Rees Howells - Standing in the Queue by Norman Grubb

Meanwhile, Mr. Howells had written to Mr. Albert Head, who was chairman of the South Africa General Mission, as well as being chairman of the Keswick and Llandrindod Conventions, and offered for the mission field. He told him about the healing of his uncle and Joe, and he received a letter from Mr. Head asking him to come up to London and meet the Council of the mission, and to bring Joe with him.

The morning they left for London, he and Mrs. Howells only had ú2, and she needed money that very day. But, as usual, “First need, first claim.” As he was going before the post arrived, he had the claim on the money, and he comforted his wife by saying that more would be sure to come in the post! Joe and he arrived in London with only five shillings, having taken single fares. Mr. Howells met the Council the next evening, and he and Mrs. Howells were accepted for the field. A meeting had been arranged for him the following day by Mr. Head, where he was to speak on intercession. The Lord blessed, and when he left the day after, as Mr. Head shook hands with him, he said, “The Lord has been speaking to me through you. I have never ‘kept’ a missionary before, but God has told me to keep you as my missionary. No one else is to support you, and while you are preaching in Africa, I will share in the harvest!”

Before they took their return train, they had lunch with some friends, and as they left, an envelope was put into Mr. Howells’ hand. When he opened it at Paddington, there were five golden sovereigns inside. They had arrived with five shillings, but were leaving with five pounds! “The Lord has only done for us what he did with the water that was turned into wine,” Joe remarked. “He has just changed the color!” They had a praise meeting when they arrived home, Mrs. Howells telling how the ú2 came half an hour after he had left. “There is nothing in the world better for strengthening one’s faith than testings]” was Mr. Howells’ comment.

Later, they .both left for Scotland, where Mrs. Howells was to take a year’s training in the Faith Mission. Shortly afterwards, he left her there and went on to London for a nine months’ medical course at Livingstone College. Here again there were many trials of faith, and deliverances. His special friend at the College, with whom he had close fellowship in the Spirit, was Mr. Harold St. John of the Brethren, who became well known later as a Bible teacher. They used to get up at five o’clock each morning to wait on God, knocking on the wall between them to wake each other. Meanwhile, Mrs. Howells had all her needs supplied in Scotland; Mr. Howells never once had to send her anything. “We were in the school of faith,” he said, “and there is nothing to be compared with having to be delivered to keep you abiding: you will never do it without.”

On one occasion he only had a few days in which to get ú20. This was needed for Mrs. Howells’ admission to a maternity course in the City Road Hospital, for which she was coming down to London. There was another student, a Cambridge graduate, who had been saying openly that he had never prayed a prayer that had brought a direct, definite answer. So, Mr. Howells invited him to join in this prayer for ú20. He had never heard of praying for money like that and expecting it to come. They were to pray for two hours one afternoon, each in his own room. The young man was exhausted at the end of it! he had never known time go so slowly; he said the two hours were like two months! Mr. Howells did not pray through in ‘the afternoon, so suggested that they should go back for a further two hours in the evening. “What!” exclaimed his friend, “four months’ hard labor for £20!” However, he agreed to try again if Mr. Howells thought he could be of any help. Before the end of this second period of prayer, Mr. Howells went to his room, and said, “You don’t need to pray any more, I am throu

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