Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-12-23
RIVER BRETHREN MISSION
ARIES IN AFRICA's FIELD
Interesting Experiences With New
Native Converts.

sion, october ls. II. to which v
made reference IN our last Iette
This precious occasion Is now in th
Ipast and s6alls be,a precious memoir
Of our trip. on Friday, Bro. Frey
Sister Lizzie Engle. With some Of til
girls came up, arriving about noon
'thls being our first meeting wit
them. About s O'Clock, standing 4
tie Mission looking north We saw
number walking who came from til
Matopo Mission. As they came near
er we counted fifteen n the number
who walked the distance Of abou
twenty-five or twenty-four miles. !
little later Bro. Steiserwalds. SIste
Mary Kelsey and Bro. Hemming ar
rived, having driven thfough will
their mule team.
In the evening sreyices were held
In the church for the native congre
cation conducted by one Of the ma
tive brethren. At the same hour 9
service was also held in the dwelling
house for the benefit Of the workers
who were all present except those
from Macha.
On Sunday forenoon a service was
held in the interest Of those who re-
quested baptism, the number of appll-
cants being sixteen. Ten of these
were received; the other six are re-
tanned in the inquirers' class, which
numbers about fifty at this place.
In the afternoon the examination and
preparatory services in view of the
communion were held.
The evening meeting was led by
Sister Frey, who read John 3:16, in
connection with other scriptures, hav-
ing for her theme, the Love Of God.
On Sunday morning at $3.50 a So
cial service was conducted by Bro.
Matshuba, to whom we made especial
reference in our last letter. He read
from Acts 1:S, following with some
remarks, after which eighty-two tes-
titled to the saving grace Of God,
and to a determination to follow the
Master, at the close of which, by re-
quest, about twenty stood who were
willing to testify, but for lack of
time did not. At 1O:45 there was a |
short intermission given of about a |
half hour. after which the hour for
preaching was improved from John
TIA by myself, followed by Bro.
sheets, of course, all through our
Interpreter. At the close of this ses-
ion the ten applicants for baptism
we're formally received, and the meet
ng dismissed at 1 o'clock. tie
Immediate arrangements were
made for going OF the water, which
Tas near by, and a beautiful place
or the service. Elder Steigerwald
eing afflicted with something of a
leura attack, was not able to be in
be service much less to administer
aptism, though present at the water,
, these duties devolved on us. The
rethren having the evening before
ffered us this privilege, after weigh
lg the matter we declined, believing
to be better all around IL Bro. s.
ould take 1t in hand; but seemingly
le Lord directed it otherwise; and
9 felt blest in the performance of
70 duties. All passed through the
deal nicely and without any re-
stance. Several hundred of these
Irk faces were lined on both sides
the water to view the scene. May
ese ten souls, five brethren and
70 sisters, who were buried with
cir Lord in baptism, and who have
ZEN to walk with Him IN newness
life, be valiant soldiers Of the
oss, and finally be crowned heirs
immortal gloryi
At 3 O'Clock we again convened
the feet-washing and communion
vices in which thirty-one native
ethren, thirty-fiye native sisters +;
d eleven white workers participant. Z
The reason for having these
vices in the day is for the con.
hence Of those who have 80 far !
ne and on foot. =
This certainly was an inspiring !
son to us. and we think the re- I
t Of the same ought to help awak- 6
. deeper foreign missionary spirit 4
the hearts and lives Of many Of \
home church; especially when :,
consider that these missions %efei e
lhfished only eleven years ago d
five workers. a
q we become acquainted with the
htry we learn that there are many
= scopes Of country in which there s
dmilar opportunities. and OPEN ,
rs, with pressing invitations for
llouarles to come In and labor
'n6 this needy people, and, one =