AFRICA
We are glad to insert the following letter from our young brother Bill Deans:
Irumu, Congo Beige.
The Lord is certainly blessing the work here. On Sunday the eighth, twenty-seven people were buried with the Lord in baptism in the stream which runs close to the mission. All except one were of a black skin, and that one exception was my brother, Bob. Mr. Searle spent almost two hours before the service in thoroughly questioning those who desired to be baptized and after conferring with the other brethren it was decided that as certain had not shown by their lives that the "old man was "crucified with Christ,'' baptism should be denied them for the present until their walk showed that their hope for eternity was "the blood."
Several have confessed the Lord recently. Last week there were five, who, without any persuasion of any kind, or even an invitation, said that they wished to accept the Lord, with contrite hearts. And questioning proved that they had the truth, for they understand that He died for them, that they can approach God the Father through God the Son when their sins are covered by the death of the Lord. And they look forward to His early appearing with glad hearts and songful lips.
We had quite an experience on Saturday, December 7th. Mr Searle, Dad and I had been gone all day working on a bridge which was being built to replace another at the entrance of the Mission road. We arrived home about 5-30 Mother said that we were to have supper at Mr. and Mrs. Searle's house up the hill. We lost no time in departing to accept their kind invitation, for we were, as you can imagine, quite tired and hungry from being in the bush all day in search of suitable logs.
We were eating supper, and someone asked for the definition of a Kingwana word. Mr. Searle gave it, but went to his dictionary for confirmation. He was just sitting down again, when his eye happened to turn toward our house. With a cry of, "Your cook-house is on fire,"' he ran to have the drum beat to sound the fire-alarm, and everyone ran down the hill toward the house crying, "Let Mai" (Bring water).
The fire had gained control of the cook-house, so natives climbed on the roof of the dwelling-house to keep the fire from spreading to it, if possible. The rest of us, aided by several hundred natives who lent willing hands to save the goods of the missionaries, removed practically everything from the house.
While this was going on, a huge mass of flaming grass fell from th? cook-house on to the verandah of the home. Flames shot upward, and the entire verandah was afire immediately, causing those on the roof to leap to safety on the ground below. One fellow sprained his ankle rather badly in jumping. As soon as the fire caught the home there was no hope of saving it, and it was the work of a very few minutes for the entire roof to be alight. Despite the sorrow of the occasion, one could not help but be impressed by the sight of hundreds of half naked bodies scrambling through the house, the fire casting a red glare over their glossy brown skins.
People came from all the nearby villages, and none stood idle-men and women helped alike. The medical dispensary was afterward needed for the many cuts and bruises incurred. We thank the Lord that nothing was stolen, and that the goods came through with a surprisingly small amount of breakage.
While the building was still in flames, we all sang, "Praise the Saviour, ye who know Him," in Kingwana, joined by all the Christian natives. Mr. Searle gave a word of the gospel and of appreciation for the assistance the natives had rendered. Many were there who, I am sure, have never heard the gospel before, so the carelessness of a native in starting a fire has been turned by God to His own glory.
We spent the night surrounded by our belongings at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Searle, and remained there for two days until the former home of Misses DeJonge and Wilson (which was being turned into an assembly hall and school-house since they have moved to Mombasa, the new station) was made suitable for living in. We are staying there now, and instead of rebuilding the other home will make this our dwelling.
When Bellinyama, the chief of this district, heard of the fire he wrote that he would supply 100 forest trees, labor and materials necessary for the re-construction. So shortly, if the Lord wills, a new assembly hall and schoolhouse will be erected on the old walls, some of which can yet be used. The chief is sending men to help with the construction work, and even now I can see a string of women carrying loads of grass to the site. He will supply the cambe for tying the rafters, and the elephant grass which is used as lath work. He expects nothing for his kindness.
Yesterday he attended the gospel service in the morning and brought three of his Capitas of headmen along. He declared that he intends to come and bring them every Sunday. Pray for the conversion of this chief. He is favorable to the gospel, but his conversion would have a great influence on his people.
Dr. Woodhams came in from Mombasa last night by motor-bike, and our news of the fire was somewhat dimmed by his announcement of the birth of Robert James Woodhams. He was happy to report that all the folks were well and that the Word was reaching many who are out of Christ. The people there are mostly Mohammedans, so are even more difficult than the simple native. These folks have the conceit of "worshiping God," but omit the necessity of a sacrifice as atonement for sin. What a blessed thought it is that our Lord is our sacrifice and lives now to intercede for us at the Father's throne.
Everyone is well, and we are all studying Kingwana diligently that we may be able to preach the Word shortly. Kindest regards to yourself and all the other saints.
Brother Amies gives the following account of his visits to out-stations, etc. We would also draw attention to the last paragraph of his letter concerning his wife's health:
Congo Beige.
We want to thank all who had a part in the collection taken at Silver Bay Conference, part of which was sent to us as a token of love and fellowship. We have generally made two journeys every six months, covering the whole district, each journey lasting about two weeks. Other journeys are of course made on the Inkongo road frequently.
We have a conference with the native teachers every six months, and the journeys generally follow these conferences. During this last year or so we have not been able to follow the general order because of the illness of Mr. Westcott. We did have the .conference here in June, and I was able to leave for the first journey, but Mr. Westcott was so ill later that I was unable to leave the station, but went on a shorter journey on the Inkongo road, as far as Lusambo. The first journey was very encouraging. We had very good numbers to the gospel meetings in each village, and the work of the teachers was also encouraging.
In one section of Bena Beli villages there is nothing doing, because the two teachers who had been there have gone back altogether to the things of the world. I am very sorry because there was such a good work there before.
I fear if the way is not opened in the near future for us to leave for furlough my wife will have a nervous breakdown. We do seek your prayers that we may be led of the Lord in this matter.
CHINA
Our brother Kautto and his wife have also been visiting the out-stations. The conditions of travel both in central Africa and China, where our brethren are located, are indeed difficult, and we would commend them to the prayers of the saints as from time to time they undertake these journeys for the furtherance of the gospel.
He writes as follows from Taitowying, China:
We left for the cut-stations on December 6, and were gone exactly a month and one day, first staying at Shu-ang-Shan-tze for ten days, where we had very interesting meetings; from there we went to Mutouteng, had meetings for sixteen days with deep interest and a full hall, and it fell to my lot to speak, usually, three or four times a day, which took from three to five hours, and I had a couple of native helpers who were no less busy. There were nearly twenty who wanted to "join," but of course it does not mean that they were converted; and there were many more who sent their names through others, according to the Chinese custom of using a middle-man, to be put down as inquirers. All their knowledge of this custom has come from the Roman Catholic "church" which is about thirty miles from Mutouteng. And although I have tried to explain to them that there is only one way of joining, that is being "born again" through the Word of God by the operation of the Holy Spirit, yet they think that it amounts to the same thing that the Roman Catholics are doing, jotting their names down, giving them a catechism, and after they are able to answer the questions satisfactorily they are baptized into that organization.
Wishing you God's richest blessings and health and happiness for this, another year of His grace, and may it please Him to use us this year for His glory more than ever before (Psalm 62:5).
WEST INDIES
Brother Hoze writes from Barbados as follows:Our Lord still continues to be very gracious and tender toward us, and the little assembly is being happily maintained before Him, growing well in grace and in the knowledge of Himself. Others are interested as to the steps they should take but we seek to allow only the faithful Word and the Spirit to act upon and exercise their heart.
COSTA RICA
Our brother Lamorue who has been in ill-health now for a considerable time writes as follows:
I am not able to do much, but we have a native worker with us, and our meetings and Sunday School are growing and many souls coming.
I am praying our Lord for strength to reach out into some towns more to the interior, where we have had open-air meetings at different times, and would much appreciate your prayers. I have been here nearly eight years, and have been thinking it would be good for my health and spiritual welfare to spend three or four months of our coming wet season in the U. S. (D.V.).
ARGENTINE
Brother Montllau who is now settled in the Argentine sends us the following letter:
Since our arrival here, we held meetings in Lanus East, Lanus West, Villa Argerich, Villa Progreso, Villa Obrera, Gerli, Espeleta, Los Hornos, Quilmes, Buenos Aires and Pueblo Nuevo. We had invitations from Lanus East, Lanus West, Buenos Aires and a town near Quilmes to locate there. We were perplexed as to what place we should choose, but after much prayer were directed to Lanus West. We held cottage meetings there, and several have confessed the Lord as their Saviour and applied for baptism.
A brother donated to us his rights to a lot situated near where we hold the meetings, on which there is only a sum of about $200 to pay. He stipulated that we should raise a hall for gospel meetings. We accepted and expect, D.V., to erect a plain frame hall to accommodate from 100 to 150 people, with a baptistry. The estimated cost is about $1,000. As there is such interest in the Word, we believe the Lord wants us there and that He will supply everything needed. The room we use now cannot contain the people, and is also insufficient for the children attending the Sunday School. It is a poor neighborhood, full of children, but we cannot invite any more at present.
We covet your prayers, and wish you to join us in thanksgiving for the Lord's leading as to our sphere of service, and for the help we get from our three older boys in the meetings and Sunday School.
As this letter will reach you around the middle of January we wish you, dear ones, and saints with you, the Lord's richest blessings during 1930, should He tarry.
BAHAMAS
The following news from the Bahamas is truly a cause for thanksgiving and praise:
We had a season of blessing at the conference, where the Lord gave us souls. Thirteen souls, besides those saved at the conference, were brought to the Lord at Guana Cay, and eleven at Man of War Cay.
May the Lord continue to bless, the work thus begun.
729 Midway Ave., Plainfield, N. J.
Beloved Friends in the Lord:
My circular letter of October told of the work of the gospel going on steadily. Now Bro. Fujimoto writes of an additional opening at the house of Bro. Nagai in Naganomachi, a suburb of Tokyo. People of the neighborhood are coming to the meetings. He asks prayer for blessing. There are many inquirers. Bro. Nagai is on the Tokyo police force.
Brother Tsukiyama writes:
"For a time we thought that the Lord would take my wife home, her fever was so bad, but it seems the Lord had more use for her here below and has raised her up. Please pray for us.
In September a young man confessed the Lord in baptism-Jiro Minoura. He went to Brazil in November Then on December 22, two more confessed the Lord- Takaji Usui and Kokichi Ishiyama. Bro. Usui expects soon to go to Central America. Also one more has confessed the Lord-Shigeo Kobayashi. Please pray for these new converts. Also please pray for a few of the older brethren and sisters who have become careless and inactive; and also that the little flock here, by the blessing of the Lord, may exert their best efforts in testimony for Him."
The young brethren who are studying English are very thankful for the continuance of the magazines which are being sent.
And as usual the brethren and sisters there send Christian greetings and love in the Lord to all here.
Affectionately yours in our Lord, January, 1930 -Eugene B. Craig.
We insert the following that prayer may be made for our dear young brother in his exercises as to the Foreign field:
3729 Longfellow Ave., Minneapolis, Minn.
29th. January, 1930. Dear Brother:
As you will have heard, I am exercised about the great need in Africa.
In the meantime I am doing secular work here in Minneapolis.
Yours in Christ,
-Duncan McNeil.
"AND THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE"