AFRICA.
MENDI MISSION.
MR. NATHANIEL NURSE, GOOD HOPE STATION.
We have about a mile of land connected with this station. On this the natives have built a number of “fackies” in which they live. I noticed one afternoon, as I entered one of them, a man before the front entrance; and upon going to see what he was doing, my attention was attracted to a large piece of country cloth spread outside, and in front, of the door.
I asked the man what it was there for. He could speak English, but did not want to tell me; however, when he saw that I could not be put off, he said that it was there to keep away sickness and death from their facki; that they put their trust in it as their God. I said, “Would you like me to put you on the ground, walk on you myself, and let other people do the same, too? Would you think that I liked you very much?” He said “No.” I said, “Now you say that you put your trust in this cloth to keep away sickness and death: if a person has anything, as silver or gold, which he values, he will keep it in a secure place, because he values it. Now you show how you value what you put trust in; you are walking on it yourself, and others are, too; the rains will soon come, which will cause it to rot, and then it will be thrown away.” The head woman of the facki was there, (they were without a head man, as he died only a few weeks before this,) as I spoke to this man, and another one who would explain what I said to her. I asked if this cloth was here when their head man was alive. They said it was. I added, “Then, you see, he got sick and died; this cloth was not able to save him.” They admitted it. I said, “There is nothing man can make that can be worshiped as God, neither silver nor gold, nor anything; God made all, and has made man. If you worship a tree, and say that man has not made that, God made it. He lives in Heaven, and has made man, and there is nothing that man can take in place of Him, and if you will believe that, and put your trust in Him, He will save you through His Son. If at any time you believe what I have told you, but are afraid to take away the cloth yourselves, send for me, and I will come and take it up.” They explained it to the head woman, and while I was there, they took the cloth up and threw it away. I thought it was best to have it at the Mission, as a memorial. I asked one of the men to bring it to the yard some time when he was coming that way.
The head woman of this facki now comes to our church every Sabbath, and on the first Sabbath, when she was dressed for church, she brought the cloth in her hand. The act of doing that showed that she gave up all. I was speaking that day on the long-suffering of God, and inviting sinners to accept Christ who was waiting to receive them. I said that although the heathen cannot read His word, they have a conscience, and naturally know that there is a God. In speaking about that, I referred to this case, and had one of the brethren bring the cloth into the church and show them. I exhorted them concerning the life that we should endeavor to live among these people. Many could not refrain from tears. I was much encouraged myself. I had almost given up, thinking I could not do anything, and that the Lord had not called me here. I have trouble in getting the people to church, but, when visiting them in their fackies, I have a chance to bring the truth home to them, and have made it my special duty to visit the fackies twice a week. While I cannot speak the language myself, I endeavor to avail myself of every opportunity of doing all the good I can. In many of the fackies I find some that can speak broken English, so I speak to these and ask them to tell the others what I say. Sometimes I have a chance to speak to the parents about bringing up their children, especially if I see any that are disposed to accept civilized dress, but allow their children to go anyhow, and do not even send them to school. An ordained missionary is greatly needed for the advancement of the work here.