Before beginning to write these notes, I had a great desire to have first-hand news of the friends in Zimbabwe. So I dialled Bulawayo and in a couple of minutes, or less I was able to speak to Mr Campbell, and then to Miss Graham. One never ceases to marvel at this rapid means of communication.
It was a great pleasure to learn that little Naomi Mary Hicklin had arrived two hours previously, in Bulawayo Hospital. She is Mr and Mrs Hicklin’s third child. Mrs Neil Murray had been attending a special One Week Nursing Course in Bulawayo, but had left for Ingwenya Communion services. Neil Murray and David Ndlovu had been on a trip to Binga, a very needy part of the country, just south of the Zambezi River. This was not their first visit, and they had been impressed with the great poverty, physical and spiritual. They went laden with clothes and food and, no doubt, portions of Scripture for those who can read. They were given a warm welcome, and we trust the message of the Gospel was blessed to, at least, some.
Some readers may remember that while Mr Campbell was in Scotland he was collecting for an Intercom System for use between Mbuma Hospital and the Church. With the assistance of Miss Sheila Macleod the equipment arrived safely in Bulawayo, but was held up by Customs. However, it is now available for use.
There had been a recent visit to the Mission by four Dutchmen, in connection with the transfer of Thembisio Home and the Religious Bookshop to the care of the Free Presbyterian Church in Zimbabwe. As was mentioned previously, Thembisio was opened as a Children’s Home by Mr and Mrs van Woerden, and run successfully for a number of years with the devoted help of young Dutch and African helpers. The work has now extended to include, in addition to a maximum number of 54 children in the Home, ranging in age from babies to children of sixteen years old, school classes for the children of the neighbourhood, preschool classes, primary and secondary school classes, and an evening Adult Literacy Class. As can be seen this is a huge undertaking. The Rev. A. B. Ndebele has been made responsible for the religious education of the pupils, and for the supply of religious Services.
The old School bus which twice weekly brought supplies from Bulawayo for the John Tallach Boarding School had become very unreliable. Mr Campbell said that a new school bus had arrived. No doubt this new acquisition’s arrival had been preceded by months of negotiations and correspondence. So for many reasons, its advent would be extremely welcome, and would considerably lessen the anxiety of providing food for around 400 hungry youngsters.
Miss Coote leaves on October 21st D.V. for Zimbabwe, after a short furlough. Miss Graham had one month at home, chiefly to be with her mother, who is in a Nursing Home in Inverness.
It is encouraging to hear of large congregations attending our services. Mbuma Church has been extended. The 600 children who attend primary school there would require a church for themselves at the weekday Service which they attend! Mrs Murray in a recent circular letter which she sent home, quoted the words of the famous missionary, J. D. Fraser, of Lisuland; “I believe it will only be known at the Last Day how much has been accomplished in Missionary Work by the prayers of earnest believers at home. Solid lasting missionary work — is done on our knees. What I covet more than anything else is earnest believing prayer.”
So would say our missionaries in Zimbabwe.
J. N.