Page 321 - The Diary of A. H. W. Behrens

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The promise of the Lord
Only that which fitted onto an ox wagon is what father had when he came from Linokana to Mandabula (Bethanie) and a large
tent, no child, no baggage, no money, no possessions. On Tjaart Kruger’s farm Losperfontein he stood and there he found a small house in which some people, called together by David Moropa, had assembled. And father moved into the house. Initially, father leased and then he bought 5 000 acres of Losperfontein from Tjaart Kruger for the Hermannsburg Mission for ₤ 37 and one
ox wagon. On this land he established Bethanie. Then in the following 14 years he bought a part of Losperfontein for his congregation for 54 head of cattle of 54 family fathers, which part the Bakwena call Mosemtlatlane. Then another part for about ₤ 200, then a part called Geluk, then a part of Welgevonden which was then called Rehoboth. He also bought some small pieces
of land along the Crocodile River for private families with their cattle, e.g. for Koos Mahume and Petrus Tshepe etc. etc. He could not think of buying something for himself because where should he get the money from? Communism still reigned until 1870 and also after that the salary was very small. But the Lord’s promise that he should receive fields and houses hundredfold for what he had left behind for the sake of the gospel stood! How should this be possible?! It was possible! The Lord gave it!!!