p. 24 | Missionaries Escape War in East Africa

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 12, 1916

Missionaries Escape War in East Africa

A MOST interesting communication comes to the Mission Board office from Brother V. E. Toppenberg, formerly of the Boulder-Colorado Sanitarium, a member of the mission staff in German East Africa, who writes from a British camp on an island in the Victoria Nyanza: “Finally, after two years of waiting, the way opens so that we can get in communication with the outside world.” His letter, from which we shall later be allowed to print extracts, reports that he and his wife and little one are well. Brother and Sister Toppenberg, being citizens of a neutral country, were able to remain on their station near the lake when other stations had to be abandoned by the workers. In July, however, the retirement of the local officials and the excitement of war let loose native tribesmen to rob and kill, and Brother Toppenberg and his family made their way, amid the peril and confusion, to the refuge of the advancing British lines, where they were kindly received. He hears that all the buildings of the mission station have been destroyed, and all their contents evidently looted. Let us pray God to protect the other missionaries in this region and their native Christian converts.