IN making up this report of our work last year I have in mind that Mr. McKenzie will likely give some general account of our doings here and for that reason you need not be surprised if what I now write is for the most part merely facts and figures. In all parts of the Lord’s vineyard the work of transplantation in the case of the older vines and grafting in the case of wild and new vines is going on and this corner of the vineyard is no exception. We have had our transplantations and our graftings in the year now gone, and it is our duty to praise the Lord on account of both of these. We have as surely to praise Him for the triumphant faith of those transplanted to Glory as for the saving faith of those grafted into the True vine. During the year past two of our members were taken to be with the Lord. The first I refer to was Mrs. Sobantu, a woman of nearly 90 years. Up to about 5 years ago she resided in the Colony but she came to Rhodesia to live with her daughter. She was one of the early Cape converts and on her arrival here she attached herself to our mission. It was soon noticeable that she was not only a gracious woman but one of considerable education and upon inquiry we found that she belonged to a refined and well educated family. The isiXosa people are indebted to a brother of hers (now dead) for the translation of the Shorter Catechism into their language. For the last four years of her life Mrs. Sobantu was so infirm that it was only with difficulty that she could go even a short distance; yet her place in Church was seldom empty although the preaching station is two miles distant from her home. As one saw this lone figure take her way, painfully and slowly over the two miles which lay between her and the preaching station, one could not but wonder at that Grace which fed so strong a loyalty. On one occasion we took her here to Ingwenya to the Communion and these seasons were always prized by her. On her sick bed she was unable to speak, but right up to the end she was able to hear quite well. This was noticeable in rather a beautiful way, for while in prayer one asked that she should be more comfortable in her body, which was in great pain, she made no response, but no sooner did one speak of the Person and Glory of her Redeemer than her face lit up and she began to weep. Her attachment to Him through life was with her at death and although she could not speak, her tears spoke of bathing His feet prior to her being ushered into His presence—the last tears for all eternity. And so this vine was transplanted. Mrs. Sinokwanyana was taken from us at the comparatively early age of 46 years. She was the sixth child of the late Chief John Hlazo. Some of the older readers of the magazine will remember that this was the chief who so strongly supported the mission at its beginning. He was the father of Mr. Radasi’s first wife so that our subject was the sister of the first Mrs. Radasi. As this member was a widow she had to go to towns to seek work and as she was very intelligent she could command high wages. While in Salisbury she took ill and finding that medical skill could do nothing for her she returned home. On her return she took to bed and it was only a matter of days before the end came. On realizing that the end was near she called members of the family to her and told them that she was now on the borders of a beautiful country and that her time was now come for her Saviour to take her within. She said that all the wages in Salisbury could not be compared with what she was now receiving from Him. In this happy frame she died. She was greatly attached to her aged widow mother, to whom we extend our warm sympathy. As a mission we miss her, for although she was so much away from home yet we always found her the same on her return; bright and willing and with a warm place for the things of Christ and the interests of the mission. The number of people added to our membership is 25. Some of our people at Induba had to leave that part, but in no case did any one of these give up their connection with the mission. They attend the nearest preaching station when they are able, and from time to time they turn up here for the communion season. Shangani and Martha Farm stations were visited each three times and the Lord’s Supper dispensed in Shangani twice and in Martha Farm once. In passing, I may say that owing to a disagreement between our people and the farmer at Martha Farm he closed our school and place of worship. This was the cause of much concern and prayer; prayer which was I believe answered, for we got permission to begin work on the farm adjoining. Four years ago we tried hard to get permission to start a school on this same farm; yet at that time we could not get it. “The gate opened of his own accord” when the Lord’s time came. You will understand that the people are the same as those who met on Martha Farm but in future this school will be known as Murray’s Farm school. During the year the Lord has added to our care two new out-stations. One of these is on Mr. Stephen’s Farm and is about 18 miles from here in the direction of Queen’s Mine Road, while the other is about 12 miles from here in the direction of Bulawayo and is on Mr. Mennel’s Farm. Services are held regularly and both places have been visited by us. Considering that the preaching is a somewhat new thing among these people the congregations were good; the number of young men attending is specially encouraging. At Mennel’s Farm I noticed one very pleasing feature. But few people are able to read there as they have no school; yet I noticed that a good number of those present were able to join in the praise, and this could only be accounted for by the fact that those who are able to read have taught some of the psalms to others. Some generous friends have made a present to the Mission of a Duplicator and Typewriter and we hope to make full use of these. We can now have all our schools learning the same Bible lessons. This is a distinct advantage, as before this the teachers were without any guide and each simply did what he thought best. With the complete lessons for the year printed at Ingwenya we have the Bible taught in a more systematic way. Through the help of the Duplicator too we hope to begin a Monthly Mission Letter for our people. Our purpose in this is that our people may be the better instructed in the things of their faith, and to this end we will include any home or mission news which we think may help. We commend this humble enterprise to the prayers of our people and we desire to thank most warmly all the many friends who have helped to provide these gifts.
School Work.
Although the attendance tended to fall off towards the end of the year yet the number of children attending our schools was, I think, higher than the year before. The total on the register was 478. We had 22 girls staying at the mission. The inspector visited three of our schools, Ingwenya, Lebeni, and Shangani, and in general the reports were very favourable indeed. According to his reports the attendance in these schools is so high that an extra teacher is required in each of them, and acting on his advice I have placed three new teachers in these schools. I have been able in these cases to supply teachers who have been educated at Ingwenya. These appointments will make a difference in my teachers’ pay sheet this year and I hope that the Committee will meet me in this. As indicated above, the Bible is thoroughly taught in all our schools. Like other children they forget a lot of what they learn but ordinarily one is surprised at how much is remembered by them. Sometimes the Lord gives us encouragement by revealing to us what, under His hand, we are able to do. I mean in the way of blessing His Word among the children. A case of this comes to my mind and it may not be out of place to tell it to you. During her stay in school here a girl whose parents were heathen came forward for baptism. This privilege was given to her and she took on the name of “Janet.” She was not allowed to remain over a year with us as her father, who never wished her to go to school, took her away. Janet was a quiet and obedient girl who could give a good reason for the hope that was in her, but now that she was removed from school she largely passed from our influence. When we heard that she was ill we went to see her. All that could be done for her body was done but she rapidly grew weaker. To one who visited her at this time she had to mourn that she did not now see her Saviour as she used to see him; “I do see Him, but Oh! he seems so far away from me as if He were hiding in the shadows,” was her complaint. On being asked the day following as to how she felt she replied with feeling, “I am now quite happy, I do not want to live longer. After you left me yesterday I took my Bible and read in the 11th Chapter of Matthew, I found Him again there and He is no longer hiding from me but is always near me; He is so near me that I do not want to go on living here; I want to be with Him like this always.” A wish which was realized within a few hours. Janet learned to read her Bible in one of our schools and in one of our schools she was found by the Lord of the Bible. At New Year time we gave out prizes and also gave clothes to as many needy children as we could. I told the children and the parents gathered there that the gifts were from our children in Portree and Raasay Congregations. One of the oldest of our elders wished me to convey the thanks of the children and parents here to the children at home, and this I warmly do. A good number of our women learned to sew as a result of my wife’s class last year, and here, very much thanks are due to all those ladies at home who have sent cloth or money for cloth to Mrs. Miller. I beg to assure both them and Mrs. Miller that we are most grateful to them all for their help in this. At present there are three chiefs pleading with us to begin work among their people. The population in two of these places is very large. So far we have had to give these places a sorrowful refusal, as we find it impossible to add to the two new places mentioned above. The Educational policy in this colony tends to tie one more and more to scholastic work. If one is to have mission schools at all one must stand by the laws made in connection with these schools or lose the grants in aid. The Committee will understand by this that if we are to enter into these new fields evidently opening for us by the Lord there must be some more help in connection with the school work. It is our prayer here that the Lord will put it into the heart of some Christian teacher to undertake the responsibility of the school work. This would leave us free to look after these untouched portions of the field should the Committee so desire to take these under our care. We should like to know the Committee’s mind on the matter. I must not close this report without some reference to our visit from the Rev. R. McKenzie. It is difficult to express all the joy it gave us to have him with us, even for a short time, a friend from the Home Church. We felt strengthened and encouraged by his visit, and our people here have added to them one more personal link with the Mother Church. We trust too, that through contact with him people at home will feel a closer and more personal unity with our people here. His address on leaving us here was based on the words, “Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward,” and I cannot conclude better than by referring these words to the two peoples concerned in this report—those at home and these here. In connection with those portions of the Vineyard set out for us in the purpose of the Lord and not yet possessed by us let us go forward unitedly in prayer, in faith, in support and in effort “until the day break and the shadows flee away.”