Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

office-seekers."ward the government. It is a multiple-party body,with no party having a majority. However, thoughthere have 'been many changes in government in theshort time of the Republic of Syria's independence,government regulations are carried out more stringently by career bureaucrats who become more experienced in their jobs even if the heads of theirdepartments change frequently. For instance, theinspector of the office regulating employment hasalready visited us, and told us about the regulationswith which we must comply. We have a month's timeto get everything in order before his next visit !I acknowledge with gratitude all your kindnesses to me while I was in the States,and remindyou that we count on your continual remembranceof us in your prayers.Kobe News BriefsBy Veva HansenWhen we stop to remember that Miss Lynn willsoon be returning to us and that the Boyles havebeen gone six months, we realize that time is passingvery swiftly. We are allvery busy and seem to beadjusted to our surroundings. We arrived in Kobethirteen months ago so we are well started on oursecond year.Since my last letter, Barbara Ann has come tolive with us and is certainly a constant source ofjoy to us. She has big blue eyes and brown curlyhair which is a great contrast to the brown-eyed,dark skinned and straight black haired babies overhere. The Japanese people love all children so ourchurch people are no exception. It is not often thatthey see a wee baby of another race so her development has been very interesting to them. Japanesemen are more open with their affection for childrenthan American men so Barbara is "held" by youngand old, men and women.It seems that many changes have taken placein the last two months. As reported, Mr. Doi wassupposed to go home from the hospital on August31. Only two or three days before he was to go, anexamination due to a cold which he had contracted,showed that though his lungs are healed, he still hadTB of the bronchial tubes which had not been foundnor treated before. So he was faced with anotheryear in the hospital after already having been therefor three years. The medicine which is injected intohis neck causes very severe pain. He had been employed by a bank in his home town but since he wasnot able to return to work in October, he now haslost that position. We never hear a word of complaint or bitterness from this young man. We praythat this extra time in the hospital may be a realtime of spiritual growth for him and we would alsoask for patience, encouragement and healing thatthe Lord alone can giveWe are rejoicing with Mr. Takihara that his firstoperation has taken place. Miss Huston, Mr. Maedaand Mr. Hansen went to Kyoto to be present at thetime of the operation. Mr. Takihara has very littlepain and is eating well for which we do give thanks.More operations will follow and the doctor hopes thathe will be well in one year. He is fortunate to be ina new wing of a fairlysmall hospital.It has been necessary to make one change in ourBook Room staff. Miss Edamatsu has been excellenthelp but it has become necessary for her to remainat home and help a frail mother operate the familytea shop. The father has become an irresponsiblegambling man so the daughter feels a responsibilityfor the home. We are sorry to lose her but she willcontinue to teach her Sabbath School class of smallchildren at the regular Sabbath service. Miss Kizumi,who has been forced to leave her home because of aheathen step-mother will come as our new helper.She is a college graduate and has majored in English so we feel that she will be quite capable in caringfor both the Japanese and the foreign customers.We would ask for your prayers for both of thesegirls.On November 3 we held a one day conferenceon Mt. Rokko. It was a beautiful, clear fall day andthe house that we were able to rent was very fine.The air was cool and crisp and the scenery verybeautiful. Talks were given by Mr. Katayama, MissHuston and Mr. Hansen after which discussion periods were held. Everyone went home feeling that ithad been a very worthwhile day. We hope that someday it may be possible to hold longer conferencessimilar to the ones at home.Mr. Masunaga shows gradual improvement. Hehas been very happy to have his mother with himfor the past two months. We pray that the HolySpirit may touch this mother's heart when shesees the consistent Christian life of her son. Wealso ask for prayers for Mr. Masunaga's completerecovery.We thank the Lord for the continued health ofthe workers. Miss Huston is carrying a very heavyload. We are thankful that her eyes are better andwe pray that the Lord will continue to give us allstrength for the many tasks. The need for workersis very great and we are praying that the Lord willlead the home church to send us some soon.GLIMPSES . . . Cont'd, from page 338ment that can last is the government that honors God andreally serves the best interests of the nation. Too many politicians are mereCommunism's OppressionQuoting from Christian Economics, The Banner showshow cruel and unChristian the Russian government is. "As ameans of liquidating anywho might have some recollection ofculture and well-being, the Soviet government of Lithuaniarequires anyone seeking employment to fill out a blank onwhich the following questions appear: a) the value of the realestate and/or bank account his parents possessed before theSoviet occupation; b) the number of domestic servants employed at the time by his parents; and c) names of his family members or relatives living abroad or deported for politicalreasons."A positive answer to any of these questions not onlybars the candidate from employment, but is considered sufficient grounds for his confinement to a forced labor campin Lithuania or the Soviet Union. In this matter, the Communists keep from 20,000 to 50,000 Lithuanians imprisonedin fifteen labor camps within that small country, while severalhundred thousand Lithuanians have been deported to similarcamps in Russia." 343December 1, 1954