A NATIVE heathen woman, Mantea by name, after attending our meetings for some months, gave herself to God and began to walk in the light of his Word. One Sabbath her husband demanded that she grind Kafir corn for making joala (native beer). Mantea replied, “This is the Sabbath, so I cannot grind today.” Failing to force her to work by beating her with a heavy strap, he ordered her to take her clothes and return to the home of her parents, which she did. There she was severely criticized by her heathen relatives for not obeying her husband. In a few days he came and took her home, commanding her to attend no more of our meetings. But she continued to come in spite of frequent beatings.
NEW ARRIVALS AT THE BAROTSE MISSION, BEYOND THE ZAMBESI
ABYSSINIAN SCHOOL, ASHMARA MISSION.
We tried to persuade her husband, who is a petty chief, to be less cruel, but to no avail. He only demanded that we reprove Mantea and forbid her to come to our meetings.
One Sabbath he came in a rage, and pulling her out, in full view of all he kicked and beat her, and took her home. After that he guarded her for a time, but failed to force her to work on the Sabbath, as he was always trying to do. Six days she worked hard, but on the Sabbath she rested. Often he commanded her to leave him, but she wisely remained, doing her daily duties, and seeking God in the fields, as prayer was forbidden in her house. Finally, one morning he threw her clothes out in the rain and forced her to go.
AT THE TYPEWRITER, TEACHERS PREPARING LESSONS.
COMPANY BAPTIZED AT BENI ADI, EGYPT.
Mantea knew it would make trouble for us if she came to the mission, so she hid in the mountains for a time. After a little she came to us, asking what she should do. We told her of a family living twenty-six miles away, and at three o’clock in the morning she started. Here she obtained work, and while she greatly missed her little daughter, whom she had to leave at home, she was happy in her freedom.
Her husband, thinking she would go to her parents, went there after a few days to compel her to return. Not finding her, he notified the native police, and they began the search for her. He even went on two or three trips by train, and at last, after three months, he found her. But she refused to return with him, and as she was then in the Free State he could not compel her to do so. However, one night with two accomplices he took her from her little outside room and brought her to Basutoland.
After this, for two months Mantea did not attend meetings. She said, “I am testing my husband, to see what he will be like now.” Then she began to come regularly again.
MANTEA:
A short time ago her husband called me to talk with him about Mantea. In conclusion he said: “I want you to know that it is all right now. Mantea may attend your meetings and do what she likes. I’ll not stand in her way any more.” Thus, after enduring persecution for over two years, she is free to serve God as she desires.
This same man’s son, a bright boy of nineteen, with Mantea and others, is now in the baptismal class. Truly God’s power to convert and keep his trusting children is the same as in the days of Daniel or the apostles.
