One Word in the Dark

“Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” — from Joshua 1

A day’s journey inland was a forest country called Okoyong. No missionary lived there, and its neighbours feared its people. There were frightening customs too: when an important man died, other people were often killed to go with him.

In 1886 the mission agreed to send Mary there, but it took many visits to get ready. “I had often a lump in my throat,” she wrote, “and my courage repeatedly threatened to take wings and fly away, though nobody guessed it!”

On 4 August 1888 she set off by canoe in pouring rain, with five children from her house. One young man told her, “I will constantly pray for you, but you are courting death.” It was nearly dark when they landed, with four miles of forest still to walk. The forest was black and full of night noises, and Mary wanted to turn and run. She tried to pray, but she could not even move her lips. She could only look up and say, inside, one word: “Father!” It was enough.

So the little group walked on: a boy of about eleven with a box on his head, a boy of eight, crying, a boy of three, crying even louder, a girl of five, sobbing, and last of all Mary, with a baby on her shoulders, singing silly songs to cheer them up.

The village of Ekenge was silent, because everyone had gone to a funeral. The carriers would not bring up the luggage that night, so Mary went back through the dark forest herself, without boots, falling again and again. One boy ran after her so she would not be alone. By midnight the luggage had arrived. Her feet were so cut that she could not wear boots for six weeks. Her first Sunday there was one of the saddest days of her life. But she stayed.

When you are too scared to pray, one word is enough. You can just say, “Father!” and God hears you.

Dear God, when I am afraid, help me to remember that you are with me wherever I go. Thank you that you always hear me. Amen.