Mary Slessor Issue 2: White Ma of Calabar
A Daring Rescue
One day, the worst thing happened. Chief Edem got sick while Ma was away.
The mean witch doctor had taken some of the villagers to be prisoners.
If the chief died, they would die, too. Everyone was scared.
 Medicine
man.
"Ma!" I cried as soon as I saw her coming. "Chief Edem
is sick and the witch doctor has taken prisoners!"
Ma took off running and I followed her into Chief Edem's hut.
"Witchcraft," the chief mumbled. "Someone put a spell
on me."
"That's not true!" cried Ma.
I gasped. No one talked to Chief Edem in this way.
 "You
are sick because you ate dirty food," said Ma. "Wait here. I'll
go get you some medicine."
The chief became well with Ma's medicine. The next night, the chief
freed the prisoners and the village celebrated with loud, clamorous drumming
and a great party.
"No one will die tonight," I told Ma.
She smiled. "Yes, the prisoners won't die now, Janie. And one day,
I will bring the gospel to Chief Nijri."
"Chief Edem says that Nijri is the fiercest chief in all of Okoyong,"
I answered. "Can't you pick a nicer person?"
Ma smiled at me, the answer in her eyes. Ma always chose the worst,
the outcast, the most wicked and brought them the gospel that would save
them.
 After
two years, Okoyong had changed from a wild ferocious land into peaceable
villages that worshipped God. We were ready to go back to Old Town.
Ma and I went on many adventures in the jungles of Calabar. She told
me I was always her girl, and I never left her side. Her fame spread all
over the jungles of Calabar and the world, and I was proud that she was
my special White Ma.
Make It Real! Questions to help you dig a little
deeper and think a little harder.
- In order to reach the African people effectively, Mary lived just
as they did. What kinds of conveniences do you think she gave up in
order to live among African tribes?
- What modern conveniences would be the hardest for you to give up
if you were to live as Mary did?
- Missionary work involves more than just telling people about Jesus.
In what ways did Mary show the gospel to those she was trying to reach?
- One of the ways African people used drums was to communicate. What
forms of communication were in use in other parts of the world at
that time?
- Suggested reading:
- Trial by Poison by Dave & Neta Jackson (Trailblazer
Books, Bethany House)
- Mary Slessor: Queen of Calabar by Sam Wellman (Heroes of
the Faith series, Barbour)
- Websites:
- Activities:
Back to Part One of this Mary Slessor "Glimpses
for Kids" children's worship bulletin insert.
©2004 by Christian History Institute, Box 540, Worcester, PA19490.
Tel.: 610-584-3500, Fax: 610-584-6643, E-mail: glimpses@chinstitute.org,
Web: www.chinstitute.org or www.glimpsesforkids.org. Prepared by C. Hope
Flinchbaugh with Ken Curtis, PhD, Dawn Moore, Ann T. Snyder, Beth Jacobson,
and Jessica Templeton. Photo credits: CHI Archives.
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