DAYS GATHERED TOGETHER | Meetings | Testimonies | Departure from Jerusalem

From The War Cry account meetings were held at Jerusalem in the morning and at night over several days in an upstairs room. Numbers reached up to 60 and musical accompaniment included a drum and band. Testimonies were given by Turahui and Tamatea Aurunui, a chief and his daughter, Maria who said, "I have got the power to overcome... I used to be ashamed to speak, but now that is all taken away... You must come up here often, Colonel, don't be frightened of the river."

Te Kai Oroto, a chief from Pipiriki also spoke on "his belief in the S A and his desire to obtain Salvation." He also made a favourable comment regarding the visitors, "as in the past Europeans would not let us in their houses, and would not associate with us or eat with us, as these do."

Colonel Taylor noted how many local soldiers used their bibles and read along in Te Reo with Holdaway. His fluency was acknowledged in an article in the following week's edition of The War Cry, 16 November, page 7. Holdaway replied, when someone asked if he translated his thoughts from English into Māori, before speaking in Te Reo, "Oh, no, I always think in Maori."

On Monday the travellers were to make their planned departure back to Whanganui. A gun was fired at 4:30am which woke the cooks and this was followed by cornets at 6 am which called the people to knee-drill (prayer meeting).

Taylor reported that Tamatea stated how he wanted to take the gospel further up the river now that officers would be based at Jerusalem and Sister Metiria, said that she never loved comrades from Parakino as she did now.

The waka party was followed "down to the river's banks and watched us to the very last. Some...preferred to show their love by weeping out of sight. We have eighteen soldiers at Jerusalem. God bless them all."

As the party travelled back down river to Whanganui they got an enthusiastic welcome from river communities. On page 2, a map and tables were included, which provided extra information on the population of the river settlements and the time and distances between them.

"There are a thousand Maoris on the banks of the river. Will you help us win them all for Christ?" Writes Colonel Taylor as he ends his account on page 2, finishing with a plea to pray for or send a donation and, "If you are fully saved and prepared to rough it, and can learn a language, offer yourself to go forth to the Rescue of Maoris."