Life at Ribe. 
145 
spirit of the gospel in life and conduct. Of Jesus 
Christ it is said, " He ever went about doing good." 
In comforting the sorrowing, in helping the poor, 
in healing the sick, in raising the dead. He was as 
truly preaching the gospel as when He addressed 
multitudes in the synagogue, on the mountain-side, 
on the sea-shore, in the public market-place, etc., 
announcing, in so many words, that the kingdom of 
God had come." So the missionary aims at preach- 
ing the gospel in all he takes in hand. Still he has 
the verbal message to deliver — the glad tidings of 
great joy, of "peace on earth, and good will toward 
men." 
This occupies a great portion of our time at Ribe ; 
and wherever we meet with the people we proclaim 
the truth. This is a work, however, which is attended 
with innumerable difficulties. In the first place, in a 
district like Ribe it is almost impossible to get a 
congregation together. It is a mistake to suppose 
that the people are eager for the gospel ; they are 
absolutely indifferent to it. When you invite them 
to come to hear you they say, What will you give 
us if we do } " They tell you they never go to a 
" maneno " (palaver) of their own without getting 
something to eat and drink. This is really their 
custom. You invite them to maneno tu " (bare 
talkation), they shake their heads, and give you a 
very emphatic ''No'' "Maneno, maneno tu-tu " 
(talk, talk only). Nay, nay, they are not going to be 
bored for nought. Yet you cannot feast them, so 
you have to content yourself with trying to reach them 
in other ways. You have to force yourself upon their 
attention. When they come to visit you by twos 
10 
