Mary Slessor Issue 2: White Ma of Calabar

This is an electronic version of our Glimpses for Kids children's worship bulletin inserts. These are designed to present Christian biographies for Children's church, educational or worship ministries.

In the last issue of Glimpses for Kids we learned about young Mary Slessor and her bravery in sharing God's Word with street kids of Scotland in the 1860's. This issue now follows Mary's adventures as a missionary in Calabar, Africa. Let's listen in to hear how her adopted daughter, Janie, might have told her story.

"Janie, come help me pack," called Ma. "We're moving to Okoyong."

"Okoyong?" I asked. I squatted beside Ma, who was hovering over her luggage, sorting medicine bottles. "But Ma, there are head hunters in Okoyong!"

The White Ma touched my dark face, a twinkle in her blue eyes. "Ah, but Janie, the people of Okoyong have never heard the gospel! We must tell them about Jesus!"

The gospel was a subject that Mary Slessor, my adopted ma, could not be talked out of. I knew we were going, despite the elephant stampedes, twisting tornadoes, and slithering cobras. Still, I didn't want to be anywhere else than with Ma.

Order back issues of this Glimpses for Kids a children's church or worship bulletin insert.

Rescuing Babies
Ma was the bravest woman I knew. Her short hair was the color of flames and her love was always big enough to rescue one more dying baby. Everyone in Calabar loved her.

The natives in Calabar thought that if a woman had twins, one of them had to be a devil, so they left twin babies in the jungle to die. I was one of the first twins that Ma rescued and, in my heart, I wanted to be her special girl forever.

Distant Drumming
King Eyo Honesty VII of Old Town hired 30 canoe paddlers and on August 3, 1888, we traveled up the Calabar River toward Okoyong in his grandest canoe. Ma and five of us children sat on colorful cushions, surrounded by blankets and supplies. We arrived to the sound of distant drumming. In Africa, we dance to the drums for many reasons--a wedding, a funeral, a feast, to relay messages or. . . to start a war!

Ekenge, the nearest village in the land of Okoyong, was four miles away. The boat paddlers were too afraid to go with us, so we walked alone. Carrying all our supplies and the baby, we struggled through the dark jungle, listening to the drumming as we went.

All at once, my feet flew sideways in the mud. Packages flew, but at least I managed to keep the baby from falling. When I stood up, the little one started crying.

"Don't cry," Ma urged. "Jesus is watching over us. Let's sing."

Welcome to Ekenge
Hours later, we stumbled into Ekenge, out of breath from all our singing and walking.

The great Chief Edem stood at the entrance to the village. "You are welcome, Ma," he said, bowing. "The drums of many villages told me you were coming. We have all heard of your wisdom. I have a house ready for you as long as you will stay."

"Wow!" I whispered. "What a welcome!" Ma squeezed my hand.

"Thank you, Chief Edem," Ma answered. "I would like to speak to your people when the sun rises."

I was tired in the morning, but I helped Ma put up a wooden plank and lay the white tablecloth over it. I got out Ma's Bible for her, and the older boys made a wooden cross and propped it up in front of the table.

We sat on small benches, holding the little ones, and sang at the top of our lungs. Chief Edem came first, and then the villagers followed.

Ma glowed like a candle in the morning light as she witnessed to the villagers about Jesus for the first time.

The next morning, I helped Ma set up that same wooden plank, only this time it became a table for all her medicine bottles. I watched our little ones so Ma could give out medicine to the sick people.

That night, after the others were asleep, Ma crawled onto the floor mat beside me. "The Ekenge don't seem to be so wild, Janie," Ma whispered as she pulled the blanket around us.

"It is because you are famous, Ma," I told her in the darkness. "Everyone in Okoyong calls you the White Queen."

"Then we will make Jesus the famous King in Okoyong," Ma answered. She yawned and within seconds her snoring told me she was asleep.

We lived in Ekenge for more than a year, but Ma traveled to other villages to preach the gospel and give medicine while I stayed with our little ones. I grinned whenever I saw big Chief Edem sitting on the benches among the small children, reciting his Bible lesson to the White Ma.

Read about a daring rescue in part 2 of this Mary Slessor "Glimpses for Kids" children's worship bulletin insert.