“But why do you want to talk to me?” asked Mary.

“I never forgot what the missionary told me about Christ.  Later I had troubles and sickness.  I tried witchcraft to find the person who placed the troubles and sickness on me.  Instead, I met a white man.  He said to me, ’How do you know it is not the God of the white man who is angry with you?  He is all-powerful.’  I said, ‘How can I find this God?’ I hoped he would tell me, but he said, ’I am not worthy to tell you.  Find the white Ma who goes to Itu and she will tell you.’  O Ma, please tell us about your God.”

Tears of joy ran down Mary’s cheeks.  Onoyom called all the members of his family and the servants together.  Mary told them of Jesus and His power to save them.  She read from the Bible, prayed with the people, and promised to come back again on her next trip.

“I will build a church for you,” said Chief Onoyom.  “I have money.  I will give $1,500 for a mission house and school.”

As Mary rode down the Enyong creek she thought of the new missionary work that was opening up.

“O God,” she prayed, “I thank You for the new places at Itu and Amasu.  I thank You for the chance to build a church at Akani Obio.  Please let me open a station soon at Arochuku.  There with Your blessing I hope to conquer the cannibals for Christ.”

“I do hope,” she said to herself, “that the Board will soon send an ordained minister to take over the Akpap station.  I must persuade Miss Wright to go with me to Itu.  I am sure God will give her courage to come with me.  This Enyong creek region will give us all the work for Christ we can handle and more.  We must go forward for Christ.”

Mary made many trips to Akpap, to Itu and Amasu.  She stopped at many little villages and lonely huts along Enyong creek to tell the people about the Saviour who had died also for those with black skins.  Often she slept on mud floors.  She ate yams and native fruits.

God blessed the work at Itu and Amasu.  The people of Itu built a church and more than three hundred of them attended the services.  At Amasu the school pew fast.  The natives were learning to read.

The natives at Itu started to build a six-room house at Itu for Mary.  It was to be one of the finest homes in which the missionary had ever lived.

“I am afraid it is too much work for you,” said Mary to the natives.  “It is too big.”  “No, it is not too much.” said the people of Itu.  “Nothing is too much to do for you.  We shall do it.”

Another time a native woman knelt at Mary’s feet.  She washed Mary’s tired feet in warm water.

“You are so kind to me,” said Mary thanking her.

“I have been so afraid, Ma, that you would think us unworthy of a teacher and take her away,” said the woman.  “I could not live again in darkness.  I pray all the time.  I lay my basket down and pray on the road.”

“That is good,” said Mary.  “Prayer can do anything.  I know.  I have tested it.  Of course, God does not always answer our prayers the way we want them answered, but He does answer them and in the way that is best for us.  Trust God always.”