West Africa by R. S. Greaves

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 21, 1915

West Africa

By R. S. Greaves

R. S. GREAVES

A FEW weeks ago I started out to visit some of our stations, and made my first acquaintance with the African interior. Brother Myers and two boys met me at the railway, and after a walk of three hours we arrived at our new Timni station. Sister Myers is the first white woman that many of the natives ever saw; and when she first arrived, people came from other villages to look at her. The chief is quite friendly, and in the evening caused the big native drum to be beaten, and the people gathered to listen to the blessed gospel, seeming much interested.

Our mission compound runs to the edge of what is called the Devil’s Bush, and they gave us to understand that we must not go there. This is the place where they perform certain rites, and, after a fashion, worship the devil. One poor woman carried her sick baby there, and a man’s voice could be heard repeating the words, “You gave it to her, don’t take it from her again, don’t take it from her again.”

From this place I visited two outstations, and found the brethren of good courage. My next trip was to our Gbambgama station, where Brother Harding, a native brother, is doing good work. I baptized four dear believers here,—three women and one young man,—all from rank heathenism.

At the nearest railway Brother Myers again joined me, and we had a long tramp together, visiting many villages to try to find a suitable place for a main station. We cannot open this at present, were six of us to cross, and the canoe was so dilapidated and rotten that only two could be taken at a time. After seeing how the strong current dashed the first boatload against an old log, I thought it safer to strip when it came my turn, and be ready to swim in the case of accident.

We were wet to the skin with perspiration and rain nearly the whole time, and the damp weather caused our clothes to mildew and mold in our valises, but the dear Lord gave us excellent health all the journey. As for appetites, for my part I was ready for as big a bowl of rice as I had marveled at when I first saw our schoolboys eating.

At one place a woman had just been bitten by a snake, and Brother Myers gave her some treatment, which probably saved her life. At another village, where things were as crude and primitive as could well be imagined, I was surprised to see a man sitting outside his hut using a Singer sewing machine. Afterwards I saw several of them. Civilization is surely advancing, and probably it is difficult to find a place where traces have not sifted through. Who knows but that some seeds of truth may find their way, along with other things, to places we have never visited, and some day we may see the third angel’s message where we hardly expected it?

Altogether I walked about two hundred miles, and we were very glad when we came to the railway, for our feet were sore.

In the interior we have a mixture of Mohammedans, devil worshipers, and all kinds of heathen, but we know our Heavenly

Father will lead the honest ones to the light of the blessed gospel. We found what we believe to be a splendid place to start a new station, and we are now anxious to open it. Remember Africa in your prayers.