New Zealand
Nov 29 1822
Revd and Dear Sir
	I was a little disappointed in not receiving a letter from you by last Vessles [sic] from New South Wales. Your reason for not writing I am unable to conceive. I hope Sir you will not neglect writing me, by every opportunity; as you know I have no other person connected with the society as you are; to stir me up to diligence in my work.
	I need be very thankful that I feel the same spirit animating me in my work, as when I first commenced; and sure I am that though I may not be honoured with laying a single stone in order to the erection of the Glorious House, which shall be here built by the Power and grace of God; yet I shall hear of a shaking among the dry bones, I know this from the Word of God, which is the power of God, to salvation; and the sword of the Spirit, and if it be reasonable that an army of ten thousand is able to conquer an army of one thousand; it is infaleably [sic[ sure that Gods word shall bring into subjection this savage tribe. Never cease crying, till Jerusalem become a praise to the earth. We are not as those who shoot in the air; our work is the Lords; our success is sure: As well might any one endeavour to persuad [sic] me there is no God, as to endeavour to persuade me that Gods work shall not prosper here, in this benighted land. [f]
	You will see from my Journal how I have employed my time. With my Journal I send you several hundred words &c of the New Zealand Language in addition to what you have already received. I have had the vocabulary ready some time, and have partly prepared additions to it but my time will not allow me to finish; so that I must endeavour to send them by the next opportunity. I have also written and prepared for you an account of the Creation, Fall, and recovery of men in the New Zealand Language, but have been requested by Mr Leigh to keep it in New Zealand till he shall take a copy of it. I must therefore refer you to Mr F. Hall who has got a Copy of the same. And should you think that any thing of the Kind is likely to become useful to the New Zealanders, when printed; you will send me particular instructions relative thereto; and I will endeavour to revise and correct the Work which I have in hand. I am now endeavouring to translate the Gospel of St. John, and I hope that soon I shall be able to effect the translation of the Gospels. I should be glad for you to make any observations to me, necessary to be attended to, in the translation of the Scriptures. I wish I had a pious learned companion, and then I think we might do something.
	There is no impediment in the way of the Gospel here. “Crooked things will be made strait and rough places plain” and the New Zealanders shall see the salvation of God: but let us ever remember, that Gods work shall be done by Gods means. If we are led by the spirit we shall prosper but if we devise means for God we shall expose our own folly and ignorance. [f]
	The Gospel is the only means God has appointed for the salvation of the lost. “By the preaching of the Gospel &c”, and the “Gospel is the power of God to the salvation.”
	Do not think of any other way.— May we endeavour in the strength of the Lord to use this means.— It shall prosper.— God is its author who designs the extirpation of all evils, and the establishment of Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” The zealous Gospel Ministers would do more than all of us together; however time will set all things to rights. May the Lord hasten the time, when labourers shall be many here, and the word of God prosper.
	I have taken the liberty of geting [sic] in some of your Cows which I milch; which will tame them; and prevent both they and their Calves from becoming wild. The first Cow I took in made as much as 2 lb of butter per week; which abundantly supplied us, with some for others who had none.
	You will be so kind as to send me down some trade by the first opportunity, as the stores are very short. There is no small trade here, such as fish-hooks, Plane Irons, Chissels, Knives, &c: and the larger trade is very scanty. It is right that I should apply to you, as all the rest of the Brethren here applied individually to the Society at home.
	I should also like to have your advice respecting a house in Kare Kare; we are not comfortably situated at present, our room being so scanty, and our kitchen being some little [f] distance from our dwelling, which makes it in the rainy weather very uncomfortable, and indeed endangers Mrs Shepherds health, whose constitution is rather delicate. Should you think it well for me to build here you will be pleased to send me trade to purchase timber; and get it sawn; and should you think it imprudent for the present, you will send me enough to purchase timber for a barn, which I ought to have built this year. You will hear from Mr Hall the state of the store, and then you will know what to send me.
	We shall I believe be very short of sugar before you can have an opportunity to send me any down: I believe there is none in the store, and I have got but little by me.
	I should be glad if you will send me two bags of Rice for the Natives, as I think we shall not be able to get many potatoes from the Natives. The Natives are continually at Strife amongst themselves, I have never known of so much plundering as has been among them lately.
	You will by my Journal see that I have not attended precisely to my instructions, I have I believe done as far as I have been enabled to the Glory of God. I hope my eye will ever remain single, and my time be ever employed in promoting the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May we live to see the dawn of Spiritual light here— which shall be the prayer of
Revd Sir
Your H[um]ble Servant
James Shepherd