The Council was thrilled by Mary’s report.  They voted that she could spend six more months in cannibal land, but again they said she would have to pay her own expenses.  This did not bother Mary.  She had never been paid, much salary.  In the first years she sent most of it back home to take care of her mother and sister.  After they had died she used me most of it for her colored Christians.  She had adopted many black children whose parents had thrown them out.  But money never bothered Mary.  She had a little bit saved up.  She was happy that she could go to cannibal, land and win souls for Christ.

“But where shall I work now?” Mary asked herself.  “Shall I keep on working on upper Enyong creek or shall I go south to the Ibibios?  The Ibibios are the worst heathen in this part of Africa.  The worse the people are, the more they need help.  I should go to the Ibibios.”

Meanwhile the Mission committee in Scotland decided to build a hospital at Itu.  Dr. Robertson was to be the head of it.  The Mission committee chose a name for the hospital.  They named it, “The Mary Slessor Mission Hospital.”  The people in Scotland gave the money so the hospital could be built.

“It seems like a fairy tale,” said Mary when she was told about it, “and I don’t know just what to say.  I can just look up into the blue sky and say, ‘Even so, Father; let me live and be worthy of it all.’  It is a grand gift and I am so glad for my people.”

Now that Itu was taken care of, Mary had all the more reason to go south to the Ibibios.  In their country the government was building roads and setting up courts.  The government people wanted Mary to come to that country too, because she knew so much more about the people and customs in cannibal land.

“Get a bicycle, Ma,” said one of the government men.  “Here is the road.  Come as far as you can.  And we’ll soon have a motorcar for you.”

Mary started out.  She took along one of the boys she had adopted.  It was twelve-year-old Etim.  He could read and she needed his help.  Once more Mary was beginning mission work in a new part of the country where Christians had never been.

Mary and Etim went to Ibibio-land.  Mary started a school and a small congregation.  Etim was made the teacher of the school.  He proved to be a very good teacher.  Soon he had a class of fifty children.

“It is my hope,” said Mary, “that Ikotobong will be the first of a chain of stations stretching across the country.”

Mary went to visit the old chief of Ikotobong.

“What do you think of our work here?”

“It is good,” said the chief.  “I am happy you came.  There are many things that are strange to me and my people.  We do not understand them.  I am glad for the light.  We will give Etim food as pay for teaching.  We will help build a schoolhouse and a church.”

Mary was happy that the people were willing and anxious to learn.  But she wanted to go to a new part of the country and start more places.  The government officer at Ikot Expene gave Mary a bicycle.