News From German East Africa
By L. R. Conradi
SEVEN long months passed ere the first direct news reached us from German East Africa, and then only short notices written on post cards, dated in October. Missionary B. Ohme, the director of the German Victoria Nyanza field, wrote October 20:— DEAR BROTHER: I am sending news to you, being assured that it will reach you. Thus far we have lacked nothing. Luke 22:35. We have been able to continue our mission work. We did not receive, however, the last shipment of goods. Our last money, 4,500 rupees, we received July 11. At present we are all quite well, healthwise. During August and September I suffered considerably from sickness, but at present I am much improved. We hope that soon we shall be able to communicate with you again. Letters you sent before the war began13have not reached us. Hoping you are all well, we send best regards. Another card contains simply the following short notice: “In stormy and troublous times everything is still well with us, and we send you the best greetings.” Another writes, “The best of health, and free to labor, we send you this brief news.” The last news is dated September 10, and reads as follows:— I sent a registered letter inclosing the accounts, but it was returned by the censor. We hope, however, that this letter may reach you. We are all well, and we greet our brethren and sisters cordially. We still have provisions, but kerosene is scarce. As to our oldest field, the South Pare Mission, where Brother E. Kotz is in charge, we are quite assured that their work is going on unmolested. He wrote, August 2:— The work is onward. We expect to have, by the end of the quarter, quite a large baptism. At present the Mohammedans are celebrating Ramadan, their month of fasting. It is the great month for Mohammedan propaganda, when large numbers are being baptized. The adjoining German Lutheran mission to the north sent good reports as late as October. Our Victoria Nyanza field has really become the battle ground between contending forces, and we may expect great losses in mission property, to say nothing of the terrible effects it may have upon the progress of our mission operations. We received the following news from Brother A. A. Carscallen, dated December 13:— As far as I know, the brethren in German East Africa are still alive. I am not allowed to communicate with them. Brother and Sister B. Ohme were still in Majita, and Brother and Sister V. Toppenberg at Busegwe. January 30 the following letter, written by Brother Bornath, was forwarded to us from Nairobi, the capital of British East Africa, where Brother and Sister Bornath are prisoners of war:— DEAR BROTHER: First of all I want to tell you that when we left, the mission work was going well in most places. In some, however, everything was stopped. Until the end of November all our missionaries were well (that is the latest I have had any news from them), with the exception of Brother Palm, who had been killed on his station, November 28. He rests now from his labors until we shall meet him in the first resurrection. My wife and I were taken prisoners December 8, on our station. Since December 14, we have been in the prisoners' camp, Nairobi. We shall soon be sent to India. Healthwise we have every reason to thank God. It is well with us. The missionaries' wives might return to Europe, but on account of Mrs. Bornath's condition, I prefer to take her with me to India. We had to leave the station empty-handed. We commit ourselves to God's hand, and we are willing to endure whatever may come. We met Brother Carscallen. Brother and Sister Matter are already in India. We receive no papers of any sort. Please remember us in your prayers. The effects of the war upon the great mission work conducted in Africa cannot be estimated at present. Two of our mission families are already prisoners of war, and by this time probably removed to India. Another faithful worker has fallen. His aged mother and his sister mourn his death. A number of our mission stations hardly erected, are left without any one to look after the work there. The property has been looted by the natives, and the fields are left untilled. The native boys who have recently stepped out from heathenism and have been baptized are left without shepherds. Promising schools have been closed. Our mission territory where thus far white men have successfully preached the gospel of peace has become the fighting-grounds between contending forces. Only eternity can tell how much damage has been done. Our missionaries still remaining are undoubtedly constantly in danger of losing their lives, threatened by hostile forces. We have been without news since November. From us they have no news, as they have not heard from us for nearly a year. They have no money. They receive no goods. All we can do is to pray for them, and ask the Lord that this terrible war may stop soon, and that soon the way may be opened for us to come into touch with our brethren, and that the work may soon be finished.