Dear Friends,
It is now some months since we returned safely to Rhodesia. The Most High in His kindness gave travelling mercies to and from Scotland.
Our stay there was most pleasant and a great pleasure it was to meet relations and friends once more, and to be encouraged by the interest shown by many in Mission work.
The interest shown by the various congregations in Mission work was apparent when I was asked by several to give a lecture on work in Rhodesia or to show slides. It was not possible to accept all invitations, but at those we were able to accept, keen interest was apparent from the attendance and liberality.
After a most enjoyable but busy holiday, the time came for our return to the Mission Field. It seemed more difficult than previous to leave the Lord’s people and various friends, especially when the change that most impressed us was the blank places in our congregations. Some of these we are sure have gone to their eternal rest. What will another three years unfold? Oh to be ready for eternity.
Our safe arrival in Rhodesia was welcomed by various friends, and the feeling on arrival was that we had never been away. Strange, it seemed like a dream, and here we are once more back to former work.
It was only when we returned that the reality of Mr Van Woerden and his family leaving Bulawayo struck us. Mr van Woerden who was an elder in the Bulawayo Congregation spent his spare time assisting in the building of the Congregation, while his normal working hours were spent in establishing and organising the Thembiso Children’s Home. Mr van Woerden has now resigned from his work in Ebenezer Scripture Mission.
To this present day, the Most High has graciously inclined the hearts of a goodly number from the surrounding townships to attend the services in our Bulawayo Church. Our longing is that He would also open their hearts as He did that of Lydia; “whose heart the Lord opened.” That is a work beyond the power of man, but not beyond the power of God. Once again I take the opportunity to ask you to plead at a Throne of Grace for an out pouring of the Holy Spirit to break the hard hearts and open these hearts to acknowledge sin, and the need of Christ as Saviour to save from the wrath which is to come. “Brethren pray for us”.
Yours sincerely,
Donald A. Ross
Ingwenya Mission
19/9/77
Dear Friends,
Nearly three months have passed since our loaded vehicles passed through the south gate of Mbuma, leaving behind a few sad staff members and deserted buildings. A strange quietness had befallen the scene which only a week or two before had been bustling with activity. We had been given three days in which to pack up valuable hospital equipment and our personal effects. You can imagine our feelings as we broke the news to the few remaining patients, (some had sensed trouble and had already left) and proceeded to dismantle the result of years of work. Over the preceding few months we had been particularly busy re-organising aspects of the work and had been pleased with the results. Now it seemed as if all was in vain. A tearful nurse helped to pack up equipment from the Isolation Block which had only just been put into commission. X-ray equipment, patients’ records and most of the drugs from dispensary were hastily stowed in crates, as we feared that hospital property might have been a target for terrorists, even in our absence.
It was with a sense of relief that we arrived at Ingwenya on the evening of 24th June. No doubt there are many lessons for us to learn from the strange Providence that had overtaken us. We were somewhat encouraged recently when reading a sermon of the late Rev. D. Beaton. Preaching from Ezekiel chapter one, verse six he spoke of many aspects of God’s Providence. We quote the following:— “Remember this, dear friend, of the One Who is sitting on the throne, it is no weak hand that is holding the sceptre. There is never a time when He is taken unawares. It is unnecessary for Him to revise His plans and His purposes because of any new situation arising. He has seen them from Eternity and He knows the full force of the opposition, knows the method that will be adopted by those who oppose Him, and His plans will go forward.”
As the weeks have passed we have had reason more than once to acknowledge the goodness of the Most High in delivering us from the “snare of the fowler.” Up to the time of writing the situation has not improved. Two weeks ago three Africans were murdered by terrorists at the Dagamella store about 30 miles from Mbuma. The terrorists were looking for the European owner of the shop and ordered the Africans to lie down. When they tried to run away, all were mercilessly shot.
It is a sad day when Governments and Churches support organisations whose “liberation” campaign entails the withdrawal of essential health services from their own people, and the interruption of the education of thousands of school-children.
At the time of writing a small clinic is functioning at Mbuma. The African Medical Assistant in charge is Mrs Sithandiwe Mlio who was educated at Ingwenya Mission where she was taught by Mr Mzamo. She was employed at another Mission Hospital until it also was forced to close this year. We ask you to pray that the Clinic will continue to function free from molestation by terrorists.
Over the past few weeks the houses and hospital at Mbuma have been virtually stripped of furniture and equipment. Easily replaceable items are being sold and the rest is safely packed in a Bulawayo warehouse.
Some of you will already have had an opportunity to speak to Mr Neil Murray who returned home at the end of August. In a very short time the rest of us expect to leave this country and return to our homes in different parts of the world.
In conclusion we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Christian friends in various countries, whose prayers have been our great support over the years and especially in recent trying times. We trust that we in turn, will be enabled unceasingly, to remember at a Throne of Grace, the Lord’s people whom we are leaving behind.
Yours very sincerely,
C.A. Turner,
J.A. Cox,
M. van Saane