Waterloo, West Africa by T. M. French

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 24, 1912

Waterloo, West Africa

By T. M. French

T. M. FRENCH

AFTER visiting our Canary Islands rest home, Mrs. French and I landed in Sierra Leone March 3. Brother and Sister F. S. Bolton had just left on account of their health, and it was time for Brother and Sister W. H. Lewis to take their furlough to the islands. Brother Lewis had worked very hard, and had had a long run of fever, from which he was just rallying. And from repeated attacks of blackwater fever, it was evident that Sister Lewis needed to get away from the West Coast for a while. So this disablement of these workers made it necessary for us to come to Waterloo to look after the interests of the church and the school.

We were obliged to take up the work that the two families were compelled to lay down; but notwithstanding our heavy burdens for the past five months, the Lord has enabled us to make some progress in our work here.

I organized our native workers and students, and soon all were at work on the tasks before us. Brother Smith, a native worker, together with some of the students, planted the farm to cassava, yams, sweet potatoes, groundnuts, and corn, while I took the rest of our schoolboys and began work on the new school building. We put in the windows upstairs in the school building, and, without partitions and without part of the floor, moved the boys into it, where they could be nearer their work and could be better cared for. After concreting the first floor, our money (as the natives say) “finished.” Although the rain blows in badly at the open windows and doors, we have since been carrying on our school work in this building.

There was on hand for the completion of our new church building about twenty dollars. After securing in money and pledges about twenty-five dollars more, with this small amount I began work on this building. The schoolboys and I worked hard, economizing at every step, and were enabled to complete our church for dedication on July 21. One of the last things I did was to tear up a school bench for material to make the moldings for the pulpit. However, we have a neat church building. The public gave us a thirty-dollar offering at the dedication, leaving an indebtedness of not more than ten or twelve dollars.

Since the dedication of our church building, the attendance from the outside at our Sunday and Wednesday evening meetings has steadily increased. Several village people are much interested, and we are praying and working that these souls may see the light of this glorious truth, and be saved. Our older schoolboys are organized into companies, and are visiting the people each Sunday. They report some interesting interviews.

Our hearts were made glad a few Sabbaths ago when one of our older students from the village, a young man who was an unbeliever, arose in the afternoon social meeting and gave his heart to God. He said that he was impressed the night before that he ought to visit our church services the following day. He came, and was so impressed with the truth presented in the morning that he decided to obey God. Although ridiculed by his companions in the village, he has since been faithful. I have asked him to enter our school home and prepare for our work, as he is a very bright young man and quite well advanced. He has consented to do so.

Brother and Sister Lewis have now returned from Teneriffe, and have joined us in our work. They are looking strong and healthy. Our factory will soon be opened again; and if money comes in, we hope soon to be able to finish up their home and the school building. This will greatly facilitate our school work.

Brethren and sisters, pray that God may give us health to forward his work in this dark land, and that he may give us many precious souls for our hire.