West Africa by D. C. BABCOCK

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 21, 1911

West Africa

By D. C. BABCOCK

D. C. BABCOCK

The workers in this field have passed through some severe experiences during the present year. On the third of January Brother W. H. Lewis's little girl was taken ill with an attack of black-water fever, and a few days later Mrs. Lewis was taken severely ill with the same disease. She was unable to be up again for nearly five months. On the eighteenth of January, Sister T. M. French, as a result of the same disease, was laid away to await the coming Saviour. This was a severe experience for the work on the Gold Coast. Owing to overwork, and the sad experience he was called to go through, Elder French was greatly reduced in vitality, and was advised to return home to regain his health. This left the Gold Coast in a helpless situation, and Brother C. E. F. Thompson was advised to drop the work at Bonthe Sherbro, and go to the Gold Coast to take up the work that Brother French was compelled to lay down.

I am glad to say, however, that the message is gaining ground again on that part of the West Coast, and each mail brings encouraging reports from Brother Thompson.

Owing to needed rest, and an invitation to attend the General Conference Committee Council in Germany, the writer and family left the field early in June, and paid a short visit to the Canary Islands, with a view to establishing a recuperating-station for our West African workers when they need rest from the work and trying climate.

Shortly after we reached Germany, we received word from Sierra Leone that Sister F. S. Bolton was sick.

After a short stay in Germany and England, and having received generous treatment at the Caterham Sanitarium, we returned to our field of labor, only to find three of our foreign workers sick. Brother and Sister Bolton were hardly able to care for each other. When I looked into their pale faces, my heart sank. Silently I asked my Father to help; he never fails.

Mrs. Lewis was again taken down with the black-water fever, so we removed

both families to Freetown. It seemed for some time that it would be almost impossible for Mrs. Lewis ever to recover her health. For more than a month a hard battle was fought, but victory came.

Again we appeal to our dear people for help to equip treatment-rooms, and for a doctor and nurses. We have been greatly encouraged lately by letters from the Mission Board stating that nurses would soon be on their way to this needy field. We are very thankful for this encouraging word, but we need more help. We need an experienced physician, able to advise and direct in severe tropical diseases. I quote from a recent letter received from Dr. A. B. Olsen: “Surely it is high time that you get suitable sanitarium bath-rooms for treatment at a very early date, also a doctor if that could be managed. Personally, I feel that we ought to have medical missionaries connected with all our missions throughout the world; I mean qualified doctors imbued with the missionary spirit, and supported by competent nurses to look after the natives as well as the foreign workers, and I hope that that day will speedily come.”

If any place on earth is in need of such aid, surely it is West Africa. We have a suitable building located on one of the healthiest spots that can be found, but we need the means to equip it.

I wish to express our gratitude on behalf of those who have been greatly benefited by the earnest efforts of the young people's society which has raised money to provide homes, and to pipe water from the mountain to the homes. This has already brought some relief. The schoolboys are also putting up a suitable living place, and the wagon factory is doing a good work in providing means for this building.

The prospect for the work before us is encouraging. There is a good missionary spirit among the churches, and each one is seeking for a life in harmony with God's requirements. Since my last report, fifteen have been baptized, and new faces are seen in our Sabbath meetings. The school work is advancing, and we are sending our young men into the needy fields. By the time this article is read in the REVIEW, we hope to have a new station opened about one hundred fifty miles in the hinterland, among the Timme tribe. Our courage is good.

Sierra Leone.