Mbuma, 29/1/76.
Dear Friends in Scotland,
It is about four months since I arrived in Rhodesia. It was very pleasant to travel with Margaret MacKenzie from London to Bulawayo. At Bulawayo airport, Mrs Ross, Alasdair and Jessie Coote from Mbuma were waiting for us. On coming to Rhodesia it was good to see some people whom I had met during my time in Glasgow. It was nice to see the Ross’s now settled in Bulawayo. I spent a week with them and then went out to Ingwenya for the Communion weekend. I was very impressed to see so many Africans gathered in the church — the pupils from the school and also people from the other Mission stations.
On Monday, Rev. Mzamo took me to Mbuma. It was a long journey through the forest and we passed the Zenka Mission with the new church, schools and other buildings. It was dark before we arrived at Mbuma and I was very pleased at last to see the lights of Mbuma where Jocelyn Cox and Mabel Lobban were waiting for me.
How surprised I was to see all the buildings of Mbuma the next day, especially to find such a hospital in the middle of the bush. Although it is very different from what we are used to in Scotland and Holland, it is adequate for the work here and quite suitable for the people to have their relations looking after them and cooking their meals. Thus we have an opportunity of presenting the Gospel to both patients and relations. You will find most of our patients outside the hospital with their friends. Only the very ill patients stay in bed. In the evening patients and relations gather into the wards on and under the beds.
We had many children ill with measles and its different complications. Some of them died of this disease. Also we see many children with malnutrition.
Most of the time we have about twenty mothers waiting to have their babies. Some of them spend weeks with us. More and more mothers are coming to have their babies at the hospital and the numbers attending ante-natal clinics is increasing. We are always very pleased to see the babies coming back to the Child Welfare Clinic to have their weight checked and to get advice on feeding, etc.
In the hospital there are about twenty nurses who are trained by our Sisters to do the nursing work. At first I was surprised to see how much they were able to do. Some of them have been many years at Mbuma hospital. I had many difficulties with the language, they in understanding me, and I in understanding their English. Further, they are a great help in translating and tell us in English what the patients say in Sindebele. Sindebele is a very difficult language. I found it difficult to learn English, but this is harder.
The work is very pleasant here and I am glad to do it, but we long to see more interest in the Gospel. Remember us in your prayers.
Many kind regards,
Jantin van Saane.