The following interesting letters from our brethren in China and Africa are cause for prayer and praise to our Lord.

Taitowying, Sept. 20, 1932.

We are glad to say there has been good interest in the meetings all summer in the tent-work; yet we are sorry to say that we have not seen definite conversions and so take comfort in the words of Isa. 55:11. We have, however, realized that the general attitude of the people toward Christianity and Christians has changed in every village where we have been. Usually before hearing the gospel they have a strong prejudice against Christianity, and especially against foreigners, but after we have been about a couple of weeks in a place many men and women come and say that what we are preaching is all good and true. Then they often tell us what kind of prejudice they had before our coming to their village, such as that foreign missionaries coming to China try to persuade Chinese to join the foreigners and then when they go to their own country they carry our "Great Country" people home with them into their "small country."

A village headman enquired of me whether I had been back home since coming to China the first time and when he learned that I had been on furlough four years, ago, he asked how many "Great Country" people I took along with me, and so I explained to him it was not our purpose to come and persuade anybody to join us, but to recognize the true and living God and to believe in His Son whom He has sent to save sinners, and to persuade them to reject their idols and serve the true and living God who is able to save those that trust in Him. Then I asked him, "Who told you that the foreigners have come here to persuade Great Country people to join the foreigners?" He said, "They all say so." I said, "I am sorry that they all are wrong."

There are many of those stories-such as that foreigners take people's hearts out when they die, and also their eyes; and when the foreigner inquires who said so they reply, "Everybody says so." But then when they hear the Gospel they say that our preacher is entirely different from what "they all say." Of course some -profess to believe all that we say and that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, but we often find them to be the kind the Lord mentions in Matt. 7:21, saying "Lord, Lord," but there is no other sign of their conversion, so we have to trust in what Paul wrote to the Corinthians, that, "Your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

We were just about to send some announcement cards -that the Lord had graciously given us a little son, who was born Sept. 16th. He seemed to be especially bright, and in four days had so absorbed our lives with his own that it left an awful heartache when the Lord called him Home about 4 o'clock this morning, but we are comforted by the knowledge that the Lord has called him, and by knowing that he is in the glory and that we shall soon be caught up with him to see the Lord. Otherwise Mrs. Kautto is well, for which we are thankful to the Lord (Rom. 8:28).

The conditions around this vicinity are still peaceful, though rumors of war and some movements of soldiers are seen and heard almost every day. Yet we have enjoyed a peaceful year. We have heard that some bandits or robbers have been here and there, but the Lord has kept us in such a way that we have never come in contact with them. We do not know what will take place in the future, but it is so good to know that we are in the Lord's hands.

The officer whom we mentioned in a previous letter as having bought a Bible some time ago openly confessed Christ, and used to come daily to have a special Bible study with me as long as his regiment stayed in Taitowying. There were also two privates of the regiment who showed genuine evidence after their confession, but on the last of August the regiment was transferred to another place. So we thank the Lord that there were some who received new birth this summer. There were a number of other officers also who were interested, but who never took an open stand for the Lord though they came for the Bible study in the hall.

We notice in the paper that in the Jehol district there may be war before long, but we are about 130 miles by road from this district, Jehol itself being 200 miles northwest of here.

Trusting this will find all the saints well and happy in the Lord,

Affectionately yours in Christ,

Charles O. Kautto.

Pingfan, Kansu, China, Aug. 25, 1932.

I have not been long back from a trip to a place called Bayenrung which is five days' journey from Lanchow. If you look at the map, we went west to Nienpai. Here there is no missionary, and I put up posters and preached. From Nienpai we struck south-west to Bayenrung, passing through a large Mohammedan settlement, where much interest in the Word was shown. Bayenrung is ninety li north-west of Shunhwa. Those numbers are Chinese li's. Three li's to one English mile.

At Bayenrung there is a Missionary and his wife by the name of John Bell. Brother Bell was converted at the mission which our brethren have been running for several years at Toronto. His brother George was converted about the same time, and he is now at Kweiteh, about two days west of Bayenrung on the border of Tibet.

A young Doctor Pearce who has recently come to China, and is stationed at Lanchow, was called to attend the sick at Bayenrung, and I was asked to accompany him back to Lanchow, so this is the reason for my trip. While at Bayenrung, I had the opportunity to have part in an operation which was performed on a Tibetan lassie. About two years ago in having a tooth pulled her jawbone was broken and became septic. Her face was badly swollen, and pus was constantly flowing from two holes in the side of her face, and she could just barely open her mouth. Brother Bell had attended to it about eighteen months previous, but dared not operate. He administered the anaesthetic, the doctor operated, and I played the part of nurse. He first pulled out four teeth which were septic, and then opened up the face, taking out quite a large piece of dead jawbone. At first I thought I would not be able to stand it, but after a little while I became hardened. Before we left she was quite bright and happy, and well on the way to recovery.

Coming back we did not go to Nienpai, but struck out almost directly east. It is a very mountainous country, and the first day we had to pass over about ten peaks. There was scarcely a level piece of ground the whole day. We passed several Tibetan villages, but unfortunately were unable to speak Tibetan. That night we put up in a Tibetan home. We must have looked very curious to the old lady sitting on the kang, for she watched every movement, and had to have a taste of everything that we had. There was only one room for all hands to sleep, so we left the folks of the home take the kang and we took to the floor. By the way, the animals' trough was at one end of the same room.

You will notice my address is changed. I expect to leave here next Tuesday morning for Pingfan, three days' journey from here by cart. The China Inland Mission have a station there but have not had anyone to put in it for the last three years. It is on the main road, and the nearest occupied mission station from Lanchow on this road is Liangchow, seven days' journey from Lanchow. I visited Pingfan when I first came up to these parts, in fact, I walked there with pack on back, and I thought the people were favorable for the gospel.

Before going to Bayenrung I bought a black mule for the work, and am very satisfied with him.. He is young, strong, and good-natured.

When I go to Pingfan I expect to stay in the mission station.

George E. Foggin.

Nyangkundi, Sept. 6, 1932.

I have hesitated to write too much, for this rheumatism is so tricky that one mail I can write "feeling fine," and the next, "down in bed." For the past two months, however, there have been no "down in bed" times, and the improvement, though gradual, seems to be noticeable. This is particularly encouraging as the wet rainy reason is at its height.

In the past few weeks I have had the happy privilege of motor-cycling out to somewhat distant villages with the gospel. This increased activity has produced no adverse reaction; hence the doctor has sanctioned my continuing with it, thus supplementing station activity with moderate village work until such a time as I may be able to return to Nyangkundi.

All North Congo tribes use the poison ordeal to prove suspected guilt. Only recently at a near-by village a native Christian woman who has walked for some years with the Lord was accused of killing a man by fetish and charms. To prove her innocence, the woman consented to drink the poison potion. By the grace of God she vomited the poison immediately. Oh, that the native Christians would break away from such dishonoring practices in their lone stand in the villages. Another way of testing for guilt is to pour boiling water upon the head of the accused. Suffering no permanent harm is proof of innocence! Still there are some fine Christians in the bush, and I so enjoy fellowship with them that I find it hard to be silent. The change wrought by the power of God would convince even the most skeptical that true regeneration has taken place. One such passed away last week here.

Adrako was a member of the Kaliko tribe of Northern Congo, and grew up amidst the sinful and immoral practices of heathendom. The Word of God was preached in his village and after a time he was convicted of sin and converted. Immediately he exhibited a hunger, for the Word of God, and attended the village mission school, learning to read. Diligence soon raised him from the ranks of the ignorant and he became an intelligent Christian. His joy was to go out to other villages and preach Christ, or to gather a number of simple Christians in his hut and in the quiet of the evening by the light of the little fire, read portions from the Bible and pour out the petitions of his heart together with them.

After a time he saw the Scriptural teaching regarding baptism and wished to take his stand thus with Christ. At that hour he took the name "Gidoni" (Gideon), and it proved in later years to be a good choice, for Gidoni did little in his own strength; it was always "the sword of the Lord and of Gidoni."

For a number of years he led an exemplary life, walking in close communion with the Lord, being much used in the salvation of souls and in the strengthening and upbuilding of native saints.

He came to the advanced school for continued educational training and sought to supplement his own digging in the Word by attendance at Bible readings and Scriptural expositions by missionaries. While here he entered unawares into a forbidden native path, which was guarded by poison. Innocently he became the victim of the carefully laid trap for another, and at once became desperately 99:For a number of days he hovered between life and death, patient, but unresponsive, and in constant agony. We had times of prayer at his bedside, singing hymns softly in Bangala. Gidoni was silent, though appreciative. Almost two hours before the end he underwent a remarkable change. In pain still, he softly prayed-not selfishly for his own comfort, but that God would watch over those He had won to Him. About mid-day he lifted his eyes upward and said, "Oh, I see a beautiful place!" His tribal brother, a brother in the Lord as well, asked, "What place?" To this Gidoni gave a happy sigh, and said, "I see Jesus", and passed on to his reward. At the grave three sinners repented and found Christ, one being a Kaliko man. Reports came in on all sides giving evidence of the fruitfulness of the life just ended. The brother who held him at the last said, "Those last words of Gidoni's have helped me greatly. My faith is -increased a hundredfold." It is blessed to contemplate such a home-going. May we be so wrapped up in Christ, so occupied with Him that, whether we meet Him via the tomb or the air, we will be ready.

Bakwa-time is here and another item is added to the native diet. The bakua are infant white ants which come pouring out of the hill, winged and ready for flight. They lose the wings later. The natives sit around the hole, over which they have erected a tent of banana leaves to prevent escape of the delicacy, and gobble down the creatures as they appear.

I have unearthed another striking practice of the Kakwa and Logo tribes in this district. Bodies are buried with the knees up, legs drawn towards the body. Questioning old villagers we received the information that this is done to assist the sleeper to arise on another day. Thus resurrection is not a point that needs to be taught as no counter-belief exists. It is not verse 12 of 1 Cor. 15 that we need to stress, but verses 3, 4, 20, 21, 22.

Join with us in praise for the restoration of a fallen brother, Samweli by name, and for a number of professions of faith recently made here; also for the sufficiency of His grace even in suffering; and in prayer for the keeping of these babes in Christ, and for more who will have courage to accept and truly receive Jesus; for wisdom in the translation of the post-captivity books into Kingwana, a work which I expect, God willing, to commence shortly.

Your brother by grace,

Bill Deans.

Mambassa, Iramu, Congo Beige, Aug. 31, 1932.

There has been real blessing here the past weeks. Last Lord's day four were baptized at a near-by stream. The meetings are also well attended and with good interest. Some of those who recently confessed Christ were formerly very antagonistic. May there be many more of this crowd at Mambassa-Mohammedans-who may follow in their steps! I have a rather notable Mohammedan out in 'the ward just now, and it happens that he lies in the very bed Magwavi died in. This morning I reminded him that he had heard of God's love in Christ many times-for in 1926 he came to me at Nyankunde for treatment-and was still refusing. "Listen," I said, "to- what one bigger than you, as he lay in the very bed you are lying in, said before us all, 'I believe in Jesus Christ.' That is what God wants to hear from the lips of every sinner." He said nothing and I left him to think of where he was lying! They do not like to be reminded that Magwavi died having confessed Christ.

Your brother in Christ, R. C. Woodhams, M. D.

P.S.-We went through to Lolwa last Sunday afternoon after the baptism was over, and enjoyed the evening with the Deans, had a profitable time over the 5th chapter of Romans and came home about nine o'clock. We do not see each other very often but greatly appreciate the times when we can.