The Work of the Nyassa Mission for the First Six Months of 1904
By T. H. BRANCH
We have no organized church, but at present we have nine baptized native believers at the station. Six of these were baptized during the time covered by this report. They receive instruction daily in the Bible, and from what we are able to judge, seem to be faithful, earnest believers, and manifest a desire for a more thorough knowledge of the truth of God. They take an active part in all the services, and we are hoping soon to be able to use them as teachers. Regular services are held each week at the church, also prayer and social meetings at the beginning and close of the Sabbath. Every Sabbath afternoon the boys and I visit the different villages to hold services with the people. In this way quite a large number are reached; and we are praying that the Spirit of God will convict many of these souls of their need of a Saviour. Our Sabbath-school is one of our most interesting meetings. Our average attendance is about sixty. Mrs. Branch, with the help of four native teachers, has charge of this department. In our school we have an enrolment of forty-five. Of this number, fifteen live at the mission home, and the remainder come in from the native villages about us. In the forenoon, from ten to twelve o'clock, we hold the school for the beginners, and in the afternoon, from two to half-past four, the school for the more advanced. We are teaching Bible, arithmetic, English, and Manganji. We are teaching English with the hope that our boys will soon be able to read our good books, which can not be translated into their language for a long time. We expect to do some translating next year, as we are greatly in need of literature. Under my supervision, the boys have their hours of labor on the farm, outside of their school work. At present there are only three girls living at the mission. They are under the care of Mrs. Branch, who is teaching them to sew and to do house work. This year we have cultivated, in all, about ninety acres. Eighty acres of this was in corn and garden, and ten acres in cotton. This is not a large amount; but when we consider that all our work has to be done by the native with his hoe, we see that ninety acres is a large piece of ground to dig and cultivate. During the early part of the year we employed from twenty-five to thirty men. These, with the aid of the schoolboys, did the work. At present we employ very few except carriers, who are delivering the maize we have sold. In our garden we have grown some peanuts, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, pumpkins, beans, and other vegetables. These do very well at the mission, and we have an abundance of them. We are selling a few vegetables, but our market is fifty miles away, and our only means of conveyance is a basket on the head of a native. In this way we are able to receive a few shillings. Our maize crop did not turn out well, on account17of an overabundance of rain, yet we gathered about thirty-five tons. Owing to the high altitude and frosts, our cotton crop is a failure. Yet we praise the Lord that we have been able to raise enough food to supply our boys and have several tons to sell. We have been able to make the proceeds of the farm support the school thus far, and believe they will continue to do so, with economy. The profits on our maize this year are about half those of last year. If we had a good market near the farm, it would also support the workers in part. We greatly need more stock, as we have a good place for them, and they would bring good returns. The health of all at the mission has been very good. While we have had many attacks of fever, and some of us have been prostrated, yet we have had no fatal results. I have had the most serious attacks, being unconscious for days; but by the mercy of God, and his loving care for his creatures, and good treatment, I have been able to rise above it each time. My wife and children have had many attacks, but are able, after short intervals, to attend to their duties. For all these things we are indeed grateful to our kind Heavenly Father, who has spared to us the lives of all who are at the mission. Our courage is good, and we are determined to do all we can to help fallen humanity to see Jesus the Saviour of the world. We hope that our brethren will remember the work in Nyassaland, and with us seek our Heavenly Father's blessing upon the work here. We need wisdom from him to know how to do the work in that way that it may accomplish the most in the shortest time, and the “everlasting gospel of the kingdom” be preached in all the world, and Jesus come to take his faithful workers home. Our confidence is that “this generation” will not pass till all be accomplished.