p. 14 | Abyssinia by ANOL GRUNDSET

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 26, 1912

Abyssinia

By ANOL GRUNDSET

ANOL GRUNDSET

Another school year is now past, and the boys have departed to their homes and villages. This school year has indeed been intermingled with trials, but this, as coworkers with Christ, we must only expect. We are very glad for the part we have had in giving the natives God’s word and pointing them to Jesus, who longs to save them from their sins and superstitions, and prepare them for his coming.

Last Sunday was spent by the boys as follows: While in the forenoon a special dinner was being prepared for them, they washed their clothing and got themselves ready to depart the following morning. After partaking of a hearty dinner, prepared according to Abyssinian taste and manner, they were entertained at our home in the afternoon by being shown many things of peculiar interest to them. Maps and pictures from America, Europe, other parts of Africa, etc., opened before them a view of the wide world of which their Abyssinia is only a small part. We told them how the gospel message of Jesus’ soon coming is being preached in these various countries. Groups of colored Sabbath-keepers in the United States, at Oakwood school and elsewhere, interested them very much. Later they were served with light refreshments. Pop-corn constituted a part, which to them was a real wonder. The lesson drawn was that if we allow Jesus to be enthroned within us, our lives and characters will unfold in a similar whiteness.

In the evening the writer gave them a stereopticon talk, first showing them selected scenes of their own country and people, and closing with a series of colored slides on the life of Christ, intermingled with appropriate songs in the native tongue, thrown on the screen and sung between the scenes. The sufferings of Christ, his agonies in Gethsemane, that we may gain eternal life, touched their hearts deeply; eyes were moistened and expressions of sympathy heard.

We can only pray that the lesson may be long remembered, and that the vivid views may have made lasting impressions upon their minds of God’s great Gift to us all. After singing the native song “Shall we meet beyond the river,” and the benediction, we separated for the night, feeling it had been a day well spent.

On Monday morning we met for our farewell worship. After singing “There Is a Fountain,” John 17 was read. Among other remarks, the boys were especially requested to remember the third verse: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” We then had a season of prayer, in which several took part, the prayers of the older boys being very impressive as they asked, “Jesus, be with us all now as we separate.” “Send us thy Holy Spirit.” “Help us that we so live that we meet in the New Jerusalem,” etc.

As the boys had been presented with copies of the New Testament in Tigre and Amharic, they were in parting admonished to read daily in these, and to pray daily during the vacation months that they might return for the next school year, bringing others with them.

Now we can only leave these with God, believing his promise that “as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”