Rev A B Ndebele has travelled via Holland to Chesley, Ontario, Canada, where as most of us know, there is a large congregation of people, mostly of Dutch extraction who are warm friends of the Free Presbyterian Church, and supporters of the Foreign Mission. Their elder, Mr Schuit, and occasionally Mrs Schuit, attend the Synod in Scotland. Mr Ndebele was the officiating minister at their Communion.
Mr Ndebele will then proceed, DV, to Holland to attend and speak at the Mbuma-Zending meeting in Geldermalsen on 29th April. Mr Edward Zikhali, son-in-law of Rev P Mzamo, an Education Staffing Officer in Bulawayo, and elder of our Church, will join Mr Ndebele in Holland and they will both travel together to Inverness to the Synod. Rev John MacLeod will also be attending the Mbuma-Zending Meeting and speaking to a congregation which usually numbers seven thousand men, women and children. Collections are taken on two occasions during the Meeting and the contributions are most generous.
Miss Marion Graham is at home in Inverness on leave for four months and, I am sure, in much need of a complete rest after a most strenuous term. We wish her a happy and enjoyable holiday. Miss Katie Macaulay is Acting Headmistress in Marion’s absence, assisted by Miss Norma MacLean and their African colleagues.
Mr James Mpofu is a Boarding-Master in the John Tallach boarding school. He is also teacher of woodwork and at the end of the school session there is an attractive display of cupboards, tables and stools. But it is with the question of discipline that Mr Mpofu’s presence is most appreciated. The six hundred boarding pupils, boys and girls, are lively youngsters, just as they would be anywhere. Mr Mpofu is a father-figure with a kindly, just, but very firm discipline which is greatly appreciated by the Staff. Mr Mpofu takes worship night and morning with the boarders and preaches at the evening service on Sabbath when Mr Ndebele is at another station. This service is always in English.
Mr Mpofu’s grandfather was John Mpofu, a stalwart Christian in early days who acted as missionary at Ingwenya when there was a period at Ingwenya when there was no minister. On one occasion a Baptist minister from Bulawayo visited Ingwenya, and on going round the Mission he saw John Mpofu, a white-haired, lively old man seated at a small table under a tree, with his Bible before him. Having been introduced, the Minister said, ‘You are preparing your sermon?’ John pointed upwards and said, ‘I am waiting for it to come from above’.
Among the large congregation at Glasgow Communion this month it was very interesting to see Musa Nyathi from Mbuma. Musa is a post-graduate student at Glasgow University, at present doing Business Studies. Alistair Ross who spent some years of his childhood in Zimbabwe has befriended him. Musa was at the John Tallach School for his Secondary education, as far as Form Four. Some people in the congregation have offered him hospitality but so far he has politely refused. No doubt he is busy studying. It was good to see him in church. We hope he will profit by it, if it is the Lord’s will.
We had Miss Etta MacLennan showing some Mission slides recently in Edinburgh. It was a general holiday weekend so that there were fewer than usual at home, but those who came were appreciative, and enjoyed the occasion.
JN