THE time has very quickly come round again when I must submit to your Committee my annual report of our doings here, and I feel that I cannot begin it better than by a note of praise and thanks to the Lord for His care over our persons and work during the year that is now passed. Under His blessing we have been able not only to fill out the work already in our hands, but to open up new channels of usefulness in parts of His vineyard before untouched.
Last year was the first year in which our schools were under the new Department of Native Education. All our schools were inspected, and it is gratifying to know that the inspector’s reports were all favourable; our work here at Ingwenya receiving special mention as being above the average expected in native schools in Rhodesia. In the case of every school full grants have been earned, the total being £208 10s. The total number of children in all schools for the year was 519, which is an increase of over 100 on the previous year. A decrease in the Morven school was more than made up by the addition of the new school at Martha Farm, where the attendance was as high as 70. It is outside the scope of my report to do more than give simple facts, but one cannot help remarking on the great opportunity which the Lord provides for us in the training of these 500 children. The mere fact that all these children will yet be able to read God’s Word in their own language is, in itself, an ample return for the time and labour spent in this work.
In these days when even missions do not give much attention to the teaching of the Bible in the education of children, it may not be out of place to assure you that the giving of Biblical Truth is still our aim in school work. In all third class schools the Bible is daily taught, while here in Ingwenya we go even further. Here we give forty minutes per day to Bible lessons; questions and Psalms are memorised at home, and there is a regular Bible examination each year. The whole school attends the weekly prayer meeting, the weekly services at Communion time, and any other services there may be, while the girls residing at school have a half hour’s worship morning and evening. All religious training is under my own hand, and a permanent place is found for it on all our time-tables.
A lady instructor for girls’ work inspected this part of our work last year, and was so pleased with the things made that she took some of them away for samples. As in other years, this work is in the hands of my wife. As few of the Matabele women can sew, my wife this year has begun a sewing class for these. But here again we aim higher than merely teaching sewing. We encourage heathen women to come, and we have it as a rule that the class is opened with the singing of a Psalm and the reading of a part of the Word. Some of these women living among heathen are subject to many trials and temptations, and as the class is informal it provides not only a welcome respite for them, but provides an excellent opportunity for mutual help and encouragement.
The boy at Lovedale passed Standard VI., and is now in his first year of teacher training. I have already mentioned the new school at Martha Farm. This school earned no grant last year as I could not get it opened before April, but I expect that it will earn one this year.
Owing to the last two years of drought some of the people have found living here hard, and a number of our members, with their families, left this part to seek means of livelihood elsewhere. Among that number was our precentor, an elder, and a few promising young men. At first we felt this very much, but we now seem to see something of the hand of Providence in the matter. It is of interest that not one of these sought to break connection with the Church, but rather set up preaching stations under our Church wherever they made their homes. They come to Ingwenya to attend the Communions, travelling in some cases over 100 miles to be present. They have asked me to visit them from time to time, and this I have consented to do. In this way our preaching stations now number ten. If the Lord wills, I hope to take an elder with me to these places, and if there will be any who are ready for examination we will examine such, and in due time have regular Communion services in each place. There are now only four Fingo families in the Ingwenya congregation. At Martha Farm, where we have had preaching since the last two years, there are 29 persons waiting to be examined. The number added to the roll last year is 13. All the services at out-stations are well attended, and we notice a distinct improvement in the attendance at the week-day Communion services. Since the arrival of Dr Macdonald we hold an overflow meeting in one of the school houses on the Communion Sabbath. The Sabbath School keeps well up, the numbers ranging from 60 to 80, with the pleasing element of a number of heathen children being present. It is with deep humility and thankfulness we record that there were no cases of discipline last year. Shangani was visited this week, and we found John Ndivamabombo, the missionary, and his family well. There were two persons added to the membership there this visit. As I now preach in the native language it is our intention for the future that the Doctor will take the services here and at the out-stations, while I go to kraals where we have not preached before. Both the people and ourselves were most happy to receive Dr Macdonald. As time goes on he will find his hands full enough, for it is wider his field will become. We would thank God and the Church for him, and desire that he will long be spared to labour among us.
The 60 acres granted by the Government have now been fenced in, and about 20 acres of ground are cleared. With the cultivation of this we hope to help the solution of the food problem in the school and meet other expenses.
We are looking forward to seeing the Rev. R. Mackenzie and Mr Campbell, Inverness, some time this year. If your Committee could see its way to give these friends the powers of delegates to the mission we would like it. In concluding, we desire most warmly to thank all our friends at home. I might make special mention of Mrs Miller, Wick, and the ladies who help her. I omitted to say that simple sewing is now taught in all our Third Class Schools where possible. This means that there are about 200 girls in all learning sewing. This would not be possible were it not for the kindness of friends and the labours of Mrs Miller. They have our warm thanks. We desire also to thank the very many who sent books in response to my appeal last year. All were most suitable and well chosen. Raasay school children have again provided prizes for the children here, and I thank these little helpers. We do not forget to thank those who remember us in their prayers. We often feel our need of these, and as often feel that they are offered on our behalf. We again cast both ourselves and our work upon them. It is a great blessing when a Church is walking along the lines of truth, and, greater still, if such a Church adds to this that it walks along-side the purposes of God on earth. We hope that we are doing both, and for that reason such a truth as that in the 2nd Psalm: “I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance,” is at once a concern and an encouragement. We feel that many at home have made this concern and encouragement their own, and we are thankful for every remembrance of it. May the Most High richly bless all such friends.