Among the Zenanas, India
By Vera Chilton
EVEN though you come to India, you can never be allowed behind the purdah; so you can learn nothing of those mysterious precincts except from what you hear. I have been having an exciting but heartbreaking time in my zenanas lately, and it seems as if the first fruits of my labors had been snatched from my grasp just as they were ripe unto harvest. Humanly speaking, they have been snatched out of my grasp, but the great Lord of the harvest will not suffer these precious first fruits to be lost, and I give them into his safe-keeping. The one very discouraging part of zenana work, looking at it from the outside, is that invariably as the reader reaches the stage of desiring baptism, the change is noticed in her life, and the worker is banished and the door closed to the gospel. But I rejoice to feel that though these dear ones may never be permitted to receive baptism, yet no one can prevent the work of the Spirit in their hearts; and "they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels." And so the leaven works; for is not the kingdom of God like unto leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal? Lucknow is acknowledged to be a veritable stronghold of Mohammedanism, which seems deadly in its strength and magnitude. It seems that every time a person tries to approach an individual for missionary work, he has to have a hand-to-hand struggle with Satan. Often it is as if Satan had built a mighty bulwark around every heart, and captive and rescuer are often bruised and mangled in beating up against it. But, thank the Lord, our God is the God of all flesh, and nothing is too hard for him, and by his Spirit he can and will prevail, and his remnant people shall be gathered out from among the Mohammedans, for the Spirit of the Lord has spoken it. "When I fall, I shall arise." And if it be God's will for me to die before our Jesus comes, I want to die with the glorious gospel banner in my hand and a shout of victory on my lips.