Edward Daniel Harris Missionary Journal, Volume 2

Description

Edward Daniel Harris left his home in rural southern Utah when he accepted a call to serve as a missionary for the Latter-day Saint Church in New Zealand_from 1917 to 1920. Apprehensive about being assigned to work with the Maoris, the native Polynesians of the country_he was, nevertheless, able to adapt to their culture as he traveled throughout the county-side of the Wairarapa and Manawatu districts. He became very well acquainted with numerous Maori families while living in their homes, eating at their tables and in every way ministering to their needs. Edward later wrote of his experience: “I was able to meet the Maoris on their terms, [and therefore] gained their love. They are a gifted people with unadulterated love for their neighbor, with a faith in God, unsurpassed and sublime. I firmly believe they were a noble people before the advent of the Europeans to their land, that they copied much of the bad of the ‘Pakeha’. “

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