The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1909-08-28
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gan to make camp. Soon the tent wa.
up the canvas stretched over the
goods. and the kitchen established
under tree. Some days later grass
shack was built, which was used for
weeks as dining.room and a draw.
ing-room, also sleeping place for one
OF the party. Later site for the
temporary house was chosen. Poles
were brought from the bush and grass
was cut to build large bungalow, 60
feet long. with wide veranda. The
floors are of clay. beaten hard in the
native way The only imported arti.
cies used In the building are the small
windows. the doors and nails. When
the grass bungalow was finished, a
church, also used as a schoolroom.
was built in the same way, and the
missionaries were settled until the
friends at home help us to build per.
manently.
1t Is our purpose to cultivate broom
corn. wheat. oats. rice and other ce
reals. Already we have all the ma
chinery for making brooms; the
broom corn grows as well as In the
states. We have put in nearly 1000
cuttings of the basket willow, - 1t Is
our purpose to develop the Industry
OF basket making, at which the native
! Is an adept.
Some time ago we visited Mrranki's
reserve and obtained the consent OF
the king to open mission In his land
The site chosen was on the side OF
Mount Makomwe. near the kings
kraal. 40 miles from the nearest white
settlement and midway between tn,
Sabi and Odzi rivers. Here was
heather people. almost strangers &c
the visits of the white man. The PEG
pie were nearly naked. and very dirty
rhey oiled their bodies more thar
hey washed them. They drank beer.
hey sang meaningless heather soma
md played only as drunken heather
,an play. Their huts were SO low
hat they were obliged to crawl into
hem on hands and knees. They did
lot want our learning or religion
rhey were afraid OF the white MAJ
who had come to live among them.
At nrst all were curious to see the
missionary and his goods. but they
soon became more Interested. Then
they began to think II was nice to
have a missionary near them. for he
healed their sores: he gave them med
icine and he let them taste Of his
strange foods. which they said were
sweet. Their amusement was great
when told that II was possible to
write words on paper which another
could read. or. as they said. make pa
per talk" 4 day school WAS begun
with three Christian boys. who came
with the missionary. and from time
to time others Joined with them. The
sick and lame gather In the veranda
Of the mission house for treatment
The missionary has from Ave to M.
teen calls 4 day. and Is able to help
many suffering ones.
This work In still conducted by the
missionary who began II. The land
has been cleared and planted with
fruit trees. which are now bearing
The hrs' building t:0x36. Of poles and
mud. with = veranda all round ~
Was built for . dwelling for the mis-.
sionary. but for over \ year II had
TO b. used for church. school and dis.
pensary as well. Then money vas
sent for a church. This also IL Of
poles and mud and has been In con.
slant use for church and school since
Il was completed. Later the medical
missionary visited the mission and
built, with the aid Of the boys. an I'D.
mirabis dispcnsary. with four rooms
Other buildings include \ boys dorm.
itory. four huts for Christian families.
. trading hut. . guest hut and build.
ings for sheep and goats. In that
heather land there II now . day
school. With an enrolment Of nearly
one hundred. an average Sabbath COO.
gregation Of nearly one hundred. Is
full members. 20 prohaiiousrs. . Sab.
bath school. class meetings. midwsck
prayer mseting. two native teachers.
many doing Christian work In the "a.
tive villages. prsaching on Sunday 70
The heather and preparins themselves
for usefulness. The change wrought
II almost Incredible. May now wear
clothes. Christian men have taken
Christian women for Wives.