Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1897-03-04

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right; please teach me-" God had
chosen the second chapter of the
Gospel of Mark and he sent the Holy |
Spirit to drive that thrilling lesson |
home. In two weeks Il am writing |
from a journaD he asked to come
three times q week and he wished to
give more to study the Bible. / also
learned that he had bought Bible in
Japanese and was studying daily. He
had committed the Lords prayer-in
both Japanese and English-and we
were studying In Mark, just as I was
directed. On the sth of April he said
he hoped he might sometime become
a Christian. The whole affair was
stamped indehbiy on my mind and
heart just at this time, by the receipt
of a letter from Mr.. Wallace saying
that they had just begun in my dear
home church to pray that God would
use your missionary to lead some one
soul to Christ in the next few months.
The dates showed that this was d.
rect answer to that petition. felt
that I was standing on holy ground. I
said nothing to anyone and about ten
days after the Holy Spirit moved him
to say that he had determined to seek
God with his whole heart, and he
asked to be taught the gospel verse by
verse; and will just say now, that
before his baptism we had studied
Matthew, Mark, Luke and the Acts in
that prayerful way, and many other
choice texts he had committed.
Some days after he remarked that
he could not see how to become a
Christian. told him that could not
tell him, but would pray for him and
God would teach him, and very soon
he was able to say; 81 understand;
believe only" At the same time he
said: "Reading the Bible makes me
see myself such an awful sinner"
Shortly after, during the lesson, we
came to difficult passage and neither
by Japanese or English could he un-
derstand it, when he quietly looked
up and said reverently: ave will just
leave this and pray over it." Noneed
to say that all difficulties vanished as
"mist before the morning sun" AZ
the hot season drew near and he knew
that our lessons would have to cease
for a time, he just counted the pages
that he could study before going
away. One day, to my surprise, he
said: "It is all in answer to your
prayers that came here, for often /
determined that I would not come,
but just in few moments I was glad
to come"
In June as we were studying about
Christ's habit of prayer, Mr.. Otani, for
that is his name, asked that we al
ways have prayer before beginning
the lesson and now he often prays,
too, and this just reminds me Of some
thing that happened on Christmas
day. He and young friend, who had
been coming with him to study for
some time, took Christmas dinner
with me. Before we went down to
dinner I was thinking how would
like for him to ask the blessing, as il
would be such witness for Christ
before his heathen friend, but did moi
really intend to ask him, but as quick
as we sat down to the table he asked
if he might offer thanks, and / never
heard a sweeter prayer, for prayer i
was. He thanked God for their frs
: Christmas chad never heard of it, ant
{ for the real Christmas gift, also fol
the joy of spending che day in
4 Christian household. Gods swee
surprises meet us all along the way.
But are you getting tired of thi
"linked sweetness long drawn out9'
Z I am not and when have done wi
feel that "the half has not been told,
but I will try to curtail. In Septem
8 Der he was anxious to receive bap
tism, only saying: 81 believe, be
lieve." After studying the meanin
of baptism he explained by sayin
that it was as If he had letter in hi
3 hand and two-cent piece; while b
had the power he could not mail tn
letter until he bought a stamp and pu
1t on the letter. So 1t was in the mat
u ter Of baptism. He had the Hol
. Spirit in his heart but could not hav
, q baptism of the Holy Spirit for wor
Q until the seal OF baptism was applie'
. He passed a splendid examinatio
!, when he was received into the churcl
IL for God takes care of His own.
Iasked him once il he ever let b
\ friends know he is Christian, and b
said yes; that In his letters he alway
begun by saying: "By the blessin
of my Heavenly Father" and nov
dear friends, by the same blessing I
the same loving Father have bee
given the privilege Of writing 20 yo
what have seen with mine eyes, an
also He has given me the Joy OF tellin
you that in answer to your prayer
He has graciously permitted me
get in His way while "He moved ID
wonders to perform" and l am SUI
that you will join me in giving Him
the praise. And now ask you that yo
will make continual intercession th'
the redeemed may become ga chose
vessel of the Lord" and that he ma
let his light shine for Christ; and ala
that bis young BRIDE, whom he hs
been praying for and teaching, ma
soon be q child OF the Savior, who
she 10 already longing to know. A
So, Mr.. Otani is so anxious for b
parents (they live In another piac
some distance off) TO become Chri
tians. He told them about Christ an
has given them Bibles, and ] ask ys
to remember these three definite p
titions In your daily prayers. ! a
sure that Gods blessing will soon TO