From Nyassaland by Joseph Booth

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 16, 1902

From Nyassaland

By Joseph Booth

THE following letter to the Mission Board, from Nyassaland, British Central Africa, reports the opening of the work in our new mission station in the land of Livingstone:—

The Branch family have arrived in good health bodily and spiritually, and are all hard at work. We share the mission house together, and get along excellently, though somewhat overcrowded.

I am intensely gratified to witness the heart gladness the Branch family manifests in the work, and in making friendship with the native African. The latter draw to them in a way that is new in this mission field. Just now Brother Branch is at the Shiloh station, forty-five miles north, strengthening the cause there. We have provided for the furnishing, etc., of the two mission houses, though how best to divide and locate our forces has yet to be discerned. Miss Branch is making herself invaluable as a teacher in plodding school work, twice daily.

MISSION HOME, PLAINFIELD STATION, CHOLO, B. C. A.

During my stay in America, there has been some trouble among our converts. A few have become Sabbath breakers in order to get a living, while several have become polygamists, led away, they say, by the example of three white missionaries who are known to have fallen. I think about half have drifted or been forced away. There are now about twenty young men students here. Constant applications are being made by converts of other missions who wish to abandon Sunday keeping and study the Bible here; so there is much to encourage us, in spite of disappointments in the past.

Among our workers and students there are some out of each of the following tribes: Yao, Manganga, Chikunda, Chipeta, Angoni, Makololo, Swahili, and Alolo. At present we have no Atonga, though some are writing to request admission.

The Branch family are delighted with Africa, and are constantly wishing that more Seventh-day Adventist colored brethren could be located as missionaries or settlers among the tribes. They enjoy the climate, which to us is decidedly trying, especially to Mrs. Booth and little Mary. I have it in my heart, at some time, if the Mission Board approves, to return to England or America, and collect funds from outside sources for this purpose. I have reason to believe that the advent message can be hastened greatly in this way. We are making brick, and sawing timber for a fair-sized church and school combined, as our present grass school and meeting house is fit only for temporary work. In the wet and windy season I am afraid that Miss Branch’s health would break down, and our services suffer. The church will cost about one thousand dollars. We are working in faith that we shall be able to pay for it as it proceeds.

I am anxious that a beginning should be made, however small, in the far-reaching Swahili tongue. Fourteen tribes know that tongue. We have four brothers of the Swahili tribe, who have come to stay a long time, they say. Their home is six weeks’ journey away to the northeast. I expect to learn sufficient of their language to be of help in some way in the future. They state that Mohammedan preachers are trying to enter their country. Negro teachers will be welcomed in their tribe, they say, but the lives of white men are in danger.

I am sorry to have to report that three fourths of our London purchases are detained at Chinde till the river rises in December.

We hope that plenty of native clothing is on the way; for we are puzzled at present to know how to keep the people around us properly clothed.

JOSEPH BOOTH.