News has been received by cable of the death of Miss Esther Wilson at Mambasa, Congo Beige, Africa, on February 28th, 1930. We await further details by mail.
Miss Wilson was one of those who went to Africa with Doctor and Mrs. Woodhams in May, 1925, and labored with them up to the time of her death. About a year ago she had a severe attack of black-water fever which affected her heart. The cable gives heart-disease as the cause of her death.
Our sympathy goes out to her relatives and her fellow-workers on the field. "He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it'' (Matt. 10:29).
AFRICA
The following interesting letter has been received from our brother H. Wilson:-
Inkongo, Nov. 30, 1929. Dear brother,
I have forgotten what I told you to cause you to speak of our duties as being very varied. They undoubtedly are so, and it makes time fly fast. My wife has another kiln of bricks ready for burning next week. The three nights of the burning we shall have to take turns keeping the stokers awake, my wife taking one night, myself one, and Miss Isaac and Miss Curtis one between them. It is impossible to leave it to the natives, as they would make up a big fire and then go to sleep and let it burn down.
We have the teachers coming for a conference at the end of next week, so this next fortnight will be a real rush. They nearly all want medicine when they come; some want letters to go to the Judge with a palaver; some want advice as to a Christian girl who was forced by her relatives to take a heathen husband. All want something; all are either ill or may be during the next four months. All think we white people are here just for their benefit. After all, perhaps we are, and it is nice to help others. I have promised to take a tumor out of a man's shoulder, and when any want to be examined for sleeping-sickness, one does not like to refuse, although it takes time to detect the parasites, as it may be the means of saving valuable lives.
Miss Isaac looks after the building, and can lay bricks beautifully. One must be able to do a thing oneself in order to teach the natives and keep them at it.
I am expected in several villages in different directions directly after the conference to interview enquirers and baptize them, but I do not know if I can get away, or whether I shall call them in here. Mr. Nixon has just returned from the Cimbangu district. He found plenty both to discourage and encourage, but there seems a work of God going on here and there, and some of the Christians appear to be growing and able to help others.
Mr. Althorp, who until recently was with Mr. Amies at Baka Mbule but is now going further inland in the endeavor to reach tribes who have not yet had the Gospel preached to them, writes as follows:
"In 1923 I took a journey on the north side of the Sankuru river in order to ascertain what opportunity there might be for preaching the gospel. I had for years made enquiries about the country but could obtain little information beyond the fact that it was peopled by savage cannibals and was impossible of penetration. This in measure was true, for until a short time prior to my visit the whole of the country was in a state of war, and several soldiers and others were killed and eaten. No traveler, white or black, was allowed to pass through the country at that time.
Feeling greatly exercised about the need of gospel light in this dark land I came here in 1923, and found the people surly enough in many places, but when they found out who and what I was, no obstacle was placed in the way of my progress. I had many opportunities of conversation and obtained quite a lot of information as to the different tribes and their languages. I commenced my journey on the north side of the river at Bena Dibele, and traveled due north to Kole, and thence in the same direction to Loto. I saw only a fraction of the thousands of people who inhabit these dark regions, but enough to convince me of their great need and of the necessity of bringing the gospel to them.
On our way to Kole we rested for a while at mid-day in the village of Ntumba, where I am now writing. The chief and his people, who are Baluba, were transported from their own country some years ago for refusing to be subject to a chief selected by the government official to reign over them. He begged me to remain and teach his people, but I said that was impossible, as I had my work at Baka Mbule and must hurry on in order to return there. He then pressed me to leave native teachers; he promised to build a school, and house the teachers well and care for them. I assured him that nothing would give me greater pleasure than to be able to leave teachers with him, but unfortunately none were available. I promised to set the need before the teachers assembled at the next conference at Baka Mbule, and to send to him any who might volunteer. This I did, but, as I anticipated, none were willing to go into that cannibal country. I never ceased to pray for this dark land, and God did not forget the need.
Four years later the chief Ntumba appeared at Baka Mbule, and told me he had come to remind me of my promise to send teachers to his village. They were still waiting for them and were most anxious to have them. In reply I could only repeat what I had said before, that I would mention the matter at the next conference, and that if any were willing to go he should have them as quickly as possible. None appeared willing when the matter was mentioned at the conference, but after the meetings Malengo came to me privately and said he felt exercised about preaching the gospel in those dark un-evangelized regions, and that he was willing to go to Ntumba's village. Another young man named Kambudi offered to accompany him. I hesitated about Malengo, as he had been badly smitten with small-pox which had left him with an impediment in his speech. I was afraid he would not be able to preach, but he assured me that he would make the people understand, and begged not to be restrained, from going.
We gave them both the right hand of fellowship and sent them away with many prayers. That was in 1927.
In 1928 I visited them before returning to England and found that after six months' work they had made good progress in the school. The scholars who knew nothing when they commenced were promising well to become good readers.
We are now with them again after nearly two years' absence. Our hearts are full of gratitude and praise to God, for so abundantly blessing the faith and efforts of these two young men. They have settled here with their wives and children. Several of the scholars are able to read easily and fluently. Five have been converted and are now breaking bread. There is a daily attendance in the school of 97 scholars according to the register. We examined them yesterday and were well pleased with the progress they had made. Several of them are enquirers who will be ready for baptism in a few months' time.
BAHAMAS
From our brother Stratton we have the following news:
Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Feb. 17,1930. I have just returned home from a stay of over four weeks at Cherokee Sound, laboring part of the time with brother Stebbins, and the Lord gave us fourteen souls for our hire. There were others restored in soul as well, and gave us much cheer. I purpose leaving here shortly, D. V., for the States, and hope to go to Tampa and through, via New Orleans, to Des Moines, Iowa.
I trust the change will be of much benefit to me, though, in one sense, I reluctantly leave the field.
I am enclosing an account of receipts and expenditures of recent fund committed to my trust, and would again thank you and all the dear saints through you who so heartily came in to the relief of our brethren. Letters of acknowledgment, too many to copy, show heartfelt appreciation.
CUBA
Dear brethren:-
Yours of the 17th just to hand and I thank you for the tracts. On Monday, or as soon as they arrive, I plan to leave here for Colon, via, bus, and to go from there to Cienfuegos, a seaport on the south.
It has been very gratifying to distribute the literature in this part of the world and I am impressed that it is going to bear fruit. As I stood for a moment on a corner this morning, I saw a Catholic priest approaching, so I got a tract ready for him which he did not refuse.
In visiting the small towns I cannot but think how much it would mean for these people to hear the gospel of Christ preached in the power of the Spirit on their streets. The dark, dissatisfied cast on many a countenance would be relieved by its acceptance-and who can tell what God may yet do, in His lingering mercy, for the people of Cuba!
Aff'tly in Him,
Roger B. Eames.
BRAZIL
Partintins, Jan. 31,1930.
The prayers of the saints who have Brazil on their hearts are earnestly requested in view of the following:In 1918 the eldest daughter of a well-off Roman Catholic family in our neighborhood was converted to God. It was a genuine conversion. Gallantly she took her place at the table with the Lord, outside the camp. The whole family was bitterly opposed. She had been given a good education, having passed through the normal school at Manaos, graduating as school-teacher. She had married three years before, and had a daughter-her only child. In 1923, her husband being killed in a political riot at Rio (he had been called to the army), she was left a destitute widow. Invited by her mother, she went to dwell with them in the farm mansion. It is a cattle farm. Here tuberculosis set in. I would visit her frequently after she could no more walk. The opposition and hatred to God were intense at the farm. She had everything that means and natural love could lavish, but her Lord being shutout, she suffered tragically, with patience. Feeling her earthly end was near, she asked me to baptize her daughter, then eleven years old, who had never been baptized by the priest. She had trained the child to imbibe the spirit of Christ, and I found shew as soundly converted, so baptized her (Nov. 1928).The mother entered peacefully into rest in March, 1929.The family did not allow us to take part in the funeral. In course of time they sent me word saying we were unwelcome at the farm. We have not seen the girl since, but we know she has been passing through severe spiritual torture:she has been brought before the priest and compelled into baptism, confession, confirmation and communion, with much pomp and noise. This broke her heart down; sad, unwilling to eat, and mute. The very picture of despondency! Alarmed, they are now compelling her to learn dancing and worldly amusements in general. This lovely, Christian child is suffering intensely. May your prayers be joined to ours on her behalf. We are passing through hard times here. The atmosphere surrounding us is one of sheer hatred of God. Satan is roaring around because the grace of God is being heralded as never before. Hence the opposition.
Yours by grace, J. P. Ribeiro.
MANCHURIA
The following article from a missionary magazine should be of interest:-
"Prayer is earnestly requested that the evangelization of Manchuria be hastened.
Manchuria has not inaptly been called the Canada of the East. Its immense areas of rich virgin soil, noble forests, fine waterways, rich coal and mineral deposits, as well as its climate, justify the comparison.
Twenty or thirty years ago its population numbered three millions; now there are thirty. Superior in area to France and Italy combined-363,610 square miles-it could easily support their total populations of some eighty millions.
Russia and China are interested in the Chinese Eastern Railway in the north, and Japan built the South Manchuria Railway. The development of agriculture, forestry, mining and industry has followed the construction of the railways, and has brought into the country about one million and a half of Russians, Japanese and Koreans. International complications, therefore, give constant cause for anxiety.
Eleven Christian Missions are at work in the country,, and occupy residentially twenty-nine of the one hundred and twenty-eight counties. Ninety-nine counties are not occupied residentially, although in fifty-three of them there are some evangelistic centers and numbers of scattered Christians. In forty-six counties there are no-Christian witnesses at all. Two hundred and sixty-eight missionaries labor in connection with the Missions, and the total communicants number about twenty-five thousand in a population of thirty millions.
The serious situation revealed in Manchuria constitutes, a tremendous challenge. Only those who have attempted to penetrate these fastnesses know how many obstacles block the road. Yet a few Christian missionaries have overcome the initial difficulties presented by the combined forces of man and nature, and have secured entrance to this vast domain. Let no dastardly ease prevent us, the watchers at the base, from prayer for the heroic pathfinders who are depending upon our intercession.
God has a plan for every life. Peace, satisfaction, joy and happiness can only be experienced to the extent to which life is lived in conformity with that plan.