Mission News
Our Edinburgh minister, the Rev. D. B. MacLeod, is at present in Malawi. He will D.V., be there for three weeks, and will then spend three weeks in Kenya, assisting our preachers in every aspect of their work. In Kenya, Mr Donald MacDonald and his wife, Dr Christine, have had need of patience as they await the registration of the church. Dr Christine has received permission from the Medical Officer of Health to act as General Practitioner at Sengera being on duty there from 8 a.m. until noon. Donald is in his office from an early hour attending to administrative duties and interviewing a stream of people who wish to see him on ‘urgent business’. There are five services in the week which Donald is trying to reduce to three or four. There is also a Catechism Class every afternoon, and language study also. Miss Celia Rennes has finished her work at Kenyatta Hospital meantime, and is studying the language. Truus Ringelberg, once of the staff at Thembiso Children’s Home, and at present in Nigeria, hopes to join them at Sengera.
Malaria is a great problem. Fifty per cent of the children under five die each year of malaria, diarrhoea, and measles. Parents require help in seeking to combat these insidious diseases. Malaria was present at Mbuma in epidemic proportions earlier in the year. There are still a few cases in hospital. One problem at Mbuma was caused by the fact that many of the people were buying chloroquin and quinine at the local stores without regard to dosage or intervals between each dose. The result was that many patients had become resistant to those drugs.
When last we heard from Mbuma there was a little boy in hospital suffering from a fractured leg. He was very scared of the white Sisters and
when Sister Anne went near him he used to hide under the blanket and call to his mother, ‘Mamma, the white person is biting me’!
The doctor and Sisters at Mbuma are very interested in visiting the local homes of the people and having a little Bible study with them. About thirty gather in one home. Bibles are scarce, and cannot be purchased in Bulawayo meantime. Some of the old people find it difficult to read the fine print of their Bibles even with the aid of glasses. Tracts with large print would be helpful and the ladies are planning something in that line, if all is well.
Letters have come from some of the African friends who were in Scotland for the Centenary and Synod to express their gratitude for kindnesses received. It gave the friends in Scotland great pleasure to entertain them. — J.N.
Presbytery Meetings (D.V.)
Southern: At Glasgow on 1st September at 6 p.m.
Western: At Laide on 7th September at 6 p.m.
Northern: At Dingwall on 14th September at 2 p.m.
Outer Isles: At Stornoway on 21st September at 1 p.m.
Canada: At Inverness on 5th October at 9 p.m.
Zimbabwe: At Bulawayo on 12th October at 2 p.m.
Australia and New Zealand: At Gisborne on 19th October at 9.30 a.m.
Committee Meetings (D.V.)
Committee Meetings will be held at Inverness Church:
Tuesday, 5th October
| 9.00 a.m. – 10.00 a.m. | Church Centenary Committee |
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| 10.00 a.m. – 11.00 a.m. | Training of Ministry |
| 11.00 a.m. – 11.45 a.m. | Church Magazines |
| 11.45 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. | Publications |
| 12.30 p.m. – 1.15 p.m. | Sabbath Observance |
| 2.00 p.m. – 3.00 p.m. | Welfare of Youth |
| 2.00 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. | Finance |
| 3.00 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. | Religions and Morals |
| 4.30 p.m. – 5.30 p.m. | Dominions and Overseas |
| 7.00 p.m. – 9.00 p.m. | Foreign Mission |
Wednesday, 6th October
| 9.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. | Church Interests Committee |