p. 3 | At Somabula by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 21, 1915

At Somabula

By W. A. S.

EVERY one felt that we had a good general meeting for the district of the Somabula Mission, in the Matabele country, northeast of Bulawayo. It was good to see the people come in from north and south and east and west, along those footpaths that run across veldt and through bush over all of Africa. The people from some of the outschools came singing as they journeyed, the sound of a familiar hymn signaling the approach of a company before ever its vanguard appeared in sight.

Really it does touch the heart strangely—these processions, single file, marching in from the wilds to the time of the good old advent hymns which have been translated into the Sintebele tongue.

The themes in our meetings had been the essentials of the message, the preparation to meet Jesus, and the call of God to full surrender and personal victory as a first step in the finishing of the work in Matabeleland. The same Holy Spirit that convicts our hearts was there working in the same divine way on Matabele hearts. There was a revival, new surrenders, and some who had fallen away came back again, to the joy of all. We thanked God that among these latter was Mamo, formerly a teacher, but for several years a wanderer from the right way. He it was who years ago, when this mission was first planted, came to ask that he might be taught the way of salvation, as he had been told in a dream that the white man had “the words of God” for him.

As I listened to the testimonies and saw the visible signs of the working of divine grace in these hearts, I thought to myself, How like a blessed Sabbath of revival in regions of even greater light and privilege. “There is no difference; for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” And in looking to Jesus there is no difference. He is the same blessed Saviour to all who call upon him.

One thing impressed Philipp, a teacher. “Think of it, Fundesi,” he said to Brother John de Beer, the superintendent; “here comes a new teacher, from away in America. We listen to what he preaches, and he has preached the same things that we have been taught in Africa.”

This was the thought that impressed Philipp, who has found the truth and the Saviour in Matabeleland. It is the one advent message sounding in all the world today; and it is bringing forth the same fruit in the hearts that receive it.

This mission is pushing its work outward. At the present time, doubtless, the brethren are completing a mission building a hundred miles northward, on the Shangani River, which runs into the Zambesi. Here Brother George Hutchinson has been living alone in the wilds, and a good work is under way. As it is a specially unhealthful region, Brother Hubert Sparrow has joined the Somabula staff, to alternate with Brother Hutchinson in holding the fort on the Shangani.

Still the grass is growing round the forsaken idol tree at Shangani, they tell me. Formerly the ground round about was beaten bare by the feet of the worshipers. Now the people have heard of the God of heaven through our missionaries, and the grass is growing high about the sacred shrine. It is but a symbol of the upspringing of the fruits of righteousness in many barren hearts as our workers sow the good seed of the kingdom.

W. A. S.