Encouraging Prospects in Japan by W. L. Foster

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 17, 1910

Encouraging Prospects in Japan

By W. L. Foster

W. L. FOSTER

To tell of all the encouraging features and the little things that help to make our burdens easy, would require much more space than could be spared in one number of the REVIEW. But look on the map of Japan, and you will notice a small body of land called Kiusiu, surrounded by water. It is, indeed, small, but contains a population nearly equal to that of the States of Washington, Oregon, California, and Texas. Such a thing seems almost impossible; but it is, nevertheless, true. And these people are without Christ; God loves them, but they know it not. When truly converted, they make good Christians. They love this message just as much as we do, and are as willing to sacrifice for its advancement.

We had our week of prayer the last week of December. It is the custom of the Japanese, upon the approach of a new year, to send greetings to all their friends. And during the first three days of the new year, they make just as many friendly visits as possible. Also, before New-year’s day, for several days they are busily engaged in preparing refreshments for their guests. Their visits are necessarily short. Usually they leave only their cards in the tray placed in the entrance for that purpose. But if slightly acquainted, it is customary for the guest to partake of his host’s generosity. This is usually tea, machi, tobacco, and sake. But even at such a time, the attendance during the week of prayer showed that some, although not yet Christians, were more interested in their soul’s welfare than in the festivities.

Our house is on a busy, noisy street, near the gateway to the largest temple in the city. It is estimated that forty thousand persons sometimes visit the temple in a single day, and these, with very few exceptions, are without a ray of hope beyond the present life; and in many cases it would seem there is no hope or joy in the present life.

Each week ends with something accomplished. So the first week of the year closed with four hundred fifty of the paper, Owari no Fukuin (Gospel for the Last Days) in the homes of Nagasaki, and seventy-five copies mailed to different parts of the island. As we were doing this, we thought of the way the message had its beginning. A few days after the distribution of the papers, a young man called at the home of Brother Tsukamoto, saying he had read the paper, and wanted more of the light it contained. Now he is attending the Bible studies, and seems deeply interested.

A student of one of the higher schools here in the city, one evening asked me what my church taught. After I had spent thirty minutes telling what we teach, and why, he asked for some literature, and said, “Six years ago a man came to our village with some papers called Owari no Fukuin.” This was none other than one of our faithful workers. The young man’s interest was aroused by it. There is a growing interest in this ancient stronghold of heathenism. I could tell the story of a number who seem to be coming from darkness into light. We have the promise of a tent effort as soon as the brethren can come; but it will take them six months to finish the duties already pressing upon them. Then comes the terrible heat of summer. We are planning other things for Nagasaki, which I will write about later. Also, we are hoping several of the canvassers can be spared this spring, to enter upon labor somewhere in Kiusiu. God’s care is over us. We feel his power, and can see his guiding hand. Now is the opportunity to give Japan the message. The people will receive it, if they have an opportunity.

Those who come to this empire will find all that their fond ambitions are longing for, if it be to have a place in God’s vineyard.

The old year closed—closed with forty-nine souls buried in the watery grave to arise to receive newness of life. This makes our hearts rejoice, and we are already praying that at least one hundred may find the way of life during the year to come.

Nagasaki.