Plainfield Mission, Cholo, British Central Africa
By Thomas H. Branch
At the close of another six months' service, we report the work in good condition. The message is awakening an interest among the people, and many are coming to hear this new way, as they call it. They ask about the change of the days, and when we make it plain to them from the Word of God, they say, “Now we see, we see.” Truly Ethiopia is awakening from her long slumber in darkness, and is stretching out her hands to God for the words of life; her sons and her daughters are crowding the schools of learning; others will walk for miles to buy a book, that they may learn to read. There is a great thirst for knowledge among the people, but they can not all enter the missions. As soon as they learn to read the primer of the language, the next book that is placed in their hands is the New Testament Scriptures; this they read with unabated interest, and wherever you see one who has begun to read this blessed book, you will find him with a copy. On a journey or at their labor, when there is a little time, several of them will get together, and read a few words from their Testaments. Is this not the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to them? The spiritual work at the mission is being carried on daily; each evening we have a Bible study, and much interest is taken both by the boys and by the women. Some of our boys are truly walking in the light of the Sabbath truth, and are anxious about the salvation of their brethren; so when their work and school hours are finished, they take their Bibles and wend their way to the villages to instruct the people concerning these things. The Sabbath afternoon services in the villages still continue, and by these means from two to three hundred are reached who do not come to the services held at the mission, and otherwise would not hear. The boys report good interest at these services. On the thirtieth of September, eight precious souls were buried with their Lord in baptism; this was a solemn and impressive scene. Four brothers, who had confessed the Lord, were buried together with him in the watery grave, and rose to walk with him in newness of life. Truly this was a precious time, and the Lord, by his Spirit, came very near in blessing. A large number of natives assembled to witness this scene, and I trust that an impression was made for good, and that others may soon follow in the way of righteousness. Our farm work is all that could be desired at this stage of the planting and growing. I have managed to get in, with my small force of boys, fifty acres of corn, fifteen acres of peanuts, eight acres of beans, five acres of sweet potatoes and two of Irish potatoes, also one acre of cassava. This work has all been done with our only farming implement, the hoe, the handle of which is only eighteen inches long. It is anything but an easy task to perform labor day after day in this manner; yet the farming is carried on successfully. I am trusting for an abundant yield. The Lord has wonderfully blessed us this year in the mission finances; we have been able to collect thirty-four pounds on the corn contract of 1904, and have sold five and one-half tons of the 1905 corn for thirteen pounds eight shillings three pence, and have received from the sale of goats, vegetables, butter, and English clock, eight pounds eight shillings. This income has greatly helped with the running expenses of the mission, and praise to the Giver of every good gift, we have had enough to feed our school family. The mission stock is thriving well, there are thirteen head of cattle, and twenty-nine goats. The school work is exceptionally good, although the attendance is small, as many of the boys are working out their taxes. The enrolment is forty-five. Many of these boys on entering the school two years ago, did not know even their alphabet, but now they can read, and can translate a good portion of the English Bible into their own language, and a change is noticeable in their lives, which tells for something better than their old village life and habits. Two of the boys help in the teaching here at the mission, and only one out-school is running at present, as the other one was burned down. We have six women and two girls staying at the mission, who attend school, and eight girls who come from the villages to school. It is hard to keep girls at the mission or in school, as they marry at the tender age of from six to ten years, and then, of course, their duties keep them at home, for they are not only housewives and cooks, but also the ones to raise the food. The general health of the mission has been very good until the last two months,18when there has been a great deal of sickness. My wife and Paul have had a serious attack of fever, also many of the natives, but the lives of all have been spared to us. Quite a number have come to the mission to be treated, and the Lord has blessed in restoring them all to health. The land seems to be full of lepers, who are in a pitiful condition; they are not isolated as they were in the days of Christ, but are going to and fro among the people, and living with their families. This they continue to do until the flesh begins to drop from their bones; then they are put into a little house, and fastened in, there to die. This is a large country teeming with her millions. Calls for schools and the Word of God are coming in continually. Truly the work is great, and the laborers are few. Are there not some who will consecrate themselves to this great work? God is calling. Who will go to carry the bread of life to the starving multitudes in the regions beyond? Did Jesus not say, when he saw the multitude that were weary and sad, and thirsty and hungry, “Give ye them to eat”? Brethren, the Macedonian cry is sounding, come over and help us. “Breathe a prayer for Africa: God the Father's love
Can reach down and bless the tribes from his heaven above;
Swarthy lips, when moved by grace, ever sweetly sing;
Pray that Afric hearts be made loyal to our King.” Dear brethren, we need your prayers that we may ever dwell in the presence and unerring counsel of God, that he may impart wisdom and strength, that we may do to his glory the work he has entrusted to our hands.