Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 20, Number 1, DeMotte, Jasper County, 9 December 1949 — REV. AND MRS. ROBERT SWART WRITE FROM AFRICA [ARTICLE]

REV. AND MRS. ROBERT SWART WRITE FROM AFRICA

American Mission ' A kobo Post A. E. Sudan October, 1949 Dear Friends everywhere, We would like to share with you in this letter the account given by Don .McClure of his visit to Ethiopia and his audience with the Emperor, Haile Selassie. God’s hand is not shortened for just such a visit and interview has been sought by many others only to end in failure. We ai-e rejoicing at the Open Door which is l'eally a 20th century ‘Macedonian Call’. Listen to it . . . “Our hopes have been fulfilled beyond our wildest imaginations and fondest dreams for the opening of the work among the Anuak in Ethiopia. About the first words His Majesty, Eriiperor of Ethiopia said to me were, “I will give you immediate permission to open this work among the Anuak people 1 in Ethiopia, When can you start ? On arrival in Addis Ababa we first called the Emperor’s secretary Ras Tafaia Worq and asked for an interview. After two telephone calls this was granted. We spent an afternoon in his office waiting to catch his ear and then laying before hirtx our plan and asking for an audience with His Majesty. This he promised he would try to get for us. Then on the second day we wrote him a letter confirming our conversation and setting down on paper our proposals and requests for His Majesty. We learned later that His Majesty saw this letter. Then we called by phone again three different times. Finally we had another confei’ence with the secretary and he gave us little encouragement as His Majesty was out of town and he would not say when he would be back. This was our third week and so we felt that we must get back to our work in Akobo immediately, so we decided that the following Tuesday we would leave. On Monday morning we called and announced that we were leaving the next day. This was the last straw and I gave up completely for the present to see the Emperor but determined to be back. However about noon the secretary called and said His Majesty had requested that I attend him that afternoon.

On meeting the secretary his office he was glum not give me any encouragement. I almost felt that the audience was going to be a trying one and I think the secretary throught so too for it was obvious he did not kown the Emperor’s mind on the subject. He instructed me on the protocol and w r e started for. the Palace. Scarcely a word was spoken as we took the long walk and I could get nothing out of him. I approached the audience chambei in fear and trembling and almost wished that I was back in the wilds of the Sudan facing a lion instead of the Lion of Judah. We walked up the long flight of steps at a breath taking pace and both of us were panting as we neared the closed door. Fortunately the secretary paused a second to catch his breath and I was able to catch two of them before we went in. As I stepped into the huge room I saw His Majesty standing behind an immense desk at the far end of the room. I bowed and on straightening up and looking at him 1 immediately felt at ease

for he acknowledged my bow with a cordial nod and p warm friendly smilt. When he extended his arm I started to meet him. Half way to his desk I again paused and bowed from the waist, he replied and 'stretched out his hand. When I took his hand I bowed again, not merely because it was protocol but because I felt that I wanted to for I knew 1 was in the presence of a king and he had a kingly bearing and a great personal charm. Immediately on being waved to a chair he indicated to me by a smile and an inquisitive look in his eye that I was to state my mission. I thanked him for so graciously granting me the audience and assured him that had it been merely a personal whim I would not have dared come, but that my mission concerned thousands of his own subjects and thousands of human souls. Then very carefully I laid out before him our hope and plans for the Anuak people, carefully working up to the crux of the whole matter —his permission to work unhampered among the Anuaks iti Ethiopia. Ras Tafara Worq translated as I went along, but I could see that His Majesty understood perfectly as I spoke to him in English. After I had spoken for fifteen minutes he replied, in Amharic, “I want to thank you for coming, and I want to thank your Mission and your Boards in America for undertaking this work among the Anuak. I am deeply interested Jn these people of the lowlands and want to learn more about them. I will grant you immediate permission to open this worfc, among the Anuak people in Ethiopia. When can you start?” By that time my heart well nigh leaped out of my chest. I bowed my head in grateful thanks to his Majesty—Haile Selassie, but also to His Majesty The King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Then the Emperor began to ask questions about the Anuak. I tried to give clear out and precise answers to all his questions. Then he said a very significant thing. He asked, “Have you heard that the Aga Khan of India has contributed one hundred thousand pounds for the conversion of the pagans of the South Sudan and Ethiopia to Islam? And had I heard that in Egypt a fund of LE, 1 ,('OO.OOO ($4,000,000) and been raised for the conversion of the South Sudan to Islam? I replied that I was aware of these funds and it was the very urgency of the times and situation which made me bold enough to seek his ear and ask permission to work among the Anuak in Ethiopia. I then pointed out to him that we had to work among the Anuak from the Sudan side due to lack of communications either from Magi or (lambda into the heart of the Anuak peoples. He said he appreciated these difficulties and he would be glad to place at our disposal his own private plane for explorations and the choosing of necessary sites and made available to us. He said that he was much interested in these peoples of the lowlands — and significantly enough he did not use the word “Shankana” or

slavepeople for them as everyone else did, but called them “my people.” We talked the language problem—how it would be, better to teach the natives in there own tongue until we could learn the official language of Ethiopia, Amharic. Then he- said, “If and when you desire Amharic teachers and books I will be glad to supply them at my own expense.” I then explained to him our desire to use a small aircraft in reaching some of these outposts, and unlike the Sudan Government he immediately said there would be no difficulties about permission to use them in Ethiopia. As he rose to close the interview he again thanked me for coming and asked me to convey my thanks to the Mission Boards. I had explained that more than one Board was behind the project for understaking this work. It had all been breathtaking, and as I bowed myself out, his warm smile followed me and I felt as though I were walking on air. The Anuak Plan was one long step nearer reality. We all felt as though the Lord had planted His final seal upon it. He had blessed us “above all We could ask or think.” We are tnnueu at the climatic conclusion of the whole matter and feel it is of the Lord. Praise His name. We trust Him far, far too little and expect only small things from Him when He wants and is prepared to grant us great things.” That is the story. Can there be any doubt that God Himself has opened the doors for work among the Anuaks in Ethiopia? To assure us even further, when Harvey Hoekstra and I went up the Baro River into Ethiopia two weeks ago to locate a suitable site for a new mission station, we were met with welcome everywhere. In fact, we were asked why we had not been there sooner. Word had come direct from the Emperor saying that missionaries among the Anuaks would be coming, and they had been looking for us. The new site has been located about twenty miles west of Gamella on the north

j bank of the Baro River. It is ideal in every way. As to land level, pfoximity to wood (for fuel and building), stone (for building), and waiter (for building, drinking, and bathing), nearness to Gambila for building and household supplies, and, most important of all, its central location among the Anuaks to begin building one or two missionary dwellings. Surely the approval and enthusiasm of the Lord is upon this project, and we praise Him for His direct leading. One personal note before we close. Our third daughter came to make her home with us on August 25th. Her name is Meryl Cathen, and we’ve been sweetly blessed of the Lord in her. She is the second white child to be born at Akobo—and the first girl. Valerie and Galye are much enamored of her. We know that you join us in giving thanks of God for His Marvelous Providence in the bringing of new life into the

world, and in the bringing of His children into, new life in Christ Jesus. Praise Him eternally! Yours, serving” Christ in Africa, Bob and Marie Swart. P. E. Thank you for your questions. They are being tabulated, and you’ll be receiving the aris-

wers •to them in a general letter in early 1950. „ »' ' ■ - Mr. and Mrs. John Hission and Carol Jo visited with Mr. Hission’s sister in South Bend last Sunday.