Another Year's Progress in Nyasaland by J. C. Rogers

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 29, 1910

Another Year's Progress in Nyasaland

By J. C. Rogers

J. C. ROGERS

ALL the workers in Nyasaland feel that they have seen many things to give courage and thankfulness in the past year's work. There has been a steady growth in all directions. Perhaps this growth has been most marked in our out-stations and out-schools. Our first venture by way of a permanent out-station was in the purchase of the Matandane place. It seemed to be the only opening to get outside of our limited sphere at the old Cholo main station.

In October, 1908, Brother and Sister S. M. Konigmacher went to Matandane to take charge. Up to that time only native workers had been there. It was our hope that this new station might become an opening door into densely peopled Central Nyasaland and Portuguese Central Africa, being on the borders of both. For the first year little progress was made, and from the human standpoint the prospect was rather discouraging. I had urged the opening of out-schools, which had brought new life into our Cholo station. At the beginning of the school year just past, it was arranged to send one of our best native teachers to help Brother Konigmacher in this out-school work. Within a short time three out-schools had been opened, and two more were added before the

end of the school year. This success so encouraged the workers there that Brother Konigmacher lately wrote that no mistake had been made in choosing the Matandane out-station.

The growth at our Malamulo, or Cholo, main station has also been marked, the attendance at the station school being about two hundred, the largest since the beginning of the mission. The school was improved by dividing it into four divisions occupying different buildings or the same building at different times of the day. Also more work in the native language was substituted for English. This substitution will be continued until only the native teachers receive instruction in English. Our aim is that no student shall leave the school without the ability to read the Bible in his own tongue, and to teach the message to the people in their mother tongue.

Last year there were six out-schools under the direction of the main station; this year six more have been added, making twelve. The enrolment in all our schools has been about one thousand, with an attendance of from seven hundred to eight hundred. This out-school work brings our native teachers, who are church-members, into direct contact with the people in their village homes. Each Sabbath, services are held in these villages by the teachers, and the message is plainly preached. These natives are born preachers, and our effort is to see that they have the simple third angel's message to preach.

In general, the health of our workers has been good. While all have had slight attacks of fever, none have been kept long from their work. Malaria seems always to be latent in one's system here, but can as a rule be controlled with proper care. There have been a large number of deaths in the country from malarial and blackwater fevers.

The recent visit of Elder R. C. Porter has been a great help and encouragement to all in this field. While he spent three weeks in the country, his time was busily occupied in visiting the stations and out-schools, and we felt that his time was too short to go into a careful study of the real problems confronting us. But we hope for another visit sometime, though we have no promise of it for at least two years.

While Elder Porter was with us, baptism was held at Malamulo, in which we enjoyed his assistance in baptizing and receiving twenty-two new members into the church. At Matandane five were baptized; and with six others who were there, a church was organized. We had intended to have another baptismal service at our Monkera out-station, near Blantyre, but this was deferred for lack of time. This visit closed with a meeting for our native teachers. Over thirty were present, and Elder Porter gave them excellent instruction. Then two days were spent in counsel with our European workers at Blantyre. All were present except Sister Konigmacher, who was not able to make the journey with her young child. Valuable instruction was given by Elder Porter, and important recommendations were passed for the prosecution and extension of the work.

It is hoped that the force of European workers may be increased the coming year. As it was necessary for Sister Ina Austen to return to her home, we have now only four active workers. We have the promise of at least one young man from South Africa. But very soon we should have a man and his wife from America, who will devote their lives to the work in Nyasaland. There are many opportunities for extending the work into new territory, besides the strengthening of that already undertaken.

The industrial side of our work has prospered, and has helped in a financial way. Besides raising all the food for our hundred boarders, we have a small crop of cotton now ready for market. We are planning considerable increase both in cotton and rubber crops. At present over sixty dollars' worth of butter is sold each month, with excellent prospects for a steady increase. Malamulo butter has the reputation of being the best in Nyasaland. All our schools are to open again in August, and we pray that the coming year may be especially marked by the Spirit's power in all departments of God's work. Will our brethren join in this prayer?