Barotseland Mission, South Africa
By S. M. KONIGMACHER
THE Lord is blessing us, and in some respects we can see advancement in his work at this station. The language here is very similar to the one we knew in Nyasaland. A Catholic priest came over to the mission several times and helped us with the Chitonga language. With this and the help of my wife, I was able to preach in the language some weeks ago. Of course I cannot speak so fluently as I wish I might, but what I have acquired of the language is a great help, for we have no one here to translate or interpret. Very soon after we arrived, the school was turned over to us. As the result of a few simple changes and much hard work, we can see some advancement. The boys have memorized the beatitudes, and are now committing to memory the commandments. A few who several months ago could not read are now reading in the Gospel of Matthew. They write well, and are doing sums in addition. We sincerely hope that the gospel thoughts presented every morning will sink into their hearts and result in some taking a firm stand for the truth. We are hoping that we can use some of these more advanced boys in opening up village schools in the Lusakas district, for as yet it has not been entered by any other mission. The people are anxiously waiting for a station, and we are very sorry that the funds are not sufficient to send a white teacher there. It is quite difficult to acquire the language here, for the most of the schoolboys are Batema. The Gospels are published in Ila, and the district and two native teachers are Batonga. There are three Barotse boys and one Machekelongwe among the forty-four students. There has been a great deal of sickness among the boys, and one of our boys died. We have been putting in our extra time screening the veranda to make the house mosquito proof, for the spring is a fruitful time for mosquitoes. I have finished the mission house. I made two doors, and put in a base of cement all around the house under the screen so the mosquitoes cannot get in beneath and the white ants cannot get up to eat the frame. The other house will be finished later. The heavy rains have brought out the wild flowers, and some are very beautiful. There is one variety that looks as if it were dusted with gold. My little son likes to go out on the veldt and gather these flowers, and the boys bring in bunches of them, making the house look quite homelike. One evening after the Sabbath, Mrs. Konigmacher took her little organ up and played for the boys. You ought to have seen their eyes sparkle. Then she and I sang together, and that pleased them so much that we sang the song over several times until they started to sing it with us. We then promised to translate it and teach it to them. The sentiment is a good one, “Keep Sweet”—this to be done under all circumstances, and through all kinds of trial and changes. At present we are all well, and are not troubled by the war, only that there is an increase in price in the necessaries of life. Trouble may come later, but everything is very quiet up this way. We sincerely hope that the work will be finished soon, so that we can meet our loved ones, never to part again.