Burma.

This book is clean, free of bad language and sexual content. There is limited violence in connection with an imprisonment and some of the descriptions of illnesses and disease may upset some readers. It is well worth reading especially for potential missionaries or those struggling on the field as an encouragement to continue trusting God!

( )

In October 1810 a twenty-year-old girl in the quiet New England town of Bradford wrote the following words in her journal: 'If nothing in providence appears to prevent, I must spend my days in a heathen land. I am a creature of God, and he has an undoubted right to do with me, as seems good in his sight... He has my heart in his hands, and when I am called to face danger, to pass through scenes of terror and distress, he can inspire me with fortitude, and enable me to trust in him. Jesus is faithful; his promises are precious. Were it not for these considerations, I should sink down with despair.Ann Hasseltine had received a proposal of marriage from Adoniram Judson, who was shortly to leave for Asia as one of America's first overseas missionaries. And thus commenced one of the greatest dramas of church history - a saga of love, courage, suffering and perseverance.In this biography Ann is allowed to speak for herself. Sharon James has skilfully woven together extracts from her Memoir and other first-hand accounts with linking narrative in a way that brings Ann's story alive for today and is a powerful testimony to the love, grace and faithfulness of God.