and I thought of Abraham’s being told to go to a land that he knew not of. I thought to myself that if Abraham could do that, then so could I, because it was the same God who gave the call. Abraham went “not knowing where he was going.” (Heb. 11:8, NW) We could do the same.

All that was over twenty-eight years ago. I am still in India, and not dead yet! There have naturally been many and varied experiences through the years. When we first landed in India and experiences were not very encouraging we used to console each other by saying that the first twenty years were always the worst. In those days there were no “leave of absence” rules for missionaries, and we had been given only a one-way ticket. After five years I was able to attend another convention in London and got home for two weeks. After that brief holiday I had another spell of fifteen years in India without going home, but by this time there were friends and homes in India where I was welcome and the truth of Jesus’ words at Matthew 19:29 was manifest. In fact, I am now thoroughly “at home” in India and imagine I would feel like being in a foreign country now if I were to return to England permanently.

Experience shows that it does not really matter where one serves. The whole world is now only a relatively small place. There are people of the New World society in every land and they are as lovable in one country as in another. One soon gets accustomed to the conditions in foreign lands. It is just a matter of making up one’s mind to do it, and then seeking Jehovah’s spirit to enable him to overcome the obstacles. My advice is, Always accept an assignment from Jehovah’s organization and joyfully make up the mind to make a go of it.

—F. E. SKINNER

Questions From Readers

● The law of Moses forbade the Israelites to charge interest on loans among themselves, and Jesus said to lend without interest and to hope for nothing back. Does this mean that Christian brothers today must not pay or receive interest from one another? Did Jesus mean not only to pay no interest but also not to repay even the principal?—J. G., United States.

The Mosaic law spoke of loans made to the poor, those who had become financially weak and in need of help. It made it an obligation to loan to such ones to relieve their destitute state, but forbade the charging of interest on these loans to the poor. The ones making the loans did get back the principal, pledges sometimes being taken to indicate the indebtedness. At that time loans in Israel among Israelites, or involving non-Israelites residing in the land and a part of the Jewish community, were to relieve poverty or misfortune and it was thought wrong to profit from a neighbor’s reverses. The loans were not for commercial purposes. But the case was different with foreigners passing through with caravans or stationed there for the purpose of trading. They might borrow to enlarge their operating capital and increase their earning power, and it is only proper that reasonable payment should be made for the use of such money. The Israelites could lawfully charge interest in such cases.—Ex. 22:25, 26; Lev. 25:35-37; Deut. 15:8; 23:19, 20; 24:6, NW.

At Luke 6:34, 35 (NW) Jesus said: “Also if you lend without interest to those from whom you hope to receive, of what credit is it to you? Even sinners lend without interest to sinners that they may get back as much. To the contrary, continue to love your enemies and to do good and to lend without interest, not hoping for anything back, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind toward the unthankful and wicked.” Here Jesus is going farther than the Mosaic law, as he did on other points when discussing