THE following letter was received on 22nd October by the Rev. John R. Mackay, M.A., Inverness :—
C/O NATIVE COMMISSIONER, BEMBESI, MATABELELAND, 26th September, 1906.
MY DEAR MR. MACKAY,
I was very glad to get your kind and welcome letter of 24th July. I am always delighted when I get a letter from one of our ministers. I have also received the cheque for £53 10s. —£45 to pay for Cape cart and harness. The Cape cart and harness cost £44 3s. You will thank the Synod for me. I thank you also for the £5 you sent for my own personal use, and for the £3 10s. for the kitchen. I am still getting the Magazine regularly, and read it with great interest.
I am still kept very busy preaching and teaching. I also keep a night school in my room for a few young men who are working during the day, besides the day school, which is held in the Church. I promised some time ago to give a Bible each to those who have persevered in school, and have learned to read their Bibles fairly well. I find that five can read their Bibles fairly well; and so I have given them their Bibles, and told them that they must read them to their parents at home too. They were very glad to get them. As regards the Sabbath Services, we have first a Morning Prayer Meeting and then two Preaching Services in the morning and afternoon; and then I have begun a Bible Class for those young men who have learned to read their Bibles. We began to read from the first chapter of Genesis. We have also a Prayer Meeting on Wednesday morning. No Evening Services are kept at present, as the people are scattered, and some of them have to walk from seven to nine miles in order to come to the Services on the Sabbath day.
Last month two Makalanga young men came to our Mission at Bembesi from Tegwand, which is about one hundred miles from Bembesi. They were anxious to stay in the Mission. They said that they had heard that there was a Missionary at Bembesi; they had come to learn from the Missionary; and they would go back and teach their own Makalanga people. I told them that they could stay in the Mission and learn, but that they would have to build their own hut to live in, and that they would have to find their own food. They brought with them two bags of maize, but one was lost in the train and only one arrived, although two are put in the way-bill. The men came by passenger train and their bags were to be sent by goods train. They have begun to build their hut. Their names are Malatse Wali and Cobisane Wali—two brothers.
I would like you to get me a book of medicine like yours—the one that describes the diseases, and tells what medicine to get. It gives a description of all the diseases, and how to treat them. I am sorry I did not take a year or two in medicine when I was in Scotland. All the Missionaries here have some knowledge of medicine, which is of great help to the natives in their Mission stations. The principal tropical disease here is fever. To some it begins with a headache, and then bleeding by the nose and mouth continuously for a day or two. That is the most dangerous kind. To others by the swelling of the feet and legs. The fever here does not seem to be infectious, as I have visited several fever-stricken people, and read the Bible and prayed for them, but am thankful to say that, through the mercy of God, I am still kept free from fever.
Pray for me that the Lord may give me grace and strength to discharge faithfully all the duties that I may be called upon to do.
With kindest regards to all the friends in Inverness and to your people at home.—Your sincere friend,
JOHN B. RADASI.
P.S.—Please thank the Synod for increase of salary.
In another brief letter Mr. Radasi conveys the interesting tidings that he intends (God willing) to get married in the month of December. The young lady and her parents belong to Cape Colony, but they are now living in Rhodesia. He states that his intended wife is to all appearance “a godly girl,” and that “her parents are also godly people, especially her father.” Mr. Radasi asks the prayers of friends in regard to this important step, a request which will, no doubt, be readily responded to. It will be the earnest prayer of all who desire his true welfare and the prosperity of the work of Christ entrusted to him in that dark country, that the Lord will abundantly bless him and his prospective partner in life, and make them useful in His vineyard.