Mary Slessor: Missionary to west Africa

Mary Slessor grew up in Scotland, in squalid poverty but she had a hero. He was her contemporary but much older countryman David Livingstone. Not only did Mary idolize him but she wanted also to find her calling in Africa. But Livingstone was fearless. Tiny Mary trembled with fear. Her father was the proverbial alcoholic, terrorizing his family with drunken violence. Mary was so traumatized by fear and shame she dreaded men. She could not even speak in front of men. How could she emulate the great Livingstone? And when her chance came to go to west Africa, how could she go to such a dangerous place? Buttressed by her faith and her hero’s motto - Always Forward! - Mary Slessor did go to Africa. She shed her demons. She alone of missionaries left their compound to live among the natives. She conducted church services. She educated children. She practiced medicine. She took in orphans. She alone of the white colonials could move about among the most feared natives of the Niger Delta area. They murdered twins as devil’s children. They practiced human sacrifice. They had slaves. They punished with extreme cruelty. How could tiny Mary change that? But through her faith she did.