The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1918, Page 83

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

ear to its cry. Trusting in the Lord, and believing
that our dear Christian friends would come to our
assistance, should need arise, we boldly decided to
adopt Nyland. Thus we now have another member
in the Alabama family, and the baby needs help.

A: few words about this new station. What
was it that prompted us to take up the work here?
Eleven miles northeast from Nyland we have a mis-
sion, known to the readers as Midway. News of the
work which our Church is doing among the people
of Midway also reached Nyland. People traveled the
eleven miles to come to services. They came again,
bringing others with them; for they had tasted of
the bread which their hungry souls were craving.
If we could but let you see these people as they
traveled the eleven miles to Midway to hear the Word
of God, we know that you would understand why it is
that we have opened the new station. Over the most
abominable roads, up hill, down hill, through sandy
stretches and marshy land, even bringing little tots
with them, they walked the eleven miles to hear the
Word for.which their souls were longing. I wish
you could hear them tell of the night when, on their
way home, they were overtaken -by a storm. The
little flock scattered as the rain swept down upon
them, some finding shelter here, some there. In the
morning they walked the remaining distance over
the well-soaked ground. But they came again, came
until it was impossible for them to come. It is an
impossibility for these people to come eleven miles
through the country during the months of December,
January, and February because of the heavy rains at
Midway, to say nothing of the little folks who desire
to come to school. And because these people pleaded
that we bring the glad tidings which they had heard
to their community, because we could not close our
ears to the pleading of these people, because we knew

it to be the Lord’s will to hand to these hungering

souls the bread of life, and because we believed our
friends would stand by us, should we need their help,
we opened this new station, and adopted the baby.

Nor are we sorry that we took this step. The
Lord has put His stamp of approval on the work.
When the work was taken up at Nyland, Miss Rosa

_ Young gave instructions on Friday nights. Because
the missionaries were busy at other stations on Sun-

day, it was decided that the undersigned serve these
people on Tuesday nights. This was done. In order
to reach Nyland from Camden, it was necessary to
travel twelve miles by auto to the Alabama River.
This was crossed by ferry. An appointed member

would travel the four miles from Nyland to the river
to meet the missionary, return the four miles with
him to service, after service bring him to the river
again, and then return home late at night. Sixteen
miles were thus covered on muleback each and every
time services were held, in all kinds of weather, and
at all hours of the night. Eager and desirous these
people are to hear the Word of God, to hear the story
of the Savior who shed His blood for them. At this
early date the congregation numbers 30 odd souls,
and a good attendance is reported at school. The
future looks bright.

Miss Rosa J. Young.

We ask the dear friends for a building for this
new station. At present we are in an old, deserted
eabin, which a kind Southerner has placed at our
disposal. But it does not at all serve the purpose.
There are no windows in the house, though it does
boast of two holes in the walls. There are no desks
for the children in school, which even with an en-"
rolment of 50 would be overcrowded. Services are
well attended (60 to 100), and the room is fre-
quently uncomfortably crowded.

If this child is to grow and prosper, our dear’

friends, who have never failed us, must come to the
rescue. May the love of the Savior prompt you to
give a gift! ‘G. A. Sonar. _