Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1955-03-26

were Mr. Sitholes only toys. Until
he was 10 years old he had never
seen white man, train, an auto
mobile. His daily task was to herd
the family's cattle.
Hunger was the commonest hard
ship. Between the time the boys
left their huts in the morning and
came home at shutdown wild fruit
was all there was to eat. On cold
days an old sack served as an
overcoat.
After walking so miles to the
nearest railway station, the fam
lily moved 70 the Southern Rhod-
esian min.;.g town of Shabani.
There the little African boy got
his first western clothes, his first
lessons at a school of the British
Methodist Church.
But Ndabaningi's father - to-
day a heather and illiterate -
was opposed to education, and the
boy went to work as nurse boy"
to white family's child.
Worked Nights To Pay Way
When he was Is years old, a
cousin five years his junior sent
him a letter He could not read
it and his pride was deeply hurt.
In disgust he determined to go to
school. But his father was still
opposed to education. So Nda-
baningi, the eldest dl nine chill
dren, ran away to the Dadaya Mis-
sion, where the missionary in
charge was the Rev. Garfield Todd,
now Prime Minister of Southern
Rhodesia.
In year his savings of Sc (tui-
ton cost $3.50 a year, were ex-
hausted. He worked at night and
through holidays to pay his way.
And at Dadaya he became Christ
ian.
For three years he worked in
the dispensary, and after a fur
Their two years to complete his
elementary schooling, at the age
of 10 he was awarded a $30-a-year
bursary at the Waddilove Training
Institution for the training Of
teachers for two years.
Afterward he began to teach at
country schools and, working at
night, gained a junior-high-school
certificate.
Successive years found him
working at various schools. Thru !
correspondence he gained a second
ary education, his matriculation
certificate, and Bachelor of Arts
Degree.
He took a course of Bible study !
and became a local preacher of
the British Methodist Church.
Two years ago he joined the
teaching staff of the Mount Silinda
Institute of the Congregational
Church's American Board of For
eign Missions.
By now he was married with
four children - Sipikelelo CPer-
severance") Dilgindelela c"Find
the way", Zibonele cSee it for
vourseH"), and Sifio c'Wish).
Left Family For Three Years
In Mr.. Sithole's own words: "For
eight years l had been thinking OF
preaching as full-time service. |
had felt many a time something
stirring my conscience, but dread
ed to make the move"
At last, although he knew 1t
mean leaving his wife, Ca
naan, and his family for three
years, he made his decision. The
Board of Foreign Mis-
sions arranged for him to study
at Newton Center.
When his studies are over and he
is ordained, he will return to the
Mount Silinda area to teach ana
preach = to impart the knowledge
he himself has gained to other Al
ricans thirsty for education.
In the United States - home
of ample and relatively inexpen-
,iye educational facilities - the
offered Ndabaningi
Sithole may appear insignificant.
But he has gained much more than
most Africans and his own Ndebele
PEOPLE from Thodesia. And he is
content. He asks only one thing |
more:
"Pray for me as go -.