AFRICA

The following letter from Dr. Woodhams gives an interesting account of progress being made on the new site and the intelligent interest shown by the natives in that locality:

Mambasa, Irumu, Congo Beige. April 2, 1929.

I am writing from the new Mambasa site, having been here over a week to personally give the work a boost. Natives succeed in getting very little done when left by themselves. I now have the ridge-pole' of the house up and we will soon be ready to put on the grass, or rather here in the forest we use a large flat leaf about fifteen inches long by eight broad. I have cleared about two acres and will soon increase this. I have had difficulty getting workmen, and therefore the delay from my first estimate of the date we would move. I had expected a hundred men, but have only had about twenty. This is accounted for by the fact that a large number are at work on the new road.

I have made a bargain with the nearby pigmy chief to bring me the leaves for the roof. He is to have his people bring six hundred loads of leaves and forty loads of bark used for tying, and for this I have promised him a large bag of salt-220 pounds. He was very much pleased over the bargain-and so was I. The pigmies are exempt from government taxation and are not called for any road work. In fact the Congo laws recognize them as entirely free, but they are learning to like salt and such things, and so come for work occasionally for a few days only. Of course they are a great asset to the government because of the ivory they bring in.

Our local sub-chief, Asani, is a young man, Mohammedan in profession. At first he showed great indifference to the gospel, taking the attitude that he was above listening to that. Of course he had never before heard a word of the gospel. But one day while reading aloud from that fine little booklet, "God hath spoken" (which we now have in Kingwana) he overheard read the verse, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." He was at once interested and showed his interest openly. He asked for a copy of the booklet-he had learned to read at a government school. The following Sunday he came to meeting and we spoke from John, 3rd chapter. Monday morning at 7:30 he was here again bringing his copy of John with him, and said, "Explain that to me again. I cannot remember all that you said yesterday." A week or so later he returned again with two of his friends and seated himself at the front of my house and said:"Here, I have brought these men to hear those words, because they weren't here on Sunday." I was on the verge of sitting down to lunch, but food had to wait that day. Last Sunday he was here again, and brought his three wives with him to the meeting. My prayer is that what the Lord has begun in his heart He will complete fully. And we trust this may be a sample of Mangwana interest to follow. Mohammedanism has given them nothing-while Christ offers them eternal life.

I recently cornered one of the chiefs on the question of "why" he worshipped Mohammed. He could give me no reason, and said if I would ask the head chief at Mambasa that he would be able to answer my question. So I proceeded to tell him why I worship who I worship.

Mikairi continues on at chief Pananza's village – a Walesi. The work is starting slowly there but I am sure that finally there will be fruit. Mikairi has shown a very faithful spirit, though he has not yet had much encouragement. After a good deal of delay a house has been built for him, but the school-house is not ready yet. And there have been the usual stories going around that all the children who attend school will later be sent far away. And it takes time to overcome that sort of opposition. It is a very raw tribe and they have not seen much of the white man yet.

Mr. Searle has been at one of the A. I. M. stations, where a number met together for conference on some matters of Kingwana and some questions to be settled. This will no doubt be of benefit in the end to all who are using this tract language.

Miss Wilson has had her family of orphan children much increased lately. I do net know the exact number at present, but they keep her very busy.

We are all well at Nyankunde, I am glad to say. We are thankful to our God for this mercy of health. We will soon have completed four years. I think that Misses De Jonge and Wilson are feeling the effect of four years more than any of the rest of us, and this because they have both been seriously ill during the past year. It will no doubt be best for them, should they be enabled of our God to do so, to return to America for recuperation next year. This of course is for them to decide and I have not heard them express themselves, but I feel free to mention this need on their behalf. Five years, under favorable conditions, is long enough for a first term in this part of Africa, though a second term can often safely be longer.

For our own part, my wife and I have no thought of furlough yet. We of course would like to see those whom we love in the Lord as well as those near by human ties. Yet we would prefer to see the work at Mambasa well started first. If even a few have found the Lord before we should leave, the light will be spread.

We look to our Lord to provide for His work and interests here in case any of our number should need to go on furlough. What the solution will be we have no idea, but having avoided the organization of a mission because of scriptural principles we know that our Head in Heaven is better able to care for His interests than a human mission head could. Yet in the practical working out of the matter we wish the fellowship of the Lord's saints with us about it.

With greetings in our Lord's Name, Your brother in Christ,

R. C. Woodhams.

We are glad also to quote from a letter written by Mrs. Woodhams:

"In this land we find Satan very real. Especially in this new work, he has tried in so many ways to thwart the work, and the Lord has shown He is stronger. We praise His name. People at the new site, Mambasa, are very eager for God's Word and in every way we feel we are in the Lord's will to go there. Satan's activity only strengthens our exercise. We have never been so accosted by him as just now and for the past six months, in fact ever since we felt the Lord would have us go to Mambasa. The work is progressing there wonderfully. Dr. is there most of the time, coming back here for food, supplies, etc. I went over with him to the forest a couple of weeks ago. He has a small 12×12 shack he lives in. We moved things just a bit closer and we both crowded in. I like the forest very much though. I suppose after we have lived there for a year we will be glad to get into the open country again. The people are very different too, very much higher mentally, and considered wealthy, making their money trading in ivory. They are a diseased race, however, so that we are planning on a large hospital work."

How good to remember the word of the Lord which says, ''When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him" (Isa. 59:19).

The following extract from Brother Searle is also very interesting:

"There has been increasing interest and attendance at our Christian meetings, besides several have recently confessed the Lord. We are seeking to bring the believers into the full knowledge of the Lord's mind regarding gatherings and ministry, etc., and the relationship of Christ and His Church. May the Lord lead them on and reveal His mind to them and to us."

CHINA

We have received a letter from brother Kautto posted from Honolulu "en route," in which he tells of a pleasant journey so far, and looks forward to his arrival in China. Conditions there, however, are far from settled, as the following letter from a Missionary about 75 to 80 miles north of brother Kautto's station will show:

"Tatzukow:Jan. 29th:-Yesterday I took lunch with the head of the mounted police, who a few days back rode into the city with the ears of eight highwaymen dangling from a string, and with another eleven highwaymen following in his train; the ears represented highwaymen killed in a skirmish. In a few days' time the above-mentioned brigands are all going to be put to death, but one member of the band is singled out for distinction. This man killed a policeman, cut his heart out and ate it, but in turn was himself captured. For mutilating the policeman the robber is to pass through a chaff-cutter, beginning at his feet, and be sliced bit by bit until the death of the policeman is avenged! It is such things as these which remind us, 'The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty,' and that it is only the power of God, or in other words, the gospel of Jesus Christ, which can change things. These eleven men will be publicly executed, and practically the whole city will turn out to see the Je-nao (1:e., the fun!). In passing let me say this diabolical performance will be carried through in close proximity to a compound, where reside four foreign women and three foreign children! How thankful you folk at home should be to be born in a land where the moral force, to say nothing of the spiritual force, of the gospel is felt! God still hears the groaning of the prisoner, and graciously makes provision for their (spiritual) release. The above eleven men will hear the gospel, for our Chinese brethren go regularly into the prison, and only yesterday did they notice "strangers," 1:e., newcomers, among their audience. What we need in this Jehol Territory is
some strong young men (overcomers of the 1 John 2:14 type) to go out with the gospel, and we want you to pi-ay that such may be forthcoming, either from the Church at home, or from among the assemblies in this land."

Might we not make definite prayer for our brother Kautto and his wife that they may be kept safe from bodily harm and be permitted to go on in the Lord's work without let or hindrance?

WEST INDIES

Brother Hoze writes of continued opportunities for gospel work and meetings with believers. May the Lord continue to bless our brother in this service for Himself.

PORTUGAL

A brother has written drawing attention to the open door for gospel work in Portugal. He says:"As you doubtless already know, Portugal is a land open, in an exceptional manner, to the gospel, with but very few there to carry on the work. In 1910 the Government overthrew the Roman Catholic Church, closing up and confiscating the church property, driving out the priests and nuns, at the same time setting up a Republican form of government with the motto, 'No religion, no God.' Fortunately, however, the country has not stuck to this motto but, in great measure, has opened her arms to the gospel, with comparatively very little opposition. However, Rome, true to her colors, is again seeking entrance, and it is hard to say just how long there will be liberty for the propagation of the Word." "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He will thrust forth laborers into His harvest" (Matt. 9:37).

Some of His laborers the Lord has called away from service here.

A cable from England tells of the sudden home-call on Friday, May 17th, of our brother Hughes Fawcett. For many years Mr. Fawcett showed practical interest in missionary work, and care of the needy, both at home and abroad. He will be greatly missed.

God willing, the usual monthly missionary meeting will be held at the Elizabeth Meeting Room, 357 Morris Ave., on Monday evening, June 3rd. 1929, at 8 o'clock.