One day very sad news came from Scotland.  Mother Slessor had died.  Mary was very sad.  Her mother was the one who had interested her in missionary work by telling her stories about it when she was only a little girl.  Her mother had always encouraged her in her work.  Her mother was willing to do anything and suffer anything so that Mary could be in the work of saving souls.  Her mother was always interested in everything that Mary did.  No wonder Mary was sad even though she knew that her mother was now with the Saviour in Heaven.

“There is no one to write and tell my stories and troubles and nonsense to.  All my life I have been caring and planning and living for my mother and sisters.  I am now left stranded and alone.”

But she was not alone.  The words of Jesus, “Lo, I am with you alway,” came as sweet comfort to her heart.

“Heaven is now nearer to me than Scotland,” she said.  “And no one will be worried about me if I go up country into the jungles.”

Mary was very anxious to go to the deep jungles to Okoyong, but every time she mentioned it the Board and the Andersons said, “No, not yet.”  The tribes were cruel and wicked.  They were always fighting among themselves and with other tribes.  They did more bad and nasty things than any of the tribes she had ever worked with.  They killed twin babies.  They stole slaves and when they caught some stranger they made him a slave.  They would hide along jungle paths and when someone went by, they would kill him.  They hated the people of Calabar and the British government.

At different times missionaries had tried to get into this land, but always they had to run for their lives.  The natives of Okoyong trusted no one.  It was to that country that Mary wanted to carry the love of Jesus and the story that He died for them.  Every day she would pray: 

“Lord, if this is Your time, let me go.”

Meanwhile Mary worked hard at Creek Town.  Besides her missionary work she was taking care of a number of native children.  Some were twins she had saved from death, some were the children of slaves.  Mary took care of these children at her own expense.  In order to take care of them and have enough food for them, she ate only the simplest of foods, sometimes nothing but rice for a long time.

One day a man came to Creek Town to see Mary.

“I am the father of Janie, the twin,” he said.  “I am glad you have taken care of her.”

“Come and see her,” said Mary.

“No, no!” said the man, “the evil spirit will put a spell on me.”

“You won’t be hurt if you stand far away and look at her,” said Mary.

As he watched Janie, Mary took him by the arm and dragged him to the little girl.  She put his strong black arms around her little shoulders.  At last the man took the little girl on his lap and played and talked with her.  After this he came often to visit his little girl and brought her food and presents.  At last the time came when word reached Calabar that the Mission Board had decided that the Gospel should be preached in Okoyong and that Mary could go.  Mary was very happy.  At last God had answered her prayer.  She was going into a wild country.  She was going to go ahead of the other missionaries to find a place where they could build a mission house and church.