Page 213 - The Diary of A. H. W. Behrens

101
1905
As owner of the station I had to do everything related to the station, as well as insuring payment of the church and school fees, the schools and teachers, Mosupatsela, widows’ fund, bookkeeping as treasurer, representation of the Mission at the Transvaal Mission Association – General Mission Conference, station locations, Mosupatsela newspaper with 1200 readers etc. Director Harms told me that he was not happy with me doing more negative than positive work. But all of the above had to be done because in a healthy body lives a healthy soul. In addition, I also held some Sunday sermons and participated in and chaired the church board and council meetings. My time was completely used up. In addition, I had to see to the collection of the fees for gardens on the land of the Mission etc.
Father had died and his farm Waaikraal had to be transferred to my name. Daniel More objected and refused to accept father’s agreement to 25-year lease and wanted half of the farm, although 25 years had passed since the agreement was reached in 1879. Since this had not been done notarially and I did not want to have trouble over earthly goods with my congregation, I consented to dividing the farm under two conditions: 1)
That they would get the northern half that bordered on their properties and that I would get the southern half bordering on Berseba Mission land. 2) That we would also share the arable land reasonably, that they would pay me money for my half and would thus become the sole owners of water rights and ditches.