“But why do they do such cruel, wicked things to harmless babies?” asked Mary.

“They believe that the father of one of the twins is an evil spirit or devil.  But they don’t know which one’s father was a devil, so they kill both to be sure of getting the right one.”

“That must be stopped,” said Mary.  “I will fight it as long as I live.  I will never give up.  Jesus loves twins just as much as other children.  The natives must learn that.  They must learn that God said, ’Thou shalt not kill.’  I’ll teach them.”

Mary made many friends, not only among the children whom she taught, but also among the grown-up natives.  One day she heard a chief speaking to his people about God and His love.  He was a Christian.  Mary thought that he made a very fine talk.  She could tell he was very sincere.  He talked so that everyone could understand him.

“Who is that chief?” asked Mary of the man standing next to her.

“That is King Eyo Honesty VII,” said the man.

“King Eyo Honesty?  I must talk to him.”

As soon as she could, Mary went up to the chief.

“King Eyo Honesty,” said Mary, “I am Mary Slessor.  Many years ago the missionaries told my mother about you.  They told her what a fine Christian you were.  She told us.  She will be very happy when I tell her that I have met you.”

“I am very happy to have met you,” said King Eyo Honesty.  “Perhaps I could write a letter to your mother and tell her how happy I am that I have met you.  I would tell her how happy I am that her daughter has come to teach my people about God.”

“Mother would be very happy, I know, to get a letter from you.”

For many years the African chief and Mary’s Scottish mother wrote letters to one another.

Every day when school was over, Mary went to visit the natives in their homes.  She would tell them about Jesus and how He loved them.  She told them Jesus wanted to save them.  She told them that Jesus had paid for their sins by dying for them.  If they loved and trusted in Jesus, He would take their sins away.

One Sunday morning as she was walking through the village, she saw one of the old men who came to church all the time sitting at the door of his mud house.  He looked very sad.

“Ekpo,” said Mary, “why aren’t you on your way to God’s house?  Mr. Anderson will be looking for you.  He will miss you.”

“If your heart were sad, would you go any place?” asked Ekpo.

“But why is your heart sad?”

“My son, my only son, is dead.  Even now he is buried in the house.”

“Ekpo, let me tell you a story,” said Mary.  “A long time ago there were two sisters.  They had a brother.  They loved him very much.  They loved him like you loved your son.  He became sick.  The two sisters sent a messenger to Jesus to tell Him.  When Jesus came, the brother was dead.  Martha, the one sister, said to Jesus, ’Lord, if You had been here my brother would not have died.  I know that even now God will give You whatever You ask Him.’