As we write these lines our dear brother Wm. G. Amies, from the Westcott Mission, in the Belgian Congo, is nearing our shores after an absence of between three or four years. A warm welcome awaits him, and doubtless many of our readers will meet him and hear from his own lips the account of his toil in the center of the Dark Continent. Having been in the same Mission as our dear sister Mercy McCandless, he will doubtless have many touching reminiscences of her devoted life. We append extracts from some of his last letters. We trust our brother's furlough will be helpful to him and a quickener of all our interest in this great work, and in prayer for it.

Inkongo, Africa,
Oct. 3,1925.

Beloved brethren:

For the last months I have been very busy paying my last visits to the out schools, made two journeys through the Babindi District which were very encouraging as far as the preaching of the Gospel in the open was concerned, but the work among the native teachers was indeed very discouraging for many have become very careless and have been seeking the things of this world and trying to go on with the things of the Lord which is impossible. There has been much small-pox in the whole district and many have died. It is a pitiable sight to see the poor natives suffering on every hand and yet you feel how helpless you are to help when there are so many but we do have the privilege of telling forth the glorious message of God's love to poor sinful man. The natives gave a better hearing to the Gospel than I have ever seen, even the Roman Catholics came and the R. C. Teachers sat on mats near enough to hear. It was very impressive to see and I felt confident that many were praying for me at home for you could see that the Spirit of God was working in power. The two journeys were very hard in a physical way for it was necessary to make long journeys in order to avoid sleeping in the Villages where they were suffering. The men I had with me were afraid and I had promised them that I would not sleep in a Village where they were suffering, if it were possible to sleep in another. I was so very tired some days before the journey was ended that I had to sit down to preach to the little gatherings at the small Villages.

After the Babindi journeys I made the journey to the Indanga District to gather up some children for the school. The white man's house there had been used by the goats and was filthy dirty but there was no other place to sleep. Then it rained for seven hours without stopping and the roof leaked. This meant sleeping actually in the rain, but such are the experiences of one traveling about among the natives here. This week I am at Inkongo. I came to visit the schools on this road but was taken with fever so had to remain a few days, and then Mr. Nixon asked me to remain for the week and I was very glad I did for he went down with a fever and stomach trouble so I was able to help a little in taking all the meetings for them. Mr. Moyes has since returned so he will be able to go on, the two sisters here are in good health in the great mercy of God.

Hope to return to Baka Mbule Monday, and go on with my packing in preparation for the furlough and when prepared will return here to Inkongo to await the boat going down River and then to the coast. Was able to finish up all the books of the Station at Baka Mbule and turn them all over to Mr. Althorp before starting on the journey.
My heart goes out in true praise to our blessed Lord for all His tender mercy and care since my arrival here in the Congo. During the last months I have had a lot of fever, but on the whole I have enjoyed fair health; you cannot do the same in the Tropics as you can at home, and you are continually reminded of your weakness. Still it is very wonderful how the Lord cares for His own and sustains them. Do continue to pray much for me my dear brethren. I have enjoyed much liberty in preaching and look to Him for the increase. Much warm love in the Lord to you all. Hope to see you all face to face soon should the Lord tarry and it be His blessed will for me. Yours in the Blessed Hope of His soon return,

Wm. G. Amies.

Thysville, Africa, B. M. S. Mission, – Dec. 11,1925.

Beloved brother:

Just a few brief lines to let you know I am on my way home on furlough. We have reached Thysville and hope to leave here, Dec. 15 (D. V.). We left Inkongo Nov. 18 and arrived at Kimbasa, Nov. 27, just in time to be too late for the boat that sailed from Matadi, Nov. 27, we hope to sail, Dec. 17, arriving in Belgium, Jan. 8. We remained at Kimbasa about a week at the A. B. C. Hotel and enjoyed sweet fellowship with Mr. and Mrs. Kirkland. The train journey from Kimbasa to Matadi is two days so I thought it was wise to break the journey here at Thysville, for Miss Desborough's sake, whom I am accompanying home and who is very weak.

I cannot tell you how very thankful we are for all the tender loving care of our most gracious and blessed Lord. It has been very sweet to have been able to remain here at Thysville for this past week and enjoy sweet fellowship with Mr. and Mrs. Jennings and dear Mr. and Mrs. Thomas. They have showed us every kindness possible and it all means so much to us in the midst of strangers. They are very dear servants of God and those with whom we could enjoy sweet fellowship in the things of the Lord. Surely prayer has been answered in reference to our journey, Miss Desborough decided at the last moment to go home on furlough and I was asked to accompany her as I had already arranged to leave.

We look to the Lord to guide us each step of the way and bring us safely, if it so please Him, into the midst of the Lord's dear people once again.

Yours in the Blessed Hope, Wm. G. Amies.

Our brother's address while in this country is 6079 Regent St., Philadelphia, Pa.

Our readers will be glad to see the following card from Japan, from our brother Gustav Koll, who has recently arrived there. His coming is a great cheer to our brother Eugene Craig and the saints there, and we trust his labors will be much blessed of the Lord.

Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 12,1925.

Beloved brother in Christ:
Having landed safely in Japan by the Lord's mercy, we wish to send you hearty greetings. We are just getting settled in our new home and have made a good start in learning the language already. We are very much indebted to Mr. and Mrs. Craig, for having kindly taken us in till we found a house and for helping us in every way and we would also thank you heartily for having written to them on our behalf. Please excuse us writing only a card at present, as we are very busy.

Yours affect'y in the Lord, Gustav Koll.

San Jose, Costa Rica. Jan. 8th, 1926.

Dear brethren in Christ:

As rains are over, we are putting forth an effort to reach many who never hear the Gospel, in towns we can reach now by autobus. We thank the Lord for this privilege. We have been already in two of them, namely, Asseri and San Isidro; they have a small population, but we find some attentive to the message. We hope to visit also Escasu and other towns. In San Jose we find it becomes harder to work on account of the activities of Pentecostal, Postmillennial and Adventist people, who go after those interested in the Gospel, to confuse them; still we are cheered by the testimony of several who have been constant in their attendance at our meetings and wish to be baptized.

We are also praying as to the opening of a hall in a new neighborhood, which is fast populating with working people; it is called "Barrio de Keith" and it is quite a distance from Methodist church, Adventist and Pentecostal Missions, etc. It looks like a suitable neighborhood for Gospel Work.

With our united Christian love to you, dear ones and all saints there, I beg to remain.

Sincerely yours in Him, B. Montllau.

Nyangkundi, Irumu, Congo Beige. " Oct. 30,1925.

Dear brother:

I was glad to receive your letter in the last mail and write to thank you for this and for the books which you forwarded and also the Testament.

I have been very busy the past few weeks having to make an emergency trip by motor cycle 135 miles north and then on from there by foot another 22 miles. Finding a more serious case than I had gone prepared for I had to return for other instruments and also my wife to assist me with the necessary operation. But I believe this sister in Christ whom we sought to help according to Paul's exhortation, would not have lived another six months apart from the attention she needed and received. The Lord has blessed her work in the past among the native girls of the Alur tribe (whom we still love) and has now I believe raised her up again to the work. This kept us away from Nyangkundi for some time and meanwhile Mr. Searle attended to the work here. I remained a week after the operation before I could safely leave but Mrs. Wood-hams returned at once, one of the men of the A. I. M. bringing her in his side car, as a case was awaiting us at Nyangkundi and I thought it would be better for my wife to be here since I was detained. A good many of the A.I.M.* folks have come here for both medical and surgical attention and the Lord has given liberty to speak of the things of Himself together. *African Inland Mission.*

There has been much to encourage in the work. A good number coming in daily to the services and school. May the Lord gather a people here for Himself is our desire.

I am glad to say that all of the party are very well, You would scarcely know Miss De Jonge as the same who left N. Y. Our two children also are the picture of health. They are enjoying plenty of room to play. I feel more and more that Miss Wilson is just suited for work among the native children and girls, but so far no native girls have shown any desire to come to the station to live. This part of the work is always slow in starting from what we have seen on other stations, but we hope to see it develop.

We have Breaking of Bread Lord's Days, Bible reading Tuesdays and Prayer meeting Friday evenings and we joyfully anticipate these times of joy together in the things of the Lord. Mr. Searle is very helpful in the Bible readings, though we are both young in the Truth- yet the Lord is not limited to bless. We thank God who in grace has sustained us in fellowship together.

We have thought best to leave the mission concession in the name of the A. I. M. for the immediate present, or rather we had no choice than to do this for until we have gone through certain legal negotiations to make one of our number 'legal representative' we could not ask for a change of the title. This means correspondence with Belgium and delay. The A.I.M. has also kindly offered to take out for us in their name a concession among the Walesi should we so desire. Both concessions to be later transferred to our own name when we wish. But unless others come out with us we could hardly undertake a second station yet. So we leave this with the Lord. I long to see a station opened among them. Great numbers of them just adjoining us West, and no gospel preached among them. Yet the medical work is gaining us an access to these Babira people who are noted for being loyal to the Romanists.

I must stop here though there is much I might write but time forbids. My wife joins me in sending Christian greetings.

Yours in the fellowship of our Lord, R. C. Woodhams.

The following extract is of interest as showing the appreciation of the effort of the committee to be used as channel between the local gatherings and the foreign field:

Portland, Oregon. Dec. 14,1925.

Dear brother:

Your circular letter of October 8 was received and read in assembly at the close of our Worship meeting and gave cause for much thanksgiving for revival of interest shown in the Lord's work by laying it on the hearts of His people to support His servants in the foreign fields.

It was decided to have a special offering for Missions i once a month (apart from the regular offering, which is used for more local responsibilities). The December offering is inclosed. Praying that the Lord's blessing may follow the gift (small as it is) to some one of His servants to whom He may direct you to send it.

In behalf of saints gathered to the name of the Lord, J. P. A.