From Kimberley, South Africa by J. V. Willson; Mrs. J. V. Willson

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 21, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 34.

FROM KIMBERLEY, SOUTH AFRICA.

By J. V. Willson; Mrs. J. V. Willson

PERHAPS but few of the SIGNS readers know about the “Benevolent Home” at Kimberley, South Africa. This institution has been in operation some five years. It was started as a place of shelter for destitute men, with a lodging-room and dining-room, and a wood-yard to keep the men employed. The wood-yard was run until the city was besieged by the Boers, when the wood supply was cut off, and so that part of the institution was discontinued.

We were besieged 124 days, and daily the shells passed over our heads, dropped all around us, and three struck our house,—two 100-pound shells, and one nine-pounder, wrecking rooms, but not injuring any people.

When the siege was raised, then came pressure from our creditors to pay them. We were owing about $3,000. The South African Conference assumed these obligations, and that relieved the Home. Then a most remarkable chain of circumstances occurred.

Our bath-rooms had never been as good as the work demanded,—soft brick walls, mud plaster, low ceilings, and poor wood floors, etc.; but we never had the means to build better ones. But now the Lord took hold of it. First of all, He sent a terrible storm of rain for twenty-four hours, then a daily downpour for two weeks. By that time the soft walls began to fall. Something had to be done. We had not a dollar to begin with; but we moved out in faith. We took down the old walls, dug down to the solid rock for a new foundation, bought hard brick, and put up solid walls, covered with a new iron roof. When we dug the foundation, we found diamond debris, which produced diamonds to help us build. The Lord had them ready there, only waiting the action of our faith to get them.

When the people saw us putting up substantial walls, they began to ask us to put in good bath-rooms, and said they would help pay for them. So we went to them with a subscription paper, and they have contributed about $2,000 so far, and more is promised.

We are now putting in good, substantial bath-rooms, and preparing to establish a sanitarium here.

Our faith has been much strengthened by our experience here. The Lord has answered our prayers so many times, and helped us through so many difficulties, that it gives us new courage. When it came time to get our bath-tubs, there were none for sale in town, and the military had so tight a grip on the railway that for five months the merchants could not get any goods whatever up from the coast. But we sent to Cape Town, and in a very few days our tubs were landed in our yard,—the only bath-tubs brought to Kimberley in five months. We wanted tiles for our floors. Not a dealer in town could get a single tile. We ordered ours, and here they are,—the only tiles brought to the city in five months. We wanted steel ceiling for our bath-rooms, and got that immediately,—no other has been brought in.

One week we had not the money to pay our help. We needed $200, and it came Thursday. Next day I needed money. I went out on the street praying with all my heart to God for help. I went to one man—he gave me $26; another gave me $250. Next day we received $124 more in donations. So it has been all along. The Lord has given the means as fast as needed.

Another time we got in a strait place, and went to see a man of wealth, and he gave us $500 cash. Thus God has dealt with us every week, all the time. The Lord is so good. The greater our needs, the greater His gifts.

We hope soon to have the treatment rooms in good shape for extensive work. We are holding Bible-readings, visiting the sick, distributing reading matter, and sowing the seed by conversation with those who come to our bath-rooms.

Kimberley is a center of wealth and trade, and a good point to establish our work. There is no other place where the people can get these treatments within 600 miles of here. We hope soon to have a full line of baths, electric baths, and electric-light baths, needle sprays, etc., etc.

Our family had the African fever, but soon recovered.

We are of good courage in the Lord, and desire to stay right in the field as long as the Lord wants us there.

J. V. WILLSON.

MRS. J. V. WILLSON.

32 Old Main Street, June 22, 1901.