Abstract
The quiet voice of the women in the early missionary work of the Cape Church in Nyasaland (1896–1906)Part II: The Africa mission-contextAlthough by 1910 half of the staff of the ‘Kaapsche Kerk’ in Nyasaland was female, their stories have scarcely been told. In this second of two articles, the focus is on giving a voice to some of these early female missionaries by sharing their experiences of the African mission context. As primary source the newly retrieved diaries of Reverend Andrew George Murray, though written from a male perspective, offer an interesting depiction of the role and contribution of Tillie Murray, his wife, and other female co-workers. The second main source is the letters of Bessie Vlok (née Horne), who lived and worked with her husband Eerwaarde TCB Vlok for six months at Livlezi until the untimely death of their firstborn, and only a few days later, herself. Also included as primary sources, are a number of handwritten letters and ‘witnesses’ composed by various female missionaries. These offer earnest reflections on their confrontations, challenges and experiences: Andrew George Murray went to Nyassaland in April 1901; Tillie Theron arrived in June 1902; Bessie joined her husband, TCB Vlok, in Nyassaland in 1885 and died in 1896.
Highlights
Die jaar is 1887, dertien jaar na die tot standkoming van die Hugenoten Seminarie as eerste vroue-opleidingsinstansie met ’n spesifieke sendingvisie
The quiet voice of the women in the early missionary work of the Cape Church in Nyasaland (1896–1906) Part II: The Africa mission-context by 1910 half of the staff of the ‘Kaapsche Kerk’ in Nyasaland was female, their stories have scarcely been told. In this second of two articles, the focus is on giving a voice to some of these early female missionaries by sharing their experiences of the African mission context
The second main source is the letters of Bessie Vlok, who lived and worked with her husband Eerwaarde TCB Vlok for six months at Livlezi until the untimely death of their firstborn, and only a few days later, herself
Summary
Die jaar is 1887, dertien jaar na die tot standkoming van die Hugenoten Seminarie as eerste vroue-opleidingsinstansie met ’n spesifieke sendingvisie. Dat die vroue se rol as ‘sagter teenwoordigheid’ belangrik was, blyk onder andere uit die inskrywing tydens die besoek van mev Vlok en haar kleuterdogtertjie en baba aan Andrew (toe nog enkellopend): Very glad to see her [and] Bessie and the Baby It is a great pleasure [and] honour to have Mrs Vlok in my home; first Dona who is seen at Mphunzi. Ook vertel Murray se inskrywings tydens of ná sy noodwendige afwesigheid op besoeke aan ander stasies of buiteposte, die verhaal van sy waardering vir Tillie (en later die kinders) se teenwoordigheid: “Delightful to see the wife and son again. Dikwels moes die kinders op hul eie die tog aanpak, maar soms kon die moeders tydens so ’n eerste reis na die suide die jong kinders vergesel – en later alleen terugkeer
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