I dare not go back. If the Board insists, I
will risk finding some other way to support myself and my family.
As April drew closer day by day, Mary anxiously waited for the Mission
Board's answer. The Mission Board wrote to Mary:
We are sending John Rankin to look over the field where you have been
working. After he has made his report we will decide what you should do.
Mr. Rankin visited the different places in cannibal land where Mary had
started congregations. He talked with the chiefs and the people. One chief
talking about Mary and the other women missionaries said, "Them women be
the best men for the mission." He wrote to the Board:
Close to Arochuku, within a circle of less than three miles in diameter,
there are nineteen large towns. I visited sixteen of these. Each of them is
larger than Creek Town. Most of the people are anxious to help. Already
many of them have begun to live in God's way. Even the head chief of all
the Aros wants us to do mission work in his country. He told the other
chiefs he is going to rule according to God's way. He wants missionaries to
be sent to his people. He offers to build a house at Arochuku for any
missionary who will come.
The Mission Board was thrilled when they read this report. They agreed to
give the money for the work which Mary had planned. They appointed Rankin
to take charge of the stations at Itu and Arochuku.
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