Colporteur Work in the Levant
IN view of the terrible war that has been raging between Turkey and the Balkan States during a portion of the past year, we are glad to be able to present such a cheering report as the one that follows, recently received from the secretary of the Levant Union Mission, Brother C. Voigt. He writes:— “We are very glad of the success of our canvassers during the past year. It was the most successful year that we ever have had in our canvassing work, but we think also that it was the most difficult year our canvassers have had. Wars, revolutions, epidemics, famine, earthquakes, and difficulties in communication do not serve to make canvassing an easy work. It took all the faith and courage of our canvassers to continue their work. There were about twelve who devoted their whole time to this work. They sold 27,350 piasters’ worth of books and tracts, about 2,000 piasters more than in 1911. They worked 8,046 hours. On an average each canvasser sold every hour 3½ piasters’ worth. This is much better than in 1911, when each canvasser sold 2 piasters’ worth an hour. “Since 1909 our canvassers have sold in the Levant 70,835 piasters’ worth of our books and tracts. Praise the Lord for this, and never cease to pray for our canvassing brethren and sisters.” During 1910 our brethren in the Levant published literature in four languages. In 1911 they added one language, while during 1912 they published in seven languages. The number of pages published during 1912 amounted to 4,415,500, more than double the number of pages printed in 1911. Let us not forget Brother Voigt’s request to pray for the canvassers in that difficult field.