Buluwayo Mission, South Africa
By M. C. Sturdevant
Report for the Three Months Ending
OUR church-membership is now fifty-eight. We thought best to drop from our number twelve who have gone back to the ways of their people. With but one exception, these were of the first of those baptized at the mission before we could understand their language sufficiently to teach them as we desired. The other members, though young in years, seem true and in earnest. Sabbath, September 24, we celebrated the ordinances. A good spirit pervaded, and I am sure all enjoyed the blessing of God. We are still holding our Sabbath afternoon kraal meetings. Eleven or twelve kraals are visited every Sabbath, and every second Sabbath some of our teachers go out to the places where they hold their school, and preach to the people. In this way, from one hundred and seventy-five to three hundred hear the word who otherwise would not. At our Sabbath morning service at the mission, and also at the Sabbath-school, our school building is full. Some in the kraals are manifesting an interest in the Word. We still believe that some will turn to the Lord. Our Sabbath-school opens at 10 A. M. Our building is too small to accommodate all our classes, so nearly one half must go out and sit on the ground. Yet the interest seems good. We have been studying the Psalms. At the beginning of the quarter we asked how many wished to leave the study of the Psalms and study the life of Christ in the New Testament. Very few hands were raised. They said they had learned so many precious things in the Psalms that they wanted to continue their study. Nevertheless, we took up the life of Christ again. The membership is 78; average attendance, 61; classes, 12; visitors, many. Mrs. Sturdevant has the oversight of the school, with native officers and teachers. The Friday evening prayer-meeting is an encouraging occasion. Here the children tell of their battles and victories. Truly, they are growing in Christ. This gives us courage. Our enrolment has been ninety, a good attendance for this people. The teaching of English has created a new interest in school work. Our studies are as follows: Zulu, primer and Bible, arithmetic, and simple English reading. Our first session begins at eight o’clock, and lasts till a quarter past ten. At eleven o’clock Mrs. Hyatt and native teachers are in charge. From eleven till two o’clock we have the second session. This is attended by our more advanced students and those in training for teaching. Mrs. Hyatt teaches English, reading from “Christ Our Saviour” and “Steps to Christ,” also arithmetic and writing. I have two classes in Zulu, and one in English. The New Testament class is drilled in English words. Special study is given to the books of Daniel and Revelation. Never did I teach the message when it shone more clear to me; nor have I ever taught a people more fully ready to receive it. This class is very interesting. Two hours every night is spent in the study of the next day’s lessons. Mrs. Sturdevant and A. H. White are in charge. Outside of the school work, all the boys and girls have their hour of labor in the home and on the farm. The girls, under Mrs. Sturdevant, care for the home, cook the food, etc. I have charge of the store, with native boys to help, and of the stock and farm. Last month Brother A. H. White joined us. He works with the boys about the farm, looks after repairs, helps in the night-school, and wherever needed. This is our winter season, and little farm work can be done, except repairing fences. So our time has been spent in making brick. We have made about eighty thousand, hoping to put up a new church building and enlarge our mission home next dry season. The Lord is still blessing us financially, so that all our wants have been supplied. However, we have not had the income our mission has before enjoyed. We are told that Rhodesia never knew before such a time for lack of money—and I believe it. This, of course, affects us. The store has brought in no more grain than we have needed in the home this season; we sold the mealies (corn) raised on the farm, expecting to take in an abundance through the store. And very little cash has been realized from the sale of goods. We were able to sell sixty bags of peanuts, unshelled, for ten shillings a bag. With the sale of fowls taken in trade, some sweet potatoes, and four oxen, we have been able to hold our own and meet our obligations. The home fowls have brought in quite a little, but we have had no butter for market the past three months. The stock has not done well. The grass this season has contained but little nourishment, and water has been very scarce. Rivers were never known to be so dry before. Some of the goats and sheep died. One third of our kids have also died. They are dying by the hundreds around us; and while we have lost some, we have been greatly blessed above our fellows. We praise God for his care. To the praise of our Heavenly Father, I can say that the health of our missionaries has been very good, with little fever or colds this season. At one time sixteen of our number had mumps, and stopped a few days from work; but it was not serious. Outside of this, we have had no sickness. We are truly thankful to God. All the workers are of the best courage, and thankful for a part in the closing work.