Japan by T. H. Okohira.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 3, 1907

Japan

By T. H. Okohira.

DURING the summer I made a visit to our little company at Wakamatsu. I found them all of good courage. During the week of my stay, I studied the Scriptures with them, and on the Sabbath we celebrated the ordinances. During my stay one old lady, a widow, began to observe the Sabbath, and desired to be baptized; but her two sons opposed her so bitterly that she decided to wait and be baptized at the time of my next visit.

After spending a week at Wakamatsu, I went to visit the interested subscribers of our Japanese paper in several villages of Fukushima province. I had very interesting experiences among these people. One young man had been interested in the truth for some time, but at the time of my visit he had not fully decided to obey. Since my return I have received word from him that he has made the decision, and desires baptism at my next visit.

Another young man whom I visited is the principal of a country school. He was much pleased to have me visit him, for he is an earnest Christian. He took me to the home of a friend of his, who is also a Christian, and I gave them a study on the second coming of Christ. They were much interested, and wished me to remain longer, so I arranged to meet some of their friends the following day. At the appointed time I found many persons from several distant villages assembled in the schoolhouse. They were mostly country-school teachers. I presented to them the Bible reasons of our faith, and they were much interested, especially to know that the coming of the Saviour is so near. I remained with them nearly half a day, studying the Word, and left them with the promise to visit them again.

I visited still another young man, who has been suffering for a long time with consumption. He first heard the truth from one of our canvassers, and since then has been reading our paper, and is now keeping the Sabbath. I went over all the main points of our faith with him, and he gladly accepted the truth presented, and expressed his desire to be baptized. But the next morning he had a bad hemorrhage, and was too weak to go to the river. So I comforted him, and encouraged him to wait till I could come again.

After this I visited many others of our subscribers, and had such joyful visits with them that all desired me to stay longer, and tell them more about the third angel’s message. It was a source of much joy to me to see how highly all our subscribers value the Owari. Some bind the papers together and carry them about and read to others. One young man said to me, “The Owari is my best teacher of the truth. I need only the Bible and the Owari for my spiritual food.” All this was a great encouragement to me in my work as editor. My hands have been so tied by the translation work for the paper that I have often wished that I might go out as a field worker. I have thought that this would be better missionary work than sitting in the office writing. But this short trip among our readers has greatly encouraged me in my editorial work, and I will be more faithful and earnest in the future. But, brethren in the faith, “the harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” Indeed, the field is ripe for the message, and everywhere in this country souls hungering for the truth are awaiting our help. Brethren, let us do all we can to hasten the coming of the Lord Jesus; then we shall soon have a joyful gathering day from every part of the harvest-field.

T. H. OKOHIRA.