Betsey Stockton was the first single American woman sent oversees as a missionary. Betsey was enslaved from birth in 1798 in Princeton, NJ. She was baptized in 1816 and received her manumission to freedom on the occasion. Betsey went on to attend evening classes at Princeton Theological Seminary (my and Rola’s alma mater!) She was commissioned as a missionary to Hawaii in 1822. The history of missionary work is, of course, complicated by racism and violence. Today, I am sharing excerpts from Betsey Stockton’s diary. They provide an interesting window into her spiritual life. I wonder how they might resonate with us today?

“Sabbath. The weather still squally, and our family still in bad health. We had no publick service to-day. My soul longed for the courts of the Lord; but my heart was still rejoicing in the strength of my God.”

“December 1. Sabbath. My soul longed again for the house of the Lord; I endeavoured to find him present with me; and soon indeed found that he was near to all that call on him. I enjoyed the day although we were prevented from having worship until afternoon—owing to the roughness of the weather and the unsettled state of the ship.”

“Sabbath. Had prayer meeting in the morning, and preaching in the afternoon at 4 o’clock. Mr. Stewart preached from 1 Cor. i. 23. I enjoyed the Sabbath very much, and thought I felt something of the love of God in my heart. But still I felt as if I was declining in the spiritual life. I attend a little to the study of the Bible, and find it pleasant. Yet I find a void within my breast that is painful. “The scenes which constantly present themselves to my view are new and interesting ; and I find they have a tendency to draw my mind from Him who is, or ought to be, my only joy. With the poor publican I will say, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” At six in the evening, we caught two sharks, and saw a number of dolphins.
The flesh of the shark is very good when young.”