Mary used every chance she had to tell the Gospel to heathen who had never heard it.  The stories the visiting people told about their lands and the inland tribes filled Mary with the desire to explore other parts of the country.  Often in the mission boat or in a canoe she traveled to villages farther away.  On one trip the canoe in which Mary was riding was attacked by a hippopotamus.  Mary thought her end had come.  Nevertheless, she bravely fought off the animal, using metal cooking pots and pans as weapons.

In the southern part of Nigeria was a strong, wild tribe called the Aros.  They were a proud but wicked people.  They made war on peaceful tribes.  They would steal people from peaceful villages and make them slaves.  They prayed to the Devil, and they killed people as human sacrifices to please their idols.  They were cannibals who ate people.

The government decided to make this tribe stop doing these bad things.  A small band of soldiers was sent against this tribe to make them obey.  This made Mary sad.  She knew that sending soldiers to fight against these people would not change them.  She knew that only the Gospel could change the black men’s hearts.  She wished she could go to this tribe with the Gospel of Jesus, but the government said no.  The government officers feared there might be a tribal war which would even come to Okoyong.  They decided that Mary would be safer in Creek Town than Akpap.  Sadly Mary left her friends and spent three months in Creek Town.

Her Okoyong friends did not forget her.  They came often to visit her and brought her gifts.  They also brought their quarrels to her to settle.  They called her their queen.  Finally, Mary was allowed to go back to Akpap.

Three years went by.  It was now fifteen years since Mary had first come to Okoyong.  On the anniversary of the day that she came a celebration was held.  Seven young men whom Mary had won for Christ were baptized.  The Rev. W.T.  Weir, a missionary from Creek Town, helped in organizing the first Okoyong Christian Church.  The following Sunday the church was filled to overflowing.  Mary presented eleven children for baptism.  The Lord’s Supper was served for the first time to natives and white workers who had accepted Christ as their Saviour.  After songs had been sung and speeches made by others, Mary got up to speak.

“You must build a church large enough to take care of all who come to hear God’s Word.  Okoyong now looks to you who have accepted Christ as your Saviour and who have joined the church for proof of the power of the Gospel, more than it looks to me.  I am very happy over all that has been done these past fifteen years, but it is God who did it.  To Him belongs all the glory.  Mission houses, schools, and a church have been built.  Wicked heathen customs have been stopped.  Chiefs have quit fighting, and women are much better off than they were when I came.  Let us praise God for this and let us go on and do greater things.  The Lord will help us and will bless our work.”