p. 12 | Our Work in East Africa by A. C. ENNS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 14, 1911

Our Work in East Africa

By A. C. ENNS

A. C. ENNS

Our work in East Africa began in the same way that our other foreign mission work was started; but a great change has been wrought. At the present time our work in Africa is inseparably connected with the work for children from the kindergarten age to twenty years. Our children, for instance, in Hamburg and Frankfort-on-the-Main, I found very enthusiastic, working for German East Africa. They are distributing the child's paper, Kleiner Freund, free of charge, and are receiving from the people donations for our field. What they get in this way pays for the Kleiner Freund, and leaves a surplus, which is taken to buy cloth, such as unbleached linen; this the sewing society works up into simple garments, which are sent to us.

Our work in German East Africa consists of laboring mainly for children and youth, as it is really hard to touch the hearts of adults, and still more difficult to reach the old people. By far the largest part of our work is school work. As a result, our converts consist chiefly of youth from twelve to twenty years of age. We thank God to be able to say that we have no idle members—they all work with zeal to win souls.

One boy, who was my language teacher, accepted the Christian religion, and soon after his baptism was put in charge of a school. The building was measured off by us, and erected by the natives of that district. Then the development of the work was turned over to him. When I had an opportunity to visit his school, one year after it was opened, I was astonished to see the work that had been done. Everything looked neat, clean, and orderly, and he had 173 children in school, whom he had organized into three divisions. The first school session was held from eight to ten o'clock in the morning; the second, from ten till noon; and the third in the afternoon. Each session was opened by prayer and the singing of a hymn. Reading, writing, and arithmetic were then taken up, after which he called the roll, and read and expounded a portion of Scripture, asking questions, which were readily answered.

None of us could do better the work that this boy is doing. The most wonderful thing in connection with his success is that he is but twelve years old. The great secret of it all is that he is a Christian to the depths of his heart, and wants to show his gratitude to God for bringing him salvation.