MRCIA KAY THOMSONIViASHOKO MISSIONP/Bag 56 - ZakaSouthern Rhodesia, Africa

Forwarding Agents:Dr. & Mrs, Richard Lee201 CaliforniaCarterville, Illinois 62918

April 1964

Dear Christian Friends,

^e^ore^-^-e-ft -th-e -States-1-planned-to wrlte_.a_na.wsletter each m.onth..This is only tLe second time I have written and I have been here fourmonths. I am sure that some of you wonder if I am still here. Thereis so much to be done that when I write something had to be left undone.Since I had come to work with the Pembertons it was necessary for meto learn as much of the work as possible before they left, February 6th,to spend 9 months in the States. Many of you may have the opportunityto meet them and hear them tell of the v/ork during this time.

The school year in Southern Rhodesia begins in January and closes inDecember. The six weeks that the schools were closed gave us an opportunity to prepare for this year,. Mr. Pemberton determined virhich teachersshould teach in each school and I filled out most of the Governmentforms for their appointments to the teaching posts Mr. Pemberton wasstill here vjhen the first teachers meeting of the year was held, so hewas able to start the year and had as many things under control aspossible before he left= Yfoile he is gone much of the responsibilityfor the schools falls on me* Vifhen Dr Pruett is available I can go tohim for advice,. He is officially the Manager of Schools for this yearMr. Judas Makuvara^ an African^ is the Assistant Manager of Schools.He has had several years of teaching experience but he is nev/ at thistype of workB It is his job to visit the schools and see if they aredoing a good Job teaciiing and if there is anything that they 'nee'd helpdoing.

The first few days of school were especially busy ones. There wereschool fees to be collected and receipted, as well as the many inquiries.The younger students pay their fees to their teachers and the teachersbring them to my office,- The students in Standards 4, 5, and 6 havelarger amounts to pay and they pay and are given a receipt individually.

Books and supplies were ordered for this school year but many of themdid not arrive before school started, A lar^je supply of paper cameabout two weeks after school started and some of our textbooks are beingreprinted and we do not have them yet, I made a trip to Salisbury thisweek to get some books and inquire as to when we could have others. Twoof the students in the Mashoko Bible College work-in the afternoons asclerks in the book store but I am the manager,

arrived in Salisbury on ^a;^Fuary-.7th, the dayafter Pembertbfis^^T^ft Since the Pruetts and I wer^'in''^lT3btiry-*^-i:otake Pembertona- to the .pl,aiie we were able to meet the Johnsons withoutan extra trip,.

pr. Prjie^t.'..s. paane.-'-f.lew into Mashoko for the first time on February 17thIt has alr^!^ prove d "valuable in the v/ork. Because of the road'C.onditions he spent much time in traveling that could have been used in otherways. At the present time he is working at Mashoko and Hippo Valley.It is 118 miles by road and takes at least three or four hours, in contrast, it is about 40 air miles and takes almost 30 minutes.

.Before the Pembertons left they decided that it was necessary for me tohave a car to do my job adequately. They traded in their Willys jeep

/ for the down payment and I am driving an O^el ^dett. It is a smallI European made car and gets about 38..,milff^6'j^an.''iMpei'lal .galJLon but gas\^cost3 about 75 cents a gallon^

March lQj._,Dal.g:- ..Erickson arrived to work with Dr. Pruett for three months.He is a senior medical student and plans to return to Rhodesia after he

completes his schooling.

I have appreciated hearing from many of you and will try to write moreoften in the future, V^e need your constant prayers that we might havethe wisdom and the strength to do the Lord^s work as He v/ould have itdone.

In His Service,

Marcia Kay Thomson

Total Contributions for: Dec, Jan. Feb. March $985.31Pledges and contributions for Marcia Kay have come in faithfully for herLiving Link support since she left for So. Rhodesia last year. Now, weare most happy that you have been even more generous and the contributions for Feb. and March have afforded us $300,00 for her Service Linksupport, Marcia needs this fund to pay for the car and typewriter shefound necessary to purchase for her work.

CONTRIBUTORS

ChurchesMt. Vernon, 111,, Church of ChristCarterville, Mo., Christian ChurchCarterville, 111., Christian ChurchSesser, 111,, Christian ChurchWoodlawn, 111., Union Bible School

GroupsVtfomens Council, Newnan, GeorgiaMary-Martha Circle, Brighton, 111.Dorcus Circle, Mt. Vernon, 111.

Missionary Society, Rushsylvania, 0.

Individualsiiilton & Lois FiahbackMrs. Jocelyn GreenEdward H;. MarlowBlanch Marlov/Clara GroothiusMrs. T. V/, Mosbargerpharles, Stephen, Mark Hoover

& Mrs. Joe ThomsonEdward D, Bayless

NEED YOUR ZIP CODE FOR FURTHER MlLING^;i-;H{->

Dr. & Mrs. Richard Lee201 California St.Carterville, Illinois 62918

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IvIARCIA KAY THOMSONmSIiOiiO MISSIONP/Bag 56 - ZakaSouthern Rhodesia, Africa

Forwarding Agents;Dr. k Mrs. Richard Lee201 CaliforniaCarterville, Illinois 62918

May 1964

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Dear Christian Friends,

I have been In Rhodesia for 6 months# ..-'Jhose that have been here longersay that th

-2-Any time you move to a new area you musjt acquaint yourself with new people v/hich takes a v/hile, I have troublie remembering names anyhow and atfirst all of the African names sounded 'alike "but now-I can call quite afew of the teachers, studentsj and miss|ion workers by name.Yes, there are many differences but it does not take long to get us^them so that they all seam very natural, ^

How many of you have saidbps3'timeor another? when I had been here just less than"3 months Pembertons leftfor 9 months in the States. Then, I realized hov/ nice it v/^s to havesomeone sit in the next office to ansv/er questions and make decisions.For the first 2 or 3 v/eeks after they ],eft I was lost but then I beganto learn more about what I was supposed to be doing. Although I neverget caught up v/ith my work I do not feel as helpless as I did for thatshort period of time.

rn Rhodesia, at t];.e time of theionarieso There were 21 adults andmissionaries were able to attend*

and the men wore able to discussin their business meeting. Brother1 of the schools and they dedicatedon Sunday afternoon. A meeting ofope of the work and realize that

I was . able to travel to Ivlumbwa, Northequarterly business meeting of the miss15 children present and not all of theWe had a wonderful time of fellowshipthe plans and progress of the'missionRandall had planned services -at severaa school building at the mission sitethis type helps you to see the vast sceach of us has a part in it.

The VanDyt^"^ have arrived and are ,at Kippo Vnlley, The two oldest boysyt-rrr^ at MasWolto" how and we expect the rest of the family to come

up next week.

you have v/ritten, II have enjoyed the letters that many oiested in what you are doing and this gilves me an opportunityacquainted v;ith some of you that I have! not knov/ very long,cial support has been good and this makies me happy because Iit 1 nn n nn nf ynnT> -i ntfi rft .q t i h tbn My , Sn1 n ry

am inter-to get betterYour finan-know that

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Mt, Vernon,Carterville,Carterville,Sesser., 111.Mt, Vernon,Womens CouncMary-Martha

thesame but anything that you are ablp to give in addition to this willbe used to meet the mission expences. I trust that you have been remembering the work in prayer and please continue to pray that we will havethe wisdom to" make the proper decisions.

I hope that this letter has given you a better understanding of some ofthe"things that are different hero but^ I do not vjant you to Ishink thatthere is a vast difference in .the two countries because many things arethe same. '

I*welcome your letters stating v;hat part of the v^ork you v/ould like tohear about.

Your messinger in Christ,^ / _

c 0 "N T R :x:111,, Church of Christ--

Mo., Christian Church111,, Christian Church

, Christian, Church111., So, Hickory Hillil, Wewnan, GeorgiaCircle, Brighton, 111,

tors

;2iorcus Circle, Mt, Ve'rnJefferson County YouthBlanche MarlowLirs, Clara GroothiusMrs, T. i. MosbargerClnarlQs, Stephen, Mark HooverKdv/ard D. Bayless '

'JUN'S V'[o i -PM rT7|1964/LW-

on,.!r2Lll,Associat ion

Dr, & J/Irs, Richard Lee'201 California St.Carterville, Illinois 62918

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MRCIa KkY THOMSONMSHOivO MISSIONP/Bag 56 - ZaicaSouthern Rhodesia, Africa

Forwarding Agents:Dr. & Mrs. Richard Lee201 CaliforniaCarterville, Illinois 62918

August 1964

Dear Christian Friendss

"The Vecond tepm^ (Tf ^^^golTooTs started on May'2rT?::^d ^strrce-that t^line"Dr. Pruett has inspected 10 of our schools, ' vihen ajci African AssistantManager is eraployed he Is-to. yijsit each school six times during the yearbut even so the Manager is supposed to make at least one visit a year.The inspector from Port Victoria does not visit all of our schools eachyear but gets around to as many as possible. So far this year he has inspected 4 of our schools and Dr. Pruett -jvas able to go with him to each ofthese schools. The inspector that is in charge of our schools is a manof ability and experience. After visiting a school he knov/s not only v/hattoolc place on the day of bia visit but the quality of the work that hasbeen done all year. He is quick lo point out weaknesses and to give helpful suggestions as to hov/ these conditions can be remedied. As a wholehe was well pleased v/ith our schools, I have been able to go on 3 inspections and feel that it was time well spent. These visits have given me anopportunity to become better acquainted v/ith some of the teachers, as Ihave seen them at their v;ork. We have 80 teachers working for us andthose that I see only once a month, and then just to hand them their pay,I have difficulty remembering their names and certainly do not feel that Iknow them.

The inspector also comes to the mission and spends time with our teachertraining school. Each student must teach one or two lessons to a classwith the inspector in the room before he can graduate from his teachertraining course. Near the first of this term two inspectors were here fora week and they v;ill be backv near the end of the school year to give thefinal exams. Having a good teacher training school is to our advantage asit provides teachers for the schools that we manage.

On June 2nd we opened our first school in the Hippo Valley area. Througha misunderstanding with the company the building was not completed whenthe school opened and for the first few weeks the classes met under thetrees. Wow they have a building that was worth waiting for. They havetv;o classrooms with green chalk boards, spacious storage closets, and nicefurniture. There is also a nice size office with a room opening off of itfor storage of books and equipment. Vie have two Christian teachers teaching in the school and at the present time there are about 66 students.

On July 9th, large groups of students arrived here at Mashoko from ourother schools for their annual competition. They stayed in school buildings while they v/ere here but I don't think that any of them got muchsleep, Friday they started off the day with a track meet and in the afternoon was the music contest. Saturday v/as reserved for the football tournament, These annual meets not only serve as a motive, for the- schools- todo their best but also affords an opportunity for the students and teachers to get better acquainted. Our schools seem to work together as a unitexceptionally v/elX.

This will give you a little insight into what has been accomplished in thelast two months and I am sorry that time does not permit me to share morewith you. Tbe v;ork continues to march forv/ard and v^e are so much a partof it that time passes very quickly.

Thank you so much for your continued support of the work and I am convincedthat your prayers in our behalf are strength that we run on most of thetime,

Because of Christ,

CONTRIBUTORS

Tvit. Vernon, 111., Central Church ofMrs. Clara GroothlusMeadowbrook Church of ChristV'/oraens Council, Newnan, Ga.Sesaer, 111., 'Christian ChurchCarterville, 111., Christian ChurchMrs, T, W. MosbargerDorcas Circle, Mt. Vernon, 111.floover BoysCarterville, Mo., Christian Church

ChristMary-Marthas, Brighton, 111.Vacation Bible School, Brighton, 111.Jefferson County Youth AssociationGeorgann V\fimaettlidlth 3: Ed BaylessBlanche Marlov;EdY/ard MarlowChristian i^ndeavor, Chester, 111.

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MARCIA KAY THOMSOJJIviASHOKO MISSIONP/Bag 56 - ZakaSouthern Rhodesia, Africa

Forv/arding Agents:Dr. & Mrs. Richard Lee201 California St.Carterville, Illinois 62918

October 1964

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Dear Christian Friends,

Xoaiar^o\7X_v/ill iiave .be,en_la_ Southern Ftoode_aia_elejv^n^.mpnths . ^Duringthis time I have learned to know and love many of its residents. Anytime you move it takes a while to get acquainted with peoples whenthose people are'not of your race and their names are ones that are un- .familiar, it takes a little longer. Today I am atole to call many ofthem by name and I feel that I knov/ a few of them quite well. Thereis a tendency to place people that we do not know into stereotyped classifications; hov/ever \?hen we become better acquainted with those peoplewe find that they are individuals; some are smarter than others, someare more trustwoi-lhy, some more ambitious, some are cleaner. Personalities and training may differ but the need for Christ in our livesis universal*.

Tt Many of the trees have their new foliage andsome dfThe flowers''ar6 in bloom. VJhen the rains come everything willbe green. Vje do not have spring rains. Our rainy season comes in themiddle of the summer. Yesterday I was at Chiteyo School, which is onlyabout 8 miles from the mission. The school is near a small stream andbecause of the v/ater in the area, and the foresight of those that werethere several years ago, the school is surrounded by beautiful Jacaran-das, a purple flowering tree, and other beautiful trees and flowers.

Chiteyo is our largest school off the mission station. The Ir^gectoreaawas here from Fort Victoria to spend the week. After having'handcraft and needlev/ork done here she wanted to go to Chiteyo, Sinceall three of our African drivers were busy, I took her to the school.It was my first experience driving a Land Rover, V/e had a profitabletrip as she gave the teachers many suggestions hov; the work they weredoing could be improved. She thought^ a jTiafiJajJ^L..a]:La^ 'Pur-chased for the older girls to use but I wisH' you could have seen the

"g'arments that they had made by hand.

Since I wrote to you the last time, we have heard from the Ministry ofEducation concerning the number of. nev; schools and teaching posts we areallowed for next year, schools and they will beincreased to 25 in January, V/e will have 10 nev/ teaching posts, mak""the numb^fc??^gfy"lf^%n'^ teachers 90. VJe have about 3,000 students thi!"year, so the number should g^ over^ next year,S^will graduate about 25 teSchers from our training school here at

/'Mashokoi' "Many of these teachers will be teaching for us, others will goto Mumbwa, Chidamoyo, and Dadaya,

. i do not know whether or not you have wondered at. times just' whaii..iay_lob is like. It is difficult for me to explain to you since it is sofSSed, Each day is different from' the day before. Some days I spendquite a while in my office and other days it seems that I am in it verylittle. Yesterday morning is a good example of the latter. At 7:00a.m, I opened the storeroom so that the mission builders could get theirtools. Until last v/eek v;e had a worker that kept the storeroom open allday, V/e have put this man on another job and nov/.it is open at 7:00 a.m.,5:00 p.m., and on request. After keeping all the keys for a week andchanging some of' the s;ystem, I put one -of the -seminary students in chargeagain, Ke had been keeoing the records before because the worker thatwas there all day is illiterate. After the workers had gotten theirtools I closed the storeroom and v/ent to my office, I got the spare setof points for my car and put them in the glove compartment^so that whenI found anyone with enough time to install them, they would be handy.

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'Then I talked to two members of the Goko School committee who wantedpermission to charge building supplies for their school at one of thelocal stores in the name of the mission. The assistant school managerserved as mj interpreter, since these men do not speak English. The .African people think that nothing is accomplished by a short conversation. If you take a half hour to say something that .could be said infive minutes, they are happier.

The inner tubes on the motor bike that the assistant manar^er uses forschool visits are beyond repair. ".Vhile v/aiting for ne\7 ones to arrive,he could go to the schools that are to great a distance to go by bike.

To arrange the trip, I first found out which Land .Rover was availableand obtained permission to send it, 3fext I set out to find Sivnon, one 'of the mission drivers, /hen I located him he was helping push Mrs,Pruett^s car. She said that she was trying to get her car started to goafter a v:oman that was in labor and had, gotten within two miles of thehospital. We took my car and arrived in time to get the woman to thehospital for the delivery of her third; child, a baby girl*

During the weekend, our nev; lorry had come in loaded with building supplies, I helped by checking some of the orders as the material wasbeing unloaded,

I have some set jobs and then I find myself doing whatever is needed fromtime to time. '?iih the manager of schools gone I have more responsibility in the educational problems than I v/oull otherwise. At the present.time I am teaching 7 hours a week in the ''little" school, am in charge ofordering supplies, paying bills and keiiping the records for the educational work. I also do most of the correspondence from this office, andtake dictation for the rest.

I must close for now and get many things in order so that I can go intoFort Victoria on business tomorrow, Xpur continued support of the workwe are doing is ouch appreciated and I-to thank each of -you personally.

only wish that time permitted me

Mrs, Clara GroothiusV/omens Council, ilevman, Ga,Sesaer, 111,, Christian ChurchMrs, T, '7. I-IosbargerHoover BoysCarterville, Mo., Christian Church

Because of CJirlai^.

' iViarcia Kay Thomson-if "sf -SJ- >{ ic '/c -,c '/c -.i- it 7c ji- -iS- -X- /Hr -jr -X-

C 0 i-r T' R I B U T 0 R SMt. Vcrnon, 111., Central Church of ChristDorcas Circle, S.Vj, Church of Ohristj Kit. Vernon, 111,Adult Bible Class, Christian Church, iiztec, New Mexico

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I;iary-Iviarthas, Brighton, 111,Jefferson County Youth AssociationBlanche Marlowivlrs, J, E. SharpiJdward D. BaylessCartervillej 111., Christian Church

Please Note S Checks should be made out to Marcia Kay Thomson. Thankyou.

Dr, & i^Irs. hichard Lee201 California St.Carterville, Illinois 62^18

j-, .r/

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