Emmanuel Mission, Basutoland
By H. C. Olmstead
BROTHER DE BEER and family arrived last April, and we do appreciate their help. They live in two rooms of the mission house, while we occupy the other two; but a house for them is now well under way. Since they arrived, we have conducted two series of "lantern" meetings in villages not far away. Some were interested, but none definitely accepted Christ. Yet we are not discouraged, for we know well that the Basutos have heard the gospel for sixty years, and are very hardened. But we are determined to sow the seed faithfully and leave results with God, relying on his promises. In a few days we expect to begin another series of meetings; in fact, we intend to conduct meetings most of the time. I am fitting up a small wagon to serve as a "home" for the one who is away holding the meetings. Brother de Beer and I will change about in our evangelistic work. Old Chief Jonathan is still as friendly as ever, and often tells his people how lazy they are, and calls attention to the way we work on the mission. We hope he will increase the mission site sooner or later. I should like to report oftener the interesting things which we meet and observe from week to week; but it is a weakness of mine to plant and prune trees, do carpentry and mason-work, and the many duties of this kind of life, and leave reporting for others. Next year we expect to see this mission well equipped for full work. Then we hope to have less temporal work to do, and more time to work for souls. This mission is now registered as a government nursery (vine); so we may sell vines anywhere in the union. We find some sale for them.