Miss Rhoda MacKay has, yet again, responded to a plea for help from Zimbabwe. She returned in September at very short notice to teach in John Tallach Secondary School. Mr James Macleod, Leverburgh, newly-graduated in computer studies, went out to Ingwenya in July for a year to teach his own subject and religious education at Ingwenya. James’ father, Rev K D Macleod, hopes to join him for three weeks in January, DV. Eleanor Wylie of the Larne congregation, a science graduate, hopes to start teaching at Ingwenya in January, DV. This injection of fresh blood from the home Church is encouraging.
Dr Anneke Snoek, a well-qualified Dutch doctor, was accepted for work at Mbuma Mission Hospital by the Foreign Mission Committee earlier this year. Dr Snoek is free to leave for Zimbabwe at the beginning of next year and has agreed to go out on a visitors permit for three months to begin to learn the language while her application for a work permit is being processed. The old London Missionary Society allowed their workers six months’ orientation and language study before taking on other responsibilities. Ours is a less leisurely age but Dr Snoek, and her patients, should benefit from this arrangement.
Rev K Watkins, Sengera, is in Zimbabwe at the moment for the Ingwenya communion and for a Presbytery meeting. Mr Calum Gunn, Ness, is spending six months in Sengera as temporary Administrator and is due home in January. The Committee is presently looking for a permanent Administrator for the Mission there.
Rev J L Goldby obtained a 12-month temporary residence permit from the Israeli Government in July and expects to travel to Israel with his family on November 16 for six months, DV. Preparatory arrangements in Israel have gone well so far and we trust that the Lord has a purpose of mercy in it all towards His ancient people.
Miss KM MacAulay has just e-mailed to say that the revised Ndebele New Testament which they have been working on for so many years is now ready for publishing. It is hoped that the Trinitarian Bible Society will print 10 000 copies. JRT
The Spirit ordinarily conveys comfort by shining in upon His own work, making it perceptible to the believer himself, and enabling him to draw from it clear and satisfactory inferences with respect to his religious state.
Though vain thoughts may sometimes step into thy heart, yet suffer them not to lodge there; for thy heart is not thine own; thou dost but keep it for thy Lord and Master.
Oliver Heywood