When he first arrived in Tamsui in 1872, he heard a voice telling him to stay. The next day he was out spreading the Gospel and helping to establish medical services in northern Taiwan.
清同治十一年（1872）馬偕第一一到淡水，當時，他心中有個聲音：這是你服務的地方，你應該住在這裡。第二天，他即精神抖擻地開始工作，穿著麻衣、草鞋，徒步來往於淡水各地，他四處傳揚福音，並且醫病、授課。