Visit to the Southern Rhodesian Mission by W. S. Hyatt

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 23, 1913

Visit to the Southern Rhodesian Mission

By W. S. Hyatt

W. S. HYATT

At the request of the union conference committee I have spent nearly four weeks visiting our missions in southern Rhodesia. When I arrived at Bulawayo I was met by Brother and Sister W. C. Walston and Brother C. R. Sparrow, and together we spent a day in profitable counsel.

I then went to Selukwe, and was taken to the mission by Brother T. J. Gibson. The road was very steep and rough in parts, but we passed safely over it and arrived at the mission just before the beginning of the Sabbath. We received a hearty welcome from Sister Gibson and the children, and also from Sister Butterfield, who was visiting them.

On Sabbath morning fully one hundred and thirty natives assembled to listen to the glad tidings of salvation through a crucified and risen Saviour. That evening and the next morning were spent in considering plans for opening the work at the new mission farm and among the natives in that section.

On Sunday afternoon the oxen were inspanned and we started back to Selukwe by a circuitous route, which was farther but much better than the one by which we had gone to the mission. We arrived at the village at noon, expecting to catch a freight-train to Gwelo, but found that the train had left at eight o'clock that morning. We were not alone in our disappointment, for we soon met a lady and a gentleman who were expecting to take the same train. Misery likes company, but there is very little satisfaction in it after all. Since we had an appointment to meet Brother J. N. de Beer in Gwelo, a distance of twenty-four miles, we hired a cart and four mules and reached there at nine o'clock that evening.

The following day I spent profitably with Brethren de Beer and Gibson. The work in its various phases was carefully considered, and plans were outlined for me to put before the members of the committee in that part of the field. As we considered the work, we felt sure that the heavenly Counselor was in our midst leading our minds; and that evening when I took the train for Tsungwesi Mission, I left the brethren happy and rejoicing in the Lord at the prospects of their work. Truly it is good that brethren should counsel together, for in the "multitude of counselors there is safety."

The following afternoon I arrived at the Inyazura Siding, and was met by Brother Laurie Sparrow and taken to the Tsungwesi Mission, which is seven miles distant. It was a pleasure to find Sister Bowen and her two children well and patiently bearing their great loss. It is wonderful how our Heavenly Father can sustain and support in the hour of sorrow and sadness, and how the blessed hope cheers and brightens the way. Just at the time Brother Bowen was taken ill the Lord directed Brother C. R. Sparrow to visit Tsungwesi, although he was living nearly four hundred and fifty miles away. He had planned to stay only a few days, but when he saw Brother Bowen's condition, he remained and assisted in caring for him. This shows God's care for his children in their time of need.

I was pleased to see how well Brother L. Sparrow, son of Brother C. R. Sparrow, was getting along with the school and the work at the mission. There are about forty-five in the school, which is in a prosperous condition. The crops on the farm are excellent, there being over 600 bags of mealies and 260 bags of monkey-nuts; and the mission shop (or store) had purchased 100 bags of grain from the natives. The disk plow was kept at work turning over the mealie lands and getting them ready for another crop.

Brother Sturdevant having written that he expects to arrive the first of October, Brother Laurie concluded that he could manage the work without any more European help. I am thankful that young men are being developed who can bear heavy burdens.

I remained a week and rendered what assistance I could, and then took the train to visit Solusi. At Bulawayo I met Brother W. H. Anderson, and together we went to the mission and spent three days there. Almost all this time, Sabbath excepted, we spent in committee work—considering the best places of work for our mission and how to make our native schools more effective.

The committee recommended Brother George Hutchins to join Brother Gibson for the present and assist him in opening the new mission. Further, it was recommended that both at this mission and at Somabula there should be two Europeans, and that one of these should spend as much time as possible in evangelistic work with the aid of his native assistants.

I greatly enjoyed the few days at Solusi. It was a privilege to meet many of the native teachers whom I last saw five years ago. Among these are boys who have been with the mission for twelve and fifteen years. They have proved themselves loyal and faithful. Brother Walston has called in all the teachers for a special class to continue a month.

Even the oldest and best trained are pleading for more education that they may do better work for the Lord, and I believe that the Lord is giving them this desire.

May he hasten the day when we may have a proper training-school where we can prepare native workers to give this message to their people. The drought has made it hard for the mission in its attempt at self-support, but the work is onward and nothing can stop it. Brother and Sister J. Victor Wilson are working hard to help build up the mission and make it a success. I was pleased to meet Brother and Sister C. R. Sparrow, who were spending a few days at the mission. Wherever we go there are evidences that the message is onward.