South and South Central Africa: A record of fifteen years' missionary labors among primitive peoplesDavidson, Hannah Frances
History
South and South Central Africa: A record of fifteen years' missionary labors among primitive peoples
Davidson, Hannah Frances
Brethren in Christ Church -- Missions; Missions -- Rhodesia; Ndebele (African people); Tsonga (African people)
Sister Taylor had now been away from America nearly eight years and had
not been to the seashore for a change of climate since coming to
Interior Africa. She had enjoyed good health nearly all that time and
had been diligent in season and out of season in the Master's business.
She was a most useful and resourceful missionary always, but the time
had come when she was in sore need of a furlough to the homeland.
Brother Taylor too had not been to the seashore, and it was necessary
for both of them to leave. They were greatly needed in the work at
Macha, and we could not see how we could get along without them, but too
many missionaries on the field have, under the pressure of work and the
needs about them, remained longer than was expedient, and paid the
penalty with their lives. In February, 1913, they left Macha for their
homeward journey.
About two months previous to this Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Wenger had returned
to Africa, and came to Macha to take the place of the Taylors.
Unfortunately, however, both of them were stricken down with fever about
two weeks after reaching the mission station. They remained seven
months, and during that time there was almost one continual combat with
fever, especially on the part of Brother Wenger. United with this was
great nervous disorder and prostration, so that it seemed impossible for
him to stand the climate. They greatly desired to remain and continue
the work, but since it seemed impossible for him to endure the climate,
he wrote to Elder Steigerwald, who finally arranged for them to try
Johannesburg. We felt sorry, both on Brother Wenger's account and for
the sake of the work, that they were unable to remain on the field.
During the time of these seemingly necessary changes among the
missionaries at Macha, the work continued to grow and develop. There was
no increase in the number of boys, but some of those who had been with
us were proving helpful as teachers and evangelists among the people.
The work had been branching out and six schools were started; in some of
which men, women, boys, and girls were attending. In the early years the
converts were of those staying at the mission; but since the opening of
the out-schools the work was spreading much more rapidly, and some of
the married people, as well as the girls, had accepted Christ and were
living exemplary lives in their homes. These also attended the
Inquirers' Class and church services at Macha on Sunday.
[Illustration: Batonga Chiefs, Near Macha Mission.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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