RHODESIA, SOUTH AFRICA by F. L. Mead

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 5, 1901

RHODESIA, SOUTH AFRICA

By F. L. Mead

Our first baptism in Matabeleland occurred Dec. 1, 1900. “Our Jim” had asked to be baptized, but not wishing to be hasty in the matter, it was delayed until December 1. When asked his reasons for desiring to take such a step, his answer was that he had learned from reading his Bible, in Acts, Romans, and Corinthians, that such a step is right and proper for all who wish to follow the Lord, and as he wanted to obey God in all things, he wished to be baptized.

Our school work is progressing well, and we see brighter prospects ahead. For some time we were perplexed, not knowing where to get books for our students who had learned to read the small primer. We were finally compelled to make the Zulu Bible our text-book. We are now glad for this experience; for we have learned that the Bible alone meets our needs, as no other book, or number of books, can.

We have had to order Zulu Bibles from Cape Town at three different times, and shall have to order again soon. In April, 1900, when the Rhodesian mails were coming via Beira and Salisbury, we ordered a small lot of Bibles from the Cape. We received them in Bulawayo, Jan. 1, 1901.

An exploring party recently spent five weeks looking for desirable openings for out-stations, east and northeast of Bulawayo. Several openings were found, but the most desirable have been secured by other societies.

Two points in the parties’ report are of interest to us. One is that, for healthfulness of location, the mission station here compares favorably with any location now available to us in South Rhodesia. The second item is concerning the situation of the natives in Matabeleland. In one section there may be quite a considerable settlement of natives, but one may have to go a long distance before reaching another settlement. In several instances the settlements are fifty, one hundred, and sometimes more than one hundred, miles apart.

A work recently published in Bulawayo is authority for the following: The territory of Rhodesia is seven hundred and fifty thousand square miles, or more than France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Spain, and Italy, combined; and it has a native population of three hundred and fifty thousand. It can readily be seen that the country is not very thickly settled.

One item of interest to us in our work is the fact that our hymns are being sung much by the natives. Passing through the veldt (prairie), one often hears one or more natives singing a tune learned, or partly learned, at our meetings. We sing mostly Tebele hymns, so the people can learn them in their own language. We give below one stanza of “The Great Physician:” —

“I kon’ inyaña eñkulu, Li yazi i ñu Yesu; U buñazela umuntu, U lomusa, uYesu.”

CHORUS: “Nant’ ibizo elihle, Ibizo elimnandi. Eli dlula lenyosi, Yesu, Yesu Wami!”

Here is also the first stanza of “The Sweet By and By:” —

“Li kon’ izwe elihle mpela, Se si bona ’gukanya gwalo, Lay’ uYesu u kona belo, U si lunis’el’ indawo gulo.”

CHORUS: “Guhlele kona le, Guhlele kona le, Guhlele kona le, So butan’ ezweni elihle.”

Brother and Sister Anderson will go down country in January for a much-needed vacation. Sister Anderson has been out of the country once since the opening of the mission, five and one-half years ago. Brother Anderson has been here through the various experiences which the mission has had, up to the present time. Brother and Sister Anderson have proved themselves loyal to the work here, and a hearty welcome awaits them on their return.

Personally, I find it difficult to learn the Tebele language. From observation and experience, I am persuaded that not one in fifty past the age of thirty-five, will be successful in learning this language. As I become acquainted with missionaries of other denominations who have spent many years in this country, endured many privations, passed through many trying experiences, I find it difficult to express on paper my feelings of respect, and almost reverence, for their devotion and consecration to the cause of the Master. F. L. MEAD.