AFRICA

Dr. and Mrs. Woodhams and family, accompanied by Miss De Jonge, were due in San Francisco about Aug. 30, and will have arrived before this can reach our readers. The safe arrival of our dear brother and those with him is surely a cause for much thanksgiving, and reminds us afresh of the faithfulness and goodness of our God toward our brother and those associated with him during the past five years. Not only do we think of the many needs met, financial and otherwise, the journeying mercies as they traveled from place to place, and the measure of good health given to them in that tropical climate, but especially do we think of the spiritual fruit which is now being reaped as the result of the prayers and labors of that little party coupled with the prayers and fellowship of the saints at home.

In this connection the following extracts from letters recently received are indeed interesting:

From Robert Deans:

Mambasa, July 6, 1930.

You will be pleased to learn that six were buried with our Lord in baptism to-day, two having come with us from Nyangkundi, and the other four brought to Christ Jesus through the faithful ministry of Dr. Woodhams and the patient teaching of Miss De Jonge.

I often think if the dear saints at home could only see the marvelous work of grace wrought by the Holy Spirit in the hearts of these dear people who only a very short time ago were steeped in heathenism and cannibalism, they would join with us again and again in both saying and singing, "Oh, to grace how great a debtor," etc. May we all be like the beloved Apostle when he wrote to the Thessalonians, "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy" (1 Thess. 2:19,20).

And in another letter, dated July 14th, he says:

I am sure the saints at home will rejoice with us when they learn that last Friday night at our prayer-meeting, the Headman here, for whom the Dr. and family and Miss De Jonge have been continually praying for the last four years, stood up and said, "I accept Jesus Christ as my Saviour, believing He died on the cross for me." Oh, how happy we all felt, both native Christians and ourselves! Yes, dear brethren, our God hears and answers prayer. This man, as a native told me on Sunday, continually made light of the things of God in the village, but now, praise our blessed Lord, he rejoices in "sins forgiven."

Dr. Woodhams and his family with Miss De Jonge we presume will soon be reaching the coast of Japan. Our prayer is that they will have a very profitable and comfortable journey, and that the saints at home will be stimulated in the things of God through the story they will tell.

We hear that Luke's Gospel is now on the press, and we will soon be able to have copies. This is exceedingly interesting, and we hope and pray that by the time this Gospel reaches us others shall be brought to our gracious Lord Jesus."

Dr. Woodhams writing from Japan tells how they were mercifully preserved and sustained while their ship was passing through a typhoon in the China Sea. Of Japan he writes as follows:

We have had a very pleasant visit, seeing both the country and the people. Paul’s spirit was moved within him when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry, but here there are eighty millions worshiping the creature and not the Creator.

May we continue to remember in prayer our brethren and others laboring in the gospel in Japan.

While some go to foreign lands in obedience to the Lord's command to preach the gospel to "every creature," others go for money or fame, as the following extracts from our young brother Wm. Deans' letter will show. Should we not pray that the testimony of our young brother may bear fruit in the hearts of those who have gone to Africa with other purposes in view?

Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson are here, seeking a talking picture of the pygmies. They have decided to camp in this village, for, after a survey of the surrounding districts, find that pygmies are more plentiful here. They are very nice people, and friendly to missionary work. They have been to Mambassa and seen the Doctor and all there, and are highly and favorably impressed with what is being done for the natives there. It may be they are out of Christ themselves, but will hear the gospel many times before their departure, if the Lord wills.

As they arrived on Sunday and found that a gospel meeting was called for 9 o'clock, they stepped aside and the service was held as scheduled. Had they not done that it would have been very difficult to draw the natives away from such an attraction as a motion picture camera. When they heard the natives singing, they were so impressed that they asked to be allowed to record it, and we sang "Nothing but the Blood of Jesus" in Kingwana, while they photographed the natives and recorded the sound of the hymn.

They are to camp for a few months at this village, just across the river. They voluntarily stated that no work would be done on Sundays, and I am glad, for it is hard to explain to the natives an irreverence for the Lord's Day, when we, children of civilization, have heard and had this gospel near us for so many years.

They also volunteered to discontinue paying the natives with cigarettes, and when desiring a substitute, I suggested soap, Mr. Johnson took out his notebook, and pencilled a cable to his personal friend, Mr. Colgate, "Send shipment of Colgate's Soap. Pygmies will wash with no other."

CHINA

Brother Foggin writes on his arrival at Taitowying as follows:

The Lord has graciously prospered my journey, and brother Kautto was waiting on the wharf as the steamer arrived at Tientsin. He arranged for my trunks to be transferred to the China Inland Mission where we are now staying. Having got our necessary things we expect to leave on the midnight train for Peitaiho, and then on to Taitowying by donkey cart. Mr. Kautto has two halls in Taitowying and preaches every night. He says my cornet will attract many more out. He is also making a gospel tent, and hopes to use it this summer. He has already arranged for a teacher so that I may start to learn the language on arrival.

We give below extracts of letters from brother Kautto, written July 20, and from Mrs. Kautto, July 29:

From brother Kautto:

I think you have received brother Foggin's letter by this time, and so I do not repeat his account of his journey. He has been busy with the language and seems to be making good progress. He is taking lessons twice a day; in the morning with Mr. Kao, a nice Christian man, converted at Shuang-Shan-tze some five years ago. He took care of the mission property while I was on my furlough. Last year his father and uncle did not want him to stay with us, but found him a job as a School Inspector, but now he has three months off as the schools are closed for the summer vacation, and he wants to help brother Foggin in that time. In the afternoons brother Foggin is reading with the local postmaster who is anxious to learn English, so brother Foggin gives him one hour English, and he gives one hour Chinese in exchange. We have had meetings almost daily, either at the Street Chapel or here at the Mission Chapel. Some evenings it has rained so heavily that we have not gone out, for there would be no one to preach to. But when the weather permits we have had fairly good interest. Last Monday I was thinking to take a trip to our farthest cut-station at Mutoteng, but as it was raining heavily that morning it had to be postponed. Should the rain stop I hope to go to-morrow with a native helper. We have to go far around, for on the direct road are many bandits, and as they are unknown to me and there has been so much lawlessness against foreigners which the authorities seem powerless to stop, I think it best to keep myself out of the danger zone as much as possible. Of course there may be many that say, "Poor missionary, he has not enough faith to trust in the Lord," but I feel that I am not justified in putting my head into a lion's mouth, and then trust in the Lord that the lien will not bite it off.

The rainy season is not very far away, and it is rather hard to get anywhere when all the roads are streams of water. But we are trying to get the tent ready during the rainy season. I am making it myself; a round tent thirty feet in diameter to seat a hundred or more. When the rainy season is over we will go (D. V.) to villages and put up our tent, and have a week, or ten days, as seems best, in each place, and so we hope to be able to reach many of those who have never yet heard the gospel. Music seems to be the magnet that brings the people to hear the gospel, and the good hearty singing that we usually have is a good start for the interest in the meetings. But we would like to see some real conversions, which seem to be so few and far apart. Please pray for us that the Lord will have a revival among us.

From Mrs. Kautto:

Mr. Kautto left Monday morning for Mutoteng. Mr. Lee, the native evangelist, accompanied him. On Sunday afternoon we learned that 200 of the cavalry had been sent to fight the bandits, as word had been received from the General at Yu-kuan to drive them back. The bandits had come within eight miles. Uncertain as to which way they had gone, and how to avoid the fighting parties, Mr. Kautto did not know how long it would be before he could start; but that evening three men whom he knew came from their homes near Shuang-Shan-tze, and although two of them were fleeing, for fear of being taken and held for ransom by the bandits in their own neighborhood, yet they neither saw nor heard of either bandits or soldiers along the trail, so Mr. Kautto left at five the next morning. They were to leave the usual northerly route about six miles from Taitowying, and follow the high ridges of the Wall route to the north-east, passing over a point some 4,700 feet high, requiring some hard climbing, and after a long descent over lower ridges, join another trail (leading to Ta-tzu-kou) affording better traveling for about fifteen miles in a northerly direction. Then they would take a short cut across country to the north-west, about six miles, to Mutoteng. Altogether with up and downs it is around fifty miles. Beginning at five o clock Monday afternoon we had a heavy downpour that did not stop for twenty-four hours.

While we are glad to note by the letters received from Africa how the Lord is prospering them in those parts, we would not forget those laboring in more difficult fields, such as our brethren working among the American Indians, where conversions are few and far between. Let us remember also our brethren in South America and the West Indies.

"Brethren, Pray for Us."

Our brother Stratton writes Aug. S:

"As to the fund I am certainly very glad of the ' response to the appeal, and now await news from the Islands re. help from other sources, and especially as to the lifting of duties, etc. Have had quotations from Miami, and find lumber can be purchased there at rate of $25 per M. against $90 and $100 in Nassau. The question of transportation I am also taking up, and hope to hear from shortly, and then I shall be ready for procuring materials. Looking to the Lord in the meanwhile for much wisdom and guidance."

And on August 14 he also writes, stating he regrets not being able to visit many places promised, owing to his having to return on account of relief work, and desiring the prayers of the Lord's people.