Barotseland Mission, South Africa
By Mrs. W. H. Anderson
I HAVE been in the mission field one year and a half, and I will try to tell a few of my impressions concerning the field and the work here. One’s first impressions usually change after a year or two in the field. We count it something of a sacrifice to leave the pleasant associations of friends and loved ones at home, and we have to learn to meet patiently and cheerfully the little privations and inconveniences that come in the mission fields; but to my mind the greatest sacrifice and the greatest heartache come when one is compelled by illness to lay down his burdens for a while; not that the Saviour in his great love for suffering humanity, does not willingly and lovingly invite his worn warriors to rest when fatigue comes, even in the heat of the battle, but because there is so much to do and so little time in which to do it. If one were to compare the burdens that he carries the first six months he is in the field with his usefulness after a year or so, there would be a vast difference. We generally think at first that we are quite a boon to the work; but when the burdens get heavier, we feel quite insufficiently prepared to do the Lord’s work as it ought to be done. We feel that if we only knew what to do and when to do it, it would be a great satisfaction. Dealing with the minds of the heathen is a different proposition from dealing with those of civilized people. Their minds have not been trained along the same line, or in the same channels as ours, therefore they look at things differently, and it is hard for them always to comprehend our motives. It is said out here that “a white man can never know the working of a native’s mind.” There is no question but that it works. The native has a keen mind, and a very clear conception of justice on his side, but it is so hard to make him feel the necessity of standing to principle. He always works from impulse rather than from principle; but the Spirit of God can remedy this defect for him. The best and easiest way to reach the native’s heart is through his own language. It is hard for the worker at first, but he soon sees results if he perseveres. When Dr. Moffat was feeling a bit discouraged over not seeing any results from his work for the natives, his good wife told him it was because “they have not the gospel in the tongue in which they were born.” It would be rather difficult for us to comprehend the gospel in its fulness if a Frenchman or a Dutchman brought it to us in his language, if we knew only a few sentences of French or Dutch. And usually the native learns but little of the English language. The sentences are constructed backward to him and according to his language. The beautiful phrases in our language are not found in his, and he does not understand them. We are told by those who are educated in other tongues than the English that it is a very difficult language. Therefore it is easier by far for us to learn the native language than for the native to learn ours. We have been greatly blessed in our work here during the past year. Our work is gradually increasing each year, and sometimes it seems imperative that we should have more help. Just recently Brother C. Robinson was called from our station to the work in Nyassaland, and Brother and Sister E. C. Silsbee went to take charge of the medical work at Kimberley, so that it leaves only Brother J. R. Campbell and Mr. Anderson to carry the heavy burdens here. But help has been promised us, and we hope soon for some relief. Brother Campbell is away at present, looking after the new out-stations which have been opened this year along the Zambesi, the nearest one being eighty miles from here. We are hoping for a good report on his return. Mr. Anderson has just returned from a trip around the old stations. He found the boys all doing good work. We feel so thankful for the faithfulness of our boys. We are greatly encouraged by the way the work is progressing here this year. The Lord has especially blessed us with rain. I say especially blessed because we have had hard rains on several occasions when adjoining farms had none. We long for the time to come when this message will have reached the uttermost parts of the earth, and all be ready to go home. Brethren and sisters, we need your prayers. Pray for the work in these dark fields.