F.P, Ingwenya Mission,
P.O. Bembesi, Sn. Rhodesia.
My Dear Mr. Sinclair,
Monday, 2nd November, 1959.
Yesterday was communion Sabbath here at Ingwenya. On the previous days services had been held in preparation. Several of our people came from the various places to be with us so that the congregations were very large. The Ingwenya congregation itself is small, except for the school boarders who number about a hundred and twenty; but yesterday there would be present about two hundred or more. Several of these were of the number that left us at the time of the Radasi split.
The morning began with the prayer meeting at eight o’clock conducted by Rev. Petros Mzamo. At 11.30 a.m. there was a service when Mr. Mzamo preached from Isaiah 55 verses 5 and 6. When this service concluded at 1 p.m. the session met and gave out the tokens to the communicants. At 2 p.m. Mr. Mzamo preached again from Isaiah 53 verse 10; after which he fenced the tables. There were two tables, the second being served in English and interpreted to the people. The service ended about 5 p.m. The address given at the second table was on the words from the Song of Solomon chapter 1 verses 7 and 8—”Tell me O thou . . . If thou know not . . . shepherds’ tents.” The interpreter (an elder with us here) said afterwards that the text took him back twenty two years to a sermon he heard when in the Cape. He himself at that time could not understand the book and thought it strange that God should have such a book about worldly things in His Book so he went to the minister the following day to enquire. The minister explained it to him as far as he could and told him to seek that the Holy Spirit would lead him into the book. This elder also informed me that his first thought at the table was that he would not hear the voice he used to hear (referring to the late Rev. James Fraser) but he comforted himself in that the Lord had given other shepherds.
In the evening there was a prayer meeting at eight o’clock which lasted until about 9 p.m.
Throughout the whole day there was a sense of solemnity while not what we can ever be satisfied with (for even the greatest awe experienced among the assemblies here on earth are far short of what they ought to be) yet it is all of the Holy Spirit for we cannot solemnize ourselves or others.
Today Monday Mr. Van Woerden spoke from Hebrews 4 verse 9 “There remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God” with a measure of freedom.
It has often been in my mind to drop you a line knowing that you have an interest in these parts. It may help you to know that Yan was saying to me last night how useful he had found that sermon you had preached the Sabbath night in N. Tolsta on James and John wanting fire to come down from heaven; so often he meets with such things as to make him of that spirit and then he remembers that night. How little we know how the Lord is using and when He is going to use what is said under the guidance of His Holy Spirit. I feel quite happy to be here if only I would be used but my own ignorance is so great.
Give my regards to all the friends. The elder I referred to earlier is Mr. Alexander Mpofu who strikes me as being a most intelligent Christian.
Your sincere friend,
Alfred Macdonald.
Additional Note to Appeal for Teachers for Mission.
We have just received word that Miss J. MacKay, M.A. is leaving Rhodesia and sailing home to Britain on the 1st January 1960. Miss MacKay’s health has not been too good recently and it is with regret that she has had to give up her position to return Home. Miss MacKay’s state of health will not allow her return to the Mission so the appeal for teachers assumes a still greater urgency. This additional note was too late to add to appeal for teachers for the Rhodesian Mission, printed in January Magazine—D. MacLean, Clerk, Foreign Mission Committee.