,.a•s.s-,. - ~~ go~Q 'l ~ Miss Henrietta •oo•• Lay · of Many Firsts ~ I ( Beth Branyon. Miss Henrietta lady of Many Firsts Beth Branyon , PROVIDENCE HOUSE PuBLISHERS Franklin,Tennessee To Fred Anderson, Rees Watkins, and the staff at the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, and to my friends- Nancy Treanor, Kathy Lester, and Wanda Stewart• who have provided encouragement and editing for the ''Little MISSionary Books." Copyright 1996 by Beth Branyon All rights reserved. Written permission must be secured from the publisher to use or reproduce any part of this book, except for brief quotations in critical reviews and articles. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 1-57736-013-3 Cover design and illustrations by: Schwalb Creative Communications, Inc.; photographs provided courtesy of Beth Branyon, the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, and the Virginia Baptist Woman's Missionary Union, except for those marked otherwise. PROVIDENCE HOUSE PUBLISHERS 238 Seaboard Lane • Franklin, Tennessee 37067 800-881-5692 rs. Little had written a question on the Henrietta's father, blackboard: "Where shall I be a Addison Hall, believed in M hundred years hence?" education for "Girls, I would like for each of you to think his children. (Courtesy• seriously about your answer to the question, Virginia Baptist 'Where will you be one hundred years from Historical now?"' Mrs. Little asked. "I will talk to each of Society.) you later about your answer." Fourteen-year-old Henrietta Hall spent a lot of time later that evening thinking about an answer to her teacher's question. The next day, Mrs. Little said to Henrietta, "Thank you for 5 staying after class, Henrietta. You are the only student I haven't talked to about the question I wrote on the board. Please sit down." "Mrs. Little, I have thought a lot about that question," dark-eyed Henrietta replied. "I know that if I were a Christian, I could answer 'with Jesus in heaven.' It's just that I have never made the decision to become a Christian." Henrietta knew that her family wanted her to become a Christian. Both her parents were Christians. Her father, who was a lawyer, often preached at the local church near Kilmarnock, Virginia. Her mother provided a Christian home for Henrietta and for her brothers and sisters. Henrietta had grown up going to church but had not made her decision about becoming a Christian. 6 "Henrietta, you are a good student here at our school, but I am worried about you," Mrs. Little stated. "I will pray that you will soon make your decision to accept Christ because I think that in your heart, you want to be a Christian." Henrietta thought a lot more about the question. Finally, it was time for summer vacation from the boarding school. Henrietta could not wait to get home to "Waverly" and go down to Indian Creek and fish. Riding in the wagon, she started thinking about how happy she would be to sit in the yard under a tree and read a book. "Welcomehome, Henrietta!" her father exclaimed at the door. Her mother gave her a big hug. "We are so glad to have you home. We are having a special guest for dinner tonight. It's someone you know. As soon as you go and see your brothers and sisters, come and see who it is." When Henrietta came inside, she found Reverend Jeter, the pastor of her church. "Henrietta, how is my little fisherman?" Reverend Jeter asked. "Whenever I see you, I think of the time I visited you when you were only eight years old." "I remember, too, Reverend Jeter. I went out fishing that afternoon and caught the biggest fish 7 of all. We had it for dinner the night you visited with us." "I remember that fish being about as big as you were!" Reverend Jeter laughed out loud. "Henrietta, Reverend Jeter is leading a revival," her father said. "I'm glad you will be home to be a part of it." Henrietta was glad, too. At the meeting, she could tell everyone that just a few days before, she had finally decided to become a Christian. During the camp meeting, she told everyone about her decision. Her friend, Reverend Jeter, baptized her in Indian Creek on September 2, 1831. Now she had an answer to Mrs. Little's question. One hundred years from now, she would be in heaven with Jesus. 8 eventeen-year-old Henrietta's life had Henrietta met Lewis Shuck, a changed in many ways. Her mother had seminary student. S died shortly after Henrietta had accepted (Courtesy• Christ into her life. Henrietta was glad to know Virginia VVMU) that she would see her mother one day in heaven. For now, she was busy helping to care for her five brothers and sisters including the baby. Also, her father had taken a new job, and the family had moved to Richmond, Virginia. Henrietta was able to continue her schooling in Richmond. She joined other young ladies who were studying with Reverend Henry Keeling. 9 Henrietta was blessed to be part of a family that believed in education for girls. She shared her love of learning and her faith by teaching in the Sunday School at First Baptist Church. Living in the same city was a young man named Lewis Shuck. Lewis, a student at the Virginia Baptist Seminary, was waiting to go overseas as a missionary. He often went to mission meetings at First Baptist Church. When he met the beautiful, dark-haired Henrietta, he could not forget her. She also liked the tall, handsome Mr. Shuck. Soon, the Hall family invited him to their home for dinner. "Mr. Shuck," Mr. Hall stated, "I understand that you are interested in becoming a missionary." "Yes, sir, I am," Lewis replied. "Once when an offering was being taken, I had no money to give. I wrote a note which said I would give myself to foreign missions, and I put it in the offering plate. I am now waiting for the Lord to decide where he wants me to serve. I am hoping it will be in China." Lewis then turned to Henrietta. "What are your feelings about missions, Miss Hall?" he asked her. 10 "I am very interested in missions, Mr. Shuck," Henrietta responded. "Last year, I read the story of Mrs. Ann Judson, the first woman Baptist foreign missionary from America. After reading her story, I felt God was calling me to become a missionary. It would be difficult for me to leave my family, and it would be hard to live in a place different from my home. However, if by going I could bring one person to know Christ, I would gladly go." Lewis knew he had found someone with whom he could share his love of missions. He asked Henrietta to marry him. She said yes, and Reverend Keeling married them on September 8, 1835. Henrietta was seventeen; Lewis was twenty-three. Two days later, the Shucks were assigned as the first Baptist foreign missionaries from America to work in China. Within two weeks of being married, she and Lewis were sailing to the other side of the world. 11 Henrietta visited the grave of Ann Judson, the November 9, 1835 missionary whose life story had Dear Journal: The trip has been a long one. meant so much to her. (Courtesy• We are now near Brazil. Soon we will turn Virginia Baptist east toward Africa. Then we will go around Historical the tip of Africa before sailing toward India. Society.) By the time we get there, we will have sailed over 19,000 miles and will be on the other side of the world. It has been a hard journey. I have been very seasick for seven days now. 12 / December 25, J 835 Dear Journal: What a strange Christmas this is. How I do miss my family back in Virginia. In a.ddition, I have been seasick for seventeen days and have been unable to do anything. J'he sea has been so rough at times that I have been afraid the ship would overturn. It is amazing to thinJc that We have crossed the equ,,tor. I wonder Where I Will be next Christmas. 13 February 4, 1836 Dear Jou'f"M,l: We are finallY on land. We lanMd near Calcutta, India. Finally, we have some fresh food. The people of India brought us some rruit, eggs, and milk which we naa not tasted in months. Lewis has even bought a goat, and we now drink goat's milk twice a day. The trees and flowers of India are beautiful. I particularly love the coconut trees. The people are also very different with their brown skin. TheY do not wear as rnanY clothes as we do in America, and the homes in which theY live look like haystacks. It is hard to believe that these beautiful people have wver heard of Christ. I am excited about tellirt{} them that Jesus died for our sins. 14 March 20, 1836 Dear Journal: What an exeiting time we have had While in Burma. We were able to Visit the grave of Ann JU<fson. I r87ri.ernber flow rea.ding the stortes of Mrs. JU<fson helped me deeide to become a missionary. Now we are leav;ng by ship for Singapore. The Journey Will be a dangeraus one beeaUse Pirates are everywhere in this area. Often these Pirates ask for money_ If people do not . pay, there are stories of boats being burned slaves.and Passengers being murdered or talcen as 15 March 31, 1836 Dear Journal: We have arrived safely in Singapore.