AFRICA
The following is from our brother Gordon Searle. Our brother and his wife have been in Africa for five years already, and we understand they are hoping to be able to carry on until the return of Dr. and Mrs. Woodhams.
Nyankundi, Irumu, Beloved brother:May 21st, 1930.
Our sister Miss Wilson's death was a great shock to us and we miss her very much. Yet the joy we have in Christ for her by far surpasses all the sorrow, so that we are enabled by faith to behold her, as it were, in the blessed presence of the One Whom having not seen we love, and in Whom we rejoice with joy unspeakable and filled with glory. Her joy is complete. We cannot sorrow as others without "the hope," but only rejoice, and that in Him to Whom we, Whom He has redeemed, are all going.
The following extract seems to us to so fit conditions out here as to give an idea and channel for prayer in behalf of the work here.
What shall we tell our home helpers and other friends in order to stimulate their interest? What information shall we give so as to enable them to pray intelligently?
Shall we tell them about the two or three who began so promisingly in the inquirers' class but have since fallen out? No, that is a bit discouraging. Shall we tell them about those six little girls and several boys in school who are a constant worry, who persist in doing just the thing they are told not to do? Or shall we tell them about those unfaithful herd-boys who are paid to watch the cattle and donkeys, but whose neglect and slackness have resulted in damage by the animals to that which is dearest to the heart of the Zulu woman, namely, her garden? Shall we rehearse one of those interesting episodes when she comes to file her complaint with outrageous demands for compensation? If ever grace is needed it is on such occasions! Could we ask our prayer helpers to pray for the girls who gather the eggs and feed the fowls? We have not yet found one girl who can do this work satisfactorily; they will break up the nests of the setting hens, and leave the very eggs they ought to take!
All these things may seem somewhat outside the realm of missionary endeavor, but it is just these little happenings that demand so large a part of the missionary's time. It often leads us to ask ourselves:"Is this real missionary work, attending to the hundred and one demands of these people-looking after the trouble with their gardens; caring for their sick, making and mending trousers, shirts and dresses; seeing to slates, pencils, and school books; washing clothes; sleeping, eating, buying food; repairs of all sorts and kinds, etc., etc.?" All these items are included in the daily routine.
Of course we have our daily Bible classes, prayer meetings, and regular preaching services, when we draw from the depths of the Word and give to our people; but here, as well as in the homeland, we have ample opportunity to "practice what we preach." With the Zulu, as with many others, "seeing is believing." The daily demonstration of the life of Christ proves to be the strongest influence. – Miss Maude Van Vessen, in the South African Pioneer.
Blessing indeed we have witnessed, souls have been saved, believers edified and blessed, but Satan is busy too, and many pitfalls are there which he places in the pathway. But our God is able. There is special difficulty in getting them to attend meetings faithfully. Satan would keep them from the Word. Out of between sixty to seventy believers only half or less attend regularly. Forsaking the meetings which are meetings with our Lord Jesus Christ is the betrayal of a sad condition of loss of that first love for Him which He so prizes. Pray without cessation that this may be restored.
We are at present working on a hymn book in the Kingwana language and to-morrow I expect to go to Mambasa to try over the hymns with Miss DeJonge and Mrs. Woodhams, who are better acquainted with written music than I am. We are using the mimeograph to good advantage now.
With true love in our Lord Jesus Christ, yours in Him,
D. C. Gordon Searle.
Brother Robert Deans writes:Beloved brother:May 14th, 1930.
The reason you did not get a letter of acknowledgment to your March 6th letter last mail is that I was with the Dr. trying to select a new site beyond Mambasa. With four natives carrying our Safari bags (canvas bags to hold bedding) we started out but first called at the Administrator's Office, telling him where we were going.
The Dr. had in his mind a certain location about forty miles west of here.
The Administrator in learning this told us to wait for about three months as the road would be cut through possibly by that time. He further said if we had negotiated with the government for the land the Dr. had in mind, and had built upon it, we would have been isolated as far as being in immediate touch with the natives is concerned, as the government is to bring all native villages to the road as soon as the road is cut through-the site we were heading for, believing the road was to go near the place, would have been about twenty-five miles away from it.
We saw the Lord's hand in this and greatly rejoiced thanking Him and led us, as He did the people of Israel, "the right way." Praise His dear name!
We thought it very good of the Administrator to inform us as he did seeing he is a Roman Catholic and could easily have put us off the track.
Bring this man and his wife, dear brother, before the saints so that they may intelligently pray to our gracious Lord that he and she may be won to Himself.
This is the same man who was at the burial service of Miss Wilson and heard the inspiring message from the grave side.
Pray also, dear brethren that we may have the Lord s mind as to the exact location, so that we may reach as many precious souls as we possibly can, for "the time is short."
We are moving out, D.V., at the end of this month to Mambasa where Ella and Mrs. Deans will take over Miss DeJonge's work until her return and Robert and I look after the Dr.'s station until they return as they also anticipate visiting the homeland as soon as the Lord opens the way.
It was our desire to have the new site settled so that I could have a few natives clearing same, while I was at the Dr.'s station, and go out occasionally, giving them a line on things and then return to Mambasa.
It may be we may yet be able to select at an early date-pray to this end.
Yes, we learned of the home going (through you) of our dear brother Ridout-His presence and fatherly counsel and advice in the saloon on the "Cedric" I shall never forget.-Thank the dear Lord he was not a superannuated Christian but was active until the end.-May we all learn to be "followers of him, as he also was of Christ."
We thank all the dear saints for every remembrance of this work and we are getting stronger and stronger as we realize the power at home on our behalf at the mercy seat.
With love from all the saints and from the Deans family, I remain, Your brother in Christ Jesus,
Robert Deans.
May we remember our brother's requests for prayer.
Dr. Woodhams and family, accompanied by Miss De Jonge, are expected to reach Kobe, Japan, about July 28 en route to San Francisco. It was thought, as mentioned last month, that Miss DeJonge was returning via Europe, but we now believe they are traveling together.
The Dr. writes:
We will first visit our parents in California and then come on East, which we will be on our way back to Mambasa. There will not, I hope, be the delays that were necessary the last time we were home. We then had to wait for matters to develop which could not be hurried. This time we ought to be able to make a quick return to our work here.
CHINA
Not having heard for some time from our brother and sister Kautto, we were thankful for the following:
Tientsin, June 20, 1930.
Just a few lines to tell you by the grace of our Lord all is well here, and we are awaiting the arrival of our brother Foggin. We are staying at the China Inland Mission Station.
We are quite concerned as to continuing the girls' school in the fall and are praying for a Christian woman to lead this, as Mrs. Kautto is not yet able to give Gospel talks in the language.
The bandit situation north of the Wall is not yet sufficiently cleared up to think of going out there, even if we were home. We have for a long time wanted to have meetings in outlying villages there, so as to make the Gospel better known than is possible in a passing visit, but as there are no inns one would have no place to stay, and meetings would have to be held on the highway, so a tent seems to be the best means for both, and this we are preparing to make by sewing 8-oz duck to cover a space about 30 ft. in diameter. For a month and a half we have been busy at home finishing the half of the house that had not been completed before because it was not needed. Now everything has been made comfortable for brother Foggin when he arrives.
June 25, 1930.
Our brother Foggin arrived to-night, and we were so glad to see him as he was to see us. He had a good voyage all the way. We are remaining in Tientsin until the 30th, so expect to arrive at Taitowying, July 1. Brother Foggin expressed his appreciation of all the kindness of the saints to him wherever he went, and we add our gratitude for the prayers of all.
Affectionately yours In Christ, Charles and Esther Kautto.
SOUTH AMERICA
We give the following encouraging extract from a recent letter of brother Montllau's:
Lanus Oeste, Bs. Aires, June 4th, 1930.
We have been encouraged in a section near-by called Pombeyo, where we were invited to hold meetings at the residence of a French believer. Quite a number have been gathering every Saturday night, and there are some who have confessed the Lord as their Saviour, for which we praise Him." .
Sincerely yours in our blessed Lord,
B. Montllau.
And also from our brother J. P. Ribeiro in Brazil:
Five more baptized yesterday, all men. God blessed the occasion with the concourse of about one hundred witnessing the rite and remaining over for the Gospel meeting. Also in their presence I married three couples of believers who for years were living maritally but lacking the money for getting married at the law.
At the breaking of bread last Lord's Day, several of the native brethren took their place, filling our hearts with solemn gladness and true humiliation as we ponder upon the high privilege God has allotted us of raising unto His glory this testimony to the simplicity of Christ-a thing unknown in the whole north of Brazil and the greater part of the south.
With our love in Christ Jesus,
J. P. Ribeiro. harbor work Dear brethren:- New York, July 18th, 1930.
Saints interested in the Harbor Work will be glad to know of the work going on in Montreal Harbor. The writer spent three profitable days at the Guelph Conference, then motored to Ottawa and from there went to Montreal where he was privileged to spend four happy days in company with our beloved brother S. J. Holwill in work among the seamen.
Brother Holwill works very hard during the day in his electrical shop but we managed to slip away to the ships every afternoon at 4:30, returning each evening about 10. It is a good forty minutes to the waterfront via tram-car and the work calls for patience as it always means a late supper, a trial to Mrs. Holwill, who is not well. However, we had much to stir our own hearts, fine openings with literature, talks on the Booth chart and each evening some lad or two coming back to our brother's home (which is a real Bethel to them) for a further talk over a cup of tea. Mr. Holwill is well-known and equally well-liked by many seaman having done this work for a number of years and the kindly, home-like treatment his wife gives the boys lives long in their memories.
On Lord s Day afternoons our brother Germain kindly offers his car and himself for the service so together after the breaking of bread we visited some seven vessels of different flags. This done, we picked up two boys and took them back to tea, brother Germain going home. In the evening had a Bible Beading at an elderly relative's home, another seaman joining us there. The boys like Gospel hymns and as there was a first-rate piano on hand we did our best to sing out the sweet songs of Grace. All in all it is a remarkable opening and while the season is a short one there is much to be done and from observation we can say our brother does his work thoroughly.
-R. A. West.
Erie, Pa., July, 1930.
For the past six years we have been able to reach all vessels that touch the Port of Erie. Now, however, owing to an accident to a newsboy, costing the Company on whose vessel it occurred, $10,000.00, all vessels coming into the ore dock are now strictly closed to us. The Superintendent, here, has had the matter up with the Head Offices in Cleveland, Ohio, but with no favorable results. Will those who are interested in this work, remember this in special prayer, for "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Gen. 18:14).
There are, however, five other lines which come here, and to which we have access:passenger and coast guard cutters, package freighters, grain, coal and pulpwood carriers. These are coming in daily, and also some ocean vessels for grain.
The men are invariably appreciative, especially when there are "seamen's kits" to distribute. Through the efforts of the Young People of the Detroit Assembly, and sisters in the Holland and Erie Assemblies, there has been a good supply of these this year. A sample will be gladly sent to anyone whose heart is stirred up to contribute to this good work.
The "contribution" referred to consists of:Home Evangel, used as an envelope, Messenger of Peace, The Lamp, and other sound Gospel tracts, Gospels of John and Seamen's Kits.
To date there has been no lack of material for this branch of the Lord's work, and we are more than grateful to the many friends who contribute in various ways to this need.
"God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love," and it will be remembered by Him in that soon-coming Day. -F. B. TOMKINSON.
ELIZABETH MISSIONARY MEETINGS:
These will D.V. be resumed Monday, Sept. 8th, at the same place, 357 Morris Ave. We trust they will be attended with renewed energy and much blessing result.