TEN days after we opened work in Laochang, a fire broke out, which burned some twenty or thirty houses, coming within three doors of our chapel. While the fire was raging, the native evangelist's wife heard a woman in the adjoining room calling upon her idols to save her, saying, "Pu-sa giu wo! Pu-sa giu wo!" The Bible woman told her not to call on the idols, but on the heavenly Father, for help.
This woman had never heard of the true God or the gospel until she came in contact with our workers. Though at first opposed by her husband, she has been very faithful in attending all the services, and has now won her husband to the place where he wants to learn of the Saviour. Since hearing of Jesus, she has torn her idols from their shrine, and hung the Ten Commandments in their place, and no longer burns paper for the dead.
One remarkable thing about this woman is that before we found her, she did not believe in playing cards, drinking wine, or smoking, which are common practices among the women of the place. We believe this is only one among the many honest hearts in the thousands of unentered Szechuan villages whom the Lord is preparing to receive the words of life.