Solusi Mission, Africa
By M. C. Sturdevant
THE work is moving forward here. Never have the blessings of God been more manifest at this mission than during the past year. The number of our native boarders has now reached seventy-five. We have twenty-four girls—more than we ever had before. We have a very good class of students. Yesterday, December 25, was a blessed day with us. While the world generally was given up to pleasure, twenty-four souls gave themselves wholly to God, and were baptized in the river, one mile from the mission home. It was a precious season. About one hundred fifty natives gathered about us. We had three short discourses. Brother Victor Wilson spoke first, laying before the people the great gospel call, urging them to give themselves to Christ in this, the acceptable day. Mark Gangazi followed, with most stirring words on Romans 6. Jim Duba then presented the wonderful gift of God, showing how he wants us to grow up as “trees of righteousness.” After this the writer led the candidates into the water. One special feature of the occasion was that most of these were the fruits of our out-station effort. This was encouraging to our native teachers, many of whom were in from their schools at this time. Another feature encouraging to us was that two of the old native mothers, widows, were baptized with these young people. They said they could not let all the young people go to the home above, and they be left out. They had long ago given up their snuff and wine, and the worship of other gods. I can assure you, this makes our hearts glad, as these were the first-fruits of the old natives. Others desired baptism; but we asked them to wait a little longer, that they may more fully learn the ways of God. Past experience has taught us to go carefully in this matter. All who received the rite, except the two aged women, know well how to read and study the Bible. The home school, and also our seven out-schools, have done well this past year, far better than any previous year. The temporal wants of the mission have also been graciously supplied by our Heavenly Father. To him we give thanks. This planting season has been very late, and we have had little rain so far, yet we have planted two hundred forty acres, mostly to corn, with peanuts, Kafir peas, sweet potatoes, beans, etc. All are coming on nicely at the present. We can truly say God is good, and it is most pleasant to serve him. Pray for us. M. C. STURDEVANT.