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Called By God
At the close of the school year, in spite of her hard experience as preceptress, Mrs.
Williams found herself being offered the same kind of work again, along with Bible
teaching, at Melrose Sanitarium. Again she tried, and again there were problems. Her brief
comment (found in a letter that accompanied her sustentation application years later):
“Again I was a bigger fool. It was a fizzle but worse, I went to pieces physically.” Originally
the text read, “I was made a bigger fool,” but the made is crossed out. (Ibid.) Helen
Williams took responsibility for her actions. It is unfortunate, but understandable, that
under the strain of employment unsuited to her, Helen’s physical health deteriorated.
For good reason, when the next call came, Mrs. Williams was cautious. She said she
would study the situation for two weeks; the invitation was to work on the staff of the
Adventist sanitarium in Middle Town, New York, while pastoring the local church. She
found that conditions were not promising at either the hospital or the church. Besides, the
director of the sanitarium had heard such exaggerated accounts of Helen’s success as both
pastor and Bible worker that she believed there was no way she could do the work of the
two positions without completely ruinin g her health. Regretfully turning down the invitation, she went to the home of her oldest son, Irwin, in Michigan for rest and healing.
After she had enjoyed several months of recuperation, her son Hugh came to visit.
Hugh, having followed his mother’s calling, worked as an ordained minister in the
Indiana Conference. Hugh inquired concerning his mother’s health.
“I am well,” she replied, “and if I stay out of the work of preceptress and have sleep
nights, I shall remain well forever and ever.”
“Mother,” Hugh announced with conviction, “you ought to go to work again. How
would you like to be your son’s Bible worker?”
“I would not like anything better,” Mrs. Williams promptly replied. Then she added,
“But is there any prospect?”
“Yes,” Hugh assured her, “I have spoken to the conference president, and he will be
delighted for you to work with us.”
Within a few days Helen Williams was in Indiana; she found a lovely room in a
house near the big evangelistic tent and went to work without delay, bringing the wealth
of her experience to the assistance of her son the evangelist. Working in the occupation
to which she was called, for which she was gifted, and in which she was experienced,
Helen Williams became effective again. The mother-son team worked out splendidly,
thanks to Helen’s gracious acceptance of a secondary role.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Williams’ concern for her youngest son was growing. Eugene at the
age of 16 was a student at Michigan State University. No amount of persuading could
convince him to attend the Adventist college at Berrien Springs, Michigan. The mother
sensed that it would not be wise to try to coerce her son on this point. However, she
kept praying, for her “baby” was not a Christian. Having been his only parent since his
infancy, Helen felt a great responsibility for Eugene and was burdened for his soul.
Mrs. Williams conceived the idea that if she went so far away that Eugene could not
get home frequently to see her, he might get homesick for mother and be willing to
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