p. 16 | South Africa by M. C. Sturdevant

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Feb 18, 1904

South Africa

By M. C. Sturdevant

BULUWAYO.—Our work here has been heavy, and there are perplexities; but the Lord has been our helper, and I am still pressing onward. Our health never was better. For this we praise our Heavenly Father.

I praise God with you for the pillar of cloud that has gone with us to Washington. I still claim a shelter under that cloud, and am cheered to know that it is he that leads us. I am sure this move is of God, and rejoice with you. My daily cry is, Shall I be able to stand? I do desire to stay low at the feet of Jesus. My only thought of life is to bless my fellow men.

Every week I give the boys a Bible study, which we take in four companies to the homes of the people every Sabbath afternoon. I go from one company to another, teaching the boys how to hold studies. About sixteen young men receive this instruction every Sabbath, and the people seem to enjoy it. I believe the time has fully come when we should do more missionary work among the people. So we are trying this plan, and so far it has been a success. I hope in this way to reach some of the older ones. Besides having the charge of the farm work, I teach English in the day school two hours each day, and have the care of the church.

We are being blessed also in the farm work. Our rainy season has hardly begun yet, but I have taken advantage of every shower to plow and plant, so that now our crops are all in, and most of them are coming up. I have planted thirty-five acres of corn, all up nicely, twenty-one acres of peanuts, doing well, five acres of Kaffir corn, ten acres of nyanti, and ten acres of sweet potatoes. Eighty or more acres are under cultivation this year. We are ahead of any one in these parts, and I am trusting the Giver of all for the harvest. A little drought just now is causing the bugs to eat very much. The grasshoppers have come in clouds three times; but no serious harm has resulted. All our small garden stuff has been eaten by bugs by night. They come in swarms, and take everything as soon as the blade peeps through the ground. But I expect to raise a crop yet; for I shall still plant, knowing not “whether shall prosper, either this or that.” So I am pressing the farm work, expecting the returns.

We know that God led us here, so we have not had the first thought of turning back. We can truly say we are glad we are here. We greatly desire the prayers of all, and are praying ourselves that we may be kept humble, that the Master may use us in his service.

M. C. STURDEVANT.