Ingwenya, Bembesi, July 16th, 1926.
My dear Mr Cameron,—I promised in my last letter to give an account of our visit to Shangani. Leaving here on Friday, and arriving on the same day, we stayed at this station until Monday. On Saturday morning I called the school in, and made tests of the children’s progress in their lessons.
You will remember that I reported three women were baptized when last I was there, and as the distance is too far from Shangani to Ingwenya, we decided to hold communion services at Shangani. On the Saturday evening we had these three women forward for examination, and afterwards addressed them on the spiritual meaning of the Lord’s table. There were twelve other adults forward for examination for baptism. Both their knowledge and experience were such as reflected on the wholesome, all-round teaching they had received from the missionary under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The quickness of their growth in knowledge and their very definite experience marks much of the divine and little of the human agency. On Sabbath we had an early morning prayer meeting, followed by the usual services. The last service was the communion one. As this was the first time that the ordinance was witnessed among this people, we had some fears that, owing to the people’s ignorance, there might be some breach of decorum in observing the solemn occasion. But both adherents and communicants showed a spirit of seriousness and orderliness throughout. The company was small—only the three new members, the missionary and his wife, and our own party; but I felt very much under the power of the truth from which I preached—”This beginning of miracles did Jesus and manifested His glory.” We truly believe that this work there is miraculous, that it is only a beginning and not an end, and that He who has done it will continue to do it for His glory and not for anything in us.
The congregation was so large that it more than filled the schoolroom. I thought at first that some considerable part of the number must belong to other missions, but on inquiry I was told that with the exception of two people, all the others were following our mission there. This is quite a striking advance on the numbers I observed following last year. I had a good number of sick people visiting me, and except in two cases I hope I was able to be of some use. These two would require to go to hospital, and I advised them to go to Inyate for this purpose.
In my last report on Shangani I commended Shangani to the special prayer of our people at home, and we see that very evidently their prayers, uniting with ours here, have not been without fruit. That the Most High is working there among the people is a fact at once humbling and joyous, and I felt a real measure of both during our visit.
It will be of interest to our readers to know that the daughter of Chief Bitisani, a fine young girl, comes forward for baptism, and gives good evidence of her sitting at the feet of the Shepherd of Israel.
Satan has shown his hand in an effort to frighten the missionary away. Bands of men gathered on more than one occasion, in the dark of night, at the missionary’s kraal. These continued through the night to shout and make much noise, some climbing up upon the roofs of his huts and tearing away the straw. When I looked into the cause of the uproar, I found that it was due to the missionary’s outspoken preaching on their wicked ways of living.
We may well thank God and take courage that His truth is faithfully declared. For myself, I am always suspicious of a work that raises no opposition and meets with no obstacles. Heathenism in Shangani takes on very much more definite shape than down here. They associate a large tree there with the worship of the Great Spirit. They also keep and feed certain oxen for the sole purpose of sacrifice to the spirits of their forefathers. Their dances and beer drinks, too, are more revolting than they are here, but the Lord has placed his foot there, and when He is of one mind who can turn Him?
As I said, we returned on Monday. Our journey took us about five hours each way, travelling time. The car did very well again each way. It is a “Fiat,” and combines cheapness of running with power. We have only about four miles of road such as you have at home; the rest is just bush track. Notwithstanding heavy parts of sand, the petrol price of the whole journey (180 miles) was just over £1. The day on which we returned was surprisingly cold; so cold, in fact, that after running the 90 miles home, the water in the radiator was no more than warm.
On our return we had the communion here. There was a large number of people, and four tables were served, and I understand that this is the first time that that number was required.
We return to Shangani (D.V.) in September. People, about a day’s walk from the station there, have been wishing to begin work among them. Others, about half-way to Shangani, have been desiring the same thing. These distances are so great from here that I fear to begin them, as my hands are already full. May the Most High give a heart to some one to engage in the work here. Truly of many places it can be said the harvest is great and the labourers few, and for the many this field should be before the minds of young people at home constantly. May the Lord give our people to remember us constantly.—Your very sincerely,
JOHN TALLACH.
Put a low price upon the world’s clay, but a high price upon Christ. Temptations will come; but if they be not made welcome by you, ye have the best of it. Be jealous over yourself, and your own heart, and keep faith with God.—Rutherford.