On Reaching Home Again by S. M. KONIGMACHER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 6, 1914

On Reaching Home Again

By S. M. KONIGMACHER

S. M. KONIGMACHER

WE were away just a year, including the time spent on the way and at Cholo and in the homeland. While crossing the North Atlantic, we met a missionary on his way to Liberia, Africa, who was taking some of our literature with him. There were three colored workers with him, and while the most of the passengers gathered for a dance, we sang hymns. On the Mediterranean Sea it was cold and uncomfortable. On the “Gascon” I met a Jamaican who was going to the Portuguese territory. He had bought a copy of “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation” from Brother Philip Giddings, in British Guiana. It is wonderful how the seeds of truth are scattered.

We experienced some of that cold weather of southern Europe. Mt. Vesuvius was covered with snow, and a little ribbon of smoke was coming out at its top. Then as we pressed farther south through some of those barren parts and saw how man has pushed forward for this world’s goods into these remote places, I thought, “How much more ought we to consider it a privilege to do so in carrying the third angel’s message!”

When we arrived at Cholo, one of my first errands was to go to see one of our teachers, who, on account of sickness, had to leave his work and return to his village near the mission till he becomes stronger. The rains were late, and at such times there is much sickness. When the rains came, they were very heavy, and damaged the mission, washing away our dam, and a small brick building was blown over. As soon as the rain ceased, I started out for a month’s trip in the hills to visit our schools. I took my lantern and slides with me. Many had never seen such a thing before. At Mlabvi, I found two of our boys very sick. I made two machillas, one of a sack and another of a piece of canvas I had wrapped around my bedding, and sent the boys on them to the hospital.

When I arrived at our station here, I had a long walk, as the high water had taken the ferry off, and I feared to swim the donkey across, the river being filled with crocodiles; so I walked, and had the donkey come up when the ferry was repaired. I was also called to Mbanaga, as a native there had shot away the back of his hand. I dressed the hand, and then sent the man, on a board cut from a gate, to Blantyre, sixty miles away. This man was one that went to South Africa for the large wages obtainable there, but when I went into his hut to help him, he had scarcely sufficient cloth to clothe himself, and his wife was in rags. We try to discourage the boys from going farther south, and I use this experience to illustrate that as far as this world’s goods are concerned they are better off to stay at home and help us spread the message. Our people were glad to see me back home, and came with smiles and said, “Wabwera” (You have returned). As soon as I could get things ready, I sent for my family. My wife soon came with the two children in the machilla. The children did well on the trip, and when they reached Africa they were better than when we left home. We had a special service when all arrived. In our absence the congregation had doubled itself. Two hundred and three came, and the little church was so full I scarcely had room to stand. We had the Lord’s Supper and feet washing. The people brought their offerings. I examined some of the natives who had been in our Bible classes for two years and had kept the Sabbath, and as far as we knew were loyal. I found that twenty-one were ready for baptism, and I had the privilege of baptizing them before their friends and relatives who stood about. We tried to encourage these to enter the Bible classes and be ready at another time.

The school work is going on quite well. There were two new schools started in my absence, and one moved to a better site. I opened one last week. I tried to place a school in that village years ago, but permission was not granted until this last year. The resident refused some other schools, as he thought I was not returning to my old station. I have a boy out now looking up a site where I have heard they are wishing a school. Moses, who looked after the work in my absence, did all that could be expected of a native. Brother Robinson visited the station three times.

Last week we were called upon to pass through another sad experience. Little James, our five-months-old baby, who was born in the States while we were on furlough, fell asleep not to awake till that day when all righteous sleepers are awakened. He is lying beside his little brother Martin on the hillside, on the other side of the stream. It seemed hard to understand why we should have succeeded in bringing him all the way and just as we got home have him taken from us. He never looked better, and we had no idea that we should lose him; but the usual trouble of teething, with fever, came on, and he must have had a weak heart. His troubles are ended, and it remains for us to press onward and prove faithful, so we can have our children in that world where sickness will be no more. He died in the evening, and the boys went at once to dig the little missionary grave. When they came back and wanted to take him, we could not part with him, so laid him on the bed till morning. Then I carried him over myself, and one of my teachers placed him in his last little bed.

God is with us, and we thank him for his blessings and for another opportunity to work for him.