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The Lord willing, my ship will arrive in Marseille tomorrow. I will probably stay in India and Singapore for a little while before returning to Shanghai....In reading The Open Door, I was happy on the one hand and worried on the other hand. If the co-workers do not have the basic qualifications for work, will the future of the work be different from the past? May the Lord grant us grace. You may have done much traveling, but are you sure of what you are doing? Everything depends on the knowledge of the cross in dealing with the natural strength.
Watchman Nee, May 22
I am now on my way to Tsingtao by steamer with Brothers Chao Chi-gwang and Liu Bei-min. The Lord willing, I will stay in Tsingtao for half a month. Then I will travel along the Tsingtao-Tsinan Railway route to visit the brothers and sisters in Gao-Mi, Wei-Shien, Ching-Chow, and Tsinan. The Lord willing, I will return to Chefoo by the middle of July. The Lord's table meeting in Chefoo has now been subdivided into two places, one in Shuang-He-Li and the other in Brother Chao Xu-dong's house in West Hill. The condition of these meetings is quite good. I feel that there are two things pressing before us. One is the perfecting of the young workers, and the other is how much a local church has come up to God's standard. We cannot say that some people do not have the call, but it is too early for them to touch the work. It then becomes a real problem as to how to lead them on and perfect them. The more the work grows, the more we will see people turning to the Lord, and the greater this problem will become. As for the local churches, thank the Lord that He has granted us blessing in many places. We truly thank the Lord for the love of the brothers and sisters and their zeal toward Him. But we are still not up to the standard that the Lord has shown us. Is there a definite date for Brother Nee's arrival yet?
Brother Witness Lee on the Shun-Tien steamer, June 5
We left K'un-ming by bus on March 3 and arrived in Kuei-yang on the sixth. In Kuei-yang we had a few evenings of special meetings. The brothers and sisters in Kuei-yang meet every Lord's Day afternoon at the house of Brother Liu Jing-si for prayer. The Lord willing, they will soon have the Lord's table. We left Kuei-yang on May 11 and arrived in Chungking on the fourteenth. It was the Lord's Day, and we were able to remember the Lord with a few brothers in the afternoon. Recently, most of the brothers and sisters have been scattered everywhere. Under such circumstances, our work has been limited to personal visitations, home gospel meetings, and mutual exhortations. The Lord willing, we will go next Monday to visit the brothers and sisters in Hsu-Fu or Ch'eng-tu. Please pray for us.
Brothers in the Lord,Stephen Kaung and K.H.Weigh, May 16
Presently, I am in working in areas around Li-Suh such as Loh-Toh-Loh, Yen-Wah-Loh, and Na-Bai-Loh. Every evening five to ten people come to listen. Once I spent sixteen to seventeen days between Yeh-Ji and Yen-Za. Although reaching that area involves only a four-day journey from Yeh-Ji, the inhabitants are all Sikang natives. They are not as willing to receive the word as the Li-Suh natives. If Brother Hsu comes, we can rent a house in this area and work for a longer period of time. During the next few months I will not be able to travel or do anything further. I wish I could be free from the burdens of family and the bondage of this world so that I might glorify the Lord's name all my life. My respectful greetings to the brothers and sisters in Shanghai.
Brother in the Lord,Hu I-min, April 29
I will set off tomorrow for Wei-Si. Today I received the tent. Thank the Lord for His grace! I will work first among the Yi tribes. I will also go to Sikang if the Lord opens the door. Everything is in the Lord's hands. When will Brother Nee arrive in Shanghai? I am always thinking of him. Give my regards and greetings to the co-workers and saints in Shanghai.
Brother Hsu Jung-jieh, May 10
Since the meetings at Bai-Sha, I stayed with Brother Hsu in Fan-Shan for a month. On April 26 we left Fan-Shan for Shi-Ping, and on May 5 we went to Yang-Fu-Ling. On the thirteenth we went to Jin-Shiang. The churches in Ping-Yang are growing more rapidly than in other places, and the work is plentiful. We wish some experienced co-worker sisters would take some young co-worker sisters along and come to help the sisters in Pin-Shun, Tai-Shun, and Fu-Ding. Ping-Yang and Tai-Shun are poor areas and have been more so recently because of the war. But thank the Lord that the poor are able to hear the gospel. Since meeting Brother Hsu in Hu-Shan, I have been working with him. More and more I have felt that it is better for two to work together than for one to work alone. The co-workers in Ping-Yang and Tai-Shun would like to have a meeting for co-workers after Brother Nee returns. It would be even better if Brother Nee could come for some meetings in Ping-Yang. Has Brother Nee arrived in Shanghai yet? Please give my greetings to the brothers.
Brother Chang Kwang-rong, May 30
Brother Hsu has gone to Ba-Chao from Jin-Shiang. I am still staying in Jin-Shiang and learning to be with the Lord by myself. Please pray for us.
Brother Chang Kwang-rong, June 7
Thank the Lord for leading me to go with Brothers Chai and Chen to north Fukien to learn to serve the Lord. Although the itinerary was tight, I received much help and teaching concerning the work. I intended to stay longer in north and west Fukien to be trained by the Lord in those places, but the Lord did not open the way circumstantially. I had to turn from Nan-Ping to Foochow and Chang-Loh with Brother Chai to visit the saints in those places. We met Brother Chen Ke-san again in Bai-Ya-Tan. After the prayer meeting we returned to Pu-Tien. The next day the road was destroyed, and the order for dispersal came. During the past month, although there have been bombings, the brothers and sisters in the Lord have been preserved in safety. We give thanks unceasingly for the Lord's grace!
Transportation is difficult, and it is difficult to work in the cities and towns. But thank the Lord that this enables us to be burdened for the souls in the villages and mountain regions. Otherwise, when would the people who are sitting in darkness receive the light, and when would the footsteps of the apostles accumulate dust from their places? We see the Lord's good will even in these circumstances. Praise the Lord! May the Lord empower me so that I will not become a lazy servant.
This is a time when the harvest is ripe and the workers are few. Yet the workers have been restricted by distance and language and are holding out in their different corners. The work has been like a pan of scattered sand! Lately, I have been deeply aware of the preciousness of working together and the importance of praying together. I also see the danger of acting independently and the evil of walking in an unrelated manner. The flesh is exposed as being more and more evil, and our spiritual life has become more and more hungry. One as immature as I am truly needs prayer from all sides. If Brother Nee has returned, please give my greetings to him.
Brother Chen Jai-seng, May 29
The local church in Jien-Ou does not have official elders yet, but all the affairs have been taken up by local brothers and sisters. Sister Lee Mo-chai and I came to work in Shao. Our emphasis has been on personal evangelism, and there seems to be much enthusiasm. The Lord has blessed His work. The Lord has led us to do this particularly, and we are at peace about it. Indeed, we have experienced that those who nourish others will be nourished themselves! The brothers are not here yet, and we can only do miscellaneous work. I feel that I can leave the work in Jien-Ou behind now. After this summer Shao-yun and Jia-en will go elsewhere for high school, and I will be more free to serve the Lord.
Sister Yu-bing, May 17
Presently, transportation is difficult, and I do not know when I will have a free way to go to Shanghai. May He accomplish His best. Sister Mo-chai has returned to Ku-Tien, and I have returned from the country to the city. The Lord willing, I will go to Fu-Ding, Tai-Shun, and Ping-Yang by land and stay for a while. Brothers and sisters from Ping-Yang have written to me for a long time inviting me to come.
Sister Bao Hso-min, June 6
I returned from Dong-Ping and stayed in Ch'ang-Teh for half a month. On April 16 I went to Chi-Li. The work along the way was blessed by the Lord. I conducted three meetings at the China Inland Mission in Tsou-Si. Missionary X and Mr. Shu were quite seeking. The missionary accompanied me to Jiu-Si, which is sixty-five miles away from Tsou-Si, and I preached at the Presbyterian Gospel Hall for three days. I arrived in Chi-Li on the twenty-third and had three evenings of meetings. Although the number was very small, the Lord did some definite work. Brother Shang is staying in Chi-Li. On the seventh we set off in sedan chairs and arrived in Da-Yung in two days. We met a few brothers for the first time, and it was a joy to fellowship with one another. Now we are in the process of renting a house for meeting use. Greetings to the workers and saints in Shanghai.
Brother in the Lord,Han Fu-shen, May 5
By the Lord's sovereign arrangement, my family and I have moved to the upper floor of the meeting hall in Gospel Lane. The house is now being used in three ways. The church uses the first floor; I use a medium-size room; and the rest is used as temporary quarters for the orphanage, which can hold thirty people. In all the things we do, we see that the Lord's yoke is easy and His burden light.
A weak member in the Lord,Lan Tsi-yi, May 31
The work of the orphanage is progressing smoothly. I have now been put in a circumstance like that of Joseph. I am in trial and tribulation, yet I see God's presence and smooth leading in the things that are entrusted to my hands.
Lan Tsi-yi, June 16
(1) A letter from Sister Ding Shu-sin to Brother Faithful Luk on May 7 stated: "In Issue No. 16 of The Open Door you asked others to pray for me. I am now completely recovered. I hope that you can mention this news in the publication and thank those who have prayed for me."
(2) Brother Faithful Luk wrote from Singapore on May 22: "The Lord willing, I intend to go to Surabaya for a visit. If nothing stops me, I hope I can leave this week." (A letter on June 15 said that Brother Luk has left for Surabaya and will be back in Singapore after a month or more.)
(3) Brother Philip Luan and Sister Peace Wang left Hong Kong on June 9 and arrived in Singapore on the fourteenth.
(4) Sister Huang Ro-chen arrived in Shanghai on June 11.
(5) Brother Hwa Shi-bin arrived in Shanghai at the begin- ning of June and left for Hong Kong on the fourteenth.
(6) Brother Chang Yu-zhi has returned to Shanghai from Chekiang.
(7) Sister Peace Wang wrote from Singapore on June 15: "Brother Nee cabled that he will be in Singapore by the twentieth of this month and will leave on the twenty-ninth. Before the cable arrived, he wrote and said that he would hold a conference here."
(8) Sister Fang Chiung-ying wrote from Sin-Hwa on June 10: "On the second of this month, the Lord led Sister Weigh Kwang-ying and myself to visit the sisters in Sha-Si, Ran-Chu, Ban-Shan, and Feng-Ting. From the seventh to the ninth, we met with the sisters in Feng-Ting five times. Through the working of the Spirit, we were all mutually edified in Christ. Thank God. Lately, the political situation has been very tense, and the inhabitants in this area are being dispersed. My family intends to move into the mountains."
(9) Brother Wu Wei wrote on May 9: "At the beginning of last month, Ming-hwei, my son, and I spent ten days in Jien-Yang. Over twenty people were clearly saved. I baptized them. After the meetings Ming-hwei returned to Tai County, and I returned to Gu-Juang."
(10) Brother You She-fu of Yien-Chen wrote on May 14: "The city was bombed on March 30, and there were fires throughout the city for five days. The Lord, however, preserved the Shan-Ji Hospital. We met in the midst of the smoke and fire. Thank Him for protecting us."
(11) Brother Hwang Tse-hou of Shu County wrote on June 13: "I have cholera and have been in bed for many days. Please pray much for me."
(12) Brother Chai En-shang wrote on June 3: "The Lord led us to go from Shi-Jia-Juang to Peking. There are a few seeking brothers and sisters in Shi-Jia-Juang. May the Lord lead some to work there."
(13) Sister Yu Yu Fang-rue wrote on May 8 that she hoped to find a job in Shanghai. She greets all the saints in Shanghai.
(14) A letter from Chungking on May 23: "During the past few evenings we have been meeting in the house of Brother Hu Shuen-ming. The Lord's table meeting is temporarily held in Brother Liu Kwo-jieh's house. Since most of the brothers and sisters in the city are scattered, we intend to meet in various places outside the city to avoid trouble."
(15) A letter from Macao on May 30: "We have had the Lord's table twice already. The address is [omitted]. On May 28 one brother and thirteen sisters were baptized."
(16) Three brothers wrote from Ch'eng-tu on June 13: "When bombs came on June 11, we were breaking bread and remembering the Lord. By the grace of the Lord, the meeting was able to proceed as usual. The brothers and sisters are all safe. Although fire broke out not far from us on both sides of the meeting hall, the direction of the wind was away from the meeting hall. Thank and praise the Lord! Everything is under His protection."
(17) Four brothers from Wenchow wrote on June 18: "The brothers and sisters in Wenchow are safe. Most of them have dispersed into the countryside. On Lord's Day mornings, we have been meeting temporarily at [omitted]."
(18) Sister Luh Zhing-sien from Yu-Yao wrote to say that she is safe.
(19) Sister Zhang Mou-ching in Shanghai passed away on June 24.
(20) We should remember the saints in Swatow, Ch'ang-Teh, and Fukien. May the Lord grace them in everything.
We have received one copy of Issue No. 16 of The Open Door. Sending a single copy makes it easier for us to receive it. It enables those brothers in far-off places to know of the footsteps and news of the saints in other places and to see how the Lord protects His children in the midst of difficulties to enjoy peace in Him. It fills our heart with thanksgiving and praise. God has been continually gracious to us in the meetings here. May we continually pray. The amount of money which we have sent through Brother Tien is to be used toward the need of item number four mentioned in "A Word on Behalf of the Editor" in Issue No. 16. May the Lord direct you to distribute it. (This amount has been distributed to the needy saints in northern Kiangsu — Editor.) Greetings to the saints in Shanghai.
Brother in the Lord,Ren Jin-yi, May 11
We can only describe our condition in the mountains with Psalm 91:2-7. A crisis happened suddenly. The Sun and Yu families are safe. This is comforting. The Lord's grace abides forever. Has Brother Tang returned to Shanghai? Where is Brother Chou Shin-yih? We are remembering many brothers and sisters in our prayers, and we need you to pray for us as well. The Lord's work increased in the midst of tribulation. There are now believers even in this little corner of the mountain regions. May all the glory go to Him, amen. The mail route has not been cleared yet, and we are sending this letter through Mu-Er.
Sun Wen-yuen and Chen Yao-jen, May 19
We have forwarded X dollars through Brother Chang Yu-zhi's hand. X dollars are for the needy saints who are in the midst of the war zones (Heb. 13:3). This amount was collected from offering boxes in various places. It is the willing offering of the saints. On the first day of the first month of the year, some decided to skip a meal, and others decided to eat only light porridge for a few meals or to save up money by other means to make this offering for the purpose of caring for the saints in need because of the war. We are learning to walk according to God's commandment.
Brother in the Lord,Ma Chuan-foo, April 23
Dear Brother Philip in the Lord:
During the past few days I felt that I had to take care of a few things personally, one of which is related to the passing away of my friend Ji Dun-wu of Shou-Jou, who is now with the Lord. God's will is always the best. Since my two long-standing friends are no longer with me, I have felt even more busy. My health is not good, and letters are piling up, waiting for my answer. I have been tired daily. Originally, I asked my co-workers to write this letter on my behalf, and then I would make the draft and sign it in order to save some energy. But sometimes I feel that I have to write a letter in my own handwriting. Furthermore, I would like the friends in Shanghai to know of the passing away of Mr. Ji Dun-wu. I still need others to pray for my health. Peace in the Lord. Greetings to all the brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Cheng Ji-guei, Ch'ang-sha Bible School, May 31
Our dear brother Zhang Gun-jih rested in the Lord at 6:00 a.m. on May 30! We thank all the brothers and sisters in the Lord who prayed for and asked about him in brotherly love. During the first semester of last year, Brother Zhang was led of the Lord to come to Yi-Yang to teach English at the Lutheran High School. After classes he would always talk with the students about the salvation of the Lord. In the evening he would study the original language of the Scripture with the help of a certain Western brother. On the Lord's Day he would conduct either two or three meetings. During the summer vacation he traveled to and from Ch'ang-sha twice in order to serve the brothers and to conduct conferences. He did not rest the whole summer, and his poor health deteriorated into illness. Brother Zhang always had a desire to pioneer in the frontier lands. Two days before he died, he said, "The work should be initiated by prayer and progress from places that are near to places that are faraway." His concern for the service of the Lord was seen in his heart, in his prayer, and in his words. Brother Zhang is gone, but his testimony will have a lasting effect on the Western and Chinese brothers and sisters in Hunan. His family is in a dire condition. Please pray for them.
A weak member in the Lord,Yu Yien-chuan, May 31
We had been renting the house in Dong-Si Street for our meeting. Now the owner is not willing to rent to us. Beginning from the thirtieth of last month, we moved to [omitted]. Because many of the brothers and sisters have been dispersed into the country, this place is adequate for our use now. Since the Lord's church was established in K'un-ming, we have moved seven times. We are learning to live the tent life and to thank Him as Jehovah-jireh. Greetings to the brothers and sisters in Shanghai.
Brother in the Lord,Lin Yau-huei, May 3
We left K'un-ming on May 5, took the bus to Shia-Kwan, and arrived safely on the sixth. On the way we experienced the Lord's surpassing peace. Thank the Lord for putting me in this barren foreign land so that I may have the opportunity to recall all the things I have gained in the past. I remember from a sisters' meeting the story of Hagar and her bottle of water. My bottle of water can be exhausted, but there is still a well before me. Many of the teachings of God's servants have now become words in my heart and have led me through my days in this desolate land. My hospital is on a mountain, two miles from the town of Shia-Kwan. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces a pond and a spring. There are forests all around, and there are fruit trees and bamboo in the forests. The produce in this land is rich, but there are not many foreign supplies. The people are frank and slow, and it is difficult to work among them. Most of the people are engaged in animal farming, and the common means of transportation is mules. Cows and goats are raised for their meat. The roads are very dirty. We have not started our work yet, because the medical supplies have not yet arrived.
Sister Chu Bao-juMay 15
The brothers and sisters in Kuei-yang have been preserved and are under His grace. May thanksgiving and praise be unto Him. We started meeting at my house every Sunday afternoon at two o'clock on March 26. The nature of the meetings is prayer, reading the Bible, or words of exhortation. The condition of the meetings is quite good, but the number is not great (four to eight people). Thank the Lord that His presence is with us. Please pray much for us. May the Lord shine on us so that we see where we should stand and how we should serve Him and glorify Him. Brothers Kaung and Weigh passed through Kuei-yang on their way to Chungking. They stayed in Kuei-yang for four days. There were three meetings on May 8-10. Brother Chang Teh-shu, the assistant professor at the Kuei-yang Medical School, was baptized on the ninth. He was saved a long time ago but has not been able to be baptized until now. Thank the Lord that there is now a good testimony here. I am still living in the same place. Greetings to the brothers and sisters in Shanghai.
Brother in the Lord,Liu Yi-chuanMay 21
Since last month the political situation has been tense at times and relaxed at times. Swatow was bombed last month, and the brothers and sisters were scattered to inland areas. There are still about thirty people remaining in Swatow. The Lord has preserved them, and they are safe. The prayer meeting and the Lord's Day morning meeting are as usual, but the number is significantly smaller. We have to mention one particular incident of the protection of the Lord. A sister named Liu was on a steamboat that was shot by machine guns from an airplane. At that time there were two brothers, the one sister, and many other people on the boat. One brother saw stray bullets falling into the water beside him. Another brother's clothes were pierced by bullets. Yet all of them were safe, and the people in the boat were also safe. During the past one or two years God has been stretching His gracious hand to protect His children everywhere. We are full of thanksgiving and praise. Enclosed please find X dollars, which are a cumulative amount received from the offering box. Please distribute it for us according to need. (It has been distributed to needy saints in other provinces — Editor.)
Brothers in the Lord,Chai Gi-chen, Hsie Tse-shun, Chen Wen-kwang, andChen Fang-chingJune 13
(1) "The Dynamics of Service" column is still suspended in this issue. There are too many obstacles in mail delivery, and it is hard to get anything thick through. In some places we can only send a copy as an ordinary letter.
(2) From the news in this issue, we find that Brother Ji Dun-wu of Ch'ang-sha and Brother Zhang Gun-jih of Tung-Ping have slept in the Lord. The two of them have indeed left the world to be with the Lord and have rested from their labor. There are two less Christians on this earth. We cannot help but feel sad at such a thought! Although Brother Ji has passed away, his family is still able to manage itself. But Brother Zhang has left behind a widow and orphans living in strange lands. There is the need of brothers and sisters in the Lord to care for them. "This is pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction." May we sympathize with God's heart!
(3) We have found ways to send money to northern Kiangsu now. In some places we can even wire money. Thank the Lord!
(4) Presently, only Brothers Hsu Jung-jieh and Hu Yi-min are working at the border of Yunnan. I can say that many have paid attention to their work. But as far as I know, the hardship of the work and the struggles of the workers in northern Kiangsu, west Hunan, east Chekiang, and the border regions between Chekiang and Fukien are no less strenuous than the work in the frontier regions. I hope that our attention would not be turned to one direction alone. Our offering and prayer should not be directed by reports alone but by the Holy Spirit.
(5) I have said again and again that I am only distributing money for the work or for needy saints in a fiduciary capacity. Although the money passes through my hands, it has nothing to do with me. In order to make this more clear, let me state: It is not my money but the Lord's money. The giver and the receiver are related to the Lord alone. May both sides receive blessing from the Lord.
Ruth Lee in Shanghai, June 21, 1939
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