The annual public meeting of Mbuma-zending was held as usual on 30th April when the official birthday of the Queen of the Netherlands conveniently provides a public holiday. This year the place of meeting was Zwolle on the eastern side of the Zuider Zee and some 70 miles from Amsterdam. It had been thought that the somewhat distant venue would deter some of the friends from attending but all such fears were soon allayed as, in company with our hosts, Mr and Mrs N. Nieuwenhuis of Hoofdorpp and Rev. Donald Maclean, Glasgow, the guest speaker this year, I arrived to find the spacious “games hall” full to almost total capacity. 7,500 persons were present and many of them came from that part of the Netherlands.
Ds. C. Smits, Chairman was absent due to his engagement in a preaching tour in South Africa and a message of apology from him was read. Ds. F. Mallan, vice-Chairman presided and gave the opening address based on Psalm 86 vv 9,10. There followed the singing of Psalm 89 vv 9-11 & 47, 48 when the first collection which realised 62,000 gilders was taken. Rev. D. Maclean then suitably addressed the large assembly from Psalm 91 v 1, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Mr Scholten provided the translation into Dutch. In thanking the deputies from Scotland Ds. Mallan referred to the happier state of things in Zimbabwe as compared with the time when he, himself had visited these parts. He then addressed himself to Miss Peta van de Ridder who was seated in the front row and was soon to take her departure for nursing duties at Mbuma Hospital. He wished her success and Divine preservation in her work.
After lunch Ds. Dorsman gave an address from Psalm 29 v 11b followed by the singing of Psalm 102 vv 13, 14 & 22, 23 when the second collection was taken, amounting to 49,000 gilders. Then Ds. de Waard spoke from Revelation 7 vv 9, 10 and the concluding address was briefly given by Ds. de Jong from Isaiah 57 v 1.
The singing of Psalm 138 vv 7, 8 ended the meeting at 3.30 pm. It had begun at 11 am and once more the enthusiasm and Christian love of the people of the Netherlands for the Church’s Mission in Zimbabwe had been amply demonstrated, — “It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are” (Rom 15:27a). With the addition of children’s mission boxes etc. contributing a further 87,000 gilders, the final sum realised came to 198,000 gilders, a truly amazing result! It was a pleasure to see Mr van Waveren in sufficiently good health to be present at Zwolle, and Mr van Vliet is due my thanks for the many courtesies he showed me. The concluding words of the final Psalm sung at Zwolle may suitably end this report of proceedings there, —
“Lord, still thy mercy lasts; do not
thine own hands’ works forsake.”
ALEXANDER MURRAY