PROGRESS IN MATABELELAND.
By W. S. Hyatt
[In the South African Missionary for October we find an interesting report of a visit to Matabeleland by Brother W. S. Hyatt, from which we take the following.] At Somabula we had a very interesting baptismal service. Eight of the older boys desired to follow their Lord and be buried with Him. We gave them special instruction to fit them for the occasion. But I wish to say that the boys who have been at these missions for several years have a good knowledge of the plan of salvation, and can readily turn to texts in various parts of the Bible. A large number of people gathered at the mission on Sabbath morning. After Sabbath-school we went to the river, and had our meeting under a large tree. Elder Armitage, Brother C. H. Sparrow, and myself, each gave them a short address, explaining the Gospel plan and what baptism meant; for they had never seen such a thing before. Then each of the boys bore a testimony to what the Lord had done for him. Hearts were touched, and tears flowed from many eyes. The baptism followed, and it was pronounced by all to be a precious experience. We had noticed that the boys felt the need of a Christian name. Often in the study of Acts they found the expression, "whose surname was," etc. They desired such a name. So after we had placed several names before them, we allowed them to choose a Christian name, and at the same time retain their own names. I will give their names, that you may see how well the choice was made: Harry Sibagobe, Joseph Mamo, William Mzeleti, Willis Mehlo, James Samdede, Byron Selomba, Fred Mazalwaedwa, Frank Kama. They were first called by their new names at the time of their baptism, and a thankful lot of boys they were, too. I must mention two young men who heard that the teacher at Solusi taught the boys not to drink beer or smoke. They tried to find the mission, but, after wandering about for several days, came to Somabula. When they had been there a week, they, like Philip, went and found three others of their number and brought them to the mission. These all came from the Melsetter District, a section of country on the eastern border of Rhodesia. God has certainly blessed the efforts to teach these boys. When they came to the mission in February they did not know a letter, but in six months they could read their native Bible and write a fair hand. Besides this they could read considerable English. Now they are reading in the English Bible. Surely God is in this work. At both missions the classes in English are doing well. As we had a desire to know the openings for mission work, Brother Sparrow, Brother Armitage, and I took a three weeks drive through the country. On our trip we found natives who knew absolutely nothing about God or Christ, having never heard about them. We tried to tell them about the love of God, but they would shake their heads and say: "He may love you white men, but He does not love us black men." We had two of our young men from the mission with us, and they told the people what God had done for them. At this the natives were silent, as here were two of their own kind of people, speaking their own language, telling them about God and His Son Jesus.