If you had been to heathen lands
Where weary souls stretch out their hands
To plead, yet no one understands,
Would you go back?

If you had seen the women bear
Their heavy loads with none to share,
Had heard them weep with none to care,
Would you go back?

If you had seen them in despair
And beat their breasts and pull their hair,
While demon powers filled the air,
Would you go back?

If you had seen the glorious sight
When heathen people in their night,
Were brought from darkness into light,
Would you go back?

Yet STILL THEY WAIT, a weary throng
They’ve WAITED, some so very long,
When shall despair be turned to song?
We’re going back!

— Copied

The office manager of a very reputable mission board once stated that out of every ten people who surrender to missions, only two ever go to the field; and out of every ten who go, only three ever go back for a second term. The above poem is from a missionary who was going back to the field for the 41st year!