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Somabula Mission

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jan 2, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 1.

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Somabula Mission

By W. C. WALSTON

SEPTEMBER 22, I left Solusi to join Brother and Sister Butterfield, at Buluwayo, and reached here September 25. We found the mission family all well, and we received a hearty welcome. It has been a long time since I have received such a hand-shake as when we arrived here.
We found preparations going busily on for the expected change of laborers, Brother and Sister Armitage, Sister Mabel Japha, and eight of the native boys and girls intending to leave as soon as possible for Maranatha Mission. The first Sabbath after our arrival we had a baptismal service. Three candidates went forward, and the presence of God was certainly with us. One hundred twenty-five witnessed the scene.
The school seems to be in a prosperous condition, also the general work of the mission. There are more students in the school, and more land under cultivation, than last year. October 14 we took Brother and Sister Armitage to Gwelo, en route to their new field. With those going with them, and those who went to the station to bid them good-by, there were twenty in the party. We reached Gwelo with no incident except that one of the girls stepped on a scorpion, which stung her foot. We were fortunate in having some snake-bite antidote with us, which was administered, and she was again able to travel. We had to say good-by, sad as it was to do so, and separate when the time came for us to go our different ways. It was difficult for the children to give up those who had so long been their teachers and had stood between them and heathendom. Those returning to the mission wept for some distance as we journeyed along in the moonlight. We camped during part of the night near where the lions killed some cattle only a few nights before. As I lay rolled up in my blankets, I wondered if we would receive a friendly call from the lions. We reached the mission in safety the next day, and now the realities of mission life are settling down on us, and with the Lord's help and guidance we are trying to do faithfully the work devolving upon us.
Brother and Sister Butterfield are getting into line like faithful soldiers, and seem to enjoy their work very much. We are very busy, and are seemingly getting along nicely. Do not forget to pray for the missions and the workers.
W. C. WALSTON.