WORK IN THE BAHAMA ISLANDS

We have been frequently reminded of the difficulties of our brethren laboring in the Bahama Islands. The Bahama Group includes about twenty inhabited islands and an immense number of smaller islands and rocks covering an area of 4,400 square miles (see insert). On one of these islands Columbus made his first landing in 1492. They were first settled by the British in 1629, then by the Spaniards in 1641, and from 1783 to the present time they have been in British possession. The population in 1920 was estimated to be 56,805, the greater number being descendants of liberated Africans. The principal port and only town of any importance is Nassau on New Providence Island.

Communication between the islands is mostly by small schooners or motor-boats, which makes travel difficult and also uncomfortable in bad weather. For a number of years brethren Robert Stratton and August Van Ryn have made their headquarters at Marsh Harbour, on Abaco Island. Brother Jewers has labored in Andros as well as other islands, and more recently Brother J. S. Hall has commenced to labor at Cat Island, which has a population estimated at between 5,000 and 6,000. In connection with this work Brother Hall writes as follows:

The Bight, Cat Island,

October 22, 1931.

I arrived here on the 2nd inst., after being away nearly three months. The meetings were conducted by a native brother who is very interested in the work. One was added to the Assembly, and a young girl, who was saved through the tract, "Carrie," has become interested and attends the meetings, being desirous to come into fellowship.

This is a needy island, affording a large field for gospel work, and knowing the islands to some extent one is safe in saying that the work started here is but a nucleus for a greater work, not only in this island, but other adjacent ones as well. Brother Elden of The Current writes that he will visit us (D. V.) next month. We are looking forward to his visit with joy, and are praying the Lord for blessing as he comes among us. We desire the prayers of the saints. brazil

We have received requests for prayer from our brother J. Penna, laboring in the Amazonas Province in the central portion of this vast country. The population of Brazil is somewhat more than 17 millions, made up of the following races:Whites, 6 millions; blacks, 21/5 millions; Indians, 1 1/3 million; mixed races, 7 ½ millions. Of the Indians 500,000 are estimated to be partly civilized, while 800,000 are still in the wild state. Most of the territory is sparsely settled by aboriginal tribes, particularly in Amazonas and Matto Grosso. The white predominate in the Southern states, and mixed races in the Central and Northern coast states. A fairly recent report as to the religious conditions in Brazil says:"In Brazil indifference is quite common to men and women of all classes,-the double standard of morality allows men to live so far from the recognized ideal of religious life that for men of conscience religion soon becomes a form of mockery. With the many, indifference runs into infidelity, occultism, and even atheism. A vast majority are professed Roman Catholics who do not go to church, do not confess, do not commune, regard the use of images with repugnance, do not like the priests and have mental reservations respecting the authority of the church."

Our Brother Penna writes as follows:

The Lord's blessing continues to be poured down upon us for everything. We continue praying that the Lord may lead one of His servants to come to our parts to help us in the ministry of the Word. This is, perhaps, our greatest need.

At; Aicurapa River, on August last, three persons were baptized unto the Lord's Name and seven more are waiting for the first opportunity in order to do the same. In this assembly and in the one at Mirity Lake the brethren are engaged in building their meeting-houses. They are hoping to have them ready by the end of this year (D.V.). The brethren here have been much encouraged by the Lord through ministry of the Word. Thanks be to the Lord for the interest He is raising among Japanese people in the Japanese settlement near by this town. About eight young men are attending the meeting on Sundays, and our four Japanese brethren there are nicely interested in the Lord's work, so that they are bringing their young countrymen to Christ. We are very glad. To the Lord be glory! Brethren, we want prayer, much prayer, on our behalf.

CHINA

In regard to the tent-work in which our Brother Kautto has been engaged, he writes as follows:

The days in the tent seem to go so fast that before one realizes it is evening, so our writing was so much neglected. The chief difficulty was the interruption and curiosity of the natives, by whom, we may be safe in saying, we were never left alone except perhaps during the darkest part of the night-always somebody watching:often even at 4 o'clock in the morning their eyes were peeping in at the corners of the tent and their voices could be heard in low tones. However, we enjoyed the work very much, and trust that some day the seed sown will bring forth at least some fruit to the Lord's honor and glory.

We moved the tent to our last place on the 12th of October, at which time I thought it best on account of the cold that Mrs. Kautto stay at home. I have not stayed at the tent myself continually, going in the evening and returning in the morning. The last couple of nights it has been nice moonlight, and I have come back home right after the meeting. It takes about 1 ½ hours to ride on the bicycle.

The interest has been very good, the people coming from different villages, so they crowd the tent as full as it can hold, and outside there are several tens yet. Last night on the men's side of the tent there were thirty boys from ten to fifteen years old squatting on their haunches between the front seats and the platform. In China we have to divide the men and women, the aisle being between them, for it is not according to the Chinese custom for them to sit together, and even with this arrangement there are many of the women, especially girls and young women, who stay outside and only look over the side-curtain of the tent.

The days are rapidly growing colder, so that our tent-season will be over in another week or two. We are sure that His Word will not return unto Him void, and that those who have so faithfully labored together with us by prayer shall not be disappointed, whatever the harvest appears now.

AFRICA

The following brief extract from Dr. Woodhams' letter, dated October 3rd, will give some idea of his activity in the medical work and in the gospel:

Yesterday we had 146 patients in the Dispensary and in the Hospital; also a good crowd for the gospel. Many of these were Mangwanas, so we told again of God's demonstration of His love for sinners, yet they are still a solid front against the gospel. But wait-surely the Lord will turn some of their hard hearts. We had a fine conference last week. The Searles and Deans came over for three days, and we certainly enjoyed this time together. We had readings in 1st Thessalonians with much profit.

Miss Creighton has moved into her own house. Everybody is well and happy and busy. The time is shorter than when we believed and the night cometh when no man can work.

Last week I had a midnight call for a black-water fever case (a Dutch settler), 105 miles away. I got there at 3:30 A. M. The patient got along well, but I had to remain there a second night.

"The Lord Himself shall descend!" What a hope is ours, and what a Person to wait for and serve!

We are thankful to say that our latest tidings is of much improvement in the condition of our young Brother Deans.

Our Brother Hoze in Barbados writes of being quite well again and able to get around in the Lord's work as before his illness.