"
"I shall be glad to come if I may tell your people about Jesus, the
Saviour," said Mary.
"Sure," said the messenger, "you come and make Jesus-talk."
When King Eyo Honesty VII, Mary's old friend, heard of this invitation, he
said:
"Our Ma must not go as an ordinary traveler to this savage land and
people. She must go as a lady and our mother, one whom we greatly respect
and love."
He brought his own canoe to Mary and said, "The canoe is yours to use as
long as you wish."
Mary's eyes filled with tears of thankfulness.
"King Eyo," she said, "I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I accept
the offer of your canoe in Jesus' name. I know God will bless you for your
kindness."
"God has blessed me," said the king. "He has sent our white Ma to us."
The canoe was long and slim. It was painted in bright colors. At the front
end bright-colored flags were flying. In the middle of the canoe was a sort
of tent to protect Mary from the sun. The Christian natives had brought
gifts of rice and these were put in the boat. Crowds of people came to say
good-by to the white Ma. At last it began to get dark. The thirty-three
natives who were going to row climbed into the boat. Torches were lit and
the boat started upstream.
As Mary lay down in her tent in the middle of the boat, she heard the
rowers singing as they rowed.
"Ma, our beautiful beloved mother, is on board," they sang, "Ho! Ho! Ho!"
She thanked God that He had protected her in Old Town.
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