Dear Friends,
After a pleasant eight weeks break in the homeland we are again settled in Bulawayo.
We recall with pleasure the interest that was once more shown in Mission work by our friends in Scotland and Holland. I was asked by a number of ministers to speak or give slides of our Mission activities, which I was able to do.
One of the highlights in giving lectures and slides, was perhaps that of attending the Young People’s Conference. Apart from the interesting papers I heard read, it was a pleasure to see so many of our young people attend the Conference and to see their enthusiasm. I trust that by the blessing of God it will prove beneficial, by way of instruction in the Word of God, and the meeting of others who have similar interests in the Word of God.
Rev. B.B. Dube, who was also in Scotland, spoke to many congregations, and I had the privilege of hearing him speak at Lochcarron. He dwelt mainly on problems as he found them in the Zenka area. Alas! these problems to this day have not altered. Our Churches, especially in the Zenka and Mbuma areas, need our prayers, since they are more directly caught up in the war situation. Also at Lochcarron and Plockton we had the privilege, once more of meeting Mr J. van Woerden, who has been associated with our Church in Zimbabwe-Rhodesia for many years. It was good to meet him and his family again. We recalled some of the pleasant times we had together on the Mission field.
The congregations I spoke to once again showed their liberality to the cause of spreading the Gospel in foreign lands. Handsome collections were received from all these congregations. It was a pleasure also to receive private donations from various people and from the Inverness ladies. The greater amount of this money is to be put towards the building of a library in the Bulawayo Congregation and for the purchasing of books for our Sabbath school children and children to whom we teach scripture at day school. I may add, should any persons wish to freely dispose of surplus books suitable for a Reformed Library, I would be most grateful to receive any such books. In fact, an Inverness friend has already donated many books for this purpose.
Once again, my family and I had the privilege of attending the Mbuma Zending Mission Meeting. Mr C. van Waveren was our constant interpreter and enabled me to enjoy what was being said by each of the speakers. Rev. Alex. MacPherson has already written about this meeting so that I need say no more; other than how remarkable it is that the contributions of the Dutch people to the Cause of Christ have not diminished over the years, but increased.
During my stay in Holland I was invited to speak to two Dutch congregations about Mission work. This opportunity I took, and spoke to one congregation of about 100 people in s’Gravendeel and another congregation in Oosterland of about 250. On both occasions the people listened intently and expressed their satisfaction at receiving first hand information about the situation in Zimbabwe-Rhodesia. I must express here also, my deep gratitude for the overwhelming kindness shown to us as a family from Mr and Mrs Barth, s’Gravendeel, and the abundance of goodwill shown to us by these two congregations in more ways than one. Many indeed were the people in Holland who showed us Christian kindness, and I take this opportunity of expressing our deep gratitude to each and all. After our stay in Holland we again returned to Scotland, and not long after headed for S. Africa. We left from Inverness, sent on our way with a warm farewell from many friends. In flight to London, it was interesting that the Rev. J. Tallach was on the same flight, but heading for Italy, reminding us more vividly of the extent of our Mission work as a church. Stopping over in London we were kindly entertained for the day by the Rev. and Mrs MacPherson, who then saw us off at London Airport. This was the last we saw of Scottish friends, and we rather sadly made our way to the exit. In the kindness of the Lord we arrived the following day at Bulawayo Airport to be met by the Mission staff, who make it their unfailing duty to meet other members of staff returning to the Mission Field.
Now we are once more settled in Bulawayo, and the opportunity for sowing the Gospel seed is as good as it has been in the past. In fact, many people have fled from war-torn areas into the city, and appear to be ready to listen to the Word of God. May God graciously bless our labours in this part of His vineyard and we do take encouragement from your constant interest in our work and feel thankful for those prayers, which we know are offered to God in the name of Christ, the great Head of the Church, for the prosperity of Zion in Zimbabwe-Rhodesia.
Yours sincerely,
DONALD A. ROSS.