BAHAMAS

Our brother Stratton writes and expresses deep thankfulness on behalf of the saints in the Bahamas for the loving sympathy and fellowship shown to them in their recent suffering. In another letter he says:

I am having my hands full, and more so than before, on account of sickness following the hurricane, but was recently rewarded in one case at Hopetown with a confession of Christ, which is a great uplift.

INDIAN WORK

Our sister Miss Holcomb tells of the slight improvement in material conditions amongst the Indians in New Mexico, but the spiritual outlook apparently is as dark as ever. Her letter follows:

Shiprock, New Mex.

Your letter of October 21st came to us on our last mail, and we thank the saints for the ministry which it contained. We also thank our God for His tender care for us. We as missionaries cannot hope to be exempt from the pinch of poverty felt by so large a portion of earth's inhabitants these days, but we do thank our dear Lord that He not only cares for us, but gives wisdom as we ask it of Him in the spending of that which is received, so that it seems to go much farther than we would have supposed possible.

We find the work of giving a gospel message to those who call at the Mission by no means devoid of interest to us, but it is more difficult to make it seem so to those who do not know our people as we do. Although today was clinic day, when the Government nurse comes here to meet Navahos of this neighborhood who wish medical attention, there were not many here to see her and not many to hear a Gospel message either. A young man and his wife were here all night, and in for both evening and morning prayers. This morning we read John 1:29, 34, specially emphasizing the fact that our Lord Jesus alone is, as it is expressed in the Navaho translation, "The Thrower-away of sin among earth's people." The Navaho wording gave an opportunity to suggest that we only throw away that which we consider worthless or dangerous:that the reason Navahos are so loath to receive the Lord Jesus into their hearts is that they make the mistake of supposing that their sins give them pleasure, while as a matter of fact their sins, and particularly the sin of refusing God's love, are hastening them on to an eternity of sorrow.

Our Navaho people of this immediate neighborhood have much better prospects for this winter than they had for last. Most families had a good crop of corn; some had more than they can use, and quite a lot to sell. People who have been less fortunate have usually been able to get some corn by helping others through harvest. Sheep are fat and pastures quite good. Even though their fat lambs only brought 31/2 cent a pound, they were so large that they averaged nearly $2.00 per head, and the neighborhood has done better than was to be expected in paying off indebtednesses to the trader. We are glad to see our people not quite so poor as they were last winter, but our hearts crave to see some of them feeling keenly their poverty before God, and turning to Him for that which alone can satisfy the soul.

HARBOR WORK (New York)

Brother West reports a little improvement in the number of vessels coming to this port, though shipping is still poor. Opportunities, however, remain for numerous personal talks with men and goodly distribution of leaflets in foreign languages. This has been especially so among the Japanese, Belgians and men from Singapore (Malays), and these latter show considerable interest in the gospel, most of them being of the Mohammedan faith, though some are nominal Christians. General world conditions, poor wages, and other things, make it hard for some of them to believe that a God of love still reigns, and the worker takes a special joy in telling these men that, in spite of all that goes on down here, God still loves and is willing to save.

CHINA

A brother recently returned from North China has been telling us something of the terrible state of that country and the dangers and difficulties under which missionaries have to labor. There is no real central government, and in many cases it is a matter of "Might is right." Large companies of bandits and robbers infest the country, making it dangerous and unsafe for traveling, not only for missionaries and other foreigners but also for the Chinese themselves, one's life and property being always more or less in danger.

In view of the above we are indeed thankful to know that our brethren Kautto and Foggin have been so far preserved. Our brother Kautto writes:

Your letter of October 2nd reached us last night, together with the word of the distress of our brethren in, the Bahamas and it gives us much pleasure to be able to share in giving to supply the need. The Lord comfort their hearts. We trust the extremity will prove the Lord's abundant grace in more than meeting their need, not only of that which is seen, but of filling with peace the anxious soul and in the realization of His own words to us all, "Lo, I am with you alway," for "underneath are the everlasting arms," and "Come unto Me…ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." May there be a joyous answer to the question, "Are the consolations of God small with thee?" (Job 15:11), and may each one rest in Him whom he has believed, saying with the Apostle Paul, "I am persuaded that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:39), to whom be the glory for ever.

We brought the tent in during the month of October, as ;the rain and wind had made a couple of long rents in the top during times when I was not able to be with the tent, and the nights were quite cool for outdoor meetings anyway. We will have time to mend it when the Chinese New Year season arrives and we cannot hold meetings, or we may make new ends altogether, for these are mildewed through pretty badly. Now we are getting ready to go north to the out-stations of Shuangshantze and Mutouteng for Bible study meetings with the professing Christians for about a couple of months.

The war is still, in the mercy of God, not in any way hindering our work, for which we are thankful indeed, and trust that by the help of the prayers of His saints we shall continue to have peace and quietness in bur borders, and that there may be some souls drawn to accept Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

We would thank you especially for intercession on our behalf, and for all the prayers of the Lord's people, for we realize it is not in our own strength we have been enabled to continue, and we daily praise Him for all His goodness in graciously providing this help. May His richest blessings rest upon all. With our warmest Christian love to all the dear saints.

JAPAN

Our brother E. B. Craig sends the following recent tidings from Japan:

4520 Montgomery St., Oakland, Calif.

Letters received just now from brother Tsukiyama of Tokyo, and from his wife, and one from brother Fujimoto, tell of the assembly meetings, and the various gospel activities continuing, also bring the good news of five more new converts. Two of these are the parents of a scholar of Mrs. Tsukiyama's Sunday School. This girl of eleven years was ill for some time, and died. Her bright faith in the Saviour was used of the Lord for the confirming of faith in her mother, and for the conversion of her father.. A door has opened for monthly gospel visits in one more hospital. And brother Fujimoto says that young brethren Inoue, Sugiyama and some dozen others, are manifesting a hunger and longing after the Word of God.

Please pray for these and for the new converts.

AFRICA

Our brother Robert Deans writes as follows:Yesterday after our gospel service and breaking of bread we had lunch, and then Mrs. Deans, Ella, Bob and I, with two natives, started out into the deep forest, we having heard that Pygmies were within an hour's walking distance. Pygmies, as you know, are nomadic, and unless we go with the gospel to them at once we might never have another opportunity. There were heaps of "thorns and briers overspread," and it was really difficult to reach them. We found them however in a little clearing they had made about twenty feet in diameter, and there sang our hymns and preached unto them "Jesus." Let us praise God together for His promise, "My word shall not return unto Me void." They were delighted that we came, and we were delighted to be there and to tell such a story. We are glad indeed to say that our dear sister Miss DeJonge is improving rapidly,-and it seems the recent operation removed the cause that had been troubling her. How good is the God we adore! Praise His dear Name!

We have had a letter from Bill which says he is progressing rapidly also. What a God our God is! May we trust Him more fully.

Quite a few deaths here amongst the natives have caused them to become alarmed. We had a heart-to-heart talk with the Sultan yesterday about the folly of living without Christ. Kindly pray for this man whose name is Apalikbo.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all, is our earnest prayer.

All the saints at Mombassa are well and rejoicing in the Lord.

Interruption in Congo Mail Service

In case any have not been receiving acknowledgment of letters sent to our brethren and sisters in Africa, we quote below extracts of a letter from Dr. Woodhams which will explain the delay:

Outgoing mail has been very irregular the last month and a half owing to the heavy rains. Two bridges were completely washed away, and for two weeks the road was not passable, and after these were repaired the big Ituri River rose to such a height that it was impossible to get a car on to the ferry. The ferry consists of six native canoes fastened together with planks. My car was in this river at the edge for all of one night before I could get it out, and the water came over the engine and to the edge of the front cushion; but since being cleaned up, it seems to have suffered no damage.