"LABORERS TOGETHER WITH GOD" (1 Cor. 3:9).

What a wondrous privilege for those who have gone forth for His Name's sake, and who were themselves once "sinners of the Gentiles," to be now linked with God in the work of the Gospel! One plants, another waters, and God gives the increase.

They are "ambassadors for Christ" and "workers together with Him," making known to fallen man the love of God and the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. A missionary who has spent many years in a heathen country says:"How wonderful the privilege and how deep the responsibility of abiding in the Lord Jesus and of serving Him in the extension of His kingdom!" Another says, "How our hearts rejoice when we see evidences of the work of grace in the hearts of the people!"

AFRICA

The following items of interest are from our brother William Deans:

Our houses here in Congo are made of molded brick, sun-dried, with grass roofs. Over the bricks a plaster of ashes, manure and sand is used. For a finish, a native whitewash completes the picture, and we are at home. We have been busy whitewashing the Searles' house, preparatory to their arrival. New grass was put on the roof, the ground cleared of weeds, the cook-house repaired, etc. We finished on Friday, and on Saturday our beloved brother and sister Searle and family arrived unannounced. Needless to say, we are very glad to have them back, and unite with them in praise to God for His faithfulness in making their return to this needy field possible.

United prayer during the days succeeding their arrival led us to a rough division of the much work to do. We all felt the need for more village work, and will all endeavor to reach as many personally as possible. The Lord has led us to leave the station work, the station school, the medical dispensary and the many routine duties there to Mr. and Mrs. Searle. They are happy in leaving the work of the many village schools and contacts to my wife and myself. In this way we trust the Lord will make us more efficient in His service.

The native saints in and around Nyangkundi graciously gave a week's work for the Lord without any thought of material reward and helped to recondition the several buildings. One small new building was erected, and all the others are repaired. The spirit shown was excellent, and showed that they are not here merely for the loaves and fishes, but for the Gospel, and the honor of our Lord and theirs.

A number of Christians have approached us during the last few weeks asking for baptism. It is over a year since there have been any baptized here at Nyangkundi, and there will be doubtless very many who will shortly be buried with the Lord in baptism. Roman Catholic teaching, so prevalent here, teaches that baptism is salvation. Even baptism of the dead is practiced. In one village recently old Babira fathers said, "Why should we give up our ways and live righteously? We may drink our beer and sin our sins, and after we die the Catechist will come and baptize us. Thus we will get to heaven after all.'' Hence we feel the need of careful teaching before baptizing.
Witch-doctor paraphernalia, including charms, divining-horns, mysterious vials of strange powders, and a bottle of a queer oil, all went up in smoke as the Christians of Nyangkundi stood by and sang a hymn of praise to the power of God. It seems that one of the residents on the station was an unsuccessful witch-doctor who, although having professed conversion several months ago. clung to these relics of his former art. After a domestic row his wife confessed their presence to several of the native Christians, who brought the man and his "dawa." He voluntarily kindled a blaze underneath the collection after we had made examination of the contents. We had an opportunity to deal with the man, but he stands in the need of prayer. His name is Shakpa.

Seekers for Portions of the Scriptures have become so many that we have been forced to set Saturday afternoon as the time for sale of books. We felt physically unable to sell at all hours, hence made the ruling. A new supply of Scriptures in Lunyere arrived, and many are anxious to receive copies.

Ezekele Ngwera, who preaches the Word among the Bagaya people, sent in to tell us of nine who have accepted Christ in the last week. Praise God! Sometimes we whites cannot get out into the villages because of physical weakness, or for some other reason, but God uses His instruments, and these are often black Christians.

While waiting for the drum to call us to prayer-meeting the other afternoon, two men appeared and saluted. One was a headman, the other his escort. "We want a teacher to come and live in our village and teach us the words of God. We are all interested. We will listen to his words-all of us, old, young, and the women." Questioning revealed that these were sincere Babira villagers. We explained that we do not send, God sends by His Spirit, but promised to pray about the matter and present it to the Assembly. So far no one has volunteered. This is another open door

Members of each of the six village divisions at Nyangkundi meet one night in the week to pray. Thus, on each week night somewhere nearby, Christians are gathered together in one hut for an hour's meditation, prayer and praise. May this prove to be a source of power to our native brethren, meeting together in God's presence. "They cried, The sword of the Lord and of Gideon. And they stood every man in his place round about the camp, and all the host ran, and cried, and fled" (Judges 7:21).

Speaking of taking over the village and school work from brother Searle, as already mentioned, William Deans further says, "We are led by no misconceived notions that the hope of this people is civilization or education, for we know there is no hope for them except in our Lord Jesus Christ."

There are now thirteen schools in the Nyangkundi area.

The following is an encouraging report concerning the work:

"We have been greatly encouraged by the response from the villages in the past five months. During that time one weak school rose in daily attendance from 22 to 98, including girls. Four other villages requested schools. Christians offered themselves for the work, and chapels have been built in each of the four. The attendance in each exceeds forty-five daily; attendance of one is over one hundred. The Christian boys have reported many professions of faith in the Lord at various schools. As I itinerate there is always opportunity to interrogate. In addition to these four new Gospel centers, among Balendu (3) and Bahema (1) tribes, there have come two requests for schools from Babira villages. This is real answer to prayer. One of these villages has sent men to gather materials for a chapel; the other is more recent, but entirely unsolicited and whole-heartedly earnest. The first call of these two came as a result of Sunday afternoon Gospel work by Nyangkundi Christians."

"A couple of weeks ago the weather being inclement we called all the evangelists in and they came 100% strong. We had a delightful time with them in Bible Reading (Acts 2:37-43; 4:8-13).Then they all told about the work they were doing. After that, we all kneeled down together, and such prayers! Not long-winded affairs, but short, heart-sprung utterances oi prayer and praise. They certainly reached the throne. One after another, no hesitation, just one glorious symphony for the Father's ear. We all feel the need of much prayer. My wife and I have spending much time together besides our personal time, and feel strengthened. On the station there is a prayer-meeting in some home every night in the week. There are six groups of houses, and in one house in each group each night a time of praise and prayer is set. We are seeing more love in our midst than I have ever seen before, and one cannot but feel that the secret is this meeting with neighbors to pray."

Lolua is situated in the depths of the great Ituri forest. From there our brother Robert Deans sends cheering accounts of the work.

"It is two years this month since we came to Lolua. Dr. Woodhams and party having returned from the States, we came and took up the work here. Bill had to give up because of his illness. We have every reason to thank the Lord for the encouragement He has, and does, show us from time to time There is an enrollment of 1922 in the day-school just now, nine of whom are Pygmies. It is a real pleasure to see those little folks coming to learn about God. Poor things! They have been kept in ignorance of Him who came to save. Pray, dear brethren, that they may come daily and hear the words of life, that they may be able, if they give their hearts to the Lord, "to teach others also."

The ones and twos are coming forward and confessing Christ as Lord. Last week two came after the service and said they believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and they also believed He died on the Cross to save them from sin. How our hearts rejoice when we see evidences of the work of grace in the hearts of these people! Two Sundays ago we baptized nine converts in the river Lolua near here. Many stood listening to the singing and the preaching of the Word before the baptism took place, which in itself is a testimony to the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and also of the believer in Him.

Our brethren at Mombassa have also encouraging reports; although overladen with work (they are doing four operations a day, and there are about sixty cases waiting) they rejoice they have so many to preach the gospel to. May the Lord richly bless them and give them souls for His glory.

"WITH THANKSGIVING"

Brother Searle's safe arrival at Nyangkundi is surely a token of answered prayer, and gives cause for thanksgiving. Writing on his arrival at that place he says:"By the Lord's mercy we arrived here at sundown, August 5th. We had pleasant ocean voyages, calm, most of the way," etc.
"Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for His mercy en-dureth forever."

CHINA

Mr. Kautto sends us the following account of a visit to the out-station, accompanied by brother Foggin:

Taitowying, China, Aug. 14,1933.

Brother Foggin and myself have made a trip to Shuangshantze, returning August 10th. We are glad to say that the road between here and Shuangshantze is clear of bandits, and as they are leaving this district gradually, we are hoping for days of wider opportunities. When we went to Shuangshantze we found a town presenting the appearance of having been left by an earthquake, or tornado, or some such overturning visitor; buildings burned down by bandits, others with doors and windows torn away by soldiers and bandits, and what might have remained, is missing through the cleaning up process of those who locally have that capacity. Even bricks are taken out from the combined brick and stone walls, where they were rendered handy by the violence of the removal of doors and windows. Out of more than fifty merchants who used to do business there, the only representatives now are three grocery stores, three medicine shops and two barber shops. Except on market-days the place seems desolate, with only now and then a comer or goer. However, on market-days there are a considerable number, and it was at these times we tried to preach; but there was little attention, for the people seemed to be extremely busy. We visited a place that used to be a great mercantile shop, where the doors and windows are now torn out, and the place was packed full of gamblers from early in the morning until late in the evening on market-days. Even on the morning we came away, at three a.m. we could hear gambling in an inn near the road.

Brother Foggin was much impressed by the little work that the natives had started in a small place about two miles from Shuangshantze. It began during the war, when the people living there had no opportunity to come to Shuangshantze because of soldiers and bandits. Other Christians around the town, also having no chance for meetings, went to this place, a tiny village of some half-a-dozen homes, where a Christian, who used to live in our compound while he worked for us, now has his family. From other such little villages along that river there come listeners too, sometimes to the number of twenty. They have used as a meeting-place an empty house in a group of homes where the men have all been killed as bandits, or in the war, or have died, and have erected a tiny mud platform, and placed on it a little table as a speaker's stand, and a blackboard on the wall; song sheets also sharing the wall space.

As soon as we arrived our old workman asked if we wanted to have a meeting, and when he had sent the word around there came half-a-dozen women and as many men. So I spoke to them on Acts 16:14, 15, and then brother Foggin also spoke. Let us pray that the Lord will start more of those little meetings among the natives on their own initiative. In another village, when they saw that we were pleased (rather than otherwise) in the natives having started their own meeting, they also said that they were going to start a similar work.

We were intending to make a trip to Mutouteng, and see how things were going there, but while at Shuangshantze a band of bandits raided a village about half-a-mile from Mutouteng, robbed the place, and took a hundred people for ransom. We also heard that many had been robbed on the way, bands of three or four hiding by the road in the tall kaffir-corn, to waylay any travelers and take what they may have. So we decided not to go during this trip.

Conditions are improving the country through, that is, in our section, and when the rainy season is over we may be able to go out with the tent.

We hope brother Foggin can be persuaded to stay with us this winter, after which he expects to take up work again in Kansu. He is quite energetic about preaching trips. Charles and Esther Kautto.

Brother Foggin writes:The Lord has supplied all my needs, and I have much to be thankful for. There is much to make one's heart glad in the way in which God's people have taken hold of the missionary work. I am at Taitowying with brother Kautto and wife, and we have been having a real time of fellowship together. We went up to Shuangshantze, and were rejoiced to see a little meeting going on in a country district without a foreign missionary.

We have been having meetings on the street these last few days, and are expecting to put up the tent in a nearby village soon, perhaps next Monday. We did not get up to Mutouteng owing to bandits. However, they seem to have cleared away from here now. It is a marvel to me that the bandits have not raided the mission station here before now, as it is situated outside the wall of the city with no visible protection. Mr. Kautto says he is on good terms with the bandits. The bombs certainly landed near enough, the shrapnel riddling the big gate of the compound. I am expecting to work with brother Kautto, for the winter, and then return back to Kansu next spring, D.V., hoping to settle in Kanchow for a while.

MANCHURIA

Our brother E. J. Tharp and his family expect, God willing, to return to Manchuria in the near future. Since being in this country the Japanese have taken control of their territory, and he writes us as follows:

"New problems have arisen all through our territory; and with the presence of Japanese troops and an increasing influx of Japanese and Korean immigrants, a challenge is thrown out to us to acquire a Japanese language in order to give the Gospel to them as well as to the Manchurians and Mongolians. You will realize we are not sufficient in ourselves for these things, but God is able, and He is our sufficiency:however, we crave a part of your prayer-time and ask you to lay hold on God for us, not only that He will undertake for our return, but that we may all be greatly used in the future. Our new State has a population of about forty million souls, but not more than one-tenth of that number has heard the gospel intelligently."The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are very few," "Therefore, pray ye!"

"Ye also helping together by prayer for us" (2 Cor. 1:11).

JAPAN

From our brother E. B. Craig of Oakland, Calif., we receive the following:
Brother Fujimoto writes of the work of the gospel going on constantly, with one more open confession in baptism. A happy event lately was a meeting at the home of young brother Hosaka and his wife, celebrating the completion of ten years together in the path of faith, in which too they have been faithful in testimony. But sad news also comes concerning the sorrow of a brother and his wife not long converted, who had gotten worldly, and who have lately had their three little boys taken away by infantile cholera in one month. This epidemic has been raging there recently. Prayer is asked for the parents. Brother Hay and wife and brother Wright, from Kobe, made a visit to the brethren at Tokyo. Brother Fujimoto asks prayer for a gospel journey which he expects to take into the northern parts by bicycle, Lord willing.

BAHAMAS:

From letters received from our brother R. A. C. Jewers (who desires attention called to the change in his address), we extract the following:

Box 601, Nassau, Aug. 28, 1933.

Have just returned from a five weeks' visit to Andros Island, one of the Bahamian group where great need and poverty abound. There was excellent interest in the gospel, and two souls confessed the Lord when preaching in the open air. Owing to high winds, I was not able to go further than Fresh Creek, but perhaps can reach the southern parts next visit. This island is over ninety miles long, and one finds many openings for the good seed. I desire the prayers of the saints for these neglected parts.

On Sept. 4 he writes of another severe visitation by hurricane to the Islands as follows:

On Sept. 3 an awful hurricane swept over Eleuthera, Bahamas, and has destroyed much property and farm produce. I believe this is the worst I have ever seen, the wind force worse than the awful storm of 1926 at Marsh Harbour. The barometer fell very low. Spanish Wells must have been in the center of the storm. We expected any minute might be our last, but are thankful to our God for preserving our lives. A place eight miles away, I hear, reports lives lost and some injured. The Governor of the Colony visited the place today by sea-plane, and says they will do their best to help the sufferers, but the Government is almost crippled financially.

The Gospel Hall where we meet was damaged, and the living-rooms above were destroyed. My wife and I were compelled to leave, and after the storm found so much water had poured in that beds and all things were wet.

In our distress we can count on our God to help us, and we know '"He can do more abundantly above all that we ask or think." So we leave all to His unfailing care. We desire the prayers and interest of our brethren in the North."

From our brother E. A. Elden we get tidings of the same severe storm, as follows:

Current, Eleuthera, Sept. 4, 1933. I write to let you know of another terrible storm that has swept over us, carrying with it everything except our homes. It was easily as severe as the storm of 1929 The barometer dropped 191/2 tenths, and it seemed as if we were in the center of the storm. After blowing for eight hours the wind dropped for about fifteen minutes, and then shifted to the opposite quarter, causing the water to rush in on us. This always does the most damage. The brethren here have not been able to earn any money because of the great depression, and were living on just what they got from their farms. Now all these are destroyed, leaving them in great need. We know the Lord is still the same and will open up ways to meet the need. We are thankful no homes were destroyed and no lives lost.