Our work at Kogoshima, Japan, seemed to go very slow and hard, and at times we were tempted to close our effort and move to some other place; but a change came which indicated that the Lord indeed is pouring out his Spirit upon honest souls while they are yet in heathen darkness.
One evening as we were holding meetings in a Japanese house which we had fitted up as a meeting place, and I was speaking upon the worship of false gods, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by one younger, came in and sat down. She at first looked around for something to worship, as was her custom when going to the temples; but seeing no idols, she gave attention to the sermon. She continued to come each evening, and soon began to keep the Sabbath and gave up the use of tobacco. At one of the meetings during the week of prayer, she gave this testimony:—
OFFICE STAFF MISSION PRESS TOKIO, JAPAN.
“When I came to the meeting the first night, I had never heard a Christian sermon; and as I came in the house with my daughter and sat down, there seemed to be a strange light around you while you were speaking. I asked my daughter if she could see it, but she said that she could see nothing strange. I continued to see it as long as you were speaking from the Bible; and since I have learned more of the Bible, I have come to believe that it was an angel of the Lord to lead me to the true religion, and I thank and praise him for showing the light to me, a poor heathen.”
She has had some experiences since which have been the means of impressing upon her mind the words of truth which she has heard. One day she came to me to tell me about them, and asked me if such things could be from the Lord. I read to her from Joel's prophecy how the Lord has promised in the last days to pour out his Spirit upon all flesh, and it has greatly strengthened her faith, and given her love for and confidence in God's Word. She cannot read, but is getting a good understanding of the gospel message for this time, so that she can tell it to others.
It has been very difficult to get the people to come to the meetings, but now many come, as if led by unseen hands, and six who never before heard the gospel have given their hearts to God. Is not this evidence of the latter rain, and the soon coming of the Lord?
