Your ShelfYour Projects

Africa

25%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Jul 28, 1904

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 30.

Read the full edition

Africa

By Minnie A. Chaney

BLOEMFONTEIN, ORANGE RIVER COLONY.—We are here on our way to Basutoland, where we have been appointed to take charge of the work. We stopped here to spend a few weeks canvassing, the proceeds of which are to be used for the Basuto mission. At Harrismith the Lord was truly with us during our stay. It is only a small place of about three thousand inhabitants. I was just getting over a severe illness when I went there, and could not put in much time. All told, I canvassed sixty-three and one-half hours, including calls and visits, spending some little time doing personal work, and seeking the Lord with souls. During this time I took one hundred and twenty-five orders for books, besides fifty-four dollars' worth of helps, and sold one hundred and fifty-four papers. I delivered one hundred and seventy-three books, including helps. The value of these, including the papers, was £32 13s 3d, or about one hundred and sixty dollars. In addition to these, I sold a dozen or more books from our private library, and gave away a number of tracts and papers. In the six weeks Mr. Chaney sold about six hundred and thirteen dollars' worth of books. This was our first effort as canvassers. We had no one to instruct us but the Lord, but he is the very best we could have.
From Harrismith we were called to Maritzburg, to attend the annual meeting of the Natal-Transvaal and South African Union Conference. While there, Mr. Chaney finished transcribing the translation of “Steps to Christ” into the Zulu. As our health was not good, we went to Plumstead near Cape Town for the summer. Here we found a delightful resting-place, where it was cool most of the time. We were much benefited in health while there; and as we are now going to a more healthful climate than where we formerly were, we hope not only to remain in better health, but to keep on improving. We are glad to accept the call to Basutoland, and earnestly hope to do a definite work for the Lord in winning souls for him there. Pray for us; we need your prayers.
MINNIE A. CHANEY.