Ingwenya Mission
P.O. Bembesi
December 1975
Dear Friends,
We are now beginning our summer holidays and the two hundred pupils of the John Tallach Secondary School are scattered far and wide throughout Rhodesia. About forty-five of them will not be returning. Some of these will go to other schools or colleges for further education but most of them will be looking for work. All that we can do for them now is pray that the seed sown during their four years, or in some cases, two years at Ingwenya will take root and some day bring forth fruit. They showed very little interest in the Gospel while they were here but it is an encouragement to know that what we cannot do in the hearts of the young people, the Holy Spirit can do, if and when He pleases.
The others will be back near the end of January along with about seventy-two new pupils for First year, who will be between thirteen and fifteen years of age. Many of them will know very little of the Word of God and it will be our privilege to teach them. For the first two years we make up our own Scripture scheme but in the third and fourth years we prepare them for the Cambridge O-level exam in Bible Knowledge. The fact that they can get an O-level in Scripture gives them a great incentive to learn their work.
When they come at first they are very keen to learn their Bible and Catechism so we try to make the most of that enthusiasm when they are in Form One. This zeal usually wanes by the time they are in Forms Three and Four but they will learn their Bible if it will help them to get a First Division Cambridge Certificate. One very rebellious boy in this year’s Form Four knew the Gospel of Mark thoroughly. No matter what quotation I would give he could finish it and give the context. For their Cambridge exam they study either the Gospel of Mark or Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. We do a Gospel in Form Three and the Book of Acts in Form Four. They need to know these books in great detail. It might be quite interesting for you to know the type of question they are asked. Here are two from last year’s papers in Luke and Acts:—
- 1 What did Jesus teach about the Sabbath? Illustrate your answer by reference to an incident a) in a cornfield b) in a synagogue c) in a house.
- 2 Outline the contribution made by Barnabas to the growth of the early Church. Why did he not continue with Paul as a fellow missionary?
The children will be expected to write between one and a half to two foolscap pages for each answer. The first question in each paper is comprised of quotations, for example, “‘The stone which the builders rejected the same is become the head of the corner.’ Explain this quotation and show how it is related to the parable which Jesus had just told. Where in the Old Testament is the quotation to be found?” They have four of these content questions and three long questions to answer in each paper.
In Form One they study Genesis and Exodus and if we have time the life of Christ. They also learn the first 31 Catechisms. In Form Two they do 1st and 2nd Samuel, the parables and Catechisms 39 to 87. In Sabbath school we try to fill in the blanks. Since there are only four of us we have big Sabbath school classes and next year D.V. three of us will have to take double classes which is not very easy. In this year’s Form One we had 76 pupils in the two classes combined but until we get converted African teachers in the Secondary School it is the best we can do. I think it is fair to say that they get a good grounding in Bible knowledge while they are here. As well as Sabbath School they have to attend three services each Sabbath and the prayer meeting every Thursday. For many this is not easy but we are thankful to say that we have very little trouble apart from minor grumbles from time to time. They chose to come to our school for their education which they want very much and they have to take our ways of worship as well. This is what we tell them if they complain.
Most of our time is taken up with school. Few people come to our dispensary now because there is a Government Clinic nearby. However we do get some of the church people and one or two others because our medicines are free.
Mano Mano Communion was on during the first weekend of our holidays. Some of us went up on the Friday. All the services were held outside under the shade of the trees. It was very hot and they had had no rain at Mano Mano since April or May. On Sabbath morning Mr Mzamo took the Communion service at 11.30 a.m. preaching from Hebrews 5:8. There was a good gathering of local people but only very few of them attend regularly. About half an hour after the first service finished Mr Ndebele preached from Ephesians 5:14. We ask you to pray that the word preached in those remote places will be a blessing to those who hear it. The services at Mano Mano are kept by Mr Tanna Mpofu, an elder there. The Monday service was held at 8 a.m. and taken by Mr Mzamo. We had packed the Land Rover before the service so we were ready to go immediately afterwards.
The Mission needs the prayers of the people at home more than anything else. The Gospel is being preached and many are coming into contact with it but there seems to be very little fruit although we know that God’s word will not return to Him void but it will accomplish that which He pleases. Pray that the Lord will bless the labours of those who preach the Gospel in Rhodesia and those who work at the hospital and those who teach in the school during 1976. “O our God . . . cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.” Daniel 9:17.
Yours sincerely,
Margaret R. MacKenzie