Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

Missionary NumberBIBLE LESSONS FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 20, 1955CovenanterWtnessVOLUME LV, NO. 18TOPEKA, KANSAS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1955Lazaro the BellRingerBells are important in African mission colonies. They rouse the peoplefrom sleep, call them to worship, announce all public gatherings. Sincemost Africans cannot afford clocks and watches, the bell is their custodianof time.For Lazaro, one of the oldest patients at Oicha, the African InlandMission treatment center in the Congo Beige for Hansen's disease, the bellhas a special significance.Lazaro is the bell ringer at this large (almost 4,000 patients) stationdeep in the Iturie forests not far from the equator. When he came to themission for help fifteen years ago his name was Vubisi. In his home villagehe had been a "mufumu" (witch doctor).Years of observing the miracles wrought by the Christian gospel atOicha finally brought Vubisi to the realization of its meaning for him.He became a Christian, joined the church and took the name Lazaro, who,like himself, had also been poor.But Lazaro was rich in spirit. He became a teacher in the church. Andhe never tired of expressing his gratitude for the new life that was his. Hisonly regret was that the hoarseness of his voice brought on by the disease,kept him from complete expression of his praise in song.When Dr. Carl K. Becker, medical director of Oicha, told his patientsthey were to have a new church, Lazaro was among those who requesteda bell to replace the traditional African drum as a call to worship.When it was installed and Lazaro tested the iron casting with a longpole, its resonant peal seemed to the old man to express the praise he'dalways longed to express in loud song.