“O God,” prayed Mary, “I want to bring the Gospel to these man-eaters for whom Christ died.  Please, dear God, make the home church and the Mission Board see the great need here so that they will let me win this part of the country for Christ.”

Mary promised the people of Arochuku she would come again and open a school.  Then she returned to Akpap and wrote the Mission Board for permission to open a station at Arochuku.  Soon the answer came back!

We are sorry, but it will be impossible at this time to open work at Arochuku.  We do not have the money or the workers.

#12#

Among the Cannibals

“The mission Board says that they cannot open a mission station at Arochuku now,” said Mary.  “I have asked God to give me a mission station where His Gospel can be preached to the Aros.  I trust in Christ who is able to do more than I am able to ask or think.  I know God will give me what I have asked.”

“What are you going to do now?” asked Miss Wright.

“I am going to do what I believe God wants me to do.  I am going to take some native Christians and make a beginning in the land of the Aros.”

Mary took some native boys whom she had trained.  They were able to help with school-work and church services.  Mary and the boys went to Amasu, a little village which was nearer the creek than Arochuku.  Here she opened a school.  It was soon filled with boys and girls thirsty for book and the loving God.  She held church services for the people, and many of them came to hear the white Ma teach about Jesus.

At last it was time for Mary to go back to Akpap.  She left the native Christians to carry on the work of the school and church.  The people of the village gathered around her.  They said,

“Come again soon, white Ma.  If you do not care for us, who will care for us?”

As Mary went down the river in her canoe, she thanked God that He had let her open this new field to the Gospel.  Suddenly there was a canoe barring her way.  In it was a tall native.

“I have been waiting for you.  My master at Akani Obio sent me to stop you and bring you to his house.”

Mary told her rowers to follow the native to his master’s place.  Soon they came to a trading place.  Here Mary was greeted by a handsome young man.

“I am Onoyom Iya Nya, the president of the court and the chief of this district.  This is my wife.  Won’t you please honor us by coming into our house?”

Onoyom and his wife led Mary to a European-type house, which was very nicely furnished.  Onoyom’s wife invited Mary to have some food with them.  While they ate, Onoyom talked.

“Many times I have sent my servants to find you,” said Onoyom, “but they never found you until today.  I am happy that you have come.”

“But why did you seek me?  Why did you want me to come to you?” asked Mary.

“When I was a boy,” said Onoyom, “I served as a guide to a missionary.  He told me the Gospel story.  I wanted Jesus for my Saviour.  But my tribe beat me and punished me in other ways until I gave up the white man’s religion and followed the juju religion of the tribe.  I took part in Arochuku feasts where we ate ‘long pig,’ that is, men and women.”