A Visit to the Somabula Mission by R. C. PORTER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 15, 1912

A Visit to the Somabula Mission

By R. C. PORTER

R. C. PORTER

WEARY with a week’s journey north of the Kafue River, and en route to Gwelo, we were glad to meet Brother T. J. Gibson, Sister Butterfield, and some of the mission boys at the station about eight in the evening. Our luggage was soon transferred to the Somabula Mission “express,” a twelve-ox team and large farm wagon, and we were off for the mission. We traveled two hours before reaching a good camping ground, where we outspanned for the night. As all were tired with the day’s journey, we soon made down our beds, and fell asleep under the broad canopy of the heavens.

The next morning we were up at an early hour for a three hours’ trek before breakfast. It was a change from the earthy mattress on which we had lain as long as was comfortable. After one has turned every side toward an undesirable lump that projects too high, there is no inclination to lengthen the night beyond daybreak.

On reaching a place where there was plenty of water, we outspanned, built our camp-fire, and were soon enjoying a substantial, though plain breakfast. There is something about camp life on trek that

gives one a relish for one’s meals akin to the relish for meals in childhood school-days. The food may not be quite so good or so well served as at home, but hunger, born of outdoor exercise, prepares the appetite to give it a hearty reception. At 2 P. M. we reached the mission and were given a warm welcome by Sister Gibson, her three children, Brother Hutchinson, who had returned from Shangani to meet us, and the mission school.

On our arrival we learned that a busy program had been planned for us during our stay. Besides the main mission students, and people from the neighboring kraals, about thirty students came in from the different out-schools to attend the Sabbath services. They had come on foot distances ranging from six to forty miles. They were an intelligent-looking class of students, and they manifested a deep interest in the word spoken. Sister Butterfield came a distance of ten miles in an ox-cart, bringing eight Christian boys with her from the farm. These are members of the mission church who have finished their education, and are working with Brother Butterfield on the farm. Brother Butterfield had spent the day before at the mission, then returned to the farm in order to allow the others to attend the Sabbath services.

On Monday Brother and Sister Gibson and daughter and Brother Hutchinson and the writer started with the Somabula “limited” (a donkey team) a distance of six miles to visit the Ingiti out-school. We should have taken the oxen for speed, but on account of the cattle disease it is difficult to obtain a permit to travel with oxen. This out-school has an attendance of about twenty. There has been an attendance of thirty-six, but the drought has made it necessary for the young men to go out and work in the mines to support their families. The nearest kraal has about seventy-five family huts, and another, within two miles, has fifty huts. There is every prospect that this out-school will accomplish much in educating the natives of that district and bringing to them the light of the gospel. The headman of the nearest kraal, and a number of the people from both near-by kraals, came together for a service during our visit. After the service we took lunch, and started at once on our homeward journey. We reached home about sunset, feeling that we had spent the day very profitably.