Hardship would have been an appropriate middle name for Laura Hardin. Born in Calhoun, Nebraska, on September 28, 1858, Laura’s life of hardship began at four years of age. Her father, Even Hardin, enlisted in the Civil War in 1865, leaving his wife and five small children with no food or money. They endured a terribly cold winter with almost nothing to eat. God sent help, but the times were rough.
Around eight years of age, Laura checked out a missionary book from the Methodist Church. Her mother explained to her the need to tell the world about Jesus. Laura told her mother she would like to do that someday. God heard her heart and provided greatly so she could. One night, at a revival, she was saved! Her missionary desire grew strong.
God molded Laura in the fires of hardship that well prepared her for what she and her future husband would face on the mission field. Through an Indian uprising, a prairie fire, a freezing night alone on the prairie, a tornado, diphtheria, and typhoid, God prepared her. When crops failed and there was no money for her education, she questioned if she had been wrong about God’s call to her for missions. A well-meaning friend had mentioned that maybe it would not be so hard if God was really calling her to go. How many preparing for the mission field have let the devil so easily steer them from going? We must all realize that when hardships come, it is no indicator of whether God’s call is real or not. How tragic it would have been if she had listened to wrong advice!
On September 28, 1883, Laura set sail for Burma. In 1886, her fiancé, Arthur E. Carson, arrived. He was appointed to open a work among the Chins, who had never had a missionary. Laura and Arthur were married immediately. They soon left for the Chin people, going beyond civilization where no white woman had ever been. They faithfully served through daily hardships and sacrifices until God called Rev. Carson home on April 1, 1908. He had served faithfully for twenty-two years. Laura served for another twelve years before failing health forced her to return to America.
What if Laura had given up on her call because it was too hard? About ninety percent of an entire people group numbering nearly three million might not have ever heard the Gospel. This couple believed ALL hardships and sacrifices were endurable to give the Word of Life to people in their own language and to uplift the souls in darkness to God’s marvelous Light. Hardship and sacrifice come with every worthwhile venture. To what greater venture can we give our lives than to the fulfilling of Christ’s commission?
Source: Laura Hardin Carson, Pioneer Trails, Trials and Triumphs
Photo Source: HathiTrust Digital Library.