MISSION WORK ON THE KONGO.
The following extracts from a missionary’s letter to the Toronto Christian Worker will give our readers a good idea of the people and the customs with which a missionary to a new field comes in contact. This missionary had made a journey into the dense West African jungle to carry the Gospel to men and women sitting in the densest darkness. He says:— After a hard tramp over mountains, wading of rivers and through dense forests, we arrived at last, about 5 o’clock, at the town. As we entered, the women and children screamed and ran and hid, for they were frightened at the donkey I was riding. After a short rest we partook of our evening meal. Now, at first this will be somewhat trying, tho amusing, to the new missionary, for the native does like to watch the mindele (literally, the clothed man) eat, and he can not understand why we eat each kind of food separately, for he puts everything into one pot. After tea everything was put away and things straightened up, and we went outside and had a service with the people, who crowded around to hear what Brother Page had to say. After he had finished, Vangu, the oldest native Christian and evangelist, who had come with us to take back the donkey, preached. He corroborated what Brother Page had said, and the people seemed very much interested. But there were no visible signs; the people silently received what we had to say. Early the next morning the boys started back and we were left alone in a large heathen town. But we were not afraid, for we knew that the “God of heaven, the Creator of all things,” could control even the passions of the heathen. In a double sense we were not alone, for all day the people flocked to see us. Every move we made was noticed, and remarks passed about each. Every mouthful of food I took was discussed most exhaustively, they wondering what it was I was eating. This town is built in the heart of a great woods, for the purpose, I think, of hiding away from the State. The king who had the most influence in the town had died and was lying in state. Early in the morning, about 4 o’clock, his wives, who sat around on the ground near his body all night, would wail and cry, tearing their hair and torturing their bodies in the most shameful way. This they had been doing for over a month. The men gather early in the evening and play on a horn, which each one carries, making the most doleful noise. The instrument is made from the horn of a large antelope. At night we had a most wonderful service. At first I was doubtful if the people were coming to hear us, but fortunately the king had a large bell which he had bought from the traders at the river to use in his palavers or mambu, and hanging that up our cook boy rang it hard. Then, with the few that had gathered, I began teaching them a simple hymn, the words meaning, “Come to Jesus and receive life, mercy, and peace from our King.” But they persisted in saying “your King.” Again and again we sang it, the people in the meantime gathering, and each one as he learned, joining in the chorus. I told them to shout it so the people in the next town could hear, and it would have done your heart good to hear the people singing, those woods ringing and echoing the refrain, not of heathen yells in dances, but of the songs of Jesus the Saviour of the world. Again Mr. Page told the story of love, while the people listened very attentively. Just as he was about to finish, one of the kings sprang forward, and, with a majestic gesture of his hand, he silenced the people. Then in true native style he preached the Gospel, at one time lifting his hands unto the heavens, then bending his body to the ground. We could do nothing to stop him, neither did we try, but simply stood and listened, rejoicing that, in pretence or in truth, the Gospel was preached (Phil. 1:18, R.V.). At last he closed by saying, “Hear, my brethren! From this night I receive the words of God and give up my idols.” The meeting closed somewhat in disorder, for this caused a division, the women, who are always harder to reach, taking the opposite side. The next morning saw the reversal of things. The night before several had declared their intention of burning their idols, and, true to their word, as Brother Page began speaking, the people came and laid their idols at our feet. In fact, early in the morning the people from the surrounding towns brought their idols, for they had heard of the resolve of the people of Chinga. The people wanted us to burn them, but we refused, and made the two leading kings do it. I have a picture where they are piling the brush on and burning them. Now the people wanted a teacher. They said, “If we do receive the words of God you will go away, and then we will forget the Way.” They said they would build a house for the teacher, a church and a school, and give three boys to carry our wood and water and cook our food. But we had to refuse them, for we had no one to go or to send. And remember, friends, they have built the house, first clearing away the grounds, and also the church and school, and are waiting for a teacher! Who will go? The following Monday night the boys returned from Kinkonzi to take us back, and early the next morning we left, the people following us out for some distance from the town, shouting and calling after us as long as we could hear them, “Tata! Tata! Come back again and teach us!” At noon we arrived at the station, tired, wet, and hungry. We had no more than got well settled in our rooms when on looking out we saw the three kings with their women and children, coming to ask for a teacher! But again they were refused! Dear ones at home who read this article, will you pray for these people? Pray also that the God of the harvest will thrust forth laborers into the vineyard.