Malamulo Teachers’ Institute and School Opening by Joel C. Rogers

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 3, 1908

Malamulo Teachers’ Institute and School Opening

By Joel C. Rogers

JOEL C. ROGERS

Our last year’s session closed at the end of April, when we arranged for a teachers’ institute to begin the first of July and continue four weeks. At the appointed time fourteen of our native teachers were present, two not being able to come on account of sickness. It was our plan to instruct these teachers how to teach the Bible and the common branches. This was the first attempt to hold a school especially for teachers, so it was a matter of some curiosity to them. But the classes were soon in order, and each boy was studying the lessons assigned. There was no lack of interest. The interest may have been increased by the fact that three teachers had brought urgent requests for new schools in places where they had visited during vacation. One chief came here from a place more than two hundred miles north of our stations to present his plea personally. At first I supposed he had come as a native would come to any mission to ask for a school, but I soon learned that he wanted a Sabbath-keeping teacher. It was not easy to tell him and others that no teachers could be spared at present. The chief patiently said: “I can wait.” I hope to visit his villages in Chipeteland before the next rainy season, and if the prospect is favorable, send him a teacher later in the year.

Before the close of the institute, the members of the church were called together for the ordinances. Of the sixty-one who have been baptized, nearly forty were present. A few have died, and the others are scattered. On my last visit to Matandane I found two of them who showed their love for the truth by bringing their tithe to me. We are thankful that the institute and ordinance service seemed to give the teachers a new inspiration for the work, and to bring a spirit of unity into the church.

During the institute all of us spent at least half of each day working on the new church building and preparing for the opening of school on August 1. July 31 all hands put the thatch roof onto the church. The next day was Sabbath, and as many boys were now back for school, we held the first service in the new building, though it had no windows or doors. But as the weather is fine, we are using the building every day for school and service.

On the night of July 15, we welcomed Brother and Sister Konigmacher to our mission. They arrived in good health and spirits, though Brother Konigmacher has since had a run of fever. He is now quite busy caring for the sick and helping to look after the boys. We are sorry that Sister Konigmacher is not strong enough to take up work for a while. We are hoping that after a few months they will be able to take charge of the Matandane out-station. At that place we have a good brick dwelling-house and a brick school building. The altitude is higher and the climate cooler there. We are fortunate in securing such a place for only forty pounds.

The Malamulo School opened on August 3. We have prayed constantly that God would send us boys from the different tribes, who could be trained for teachers. These have come to us. Four days after opening we have sixty boys in the boarding-school besides five girls. One hundred and twenty-six are already enrolled in the school, many coming from villages. This is about as many boys as we can accommodate at present. The larger part of the boys are young, and some give good promise of future usefulness.

While making brick for the church, we made enough for other improvements, one of these being the building of two walls between the dormitories, making a good dining-room, with very little expense. Then the wide verandas were walled in for sleeping-rooms. The day after school opened, eight teachers left to take charge of out-schools, many prayers for their success accompanying them as they entered upon their work.

Nyassaland.