The Indianapolis times., 1923-10-02

please hold us in prayer constant
ly," is the appeal of Fred Abel. mis-
sionary of the Pentacost Band of the
World, stationed in the devastated
area of Japan. in a letter received by
o. H. Mater, Salem Park, Indianapo-
lis, general secretary of the band
Abel, his wife and two daughters
are In Japan. Their home was in
Terre Haute, Ind They have been
missionaries for eight years. They
are well known here.
Mr.. and Mrs. Mater. according to
the letter, were in Karuizawa. a sum
mer hill station where missionaries go
for the hot season. A cable sent to
Indianapolis. according to the letter,
did not arrive, Mater said
The letter from Abel. in part:
I'VE are more than thankful that
we can write you again and can re.
port our family all safe. as we were
still IN Karuizawa ChiT station where
missionaries go for hot season. when
it happened.
Like Waves Of Sea"
''The thing all seems too awful to
comprehend, and the truths of all
that did happen are not known yet,
but enough is known to say that To
kio city is three-fourths burned and
what is left is badly shattered by the
quake, and Yokohama is worse of,
and stations south OF there for fifty
miles.
"It shook so hard here, nearly 100
miles from Toxic, that no one thought
the houses would stand
I'VE all ran out into the open with
the ground waving before us like
waves Of the sea and 1t seemed as
If we would be with the Lord al once
''Three hard quakes followed each
other in quick succession and lighter
ones have followed about every two
hours since. They are very light at
present. It struck Japan right in its
densest population, which made the
death toll so heavy.
Unable to Enter Toxic
Some from here started for Toxic
the same evening after the quake but
could go by train cnly two stations
beyond Fukaya. but the next day
they could go within eight miles or so.
II started down on the third day
but could get only az far as Fukaya,
as strict martial law had been de-
clared and so could not get admit
tance into Toxic. but am hoping to
be able to get in soon.
THE railway up through here is
the only usable one out of Toxic and
they are bringing refugees out as
fast as they can.
This was q great strain on nerves,
and we have not had our clothes off
since 1t happened, nor have We tried
to sleep. Suffice to say that we are
in the Lords hands and we know, He
doeth all things well.
Escaped With Our Lives''
I'VE know absolutely nothing about
the Shinjuku and Itabashi mission
halls omissions in suburbs of Tokio)
or about the workers occupying them
Fukaya is all right. 1--WE have es.
capped with our lives and what sum
mer clothing we have with us here
Our Japanese workers are in dire
need of help. all that have survived.
Disease and famine must naturally
follow.
"I doubt If any calamity IN history
has ever equaled this. Please hold
us up in prayer constantly. Tho Lord
bless you. If this is our last to you
we say goodby in His name, but we
hope to write again.
FRED ABEL"
This summer has been a peculiar
one" writes Mrs. Abel Several of
the Holiness Missionaries came here
with a burden for Japan which ex-
pressed itself continually.
Had Prayed for Revival
About two weeks ago one became
so burdened she called a day OF fast
ing and prayer at her home where
we gathered from 6 a. m. until noon
week ago today That was Wednes-
day and on Saturday the awful catas-
trophe struck this land.
rs this the beginning Of the re-
vival prayed for? Wont you there
bear this up with us in special prayer
that now the powers Of darkness will
not have sway, bat that God win send
real revival break in this land at
once?
Until yesterday a. m. there had