I HAVE just returned after a visit to three of our out-stations—Inukwa, Murray Farm and Evidge. Roughly these three stations form the three corners of a triangle with the nearest station—Inukwa just over 50 miles from Ingwenya, and each one about 10 miles distant from the other two. Our latest station in this district is Evidge, and we were fortunate in our being able to send one of our Ingwenya elders to go and live there; he is Sandlana, a quiet man, well up in the Bible. Our teacher is an Ingwenya boy, Bengamine, who took the teachers’ course under Mr. Fraser at Hope Fountain. Usually we hold communion in one of the three places by turn, and the people from the other stations come along for the services on the Sabbath. We were due to hold the communion at Murray Farm this time.
During rains the visitations of these places is a problem as there are numbers of rivers to cross, and although they may be dry, they are all sandy bottomed. Under the surface there are many feet of sand in water, and if the car stops through the heavy going at any point, it soon digs a hole which leaves it resting on the axle with the wheels spinning free in the air. This has happened so often, that sooner than spend half a day digging the car out, and getting a yoke of oxen to pull it across, I prefer to leave the car at Inukwa and to do the rest of the journey by cycle. On this occasion I found that the people from Murray Farm had done up the approaches to the rivers over the 10 miles stretch from Inukwa, but they had done nothing to enable me to cross the river beds. Later, they will lay a thick covering of branches over the sand, and we may be able to do the whole journey by car on our next two visits. On this visit I set off from Inukwa on cycle for Murray Farm arriving there at about eleven o’clock. Services began late, as we had to wait the arrival of the people from the other two stations, and by the time I had finished two services, along with baptisms and the commemoration service, it was nearly six in the evening. I arrived back at Inukwa at 9 o’clock having cycled half of the way in the dark.
On Monday morning I set off again for Murray Farm where I saw the school in session, I had a service, followed by a meeting of the school committee. I then prepared a bite of lunch and by two o’clock I was again on the cycle heading for Evidge. For a distance the way led through a thick wood, and as the sun was hot, cycling was not too comfortable and I was glad to arrive at Sandlana’s kraal where I found a donkey cart waiting with my camp-bed, etc. Tuesday morning found me in Evidge school and after inspection we had a service. Then I returned to Inukwa by cycle. On the way I went astray badly and so had to abandon my first plan of seeing Inukwa school in the evening. I saw this school on Wednesday morning.
At all stations the services were very well attended. This was especially true of the young men. I have never seen so many attending the preaching in this district as I have on this visit. There are about 25 people waiting examination for membership at these places. All these three out-stations are on farms. Some years ago a law was passed making it unlawful for Natives to reside on farms. For this reason Natives are gradually being shifted from off farms and on to Native Reserves. I had heard the discouraging news that our people at Inukwa and Murray Farm were to go this year. It was with great relief that I learned that our people at Inukwa are not to leave and that there is a probability that our Murray Farm congregation may be left also. This is one of the great disadvantages of our having our head station at Ingwenya in Ntabazinduna Reserve. This reserve is very small, and it is so situated among farms, that when we seek activities beyond the Reserve we can only find them on some farm or other. By this you will understand that we are in a continual state of uncertainty about most of our out-stations, they may be closed any year.
In this country, land is divided as follows:—Native Reserves, in large tracts of land laid aside for natives and on which they may reside without payment of rent. Native Purchase Areas, parts of land set aside for Natives who wish to buy farms. This part is being slowly taken up by the more ambitious natives. Crown Lands, land which the Government has reserved for itself. Private Lands, which are farms, ranches, etc. As time passed and farmers found that their farms were too large to work they took natives on to their farms as tenants, charging a low rent with the result that for years, a large part of the native population has been living on farms. Very often they prefer to live on a farm and pay rent rather than live on a Reserve. These farms are usually well watered, the ground is good, often they are not too far from towns, and the farmer takes care that there is no overstocking, so it is not to be wondered at if many natives wish to live as tenants. But the policy of the Government has been to send these people away from the farms whether they like it or not, and the time will come when there will be few natives remaining on them. As Ingwenya is surrounded by farms and the nearest Crown land is 50 miles away, while the nearest Reserve is about 80 miles from here, it will readily be seen that we are working under a great disadvantage. This is one of the most important matters to consider in connection with our beginning a new head station at Shangani. From this district of Bubi, which is nearly as large as Scotland, the people are being sent from off the farms to Shangani Reserve. The population there is increasing just as it is decreasing here. Shangani Reserve is a very large tract of country and work can go on there unaffected by the Land Act.
• Last year some of our best people were shifted from off the Queen’s and the Oldgate districts and although I tried hard to follow them up with a school, I was unable to do so. They went on to Crown Lands, and I failed to get permission to open a school, although we have liberty to hold a preaching station there. This is at Ekwaleni and near Lonely Mine. These are the distressing circumstances we are working under all the time.
Our last communion at Ingwenya was very encouraging. On these occasions our little church reminds me of what a good dear friend in Halkirk used to say of any half-hearted effort,—”Just a name and a mock.” We exhort the people to come, but both they and we know that the invitation cannot be too cordial, as there cannot possibly be room for all. Even so, they came, and a number had to be content with sitting outside. Of the 20 new members at this last Communion 14 were girls from the boarding school. The boarding school is always a great concern; but owing to war conditions it is really a heavy burden just now. Not only is meal nearly three times what I used to pay for it, and sugar one third dearer and meat twice as dear, but owing to restrictions, it is not always possible to have a quantity of meal in stock. Meal is rationed and we are able to get a permit for only a month’s stock at a time, and one must be very careful to make the ration last out the month. There are times, too, when the millers can supply only a small quantity at a time, and we run short. There is nothing one can do then but run into town and procure one or two sacks to tide us over. This means time and petrol. We have reduced meals from three to two daily and we get on not too badly in this way. About 200 lbs of meal are consumed each day. But whatever concerns we have to carry in between times, we regard them as light enough, when we see the work of the Lord going ahead among these young Africans. To see young souls born again never to die and ever to live to the glory of Christ is a great reward, but not the only one. The joy of angels in Heaven over repenting sinners finds an echo in the hearts of His people here and “the joy of the Lord is the strength of His people.” This joy is the best medicine for a concerned mind and an overburdened heart. Would that we knew more of it!
I encourage the professing girls in the boarding school to regard themselves as a little church within the mission. I have talks with them alone, and they are encouraged to hold their own prayer-meetings. Boarding school life is a protected and sheltered one; and, as far as we are able, we try to off-set this weakness by setting the girls on their own feet, in preparation for the days when they will have to exercise more independence in the religious and moral problems which must confront them. It is a matter of deep humility for us and praise to the Lord that He continues to have a work of grace to do among these young people. Salvation is an eternal marvel anywhere to anyone who partakes of it; but to those of us who know the environment which has influenced the character, the thinking, and the lives of these African girls before contact with the gospel, an extra gleam in the glory of grace is discovered.
Lately I attended the funeral of one of the oldest of our women members. A little insignificant slip of a woman who might pass anywhere without any undue notice being taken of her. Nevertheless among her own people she was a person of influence and authority. She was uneducated herself; but educated young men and ignorant heathen alike would stand with downcast eyes and shamed look on their faces when Mahlabangana had reason to reproach them. She was one of King Lobengula’s wives. The King had many wives, but they were not all true wives. Mahlabangana was a true wife and in the old days had lived at the royal kraal. Her first profession of Christianity was made in 1914 and most honourably did she carry it these last thirty years. She carried all the old authority with her, but she always cast it on the side of the gospel. There were times when not only office-bearers, but even missionaries, felt the weight of her little tongue. But she never spoke of a person’s faults except to the person himself. If a fault was acknowledged or a good reason given than a twinkle would return to her eyes and her face would light up with the most disarming of smiles. Her inability to read and write, and her disability through old age did not discourage her. What she could do she made sure of doing. One felt that she had definitely set out to do everything an old woman could do to help forward the gospel among her people. Wherever there was sickness or death, a birth or a marriage, one would be fairly sure to find Mahlabangana there. She would neither say nor do much and yet, somehow one felt that all that was being done was according to her orders and under her direction. Along with the other wives of Lobengula she received a pension of £18 a year, but except for an occasional dress she required little for herself, and she spent her money on clothing those who could not clothe themselves. Most of her friends and relatives were connected with Lobengula and all of them were glad to have her staying with them. She made full use of her position in this respect and for the last number of years she went from place to place living for a few months with one or other of them. She did not require to carry food or blankets, people felt honoured to have her. If for the time being, she lived near one of our out-stations then she attached herself to it, but if she were unable to do this then she sent to Ingwenya and almost demanded a preacher to be sent. For the most part we were able to send someone along and in this way the little woman introduced the gospel to many a kraal where it would not have otherwise come. I have never mentioned the matter to her, but I came to regard this method of bringing the gospel to her relatives as quite deliberate on her part. But wherever she found herself she would be sure to turn up at Ingwenya at the Communion season. Some years ago a grandson of Lobengula was drowned at East London and the Government arranged for some of his relatives from this country to attend the funeral. Among others, our friend was sent. On her return I asked her what was the most wonderful thing she had seen in her long journey down to the coast. She did not speak of street cars or big houses as others often do. “Oh, the sea, the wonderful sea which I never saw before. It stretched so far, far away from me and yet it was always running towards me. It was like God’s mercy; always without measure yet always running towards me. And, oh, I felt this, how little of it I could carry away in these two little arms.” She died in the kraal of some heathen relative, but for a number of weeks one of our office-bearers had cycled and conducted services there. The people were as dark as night, but Mahlabangana was as delighted as a young girl to have the gospel preached among them, and one of the last things she did was to thank us for following her up with the gospel. Her rule was, “I have come to stay with you. You cannot refuse me and you cannot refuse my having a preacher sent from Ingwenya to preach to you.” Her funeral was just a simple Christian one, and as I stood by her grave and recalled the somewhat strange but beautiful ministry I felt that, more than of any other person I had known, it could be said of her, “She hath done what she could.”
The summers of 1942 and 1943 were dry, and crops were a failure, and we had to help many of our people during the past year. Apart from the meal I get by permit for school purposes, I am able to get 8 sacks more per month for other purposes. I have made use of this extra meal to feed needy people, and I have also been able to buy cassava meal which has helped at times. If the meal did not meet every need then we gave a little money to buy food. The really needy cases were sent along by the deacons. At the beginning of this present season rain was so slight that the people were unable to plough as numbers of their oxen had died through starvation. Abundant rain has now come and although the plots ploughed are small yet, by July the question of actual need will have passed. We are greatly relieved and thankful to the Lord for the turn things have taken.
We have to thank Mr. Grant for his regularity in cabling our money out. I received a letter from him this March which is the first I have received since a year last February. It is only now that I learn of the increase of grants to Mrs. Radasi, medical work, etc. The Synod in 1942 were most generous in giving these increases to our grants and I know that it is no one’s fault if we have been left in ignorance of them. Either Mr. Grant or yourself (Rev. N. MacIntyre) must have written informing us of them, but the letters never arrived. Neither did we receive copies of the Magazine which contained the synod proceedings, and so we are somewhat in the dark about church matters. As it is April now and we are still receiving letters which were sent last year you can imagine how badly off we are for news. I have to thank the Synod for the gift sent to myself. It came as a great surprise to me and I assure you that your kindness and consideration touched me very much. I feel very unworthy of it.
This year we have great difficulty in procuring cloth for the sewing classes. Not only is it more expensive, but we cannot get it in the quantities we used to. In this way we shall not be able to spend all the money we receive from Mrs. Miller and from the St. Jude’s Ladies’ meeting. I think that about half the amount sent for this purpose last year will be sufficient for this year. The rationing of petrol has limited our visitation a little, but we were able to make the following journeys during the year,—3 visits to Shangani, 3 to Zenka, 3 to Gwezani, 4 to Murray Farm, 4 to Inukwa, 1 to Evidge, 1 to Ekwaleni, 2 to Morven, 4 to Bembesi, 4 to Ntabenende, 4 to Lebeni. Taking into account special school visits some of these places were visited 8 times. The whole distance covered was well over 2,000 miles. Communions were held at all these stations and members were added to each. Sometimes we feel just a little isolated since news of Church matters is so scant and reaches us so late, but we are deeply sensible that all our concerns are being carried by our home people whether we are made aware of the fact or not. Out here we try to go on as usual, taking on whatever work the Lord puts in our hands, and making the money we receive through the committee and other friends go as far as possible. We can say with truth, that we buy as cheaply as possible, and that we look twice at any need before we conclude that it is a necessity. So long as the Lord prospers us by giving us souls for our hire, souls for the church’s hire, we are encouraged. And continually He is doing this. Some come through the stated services at out-stations, some through services held at kraals often in the open air, some through our kraal schools and some through our boarding school, so that every line of activity bears some fruit. So long as we see the Father drawing souls to His Son; so long as the Son is seeing of the travail of His soul and is being satisfied we find our satisfaction here too. The prayers of our friends at home are being answered and the funds subscribed by them are being put in the hand of the gospel, and the great Harvester is reaping some of His sheaves into the bosom of our Church. What more can we want unless it is an increase and a widening out of the same blessed work. Last year we added one more Kraal School and one more regular preaching station to our field.
I say nothing about the Shangani project. Mr. Fraser has written fully and well on the matter. I may repeat, however, what I have already written in this connection. Ingwenya serves many good purposes, but we can never hope to build up a number of really permanent out-stations until we are free of the interruptions incidental to our having so much of our work on private lands.
The war has drawn its weary way along another year. Our temptation here is to slacken off a bit owing to the difficulties carried by it, but by grace we seek to fight off this temptation. At home you have not only the war which is brought so much nearer to you through sons and relatives being in danger, but you have distractions arising from the ordinary concerns of the church. But I am convinced that neither the war from without nor from within will make you forget the harvest of souls waiting to be reaped here. His command is imperative and urgent. “Lift up your eyes, the fields are white already to harvest.” May we receive grace to listen to His Word in this matter, and may we take time each day to look out on this harvest. As we give such prominence in our faith and teaching to the purposes of God, we must believe that these purposes include His intention to gather some part of that harvest each year to himself through our efforts. There are times when the Church, even more than the world, needs to be reminded of the value set by God on human souls. Whatever appears to us necessary for His cause and kingdom, and whatever may be our concerns in connection with these lesser things the Word of the Lord cuts down and across them, “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Whatever else the Church is confronted with she can never remove herself from the presence of souls. They are everywhere, lost souls, souls already on the way to Hell. For healthy Christians these souls are a prime concern. It is a solemn thing for a Mission Committee; a solemn question for a Missionary but more solemn of all if this is not a living question in our daily experience. “What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” With this harvest of souls set before us by the Lord and this urgent question ringing down from above there is no escape for us except in one way. We may close our eyes and ears to both, and act as if they were not there at all. Another step and it is, sleep. May the Lord of His mercy prevent that.
I close this report with some words of thanks to the many friends who have stood by us during the past year. The late Mr. Cameron used to say, “It is not the crossing of the Red Sea that is the trial to a man, but the wilderness. That is the place to find his weaknesses,” and this is true. The trial is not in our beginning to help a cause, but in the continuance of that help. I often wonder at our people and the way they continue to support us year after year. I feel that I should write them letters at least of thanks if not of encouragement, but by now it is plain that they do not serve men but the Lord, for the men who should write to them often fail them. In this I am speaking for myself only. But I am so placed that I can only do extra work in the writing line at certain times. If I may be permitted I should like to make special mention of the Winnipeg, Toronto, St. Jude’s congregations and of Mrs. Miller, Wick; but it hardly seems fair to mention any particular person. The Lord knows each one. The Lord reward each one.