Miss Marion Graham’s furlough is drawing to a close and she expects to leave for Zimbabwe early in May. Miss Katie Macaulay will then be making preparations for coming home. Mr and Mrs Neil Murray are still with us and he is kept busy with services in Edinburgh and, at times, in
Shieldaig and Applecross.
Our people in Zimbabwe are still mourning the death of the Rev. B. B. Dube. Just twelve years ago the Rev. A. B. Ndebele travelled from Ingwenya to Zenka, a distance of eighty miles, despite the very real hazards of terrorist activity, to organise the Call to their new minister, the Rev. B. B. Dube. There was great rejoicing throughout the Mission. The three old elders, Elisha Mkandhla, Philemon Ndebele and Magaya Ncube, now gone to their rest, were especially happy. Elisha Mkandhla who was well over ninety years of age, passed away on his journey home after the Induction at Ingwenya, where he was noticeably in a very happy frame of mind.
Now on the 17th of March of this year the Rev. A. B. Ndebele went on his sad errand to declare the Charge vacant. To our eyes the work at the Mission has been greatly weakened by the loss of two ministers and three worthy elders in recent years. But as the Rev. A. B. Ndebele writes, “The Lord knows it all. Our whole lives and the life of the Church are under His control. He slumbers not nor sleeps. He can fulfil his purposes with one preacher as well as with ten.”
The Rev. P. Mzamo has been made Interim Moderator for Zenka, thus adding to his burden of work.
At Mbuma Dr. Hak writes that she and the Sisters are continuing the Bible Classes for little primary children at Mbuma. “We have now begun classes at three other places — Singangombe, Gampagalala, and Simbo. There are many children attending at each place which is very encouraging. Once the classes are established we can move to other places, such as Lukampa, Bubu and Magazi. We now have one AIDS patient after another. We would like to do something more for them, such as having a special Care Unit to make their lives a little more comfortable, and to prepare them for death. It is very sad.” J.N.