CENTRAL AMERICA.-We are glad to publish extracts of letters from two beloved brethren, who are laboring in the Spanish-speaking lands of Central America. This region is of special interest to us, not only from its nearness, but because of the devoted servants of Christ who have given their strength, and in the case of our dear young sister, Miss Fanny Arthur, their life to the Lord's service there. Many will recall the interesting and faithful work of our brothers Knapp and Armerding in Honduras, which because of their broken health had to be discontinued. We trust there will yet be seen more fruit from those parts. We might mention our brother Armerding has kept up and perfected his Spanish, and in New Mexico has a wide field among the Spanish-speaking population there. We hope to have from our brother Knapp a little history of the work in Honduras, which was under his hand, and of its present prospects.
Our brother B. Montllau writes, "We are still privileged to go out some nights, and we had the best open-air meetings near the Market. The rains are not steady yet and we are thankful for some suitable nights for our open-air work. Last Saturday night, I believe we had the largest and most attentive crowd. Some tried to disturb, but others insisted on having order; there must have been between 200 and 250 present, besides many listening from house doors and passers-by. After the preaching of a native Brother and myself, we offered some literature, and had a hard time with it; fifty hands at a time wanted to get a copy, fearing we might not have enough; but we had for everybody. Many promised to come to the indoor meetings, and others invited us to hold open-air meetings in their neighborhood.
"We have an invitation for open-air meetings in a settlement of natives near Germania. A native Brother and I are expecting, D. V., to spend a week between Siquirres, Germania, Columbiana and Guaniles, preaching to natives and colored English-speaking people there; we anticipate also a large distribution of the printed message. We crave your prayers. When this reaches you, we may be on our way to Siquirres."
From our brother D. Lamorue we hear encouraging reports as to the work with him:-
"There is a nice loving interest in all at our meetings. In addition to our two nights in the hall and one night on the street, about six weeks ago we commenced one night a week at houses of believers, or where we can. Every meeting in the houses is crowded, from 40 to 60 inside, and crowds outside. This kind of meeting, along with those in the open air, will we trust change the minds of listeners about our religion and Bible being so bad. Now in the wet season, I seek to work any odd time on the railroad. In Cartago, a town of nearly 10,000 there are many fanatical, but interested souls. I have ordered Bibles, to spend a few days at Lequeres, where a woman said recently, "Why don't you come here and open up a place?" There are many interested souls she knew. She knew brethren Barker, Mawson, Nichols and others in Jamaica. My wife and I broke bread with her over two years ago at Guasimo, where are a few godly souls.
"How often God manifests His mercy as well as His love. Recently, going down the line, with 9 coaches in the train, while still in the mountains, the second coach front truck left the track-on that mountain side, a high bank on one side and on the other almost straight down two or three hundred feet. Surely nothing but the mercy of our God kept the whole train from going over the bank, with at least 400 people. I thought of Rom. 8:28; delayed there five hours, with all these people and many others living in near-by shacks, and I loaded with tracts and Testaments. Only Eternity can reveal the results of tracts and Gospels given.
Closing with love and thanks for continued kindness, and coveting your prayers, till He come. Affec'tly in Him, Alajuela, Costa Rica. D. Lamorue.
CHINA.-We have received accounts of a work of distinct interest in this vast field, and would suggest to our readers that they make it a matter of special prayer for the Lord's guidance regarding a number of features about the work there. It seems suggestive that at the very time when several have had their minds turn to that land, special interest and possible openings should come before us. May the Lord direct as to it all. We are thankful for the interest existing in the place where our brother Kautto is located. "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest."
AFRICA.-Two letters came to us within a few days of each other, the first from our dear brother Woodhams, with cheery news as to their journey as far as Lake Kioga, a widened section of the River Nile, and within a week's journey of their destination. All had gone favorably, with a few difficulties in passing the customs and in waiting for transportation. He notices great improvement in the conveniences of travel as compared with their first entrance into the country in 1918. He adds a sober word as to the effect of this upon the natives:
"In its effect upon native life, one can only regret to see civilization, as that, advance into Africa. And yet, on the other hand, if it were not for this modern line of transportation, this present company might not be on their way to Nyankundi with the Gospel. So doubtless God is using all these things for His own ends, with eternity in mind, rather than time."
"Leaving Mombasa-on the coast-the Uganda Railway took us on our way inland. The cars are very unlike American Pullmans, for one takes his own bedding, and you are really furnished with only a place to lie down on, rather than a bed. The next morning we awoke to have a fine view of Mt. Kiliman-jaro, and the morning sun shining on its snow covered top some 19,000 feet above sea level. It is said that the first man, a missionary, who took back the story to England of having seen this snow-covered peak so near the Equator, was ridiculed by some of the "scientists." But all that is called science is not really that, and here is the monument to the marvelous works of God.
"In this part of Kanga the train passed through the great game reserve of the colony, and being protected, the game is not afraid of the train. We had an excellent view of four large giraffe, innumerable deer, buffalo, hartebeest, zebra and ostriches, in their native haunts, and far more interesting than a "Zoo."
"We stopped three hours at Nairobi, the capital of Kanga, attended to banking arrangements and then another over-night ride brought us to Kisumu on Lake Victoria. Here the Lake Steamer 'Clement Hill,' awaited us. We were three days on the Lake. We left the boat at Jinja, at the north of the Lake, and took the Busonga R. R. north to Namasagali. Here we took the boat from which I am now writing, the steamer 'Stanley.' There is one passenger on board besides our party. So the large crowd on the 'Carmania' has gone to other parts than Africa. There are only two classes of whites in this part of the world-those who come to rule the natives, and trade in the resources of the land, and those who come to preach Christ who died for sinners; and, thank God, we are counted among the latter.
"Paul (his little boy) came down with malaria two day? ago. He must have been bitten at Mombasa, though we did not know it. Florence and Marian (the two older girls) are very well. All others of our little number are well. I have been happy to find some Alur people (with whom he formerly labored) working at some lake ports, and it was like music to our ears to hear their tongue again, and to be able to speak to them of the Lord Jesus.
"We are expecting mail on our arrival in Congo, and of course are anxious to hear from you at home who are with us in spirit. Mrs. Woodhams joins in Christian love.
"Yours in the fellowship of our Lord Jesus,
R. C. Woodhams."
The other letter, from our dear brother Searle, takes up the narrative where our brother Woodhams left it, and gives the account of the sufferings and home taking of dear little Paul, which will be read with tender interest by many.
June 30th, 1925.
"It is with sadness-not unmingled with joy though- that I take up the pen to tell you of recent events among us. Without doubt you have heard the news, by our cable sent from Masindi yesterday, the 29th of the month, concerning little Paul Woodhams. He had been rather unwell since the time of our crossing the Red Sea, owing probably to the very hot weather experienced there. We think now that he must have contracted a malaria germ at Mombasa, and developed the fever about the time of our voyage over Lake Kioga, which was from the afternoon of June 24th till the morning of the 27th. His temperature was 104 degrees on the 25th, then practically normal the day following. He had a convulsion on Sunday noon, after which a rise of temperature followed by another convulsion at 5 p.m. He passed away at about 7 p. m. the same day. The convulsions lasted 11/2 hours and 2 hours. Two other doctors were consulted, and a blood test taken which proved it to be malaria. We were at Masindi hotel at the time, having had to stay over before coming to Butiaba, to get the boat across Lake Albert. We buried him at the C. M. S. Mission, at which were Mr. and Mrs. Lees, whom we had met on board the S. S. Merkara from London to Mombasa. They acted very kindly and hospitably towards us, helping all they could, having offered Dr. and Mrs. Woodhams to stay with them till the baby was better, and when the baby died helped me concerning burial arrangements. The C. M. S. mission boys made the coffin, while others dug the grave. We buried him on Monday, morning about 11.15 to 11.50, reading a few comforting Scriptures together and committing all to our God and Father and our blessed Lord Jesus. We had before us John 20:1-20; 1 Cor. 15:12-23, 49-58; Rev. 1:10-18; 21:1-5. We went on to Butiaba, after having lunch at the Mission, and are still here waiting for the boat-sailing on July 11th for Kasenyi.
We could go earlier by hiring a smaller boat, the Livingstone, but are warned not to, as the lake is rough and unsafe at this time of the year. There will be 50 miles to go overland from Kasenyi to Nyangkundi. The Lord has indeed abundantly manifested His presence with us all our journey through and has caused our hearts to give thanks at continual evidences of His guidance and care. The prayers of the many have availed and we have had safe and calm trips on the ocean and lakes.
Yours affectionately in our coming Lord Jesus,
D. C. Gordon Searle.
May the Lord abundantly comfort and sustain our beloved brother and sister, and preserve and bless the whole company. We trust ere very long to hear of their safe arrival at their journey's end. "Brethren, pray for us." S. R.