Zimbabwe
THE John Tallach School and Ingwenya Primary have reopened after the holidays. It was interesting to hear that there is a new Headmistress in the Primary School, a daughter of the late Rev. Alfred Mpofu, formerly a highly esteemed minister in Lobengula Church, Bulawayo, but who passed away at an early age. She is a married lady with a family and is a member of the church. We hope she will be a useful and happy member of staff.
The teachers in the John Tallach School were very sad to hear of the death of a former pupil who left John Tallach School for further studies. He was a highly intelligent boy who came from a poor home. His fees were paid by an Anglo-American Company. He had been on holiday in Lupani near Mbuma when he contracted cerebral malaria and died after a brief illness. Norma MacLean was his Scripture teacher and took a special interest in him.
The Sabbath School classes are very large. Katie MacAulay has 320 pupils, Ishbel MacCuish has 120, and Marion Graham, Headmistress, has a large number of little ones at 2 p.m. when their mothers go to the afternoon service. Each week they learn a new Sindebele text, sing a few verses from various psalms and listen to a simple Bible lesson.
To quote a letter which came from Ingwenya recently: “Rev. A.B. Ndebele was in Bulawayo last Sabbath and he was really encouraged by a large attendance at Lobengula Church. Among the congregation are young men, chiefly ex-pupils from the John Tallach School, some of whom are in high administrative posts. They are regular in their attendance and Mr. Ndebele feels very strongly that, with the Lord’s blessing, these young men and others also would benefit greatly from a course of Systematic Bible instruction. He himself is not able to attempt it having a number of congregations dependent on him especially since the deaths of two senior elders.” Is anything too hard for the Lord?
One of the Nkai elders passed away recently. He was Sidney Siso from Matatshaneni. He had a slight stroke and was thought to be recovering, but he passed away shortly afterwards. He taught in a local school and all his family passed through the John Tallach School and did well.
The malaria season is about over. One of the Nursing Sisters at Mbuma writes, “It has been estimated that 1300 people died in Zimbabwe from malaria during the last two months. Five and a half thousand cases passed through Mbuma Hospital during April alone. Providentially, two fully trained nurses were sent from Nkai Government Hospital thirty miles from Mbuma. This was a great help. We do acknowledge the Lord’s great kindness in giving us daily strength and health to cope”. It is a great help and pleasure for the staff to have Peta van de Ridder with them even for a short period.
Kenya
When one reads in the June magazine of the various activities at Sengera, of the teaching and preaching and administrative work of Mr. Ian MacLean, one cannot but feel that help is urgently required. Likewise the medical work is most demanding. The help being given by Dr. Tallach during his present visit, even if only for a short period, is greatly appreciated, especially as there is still much malaria there.
As well as now completing the two semi-detached nurses’ houses, Mr MacLean is supervising the building of two other houses. One is for Mr Goldby and his family and the other for Dr. De Jong and his family. The staff are pleased that the compound now has electricity from the national grid.
It is good to hear that Rev. J. Goldby is to go soon as a missionary to Kenya, God willing, accompanied by his wife and children. J.N.