In 1917, he left on foot for Johannesburg in South Africa. During this time, he met Bishop William Tecumseh Vernon of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) who offered to pay his tuition fee at a Methodist school in the United States if he could pay his own passage. In 1925, he left for New York
Mu 1917, ananyamuka wapansi kupita ku Johannesburg ku South Africa. Panthawiyi, anakumana ndi Bishopu William Tecumseh Vernon wa mpingo wa African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) yemwe adadzipereka kuti azimulipirira sukulu ya Methodist ku United States ngati akanatha kudzilipira yekha ndime yake. Mu 1925, anapita ku New York