CHRISTMAS IN KIBONDO

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 1 May 1937, Page 3

CHRISTMAS IN KIBONDO

LETTER FROM MISSIONARY TO NELSON FRIENDS Miss Ruby E. Lindsay, who is engaged in missionary work in East Africa, writes as follows to Nelson friends from the C.M.S. station, Kibondo, Kigoma, Tanganyika territory, under date 21st January:— You will, I am sure, be interested to hear something about our first Christmas in Kibondo. On Christmas Day our little native church was packed to over-llowing, there being something like 300 people present. On Christmas Sunday there was again a full church when our pastoi the Rev. Joseph Kamuzola, accepted 59 grown-ups and children as enquirers It was a wonderful service and my heart thrilled as I saw these dear people coming forward to express their willingness to receive teaching about our Lord and Master. One young lad who is a student at our C.M.S. school at Katoke left his seat to beg and plead with his father, who has only lately begun to attend services, to have his name written down, but it meant a big step, and the man was evidently not yet willing. It was such a joy, too, to see the old people coining forward, tor usually they are more difficult, having had so many years of following their own heathen customs, whereas the younger ones are more adaptable, and anxious to learn new ways. The old people have one special afternoon for their teaching, and are keenly interested.

Last Sunday we had the pleasure of a visit from the Rev. and Mrs Bakewell, and when we reached the church we found it would not hold-half of those who had come to attend the service, so everybody had to proceed to a large “banda” or wattle and daub house, and all who could got inside, while others sat on the ground outside. Mr Bakewell baptised six grown-ups, while others received their little red books which are given to enquirers.

Our African clergyman, Rev. Joseph Kamui-iola, is doing a splendid work among the Waha, having completely gained their confidence. He is also a tremendous help to us in dealing with all sorts of things. Miss Veal, has a women’s class on Sunday afternoons, which is growing rapidly, and all are keen to hear the Gospel message, while I have Sunday School, and usually between 30 and 50 children attend. One Sunday while the women were in their class, there was a severe thunder storm, and during one particularly vivid flash of lightning an old woman got up, rushed outside and started dan-

cing and throwing her arms about vigorously. On making enquiries later, it was found that she is supposed to be one of the wives of the lightning, and so had gone outside to try and stop the storm. At other times during heavy storms we iiear the people drumming and singing to keep the hailstones from destroying their crops. Last year Miss Veal had a wattle and daub hostel built, for promising boys

rom the out-schools. Tnere are about 24 boys in. They are keen on football, and never so happy as when they are given the ball after school-hours. The welfare and dispensary work are steadily growing, the daily attendances being most encouraging. There are three senior school girls who are gradually being trained and all are eager and intelligent. The maternity cases are beginning to come into our little hospital, and after bringing the patient in the relatives leave her entirely in | our care, and no one begs to sleep either beside or under the patient’s bed, and I can assure you it is a pleasant change after the people of other places. One evening recently we saw a number of the “Mashatani” or devil-posses-sed people of the Mwami Ruhaga, who attend her at Buhora during the time she offers the yearly sacrifices to the spirits of her ancestors. They have permission, or at any rate it is their custom, to take anything they might fancy from the people, and really they are most formidable in appearance. However, this day I saw one of the older women had bad eyes, and we asked (hem :f they would bring her to us for treatment, never dreaming for a moment that they would, when net morning to our surprise five of them came to

our Mission .arrayed in all their professional attire which consisted among other things of leopard skins, and weird tall caps decorated with white beads, also horns protruding from each side of the head. After receiving treatment and actually accepting a little bottle of medicine, they stayed for a short time, and were interested in all they saw. And now before closing may I ask for your continued prayers,- for the work here in Uha—it is truly a land of darkness, and the need in this vast district is tremendous.