On this day in 1843 Joseph G. Binney and his wife Juliette set sail from America to give their lives for the salvation of souls in Burma. The life of a “missionary wife” was severe, and in time Mrs. Binney’s health began to fail. Anticipating her departure to Heaven, she wrote to her brother back home, the man who had baptized her. She said, “As you see by the date of this letter I have entered on my fortieth year; and yesterday was the fifteenth anniversary of my marriage; can you think of your “little sister” as being so very old? Joseph is a little anxious about my health. I am not. I did not expect to live many years when I came to this country. Do not be alarmed, lest if I grow worse, I should go home. We have not the most distant idea of ever seeing your dear face again, though I would give anything short of sacrificing conscientious convictions to do so.”

Soon after posting that letter, Juliette and her husband returned to the States. Here, under good care, Mrs. Binney’s health improved, enabling the couple to return to Burma, but then she deteriorated again in 1863 and was forced back to America. Brother Binney joined her later, because his health was doing poorly, but once again they both recovered, and together they again set sail for Burma. Sadly, Joseph died and was buried at sea. But Mrs. Binney continued on to Rangoon where she once again began teaching the native women the Word of God. On the evening of May 17, 1884 she taught her class and went to bed one more time, and from there she went to her final home. Although anticipating an early death, Mrs. Binney lived to be almost seventy-five. She had a work to do, and the Lord maintained her life until that work was finished.

– Source: This Day in Baptist History, Cummins & Thompson