Fish River, Rhodesia, South Africa
By Janet H. Ryan
It was just one year ago yesterday that I wrote my first report on our arrival at this mission two days previous. I have been thinking of the year just past, and all that it has meant to us, and I should rather be at Maranatha or with the wagon in Kafirland than in any other place on earth, were I in health. I never was in a place where I felt the need of consecrated physical and spiritual strength more than here. And as we watch the lives of these people at this out-station, and see the improvement since eleven months ago, our hearts yearn for the other kraals which surround us and are yet in darkness. One old man of whom I wrote once before, arose in the last meeting before we left, saying, “I’m only a poor Red Kafir, an old man, but I want to know God.” Well, thanks to the Holy Spirit, this poor Red Kafir became acquainted with God, and was one of the fifteen who were baptized at the mission a few weeks ago. Now his face shines with the light of God. One other man who could scarcely leave his old black pipe sufficiently long to come to one of our meetings, was also among the fifteen; and yesterday as I went into the hut where others were lying and sitting all about him with their pipes and he sat with none, I thought, “O, the wonder of God’s power!” All about us we see the results of Brother Faba’s faithful service here, and at almost every meeting some refer to his work as the cause of their being present. Mr. Ryan is now sitting outside talking to a company of men who have just come; among them the sobanda, who says he wishes baptism. On Sunday Mr. Ryan went six or eight miles from here to hold meetings. About twenty-five blanket natives were present, besides the converts. The following day a letter came from the sobanda there, asking Mr. Ryan to come again next Sunday for meeting and to talk about opening a school for his people. So we see how God is working; and seeing this, we say to ourselves so many times, We must work now with energy.
JANET H. RYAN.