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SOUTH AFRICA

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 26, 1901

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 48.

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SOUTH AFRICA.

By F. L. Mead

We returned to the farm from Cape Town, May 31, and on the 2d of June held a council of all the workers here, when it was voted to open an outstation northeast of Bulawayo, about one hundred and forty miles from here. It was arranged that Brother Armitage go there, and that Brother Anderson remove to the home station. On July 17 Brother Armitage started for his new field of labor. We divided thirty-two oxen into three spans, and inspanned them into three wagons loaded with household effects, provisions, and building material. We were just four weeks making the long trip. We left one of the teams with Brother Armitage for the present. Another team remained and worked one week, and then returned home, while with a third team, Walter and I returned by way of Gwelo and the Insiza Valley, on a tour of inspection. I think we have a very good location for Brother Armitage's station, one hundred and ten miles from Bulawayo, and thirty miles from Gwelo.
The question may arise as to why, with so few workers, we spread out to open another station. Four or five years ago the workers here were urged to occupy places at convenient positions from the home station. But now these and other desirable locations are occupied by other societies. So even though we do not have additional help, we have decided to scatter out, and occupy at least one more good point before it, too, is gone.
Our program for a school has worked splendidly thus far. The first of July we sent out four native teachers to work among the people. They are having good success among kraals. True, these are young men, and not college graduates; but they can tell others what they have learned. The prospect is very good for a larger attendance at the next term of school, beginning the first of November.
Matters are not growing better in the Transvaal. We are all well at this writing. F. L. MEAD.
A letter from Sister Mead, written about the same date, will interest our readers.
She says: “While Mr. Mead and Walter were away, I was kept rather busy, tending the store, and helping look after the boys and keep them at their work. We have some very good boys here, who do their work well, whether they are alone or some white person is with them. Our family of native young people and children numbers twenty-two now, and we have two young men who are at a kraal fifteen miles away teaching a school. We heard from them to-day, and learned that they have twenty-nine pupils. We think that is very good, indeed.
“One young man started to his home kraal this morning, because he says there are seven more there who want to come to the mission and live, and go to school. We feel that the Lord has set His hand to the work here, and is blessing our efforts to bring a knowledge of His Word to the people.
“We often think of our many friends in America, and would be very glad to see them, and enjoy a good visit with them, but we are glad we came to Africa; and when we see the interest manifested by some to learn what the Lord says, we feel that it is not in vain that we are here.”