Wai-chau, China by J. P. ANDERSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 9, 1913

Wai-chau, China

By J. P. ANDERSON

J. P. ANDERSON

HAVING been away from home a month, on a very profitable trip, I will tell you something about the stations in the order that I visited them.

I took boat from Wai-chau to Sam To Chuk, a distance of one hundred fifty li [a li being one third of a mile], and from Sam To Chuk I walked to Moi Lung, a distance of one hundred twenty li. Here I found the canvasser and the brethren of good courage. There has been no evangelist stationed here since last November, so the people were glad to welcome a man to work among them. About thirty were out to Sabbath services, and more would have come had they known we were there. The evening meetings were well attended, about fifty being present. I enjoyed my stay very much, and was glad to note the improvement the people had made. When we first went there, they were just like a herd of wild cattle; but now the meetings are orderly and quiet. Some from there will be baptized at our next general meeting, or possibly on my next visit. I have confidence that our evangelist in this place will in time make a strong worker.

From Moi Lung I walked to Swabue, seventy li, intending to take a boat to Swatow; but finding none, and the boat service being irregular, I thought best not to wait, so took a boat to Hong-kong, and from there took a Japanese coast steamer to Swatow. Here I had a good visit with Brethren W. F. Hills and B. L. Anderson, who arrived the very day I did.

From Swatow I went by rail to Chow Chu Fu, and then by boat to Tsung Khen. From the latter place I walked to Chin Phim, a distance of ninety li. I received a hearty welcome. We held two meetings a day while I remained. About forty came out to the Sabbath services. One woman sixty-five years old, formerly a heathen, has not missed a Sabbath service for eight months. Hers is one of the sweetest old faces I ever saw. It was worth the trip up there to see her. She has the reputation in the neighborhood of being a saint for peace and quiet. Would to God there were more such people. They are jewels, and worth the effort to get them. Here, as elsewhere, I noticed that the country people are the most reverent. The woman already mentioned came three miles to services. We could have a school here of fifty boys almost any day we would open one. However, we have no teacher, and I think it better to wait until a church is organized before we start one. I should like to live and work here a whole year. Prospects are bright, and we shall surely reap if we faint not. All we need is to be humble, have plenty of patience, and do much work, and we are sure to raise up a church.

On my way back, while falating down the river in a small boat, at midnight a typhoon swept down upon us, and I feared for a while it would be my last trip in China. It was dark, and the wind blew fearfully. The boatman seemed so scared that he lost his presence of mind, and I did not know where we were. The boat was dipping water, and what to do I did not know. Finally, the Lord allowed the boat to strike a sand-bar, on which we anchored. The sand blew into our boat so we could not sleep, and it seemed that morning would never come. When daylight appeared, I hired a wood-cutter to carry my baggage to Chow Chu Fu, because the river was so rough the boat could not go.

I was indeed glad to get back home. I found everything in good order, and the attendance at our services, I was told, was more than we had room for.

At Pat Wei the people have already collected among themselves $140, and with my personal donation, and that of the evangelists and the teachers, it will make about $230 available at any time, with which to build a church. We hope to raise five hundred dollars or six hundred

dollars in all. It will be not only a church, but a school, and a sort of parsonage will also be built. All we pay for the labor is the board of the worker. I have this work very much at heart, and am anxious to make it a real success, for I feel we are on the right road.