Our ministerial office always appreciates articles and letters from overseas. India's call for Bible instructors found a response on the part of her native women now in training. But India is still pleading for trained women to lead out in training many more for her thousands of cities, towns, and villages. American sisters, such pleas should be gripping our heartstrings, and many young women should be preparing for Bible work in overseas divisions. Items gleaned from Miss Warhurst's letter, which came with the foregoing article, will interest our readers. We are also reprinting an article by Miss Warhurst that appeared in the South India Observer. Catch the soul burden of this noble sister. It is so typical of a true Bible instructor.--L. C. K.]
The recent weeks have been anxious but happy ones. We are now in the ninth week of our effort and the first baptism has been held, when fourteen souls were buried in baptism. We hope to have at least twenty more in the next baptism; there would probably be a hundred were it not for the employment difficulties in this country. With India's millions, and tens of thousands workless, to give up one's job is no small test. In this effort, as in all other efforts I have been associated with, scores of people have said, "We want to follow the truth; we want to keep the Sabbath. But how can we do it when all industries and schools are open on Sabbath?" That is the one big discouraging feature of the work here. The economic situation is such that a man without work almost starves.
Of course we who have lived much of our lives in countries where work is offered to men who want to keep Sabbath, find the situation very difficult in a country such as this. However, we know that God is able and will never fail those who put their trust in Him. If we could only help people to have greater faith in the all-keeping power of God!
I keep wondering why we cannot have more women workers when we really need them so badly, especially here in India. Could those who do the planning realize the great dearth of women in the Bible work, and could they hear the women of India pleading for their help, would it make a difference in the supplying of this need? We women are few, and we feel that we can do so little, but we love the people and we love our work. We keep praying that many of our young women now in training will hear India's plea and come over and help us.
A visit to some Voice of Prophecy interests took us out until one o'clock this morning. These people live in a palatial home and have about six servants. It is wonderful how the Voice of Prophecy is reaching men and women in high as well as low places.
This morning has found us with drawn swords and on our toes, with the Word of God in hand. Folk who have decided for baptism are being harassed by relatives and ministers, and all kinds of untruths are being used for the purpose of thwarting the work of God in the hearts of men and women. There is only one thing to do on such occasions—prayerfully challenge the devil's lies, for the Christ who conquered in the wilderness with the Word still conquers today. We came home happy in spirit, for the woman and her son said in parting, "We shall be at church on Sabbath." Another woman also decided to be baptized. There are many in the valley of decision. Do pray for us and for them.
