Emmanuel Mission, Basutoland
By H. C. Olmstead
THE first year's history of this mission has nearly closed. Delays and changes made by the chiefs, and our being without an interpreter for nearly ten weeks, prevented our receiving the mission site until July 7. Then a good location was given by Chief Jonathan. It contains only about twenty-three acres, but this is a large mission site to be given in Basutoland. It is near many villages, on the main road, and two miles from the railway siding. Owing to conditions prevailing in this country, we were advised to begin no improvements involving much expense until after the visit of Pastors R. C. Porter, W. S. Hyatt, and M. E. Emmerson. Their visit was very profitable to the work here, and on September 1 we were told to go ahead with the improvements. During these first eight months, meetings were held in the near-by villages. For some time a youths' Bible class, of from forty to sixty members, was conducted two nights each week. A day-school and a night-school were opened in a large stone building, the use of which Chief Jonathan freely loaned to us. The teacher, Murray Kalaka, and his family, live in one part of it. He is well respected, and good progress is made in the school. Over sixty names are now enrolled. Sabbath-school and preaching services are conducted in the same building, with a good attendance. Meetings are also conducted Sundays in the villages near. The mission house has been started, although no building money has yet been received. Until it is completed (probably about six months), we are living in a little sod house. Lack of money has prevented our planting a crop this year, but we hope to begin intensive farming on the small campus by another season. Our aim is to become self-supporting. Different chiefs have given a quantity of thatch-grass, the use of a horse for nearly three months, and we now have the loan of four oxen, and the promise of more help later.