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Two New Outstations in Africa

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 21, 1907

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 12.

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Two New Outstations in Africa

By William Harrison Anderson

SCHOOL AT KALOMO MISSION, RHODESIA, BEYOND THE ZAMBESI
SCHOOL AT KALOMO MISSION, RHODESIA, BEYOND THE ZAMBESI
I HAVE just returned from a visit to our new outstation, and find that Jim, the teacher in charge, has his huts finished, and is now ready for aggressive work among the people in that place.
He reports that he would not ask for more faithful help than the three boys that I sent him. I had the privilege of seeing the native commissioner of the district where he is located, and he gave his hearty approval of our work there. The boys seem to have impressed him favorably, and he is doing what he can to assist us. I have received only the greatest of favors and kindnesses from all the officials here.
I now have the full written approval of the government for our farm site here. As soon as the land is surveyed we shall be able to get the title. As we are within the limits of the option of the railroad land, I have also obtained their written approval of the location. This makes it as secure as I know how to make it until the survey is made, which will be next year.
In harmony with a request from the natives, I have now opened a school about three miles to the north of here (Kalomo). Detja and Mwemba are in charge. They live here and go there and teach in the afternoon.
They report an attendance of twelve. This is the result of the short stay here in the school of a girl from that kraal. She came here to get a divorce from the man she had been sold to. When he gave back the lobola she went home.
But during her stay she became interested in the school, and has now interested others with the above results.
The opposition from the Jesuit fathers still continues very bitter. They have succeeded in bringing in some discontent; still some of the boys from near them entered the school last month. Surely God will give the victory to his truth.
We had a visit from Monze, the head chief of the Batongas, this month, and he expressed great surprise at what we had accomplished since we came here. He was especially impressed with our farming operations, and also the growing fruit-trees.
The head Mashukulumbweinduna from Jim's district was so impressed with the farm that he has promised to send two of his young men and ten oxen here to be trained to farm. We require the use of the oxen one year for training them, and we shall have the boys in school at least that length of time.
If the natives on the Kafui flats ever take to farming like the Makalangas have, they will be able to supply all the Johannesburg mines with grain. Their land is a heavy black loam like the corn belt of Illinois and Iowa. You see that the way is open for branching out.
I am thinking of asking for a man to help at the station here so that I shall be free next year to go north of the Kafui River and also to devote some time to exploring this country and opening outstations. I have secured a reversal of the decree that no alien natives shall be stationed on outstations away from a white man, for this district at least, and I am planning to open up the work here the next dry season.
Our school work continues about the same, and the interest is good.
Some left us this month, as they had completed their year, but their places were filled by new ones, so the attendance continues about the same. Five of our old boys have agreed to remain another year in the school. These are the best boys we had, and we are glad that they are remaining with us. I hope that others will agree to remain as the time comes for them to decide the matter.
I am going to Kalomo to-morrow to see about buying some cows and to attend to some other business.
The fruit-trees are still looking well, and the paw paws are setting on fruit. I am sending an order to Pickstone for oranges, lemons, and grape-fruit. They are to be sent on the first of next month so that I can get them in the ground before I go to conference.
Naomi has some fever to-day, and Mrs. Anderson had fever while I was at Jim's place.
Pray for us and the work here. There is much to do, and what are we among the many? Your brother in Christ.
W. H. ANDERSON.
Seventh-day Adventist Mission Farm, Kalomo, N. W. R., Nov. 13, 1906.