SOUTHERN RHODESIAN CHRISTIAN MISSION

The Lester Cooper Family. Front row left to right: Lester Cooper Carmie. Back row: Patricia Ann, 15; Edward Earl, 11; Janet Sue, 17

EDUCATOR TO MASHOKO IN SOUTHERN RHODESIA

A significant step forward has been taken by the Southern Rhodesian Christian Mission with the acceptance of Lester Cooper and his family as Missionaries to the
Mashoko field.

Mr. Cooper is an educator, having fifteen years experience as a teacher and ad ministrator in the public schools of Kentucky. He is well qualified in the educational field, holding an A.B. degree in elementary education from Berea College, and an M.A. degree in supervision and administration from the University of Kentucky.
The Mission now operates twelve schools in the Matsai Reserve, with 1600 stu dents and 41 teachers. The Bible is in the daily curriculum of each of the classes, and there is a church meeting at each of the school sites. Until the present time, John Pemberton has been supervising these schools, but there is a compelling need for one trained as an educator to assume this responsibility. Mr. Cooper admir ably meets the needs, for he is not only a capable educator and school administra tor, but is also a devoted Christian with extensive preaching experience.

During the three years he served as principal of the Fleming County High School, Flemingsburg, Kentucky, he preached for the Tilton Christian Church in Fleming County. Mrs. Cooper plans to assist with the medical work at Mashoko. training and experience in nursing. She has had

The Coopers have three children, Janet Sue 17, Patricia Ann 15, and Edward Earl 11. The olde.st, Janet Sue, will remain in the States to pursue a college educa tion while the two younger children plan to go to Rhodesia with their parents and
complete their high school work in Africa. Lester-Cooper is-recommended by-Gene-G, Kearnsf-Miniater oft-he- Antiock Christian Church, Mount Sterling, Kentucky where Mr. Cooper is a member and an elder, and by the members of the Tilton Christian Church where he ministered. Professional recommendations have been presented by Sam B. Taylor, Supervisor of the Secondary Schools of Kentucky, by Frank D. Scott, Superintendent of Flem

ing County Schools and by D. C. Anderson, Supervisor of Elementary Education

in the State of Kentucky.

The Coopers began traveling in the interest of the Mission on September 1st. Speaking dates may be secured by writing him at R. R. No. 4, Mount Sterling, Ken tucky. His forwarding agent is Robert Shannon, Minister First Christian Church,
Greeneville, Tennessee.

4^

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IRiHODif1/11; : iEiP0i
;. .. PUBLISHED,FOR COOPER MISSIONARY FUND , By Fifth Avenue Church of Christ, Box 347, Laneaster,Ohio

FROM; THE''eOO?ERS IN Ai^ICA

. J
"I am trying to* teach about forty
classes per week.in the teacher,train-

Y '

ing program

keptiime in bed- for nearly a-week.i;;

a siege of the African flu

The

for the ^teacher - training Schooi- isready-for the roof I killed a-little cobra

ih- 'i^.^ Pruistts' living room ia: few day-ago-

'

Edward gave oxir wat0r boy,. Cherai, a

shirt to get him; to help, build a pole hut to

play in.

The hut is going up slowly ...^you

should hear 'Patsy sing hymns in Shona,..

On a (hunting trip, we saw

zebr^'4^

got a V sraai1 dui ker (ahteW0;i0.T^re have plenty of for feveryone

and a rabbit -

SEND^ALL-FUNDS "TO:

Co'oper Missionary Fund

^ Box 347: ^=

Lanx^as-ter,

Ohio

LESTER COOPER

COOPERS*/ ORIGAN ADDRESS

Mashokd Mission '

P/Bag 56
Zaka, Southern Rhodesia
Afri-e''a"

MISSIONARY' SUPE01RT& MISSIOnSRY SUPPORTS' MISSIONARY

-5

Among Mr. Cooper's supporters are missionary nurse

torget anfcJ^rry: Bli.ff e

Madonna

t""echnician and plane; .to, go. to, Rhodesia.

A portion

of

Mr.
can f.

Cooper's tithe goes to-'^^ippprV" a student at

. .H&K'LlFi:* IN RHODESIA

Johnson Bible

College. If missionaries, on their scanty -salaries, tithe, and if all Ghris,tia^ did. titfee ............ I.

Carmie Cooper'will nee^;^all .the ..Yankee ingenuity she. can muster, in: order, ta^be. a. mi asIon', housewife, iii Rhodes la.Shop

ping inviiye s. a ,trip to i?ort Victpi^ia. lOD miles. awfgr ; The storekeepers, refuse to .compete/a^io^ther^ ,^i30 st5aple\ groceries sa?e purchased at one store, vegetables and fruit.'
^t another,: me at an anot her, ; mi Ik a t t he jdairy; bre ad at the

bakery.

Cbvioiii^.gly, this lack of. p.ompetitlon does not . help

.. ;;

consumer paj.ices. .anyw .

Procesabd f t)bds "^d package

they must'be shipped in from South'" Africa or. front Engl&lV^^W^^

for

items ^re- very cb'stl^y^

Many processed- 1 1 ; e m s I t takes a : haIf - day t'b' g & the r up; t he-' grdt5'e r i e ^ f or t he ne xt ^twb Usually,one'missionary' makes the trip and gets enough

all three families. Two weeks'latei? another family will go to town and do the shopping.
. . V- "modern conveniences"

A kerosene iron and a kerosene refrigerator constitute

the

"modern" portioh. of the house. The Coopens.'must share t.hfee

rooms in Dr.Pruett' s home until enough, funds can be obtfii.ne.d to build a small house., : All water is carried by an African

boy and placed in steel. drums, where it is heated -

over .%

brick fireplace,

^auiidry is done by hand.

As if these choes of home-making .were' .-not enought> Mrs. .Cooper also serves as instructor for the missionary children.

With experience in both public school te.aching., and in.

will be a tremendous asset to the work.

the

nursing profession, Car.mie is well prepared for her work-and

 oh,.: give ME'a:h^^ ; 7 ; -^ The opening strains, of Home on tfe* Range, "Oh^
home," could well be the theme "soh^^ Codp^r

me

family,

since arriving kt l^lashoko the. fpur^

with the Pruetts, who have three chlldreh.

have-been living
In'a*"masterpiece

of understatement Lester ^ites, .."That. isn arrangement for them'or. us." r/;

good

. .

One of the most* difficult parts ofi.an a^ressiye - missionary

program is the development, of missipn; property.Making their

own bricks, the Coopers could buiid a small house for #5,000.
They are at tempting, .to save, this "amount, from
service -link funds that come , in,: but

..the
pre sent

meagre
rate

that" would take some time.

project are needed
-

Special gi'f^^^^
^
;

"this important

AN URGENT NEED-

3: Moat: of regular ol^erl^gs tor the Coopers *:>w<^i&Taa?e from smaller contrl^butors,... gi ving 00 per month /efi^dj^ss. Le s fter '^could ^not. -stay in AfriCfa.-03^ month if it.w^.eiiBit>fc for

these xs'hurches^ "or ihdivtduals. iivhal? :give f ive j terf>'and twenty

dollars each month*

Next year we shall lose /one of our .three l^ger :^i contribu
tors. This church had -pledged fpSO'^i00-per month fi>r living
of of link support. Its withdrawal is due td"a cutting: <.back the churches missionary program-, and reflectsCnoL-.^lack -

confidence in Mr. Cooper.'. . . It does> however> reflect a need

for a responsible: attitude toward missions by our';churches -

and a need for someone to fill the gap.

mpst:.C:ag.aM.ei..m^-r^:;the'-i^^^^^^

This frSO'.OO '

per

month represents J of the living link salary of one of

the

e.i^ ypu pi

&'\yery: meiigrfel^

and then learning th6t that too-small

10,000-miles from,'hom,e, living.! on

amb^t ' is how to be even smaller?

V/ho will step forward to fill this'urgent heed?

Jesus, I my cross have taken. In the village choir she stood. Little thought of friends forsaken

Mingling with her happy mood

She a girl untouched by. sadness From life rs cares and' burdens .free Vi a. . .'V '-V. rj;'

Pouring forth her song in gladness."

"All to leave and follow thee."

"Jesus, I my cross have taken."

On an outbound ship she-sang. Home and land and friends forsaken, :. ..

...
-

. .

Still her^message bravely rang'.

FMnter grows the homeland "^ Slowly mingling with the purple sea still she sang with purpose holy All to leave and follow thee.

"Jesus, I my cross have takn,"

Sang she, on a tropic shore. And the palm tress seemed to waken With the song the breezes bore.

; . .-I.::
' .

"

Hungry eyes upon her bending Some strange vision seemed to-see, As she sang with joy transcending

. ^
-

"All to leave and follow thee."

"Jesus, I my cross have taken".
Dying lips now 11-sp the strainiAhd the harps of Heaven waken

. J
{-
_ !

; -"Sr

. ..

Taking up the old refrain. Angels lift her cross forever I

C .-'.r
- l

Hers the crown of victory.1Hers the song that faileth.never I "All to leave and follow thee."

FIFTH AVENUE CHURCH OF CHRISI

NON-PROFIT ORGN.

FIFTH'AND BROAD. STREETS LANCASTER, OHIO

A ^

'
,/

U.S. Postage Pd, Permit No,27.

Lancaster, Ohio

^JkujCftouCu
OiluruHjU

(_VJl -1-^ li>\-

1^

Mashoko Mission P,Bo 56r Zaka Southern Rhodesia

Dear Christian friends.

The farmers have finished plowing and planting

their crops, for it is springtime here in the southern hemis phere* It seemed quite fitting to celebrate the birth of our Saviour when there is new life and growth with hope of a good
harvest a l l about. But we did miss the snow so common in

Kentucky at Christmas time*

We have lots of rain at this

season* The roads become almost impassable after several days of downpour.

Our older daughter, Janet, is continuing her college work at Johnson Bible College. Patricia is doing second ary school work here at the mission* She is the only student here in her grade, so that means special tutoring for her^ She teaches a pre-school age Bible School class of missionary children and Africans* Edward is a pupil in his mother's school for mission children* He enjoys preaching to the young Africans who .attend church at the village schools. Many have accepted Christ following his preaching* Carmie keeps quite busy with the
school for mission children, while Lester is busy training
Africans as teachers*

We are not too busy to read church news and person

al letters*

We enjoy hearing what is going on among churches and

friends in America*

We are trying very hard to get the necessary buildings ready so we can start a new class in teacher trainings

But you will be able to learn more about that by reading "The
Rhodesian Story".
I am more impressed every day by the opportunity

and, also, the challenge of the work here* The young Africans are eager for education and a knowledge of Christo
Schools closed December 13 and reopened about the

middle of January. The release from a strict schedule of teaching gave us an opportijnity to have our dental checkups in Bulawayo and then get ready for another school term.
We are indeed thankful to all who have shared in

supporting us.

Our work here depends on you as individuals, and

With Christian love..
The Coopers

as congregations*

(Lester, Carmie^ Janets Patricia^

and Edward)