The Work in Kimberley, South Africa by J. V. Willson; Sara E. Willson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Sep 22, 1904

The Work in Kimberley, South Africa

By J. V. Willson; Sara E. Willson

The Lord has blessed us, and has prospered the medical missionary work in Kimberley. During the winter months just passed, the patronage of the baths has greatly increased. At this season of the year there is a great deal of rheumatism here, and the physicians have found that the treatments given at the baths do more for their patients than the medicine they give, so they are sending many to us for treatment.

I will mention just a few cases, to show what the Lord is doing with the simple treatments to help the people. When Elder Hankins was coming to Kimberley on the railway train, he met a man coming to the hospital who had been laid up with rheumatism for months. Brother Hankins told him to come to the baths. He did so, and although it took two men to carry him into the room, in less than two weeks he returned home well. An engineer in the De Beers diamond mines here in the city was badly afflicted for eight months, and although attended by one of the leading physicians of the place, was getting worse. Finally the doctor sent him to the baths, and in less than a week he was entirely well. But the most remarkable case was that of a poor, hard-working woman, who had had a felon on her hand, which, as the result of improper care, so distorted the fingers that she could not use the hand at all, the fingers becoming set and permanently stiffened. The physician finally gave her up. She came to the baths, and by careful treatment has regained the use of her hand.

These instances are but samples of what is being done right along. After the siege of Kimberley there was a time when the outlook was not very encouraging, but the Lord's hand has been with the work, and we have seen it become established on a solid basis.

There are many outlying towns around Kimberley, and many people come from these to the baths, so a knowledge of the principles of health reform is being spread. We thank the Lord for the preservation of our lives and health, and desire to stay by the work as long as the Lord spares us. We have found the promise to those who leave father and mother and houses and lands, verified to us. We are deeply interested in the reports from different parts of the field, and hope to join in the harvest home by and by.

J. V. WILLSON, SARA E. WILLSON.