Treasure At The Internet Cafe

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Because we do not have internet where we are staying, we drive to town several times a week to download email and blog. The internet is free but we feel compelled to purchase a coffee or smoothie (banana mango is yummy!). In the process I've gotten to know Kim, one of the owners of Coffee and Chocolates. Kim is a believer and after I told her about our being missionaries in Africa, she told me of her great, great aunt's journal. 

Miss S.M. Clary traveled for over fifty days by steamer from the US to Africa at the age of 37, and lived in Pretoria, South Africa for a little over a year before becoming ill and dying. Kim brought the journal in today and after a cursory reading I realized I wanted to take my time and thoroughly enjoy Miss Clary's lengthy letters. So, Kim is making a copy for me.         

Let me whet your appetite with an excerpt with which I can identify. In a letter dated October 19, 1877, she writes, "The intelligent natives are very anxious to have their children learn English because as they say 'All wisdom is in English.'" Very little has changed, at least in Zambia. All wisdom is not in English, yet in community schools, instruction is still conducted in English. Stay tuned for future excerpts!