(1) English translation
1.1 Johannes Martin Flad to Christian Friedrich Spittler (Djenda, December 4, 1861)
Published in Mittheilungen, 1862, p. 1‒2.
[p. 1] […] There are only a few whom I can look to with hope, in whose hearts the word of the cross has taken root and begun to inspire fear. These few are Debtera Saneb [Zännäb] (Royal Chancellor) and his brother Debtera Maskal [Mäsqäl]. Recently, I received two letters from them, a copy of which I will enclose for you. You will see for yourself from them that the grace of Christ is working on their hearts [p. 2], leading them to the knowledge of themselves and of the necessity of being born again.
In a lengthy letter to me, they first thank God for bringing us to Magdala and that, through our teaching and contact, they found the one who died for their sins and through whose merits they enjoy eternal life. They also inform me that they hold two Bible studies a week with the soldiers in the fortress, which are very well attended, and that there are eight of them so far who have left their dissolute life, entered into regular marriage, and are striving to live according to Him who was made for us by God for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and salvation [1 Corinthians 1:30]. They also ask me for a box of Amharic New Testaments to hand out to their students. Adult men and soldiers sit and learn the alphabet so that they can read the Word of God for themselves.
It is a great thanksgiving to our heavenly Father that, according to his promise: “My word shall not return empty, but shall accomplish what I send it to do” [Isaiah 55:11], he blessed the Holy Scriptures and Bible studies that I and the brothers in Magdala distributed and held in such a way that, after we have left the fortress for 1 ½ years, two Abyssinian Debtera have now been awakened and are not only seeking to serve the Lord themselves, but are also endeavoring to lead their brothers into the arms of the Lord Jesus. – This is not the work of man, but of God’s grace, who is a master at turning ravenous wolves into tame lambs, and slaves of sin and Satan into free, born-again children of God. Praise be to the Lord our God! Hallelujah! Amen. […]
1.2 Flad (Djenda, April 22, 1863)
Published in Mittheilungen, 1863, p. 23‒24.
[p. 23] […] I had five proselyte boys in my house last year. There will now be three more. These, together with one Christian boy and one [Oromo], will form a school. They are all between the ages of 7 and 16. We hope to increase their number to 20. Our intention with these young people is to train them to become capable school teachers and Bible readers. […]
1.3 Flad (November 15, 1864)
Published in Mittheilungen, 1865, p. 14.
[No information on Ethiopian coworkers]
1.4 Flad (Gaffat, December 1864)
Published in Mittheilungen, 1865, p. 20.
[…] The King [Tewodros II], who had previously seemed favorable towards the mission, now made us feel his disfavor and attempted to expose the dark side of the Protestants to the public. One day he told me to go with my brothers [from Djenda] to Gaffat […]
However, as there was still no reply to his letter to the Queen of England [i.e., Victoria], he had us bound on January 3, 1864, but later released us and sent us here [to Gaffat]. In the meantime, news of the events in the Abyssinian monastery in Jerusalem reached the King’s ears. He was quite angry when he learned that the English consul there [i.e., Noel Temple Moore] had not extended his protection to the Abyssinians in Jerusalem. […]
Two people from my school died of hunger and misery last winter. Two are with Brother Waldmeier as teachers for his orphans. Three are with me. One of them [i.e., Debtera Birru?], as well as the Christian boy Aragau [Aregawi], are helping me with my translations. The latter is learning German with Mrs. Waldmaier and hopes to one day be accepted into [the Bible school in] Chrischona.
My Amharic works, such as the translation of four “tracts” [booklets (bibliogr.)] and the Calw Biblical Stories, along with copies of some Ethiopian manuscripts, were lost last year with my other belongings. However, I have taken them up again. At that time, all these writings came into the king’s hands and may still be with him now. One day, he asked me why I had written them. I told him their purpose, to which he replied with a smile: “I have read them all myself, and I would like them to be printed in my country.”
It would also be good to review the Amharic Bible again, but in the presence of an Abyssinian scholar.
1.5 Flad (Messina, Italy, July 4, 1866)
Published in Mittheilungen, 1866, p. 10.
[…] I bring you one of my black sons from Ethiopia, named Aragau [Aregawi], also known by his baptismal name, Michael. He will tell you a great deal about our experiences. […]
Brother Waldmeier still has his orphan school, or more accurately, Simani, one of my proselyte boys, faithfully runs it for him as a teacher. Waldmeier himself doesn’t know some of his orphans by name.
Brother Bender has recently made great efforts to distribute the Amharic Bibles and New Testaments. He accomplished this through an Abyssinian monk, and many Bibles have traveled to places where no copy of the Holy Scriptures in Amharic had ever been. Even as far as the islands in Lake Zama [Lake Tana], where there are many villages and towns, but especially many monasteries, he was able, with the help of this monk, to distribute the precious Word, which has the promise that it will not return empty, among monks and nuns, who received it with joy. Now that I left them (on April 4), the brothers were so intimidated by a statement from the king [Tewodros II], who had so sadly dashed our earlier hopes, that they dared not send for the few boxes of books that were at Brother Eipperle’s [in Metemma] and the 29 boxes that were in Massawa.
Brother Mayer is diligently studying [Oromo] and has written a Reader in Amharic [i.e., Württemberg Children’s Doctrine], which he will soon send to St. Chrischona, ready for printing.
1.6 Flad (Adriatic Sea, February 22, 1871)
Published in Mittheilungen, 1871, p. 7‒8.
[p. 7] […] With 13 camel loads of Bibles, New Testaments, Psalters, [Barth’s] Bible Stories, [Württemberg] Children’s Doctrine, Books of Sayings, Heart Books, and “tracts” [booklets], in Amharic and Ge’ez, I entered Metemma on November 23, 1870. […]
- It is unclear which publication is meant by the Book of Sayings. Does he refer to Isenberg’s Spelling-Book (probably out of print)? Or does he mean one of his booklets for the Beta Israel, e.g., Scripture with Scripture Compared?
You remember that between 1866 and 1868, King Tewodros destroyed or plundered cities, villages, and churches. At that time, almost all the books were destroyed or taken to other provinces by soldiers. Many Bibles and New Testaments were lost, but even more were legends of the saints, which is a blessing for that country. Instead of their old, mindless literature, I now brought them the Word of God, which never returns empty. In my life, I have never seen a [p. 8] greater desire for the Word of God, a greater thirst for books, than I perceived during the one and a half months in Metemma. People came from 14 different provinces of western Abyssinia to receive a Bible, a New Testament, and some tracts. I had days when I was busy distributing books from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. without a break. I read short passages of the Holy Scriptures to many. I dismissed no one without admonition. In that short time, I distributed 11,432 copies among the Abyssinians myself, and I gave 3,100 to our proselytes for distribution among the “Falasha” [Beta Israel]. […]
I have now definitively appointed Debtera Beru [Birru] as evangelist and leader of the baptized “Falasha” and assigned him an assistant. I have employed two Christian priests, who came to know the truth through Birru, as schoolteachers in two different places. […]
Birru also told me some encouraging news about a former apprentice of Brother Waldmeier, the [Oromo] Hayle Maryam, who found the Lord in Gaffat. Through his word and conduct, he shines among the Abyssinians as a disciple of Jesus. […]
And how are my dear sons, the Abyssinians in St. Chrischona? Please give them a friendly greeting. I must stop. The ship begins to rock horribly.
(2) German text
Mittheilungen aus der Correspondenz der Pilgermission, zunächst für deren auswärtige Brüder bestimmt (1862 ff)
Source: Library of the Theol. Seminary St. Chrischona