Articles compiled by Lettie Cowman. She was a Wesleyan missionary to Japan who, with her husband Charles E. Cowman, co-founded the Oriental Missionary Society in 1901 for church planting in most of the world outside North America.

Her books are devotionals she compiled from sermons, readings, writings, and poetry that she had encountered\

Mrs. Charles E. Cowman was the wife of Rev. Charles Cowman, founder of the Oriental Missionary Society. This organization was founded by Rev. Cowman with the purpose of evangelizing and setting up native ministries in Japan, Korea, China, and Formosa. Rev. and Mrs. Cowman served for 20 years until Rev. Cowman's failing health forced them to return to their home in California.

The widespread appeal her articles grows daily as new readers discover the joy, challenge, and inspiration found in Streams in the Desert and Mrs. Cowman's other compilations.