Abilene weekly reflector., 1921-07-28

BEULAH MUSSER WRITES


has been received from Miss Beulah
Musser who is a missionary to Africa
from the Brethren in Christ church
She Is at Macha Mission, Choma, N,
Rhodesia, South Africa. The letter
was written June 12:
Last night my mind in the uncon-
scious state Of sleep went back to my
home town, when l was one Of the
number Of boys and girls who formed
the eighth grade. Very clearly l
saw us as we were then busily en-
gagged In study In the southeast cor
ner of the Garfield building. When
morning dawned I began to think
Of those boys and girls as they are
now scattered over many states In
the union and some farther than
that, while some still remain In Abb
lene, believing as we used to sing,
"For Kansas is the greatest state
on this big earth" Thinking Of the
past and the present I take my pen
to write few lines to you, who may
be interested whether you are also
one Of those eighth grade children or
friends Of them.
The scenes of those days are In the
past the same as familiar scenes Of
Abilene are to me now for am In a
land Of which they say "There are
rivers without water, birds without
song, flowers without scent" Indeed
It Is partly right. And let me say 1t
Is bad enough to cross these bridge
less rivers, so that we are thankful
they are sometimes waterless. How
ever 1t is not always so, for certain
seasons Of the year there is plenty
Lof water. As for flowers, have
found many rare and beautiful ones
upon the veldt of Africa. In the
space Of two weeks I counted one hun
dred and thirty-five varieties. Many
Of them delicate colors and some
sweet perfumes. The natives looked
on with wonderment when gathered
flowers for the raw native cares moth
ing for beauty. Indeed 1t is word
unknown in their vocabulary. Many
times think of the flowers wasting
their sweetness unseen, unknown.
I have wished I might share the
wonderful sunsets with the folks in
the homeland. Ever changing glor-
ious colors as the san sets. No words
can describe them, no hand could
paint them.
We are many miles away from
civilization and the white man, In a
country where the wild animals
roam, which gives one a little differ
ent feeling than when one knows they
are behind iron bars. l have heard
the roar Of the leopard and seen the
spore of the lion and elephant but
have been able to keep distance
away. However herds Of antelope,
small and large, have seen and they
are q fine sight On one trip from
our postoffice to the missions, one
day and a half Of trecking, the mis-
sionary whom the native call "shoot
him in the eye," shot three large
ones. 1t was rather thrilling ex-
perience to see the herds and follow
them and even go near when there
was danger of charging. The flesh
is excellent meat and the skins are
of use. At this time one Of our ma
tive teachers was going to be married
so because of plenty Of meat the
wedding was fastened. / had heard
Of delayed or FASTENED weddings but
never because Of meat. The wedding
feast consisted first Of corn meal por-
ridge and meat. second course sweet
potatoes and they were happy
group who partook Of it.
While we are far from civiliza-
ton vet l find my work very fas-
cinating and enjoy it to the fullest
extent. At present we have about
20 boys and girls staying at the mis-
sin working for their clothes and
schol, aside firm 10 schools in sur
rounding villages conducted by teach
ers trained here and teaching now
under the supervision Of Miss David
son, formerly teacher In Abilene
high school. | am greatly interest
ed in my part Of the teaching ana
enjoy seeing their minds grasp hold
of Christianity which also means
civilization. What I enjoy the most
however is taking care Of the sick
and those hurt, there being no doc
tors for hundred miles, many cases
are brought to us. Babies burned so
that it makes ones heart sick. Just
today one was brught who fell into
the fire, both hands, his face and
chest being burned. Another prac-
tically whole chest and stomach
burned. One is here which evidently
sat in the fire. Some Of these little
ones tremble while being dressed but
do not cry and I marvel at their
bravery. This is just a little view
of life on this side Of the waters In
the heart of Africa.
The customs among the people are
often heart rending. One night
we were called to q death. When we
arrived we found TIE grave dug, the
body drawn together ready for the
the women patitng the
corpse and wailing. The body was
laid in the grave, the ground stamp
ed in by men. When finished water
was poured on their hands on the
grave. Then the women threw them
selves on the grave. The falling OF
the women, the dangling of their
bracelets and anklets, the weird cries
going out in the darkness made ones
heart go out in pity for these poor
benighted people. AS the women fin
hnfr