Shiprock, New Mexico. Dear brother in Christ:- Sept. 14,1928.

Thank you for your kind letter of September 4th to my father.

It was a joy to me to meet face to face some of those who have had the work here upon their hearts, during this past summer, and I regretted that time limits precluded my meeting many more whose faces I should have been glad to see. But I am thankful to be back at my work again, much refreshed both in mind and body.

My father is in California, where he went to attend the Oakland Conference. We are looking for him back about the second week in October, and with him our brother Buchenau. We are planning then to hold some special meetings for our camp Navahos, and we are praying that in this neighborhood, where the gospel has been given forth so constantly, this may be the time when some may definitely accept our Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. You will realize that this is no small step, for some to be the first in a given neighborhood to turn away from heathenism to Christ, and yet our God is great, and is pleased to have us ask and expect great things from Him, and we would appreciate it if you and those with you would join with us in special prayer about this matter. As I have always spoken direct to our people in their own language, we have not employed an interpreter, but for those meetings we will need one, and we should very much like to be able to secure a Christian, who has the needs of his people on his heart. We may perhaps be able to borrow a Mission interpreter from some one of our neighbor Missionaries. But we are looking to God to direct us to just the right one.

Nov. 5,1928.

It is indeed blessed to know that in our dear Lord is fulness of joy:He never disappoints. I have lately often thought that Satan is trying hard not to let any two Christians stand together in these last days, probably with the hope of thus hindering any advance on his territory, particularly his territory among the heathen.

Our brother Buchenau and a brother from the Oakland meeting were here recently, for special meetings among our camp Navahos. We trust some have really turned to God, but our people are so much like sheep in following a leader, so we cannot yet be sure. The first man who stood up, when asked a few days later if he really intended to turn from the old way now, replied immediately, "Yes, indeed. My son who died told me that this is the right way."His son died at the Mission nearly two years ago, and we felt at the time that he definitely turned to God on his death-bed, and that the parents were much exercised about the matter of salvation. On the other hand, another man who stood up and took brother Buchenau's hand, when asked the same question, replied immediately, "Why, not, I only shook the white man's hand because I liked what he had said." Yet even in this case, we can hope that the gospel has made an impression on the heart of the man, and that later we may see him too turning away from the old way. A third man told me with all seriousness that he liked what Mr. Buchenau had said, and that he does not want the sinful ways that had been mentioned, but added, "When someone is sick, and they send for me to come and make medicine, it would be very unbecoming for me not to go." My reply was that I had no objection to the herb medicines that Navahos use, but that his incantations for the sick were prayers to other than God, and that one could not pray to others and pray acceptably to God. This man, Curly Hair, and another dear old man, Mr. Happy, are both medicine men. Mrs. Happy was one of the first to come forward, and when I asked her and Mr. Happy afterward if they were praying to God now, both replied emphatically that they were, but when I spoke of forsaking the old way, dear old Happy hung his head. He is blind, and I suppose it seems to him that he would starve if he did not pursue his heathen medicine. But GOD IS ABLE. We feel for him but cannot bribe him to become a Christian by offering him support. I tell you about these different ones, thinking that you who pray for us will know how to do so more intelligently. In the sweet service of our blessed Lord,

I am cordially yours,

Clara E. Holcomb.

In the forest, eighty miles west of Irumu, C. B. Dear brother:- Nov. 4, 1928.

I am writing this from the main Central African forest. I am on a tour to pick out the site for a new station. This is not entirely new to you for I have mentioned in some of my recent letters that we were considering this step. My wife and I have felt free in the entire matter that this is the Lord's mind for us and that the present is the opportunity which will not be the same a year later.

The work at Nyangkundi is more or less established, and could be carried on alone by either Mr. Searle or myself. If we followed our own comfort and preference we would not separate, for surely our mutual enjoyment together as an assembly has been most profitable. I could make a list of human reasons for our all continuing on at Nyangkundi, but one little glimpse of the country full of people here west of the Ituri River cancels that list completely. We are looking forward with eager anticipation to this new work. The work at N. we may say is but scarcely begun-all about are people we have by no means reached, but now that the buildings are up, Mr. Searle will be free to get out more and will not have difficulty in carrying on the work alone. Since there are so few of us it would therefore seem the expedient thing to have two centers and reach a larger number-for the time for this work is doubtless short.

Further, it is best for me to go on instead of brother Searle for this reason:The country we are in is grassy, and ideal for settlers, and these are constantly increasing, with the result that I am called continually-often as many as five days out of the week. Hence if I am to practice medicine I might better have remained in America. I wish to get away from this white practice, for it will grow worse the next few years, not better. There is no humanitarian reason for my remaining as there is both a Government doctor and Mines doctor within reach. This forest country west of the Ituri will never entice settlers, though of course one cannot get away entirely from the advance in Africa. In this forest country I will be here at least several years ahead of many Europeans, and these are the years we want to make count for the Lord's interests among these people. I have been tramping about among the Walesi villages, looking up the chiefs and preaching on our way (most of them know Kingwana), but never one ray of truth has ever before been told them. On the main safari route through from Stanleyville I had a group together who simply gasped at the statement there is "one God for all people of the earth." One old woman slapped her thighs and went over at once to tell this to some others a little way off. I trust I shall never forget the scene in the village of chief Mapiranga when I told this old man that "Heaven was a place where there was no sickness, no death, and no sorrow, and God had sent His own Son that he and his people and all of us might go there!"Darkness complete and total to that moment, and then the full power of the light of an eternal Truth bursting in on the darkness! I cannot describe that man's face and expression of joy. The greater the darkness, the greater the contrast of light. His darkness was complete. I thank God for the privilege of being there – for that moment I saw the African of our prayers. There are already many gospel-hardened in Africa, but there are also those who wait for the light. May the Lord give grace to seek them out while it is yet day. I then told them that we knew this because God had given a book telling us this. I opened to John 3:16, and those who had been listening from a distance rose as one man and rushed toward me, so that I found myself in the midst of a crowd each wanting to be the nearest. There was absolute silence as I read and explained very simply John 3:16,17, everyone straining their ears not to miss a word, and woe to the child who coughed, or anyone who made a sound. I have never seen such interest in any place. This coincides with stories of what we have heard but never seen. I would pause every few sentences, and the chief and others would repeat what I said in Kilesi, and so I knew all understood in their own tongue. This was true interpreting, for I did not tell them to do this, but it was their own spontaneous enthusiasm and rejoicing in what they were hearing-hearing for the first time-and these forests and these people have been here for how many generations? Can you wonder that we who are here can only marvel at the fact that three years and a half have passed and not one person from our assemblies has followed to this work? How can such a large majority grow up. be converted, walk in the Truth, yet find a job and settle down permanently with never a thought for these thousands upon thousands who have never even heard the name or fact of one God? But they say they cannot sacrifice their ambitions and the comforts of civilization. Sacrifice ! There is no sacrifice. It is a question of ten thousand per cent gain! Gain, and gain only, is involved. Have you heard anyone return from unevangelized ands and regret having thus spent his life? None, surely. But how many times do we hear one say-"When I was young I wanted to go here or there with the Gospel, and I have wished all my life that I had."

I have about decided upon a location. The difficulty is not to find a suitable place but to decide which suitable place to choose. There are many big chiefs and many thickly populated areas. The most suitable place seems to be about seventy-five miles west of Irumu, near a point shown on most maps as Mombasa-not, of course, the Mombasa of the East Coast. This is on the route of the main road to Stanleyville. The road now comes to within eighteen miles, but will probably not be finished for a year. At this point the Walesi lie north, the Wangwana west, and Walesi again east, and Babila south, with Pygmies scattered between. The Wangwana profess to be Mohammedan. The medical work will be an entering wedge here. I want to build a suitable native hospital where proper work can be done, for up to now I have worked under conditions which made the work difficult, and wasted labor. I hope to have one-story brick wards with corrugated iron roofs, if possible. There is much more sickness here where it is lower and warmer, and I expect the medical work to be a real help in gathering the people together for the Gospel. In this present safari I have found the chiefs and the people most friendly. The Roman Catholics have never been here. It is they who bring the bitter opposition.

This is then what is now before us. Brethren, pray for us. The door is open. Grace continues. The longsuffering of our God is salvation. May this be a reality among these people.

With much love in our Lord Jesus' Name,
R. C. Woodhams, M. D.

Beloved brother in Christ:-

Dampremy, Belgium. Dec. 15,1928.

I have been unable to write to you before this. I was working at the south-east of Renaix during the last week in October; it was very cold, and as nearly all the preaching of the gospel is done in the open air, I fell seriously 99:My chest and throat were much affected, but I suffered most with my head, and was unable even to read, much less to write. In God's mercy my voice is returning. I have on my heart to tell you some details of that last week's work near Renaix.

After a long walk with a large bundle of precious seed I reached Soignies, a village, where my way was opened by the Lord. I like to tell the good news to children, but I also have a special affection for old people, and here I met Madame T., who, though 82 years old, is alert mentally. She had followed the Catholic religion taught by her elders, and now she has come to the threshold of eternity, knowing there is a hell and fearing it, and knowing there is a heaven and wishing to go there, but her religion gave her no assurance of this. Now in simple faith she believes in God's love, has taken it for herself, and her joy is great.

Another person on whom I called was Dr.—who was ill, but is now better. The Lord evidently laid him low to give him time to reflect on where he might go when he died. I gave him a Gospel, and as he turned over its leaves he said, "I was born a Catholic, and studied at the Seminary, but I have no assurance of salvation." Then he opened his heart and told me he was sure that the wise and learned often missed the one great thing they should know.

The Lord had touched the doctor's heart. Without that he would never have found the rest he sought. Now one. could see his soul was satisfied. How great is the mercy of God who knows how to break the pride of the great and show them the only way to come to Him! Now he is happy, for he has true peace which is not the result of good works-those he had tried before-but this peace was his through the blood shed upon the cross.

I spent some time with Mr. P., a veterinary, who humbly acknowledged himself a sinner. How happy "he was to learn that the Lord Jesus the Son of God loved him and gave Himself for him. He appreciated the treasure God offered him that day. Up to that time he had wrapped himself in the Pharisee's cloak, but now he trusts Christ as his Saviour. "I accent," he said, "what you came to tell me, but I ought to tell you that I have left the Catholic religion." He had thought till then that was sufficient.

The work in October was very encouraging, especially at Gazee, Bois-Lerat. Lacouronne. and Bout-le-Haut. The Lord granted me several conversions, which I would like to tell vou. but it would take too long for you to translate. By God's grace we have come to the end of 1928. and looking back on the mercies of the Lord, how He encouraged us by the salvation of souls! It is in the French villages near-by and the province of Namur that He has given us most of the interesting cases. Should the Lord still tarry we ask the seal of His blessing in 1929, and that He would enable us to sow much, and above all grant us a rich harvest for heaven.
During the year the valued prayers of our brethren and sisters have helped us much, and we beg them to continue t" intercede at the throne of grace for the work in Belgium, and especially for us. for we feel our littleness and weakness and the greatness of the work. Each day dear brother, we pray for you, asking the Lord to bless you abundantly in the precious work He has entrusted to you. Will you, those dear to you, and the saints with you accept our most affectionate greetings, and our best wishes in Christ our Saviour for the year 1929, from my mother and myself? Your brother by grace,

Octave Dandoy. (Translated from the French.)

Verdun, P. Q., Canada.

Beloved brethren:-

As the harbor season is closed for the winter months, you will be interested to hear what has been done during the past season. Out of the 1600 ships, manned by some 93,000 sailors, over 250 ships were visited, which means that some 9000 men were reached with the gospel by means of Bibles, New Testaments, Gospels, tracts and personal talks. Men of twenty or more different nationalities were reached. On many occasions the Lord gave us splendid opportunities to speak of Him, to give the gospel, as well as to set the truth before the believers whom we met. All through the season we had the greatest liberty to go on board any ship, giving our silent messengers to officers, engineers, firemen and sailors, either as we met them, or by putting them in their cabins or bunks.

Our brother Holwill and myself have been much encouraged in that good work; we are happy to have been enabled to do it, and we regret we were not able to do more. In the harbor of Montreal for seven months, there is enough work for a few to give their whole time to it, as ships are constantly coming in and going out. May the Lord be pleased to raise up fitted workers, not only for this port, but also for others in different parts of the world.

We have found that calendars and sailor-kits are a great help to reach the men with the gospel. It disposes them favorably to receive whatever we have to give in the gospel line, and prepares the way for talks on the things of God. The kit can be made by the sisters of any material that they may have at home, then thread, buttons, pins, needles, darning-wool, and the like, with a New Testament, can be put in it, A complete kit, according to the information that I got at the Customs, would pay about eights cents duty if coming from the States. I may further inquire (D. V.), at the Government Offices in Ottawa, and see if it could not come duty free.

Any of the Lord's people caring to have fellowship in this work by helping to provide Bibles, Testaments, Gospels, tracts and calendars, can send their free will offerings with mention as to how it should be used. Any other information concerning the Harbor Work will be gladly given.

The work amongst the French R. C. is continued with help and encouragement from the Lord. On account of the difficulty of approaching the French Canadians with the gospel, I had to change my way of working. I go to them now as a regular colporteur, offering them the Scriptures with the Roman Catholic approbation, and, so far, it has worked well. Here, in North Bay, where I have been for three weeks, I have been able to enter every French home that I have found, reading the Scriptures, explaining the way of salvation and selling some Testaments and Gospels, and always leaving with the people portions of Scriptures and special gospel tracts. It has not always been smooth work, as sometimes I spent as much as two hours in homes in order to meet, with the Word, the arguments, ignorance, superstition and insults of the people. The French Canadians are in great need of hearing the truth of the Gospel as they are kept in deep darkness. It is very sad to witness their moral condition, and one longs that they should be brought to the light of the glorious Gospel, to the knowledge of Christ. Kindly pray for them and for me, Louis J. Germain.

Jan.5.

Word is just received from Antwerp of the serious illness of our brother Jonas Eck. Mr. Walter H. Boyd of the Mildmay Mission to Jews writes in part:

It was largely in response to our urgent invitation that he came here, my wife especially feeling that he ought to be better cared for than all alone at 49 Ave.. d' Italie. A terrible carbuncle developed on his back three weeks ago. We gave it the best treatment we knew, but as high fever set in each evening and the wound became worse with serious internal pain, we called in a physician and surgeon who spoke very gravely of his dangerous condition. The wound was far deeper and more extensive than was apparent upon the surface, its ramifications penetrating around the backbone, and infection into arms, legs and internal organs.

The physician has been here again, and seems to be quite pleased with both his condition and the state of the wound, but said that it would be dangerous for another week and he will not be able to walk for a couple of months.

We are clinging to God instantly night and day and believe He will grant us our petition, but our brother is so feeble and much needs the loving intercession of all who know of his condition.