A Sower Went Out

Beginnings
A SOWER WENT OUT

by
Mary A. Green
Beginnings
The sun was warm on my face and I loved it! The English winter of 1905 had been long and bitterly cold
but now the spring was here with its pleasant breeze. I was only about six years of age but old enough to
enjoy the change in season. I was sitting on a bench in the back yard of my home in the slums of London,
swinging my legs and gazing up at the beautiful blue sky and white fleecy clouds passing slowly above
me. How I came to be alone I cannot recall because, at that time, I had three sisters, two older than me
and one younger and a brother a year younger. The fact remains, I was alone and enjoying life. I was
fascinated by the beautiful white clouds passing over me and a sudden longing seized me to be able to
ride on one. I thought, "I’ll ask Jesus." To ask for favours was nothing new to the family for I had grown
up in the atmosphere of prayer. My mother often said concerning some crisis "Let us ask the Lord about
it.", so child as I was I made my first definite prayer. "Please, Jesus, let me ride on one of those lovely
clouds and look down at this place." I waited but nothing happened, so I tried again more urgently and
added that I did not wish to stay long. Still no reply, so I finally gave up asking and told the Lord that
although I was disappointed, I was not upset, because - quoting my mother, "He knew what was best."
How best it was I was to learn as my education improved ! I would add here that many years later, when
on missionary work, I took my first aeroplane journey and found myself gazing down on the white
clouds beneath the plane. Gently the Spirit of God brought back to my mind my childish request of years
ago - my prayer was answered. What a gracious Lord we have !
My father was a London City Missionary and we found as children that living in various slum missions
was far from monotonous. It had its "ups and downs". I was born in Camberwell, London within the
sound of Bow Bells and was therefore a cockney. We must have lived around these parts for quite a
while for even now certain street names "ring a bell" with me. Later we went on to St. John’s Wood
where Frank Bereford RA was a young student living with us. Then to Poplar, Stepney, Wapping,
Shadwell and Ratcliff. I therefore had much opportunity of getting to know Eastenders and their ways. I
was never far from the sound of the Gospel. Sundays and week nights my father and mother faithfully
proclaimed the Message. We generally occupied and empty shop with living accommodation upstairs. I
seem to recollect that the meetings were well attended. Some came with a genuine desire to hear more of
the Bible truths, others with more pecuniary inclinations. To us children the meetings were not without
their humorous side. My father was a very outspoken man - too outspoken at times. One thing that
always amused us was his attitude to a family that regularly arrived late to the disturbance of the
preacher, the people and the chairs.
If father was preaching he would invariably break off, announce that he would wait until the arrivals
were settled and apologise to the rest of the company for the disturbance caused. The remarkable thing
was that the late comers were never embarrassed and continued their irregularity unperturbed. Another
thing that caused us some merriment was when he suddenly gave the reading desk a loud thump which
startled everyone, including those who had "dropped off". This was the sole reason for the thump and it
generally proved effective to the offenders, if startling to the others.
file:///D|/MY DOCUMENTS (D)/Word Documents/A sower went out.htm (1 of 27) [01/10/2001 15:57:45]
Beginnings
Another event which occurred yearly was a "Winkle Tea" on Good Friday, tickets 3d each if I remember
rightly. Bread and butter and buns were also included. The winkles arrived in buckets, sheets of pins, and
bread, butter and buns were delivered in the morning. The visitors arrived in the afternoon and we did not
fail to notice that the ladies arrived in pinafores with large front pockets. Experience had taught my
mother what this meant, so the plates of buns were not laid on the tables as one would usually do, but
kept back until the winkles and bread and butter were finished, then we children were given a plate of
buns to hand round carefully one for each person. We were then told to go round again until all were
demolished, this gave all a fair chance. In my day life for the Eastenders was hard. Very little money and
no social security. I remember the General Strike when all were expected to give up work for a time. I do
not know whether they had a union behind them, but if so it meant hardship for the families. One day an
angry crowd were after a blackleg and my father heard the people chasing the poor man who had dared
to work. He opened the mission door and as the man rushed past he grabbed him and pulled him inside
slamming the door behind him. The crowd rushed on unaware of what had happened. The poor man was
all in and I recollect him being laid on a bench with a pillow at his head while my mother bathed his
wounds. He was given a meal and something to take home with him. He slipped away after dark and I
never saw him again. I cannot forget the desperate plight of the people in those days. My father collected
money from well-wishers and with soup bones and meat supplied by traders they opened a soup kitchen.
An old fashioned copper boiler was scoured out and became the soup container, forming a huge caldron
which supplied a very helpful soup freely to all comers. It proved a great blessing to the people of the
neighbourhood. I have heard people complain of having to go to church three times on a Sunday, but
although this was our usual custom I never felt that way myself. The remembrance of my mother and
father’s strong love for the Lord held me fast in the days that were to come.
My father was a strong disciplinarian and we children were afraid of him, but mother was our hearts’
love. Although firm at times, her faith and her prayer life bound us to her. She had, at that time known
much sorrow, having buried three babies before I was six and she was to bury two more before I was
eighteen, yet her faith in the Lord never faltered. Housekeeping and housework were hard. No labour
saving devices in those days. Sunlight Soap and Monkey Brand, a scrubbing board for washing and a big
wooden mangle. And ironing !
Old flat irons which had to be heated on the kitchen range, and to make matters more difficult, we girls
wore white pinafores on Sundays and they had starched frills and all these required the offering
iron to make the frills stand out. This had to be done weekly for appearances sake. When I think back
over the past, I wonder that my mother never looked worn and weary, but instead she always had a ready
smile for visitors, especially on a Sunday when tea-time was quite an occasion in our house. I remember
the bathing ritual every Friday night - a large zinc
bath placed in front of the kitchen range and we all took our turns. No electricity, only gas brackets with
mantles and matches to light them; candles and candlesticks for upstairs, and my, were the rooms cold in
winter ! One day a well-wisher, realising the needs of the poor for bathrooms, decided to have some
public baths erected, with a paid attendant. My mother was delighted. Thereafter the zinc bath was
discarded and we children were given a piece of soap, a towel and threepence every Saturday morning
and sent off to the baths to wait our turn. We were not allowed to linger on for the we should soon hear
the call, "No. 12 someone else is waiting, hurry please !"
Time was our enemy as children. My sisters, brother and myself loved our beds, what we dreaded to hear
Beginnings
particularly on cold winter mornings was mother calling up the stairs : "Children, time to get up!" Oh,
just five minutes more! My elder sister was the first to roll out, but before she did so, she would give me
a push which helped me to do what I did not want to do. We hurriedly put on our clothes and raced to the
wash basin for a quick splash. The first one to get there grabbed the flannel, shivered and took the plunge
into the cold water and then passed it on to the next one to do likewise. Fortunately there was no danger
of a "high tide mark" for Mother had dealt with that the night before with a jug of hot water carried
upstairs by us. My brother, from his corner in the attic would linger a little longer as he did not have long
hair to plait and comb. Eventually he would roll out in time to hear mother’s second urgent call. The
window curtain pulled aside (no time to light candles) we inspected one another’s appearance, boots
were laced up and we raced downstairs. There was father duly seated at the table, family bible open
before him, waiting! He was a true man of God (although we were too young to appreciate this) we could
go without our breakfast, that was our fault, we could be late for school, that was also our own fault, but
our duty to God was essential at any price. With one eye on the clock we managed to gulp down a cup of
tea and hoped to be able to eat a piece of bread and jam on the way to school. We knew that our father’s
prayers were neither short nor sweet and I am afraid that the hands of the clock held our attention. We
thankfully joined in the ‘Amen’ and were off, school bags slung over our shoulders and a piece of bread
and jam in our hands. We rushed along eating as we ran. Invariable we were praying, "Please God, don’t
let the second bell go before we reach the gates!"
Sorrow
When I was about seven my eldest sister, Olive, a lovely girl of fourteen years of age was taken ill. She
asked me to bring Iris - the baby of nine months old, who was the joy of my heart - to her room, as she
wanted to say "Goodbye" because she was going to Jesus. I carried Iris into Olive’s room, my heart
heavy with dread. She held her in her arms for several minutes and kissed her several times before
putting her down. She then put her arms around me and we wept together uncontrollably. "Are you really
going to Jesus ?" I asked. "Yes, May, I know." she said. A few days later I stood beside her grave. My
father kept his grief in check but my mother’s sorrow was distressing to see. Yet, with it all, she noticed
a young lad of Olive’s age standing crying by the grave side. She knew him and asked how he got there.
Someone said he got up early and walked there. He loved Olive deeply. I often saw my mother weeping
as she came across some treasures of Olive’s and folded it up and put it away. One night I had a dream in
which I saw my sister coming along toward me. She had a lovely long white dress on, her dark hair was
curling over her shoulders and her face looked radiant. "Is it you, Olive ?" I cried. "Are you happy with
Jesus ?" "Oh very happy" she said, "And, May, tell mummy not to cry for me because I am so happy
with Him." I forgot the dream for some time. Then it came back to me and I rushed across the room
saying, "Mummy I saw Olive last night." She stood perfectly still. "Where ?" she said. "In my dream", I
replied, "And Mummy, she looked lovely and her face was shining and she was in a long white robe, and
Mummy, she told me to tell you not to cry for her any more because she was so happy with Jesus." How
wonderful our Lord is in conveying a message of comfort to a sorrowing heart. Mother knew God had
spoken to her and I never saw her grieving again.
Our family now numbered six with Father and Mother, my eldest sister, myself, my brother and little
sister seven years my junior and the joy of my heart. My mother was loved by all the dear poor folk in
our east end district. When she could help them materially she did, but her greatest help was her prayer
of faith. Through this gift she saw many a sick woman restored to health. She visited the homes. Some
were grubby and some with no furniture but spotlessly clean. There was no health inspector to speak of
Beginnings
and the buildings were old and infested with bugs which came out at night. Certain help was given if
asked for, but some folks grew accustomed to things as they were. The mission was opened once a month
for a visiting doctor free of charge. I remember mother was so worried at first because she the patients
leave the mission with the bottle of medicine he had given them, and before going far they would open
the bottle and take a great gulp irrespective of dosage. When she told the doctor he just laughed and told
her he had anticipated this and supplied the necessary water. Any serious case was treated differently .
The one dread disclosed to mother by the people was their fear of the "’ouse" - in other words the
workhouse. Many would rather starve than go there. Even the Eastenders had their pride and they had to
come very low to seek this way out.
We visited the local workhouses from time to time to hold meetings, and pretty cheerless they seemed to
me. Long plain deal tables scrubbed by the women daily. Long forms, mostly without backs. No doubt
the meals were nourishing but there not much care for comfort.
My father was strict and as children we were in awe of him, but we nevertheless respected him. He was
unique in many ways. He never minded taking his violin and going to the market place alone, if none of
his helpers turned up to help with the open air meeting. A small boy would volunteer to hold the banner
proclaiming a gospel text and father would play some well known hymn and then preach to the
bystanders. Some years after, a worker was walking through the market when he was approached by a
seafaring man going back to his boat at Wapping Docks, who asked what had happened to the man with
the violin and the banner. I think he had passed away by then, and
the worker was told that the scripture text on the banner had so moved him that he made his peace with
God on his return to the ship. How thrilled my father would have been to have heard this testimony!
Eventually my father left the London City Mission and became a Bible teacher at the Mildmay
Conference Hall in Newington Green.
During the course of his work for the Lord he had occasionally to cross London for various committee
meetings. An austere man in many ways, he loved our cat and an amusing incident occurred during one
of his attendances at a committee meeting. He set off by tram car early one afternoon, duly arrived and
was in the midst of discussion a certain matter when suddenly he jumped to his feet, seized his umbrella
and hat and rushed out of the room. He made for the first tram that came along and was hardly able to
endure the length of the journey home. Meanwhile my mother and sister were sitting before the old
kitchen range, fire and oven combined, and beginning to enjoy the warmth of the fire which had been lit
for about an hour. Suddenly they heard the front door fly open and my father’s footsteps running along
the passage. The kitchen door was flung open and before they could get their breath father rushed
towards the range, opened the oven door, and out stepped the cat - singed but sound ! There was no
explanation necessary. Father went back to close the door and dispose of his hat and umbrella and came
back to tell of the experience. Apparently, when laying the wood and coal for the fire he had seen the cat
go into the oven and when he had finished preparing the fire, had unthinkingly closed the oven door. It
was not until he was engaged in some discussion in the committee meeting that the recollection of the cat
shut in the oven flashed into his mind. In desperation, and without a word of apology to the assembly, he
had rushed out. What they thought of his action we do not know, but what a happy laugh the family
enjoyed.
I recall here a further incident concerning my father and his travels. He moved about a good deal whilst
engaged in his various duties, and whilst travelling would allow his thoughts of past and forthcoming
Beginnings
events to take control.

One day he was seated in a tram, the seats being arranged such the passengers faced one another, he sat
with his hands on his umbrella and his thoughts elsewhere. Suddenly he became aware of an irate
movement in his line of vision and came out of his deep thoughts to find himself gazing at an angry
cockney lady who shouted, "D’I owe yer anything ?" My father replied courteously, "Not that I am aware
of anything, Madam." "Then who yer bossin’ at ?" came the reply. My father apologised and directed his
gaze elsewhere.
Another incident of a more serious nature that threw light on my father’s dealings with young people and
proved a strong pointer to his own early days came to my notice many years after his death and in fact
was brought to me after my first return to England from Africa. My husband was in college, and I was
living with friends in Bow, East London and attending the East London Tabernacle under Rev.G. King.
One evening a woman with a child approached me and said, "You were May Plant, weren’t you?" I said
"Yes, as a child I lived in the Shadwell and Ratcliff Mission." She said, "You may not remember me
because I belonged to a gang of youngsters who
used to meet nightly and arrange what mischief we would get up to enliven our evening. Several times
we picked on your father’s mission to make some noise and thereby annoy him. One night, not thinking
of anything better I said ‘Let’s go to Plant’s and kick on the door.’ This was taken up with pleasure by
the other members of the gang, and being the ringleader I led the way. We arrived, and I turned by back
to the door ready to bring my foot with its full force against the door when, to my horror it opened behind
me and I fell inside. Your father helped me to my feet and closed the door while the rest of my friends
fled. I was terrified, I thought he might call the police and had visions of being led off to the station.
Instead he said ‘Girl, you are here now and now you can go and sit on that chair in the front and maybe
stay for the meeting.’ I sat on the chair while your father went around putting the hymn books out and
arranged the hymns for the meeting. Suddenly he came straight up to me, looked me straight in the face
and said, ‘Girl, God loves you!’ I was amazed, I had never heard that before and put that way! It
penetrated. I thought God would be angry with me and punish me in some way, but love
me! It was a revelation. Your father then opened the door for me to leave without another word. The
effect those words had on me began a turning point in my life. Although some years were to elapse, I
matured and finally became a member of this Tabernacle. I married a Christian man and God has blessed
us. I look back with gratitude to the time when your father opened my eyes to the truth." What a
wonderful testimony that was !
As a family we were now living in North London, my father’s work at the Conference Hall came to an
end and he opened a Mission Hall in Newington Green Road on faith lines. We still lived in the house
overlooking the housing of the Conference Hall staff and as I passed a landing window I often noticed a
white-haired gentleman sitting at a desk writing steadily.
One day I asked my mother who the gentleman was and with great respect she replied that he was the
Rev. Campbell Morgan, no doubt preparing his now famous Bible Studies for Westminster Chapel. I
now realise that my husband and I were going to appreciate those writings immensely in future days.
Further sorrow
I had two sisters, one older and one seven years my junior. I had missed her from babyhood and now she
was about ten years of age while I was seventeen and in an office. She was the love of my heart and
Beginnings
every spare moment was spent in her company. It was 1918 and the war was coming to an end. The air
raids were less frequent but our prayers for God’s protection continued. I had taken her with me for my
annual holiday to a village called Stansted and we had had a wonderful time on a farm. I remember on
our return on the train she sat opposite me and was gazing pensively out of the window and as I looked at
her I thought how much I loved her and a chill swept over me as I asked myself what I would do if she
was taken from me! It seemed a premonition for hardly a month had passed when God took her. The
land, especially London, was struck with that awful 1918 ‘flu epidemic which carried off thousands of
children, my little sister, Iris included. How I faced up to that awful loss I cannot say. I had not accepted
the Lord, but
Iris loved Him and passed into His Presence singing in delirium "There’s a friend for little children." I
was inclined to bitterness for I had pleaded the ninety-first psalm and could not understand God’s way. If
it had not been for the quiet faith of Mother and the fact that she yielded to Him without complaint, I
might have gone down and away, but God answered Mother’s prayer for me. I gave up my job at Tetleys
and went in for nursing. However my work was only maid and did not include training in nursing ,so
after a month I gave it up and returned home. Office positions were not easy to get in those days but my
mother managed to get me into a company store. As a side line several of us who could play musical
instruments joined together and under an able leader formed an orchestra. We found great enjoyment in
this and as our playing improved we received many invitations to give concerts around. My brother who
was a good violinist was also a member of the party. We thoroughly enjoyed our times together and the
music we played was good; we had not reached the jazz age. I never realised that this was God’s way of
leading my brother and me to Himself but His hand was moving in answer to my mother’s prayers for us.
Born Again
One day my father was asked to find out if some of us would help with the musical side of some revival
meetings that the Brothers Fred and Arthur Wood were preparing to hold in the large Agricultural Hall in
London. Some of us readily agreed and several "get-togethers" were arranged for us to become
acquainted with the hymn tunes. It proved quite a change from our usual line but I must confess that the
words of the hymns spoke strongly to me. When the day arrived for us to commence the meetings we
were quite thrilled.
Together with other companies we formed quite a large gathering under the leadership of Brother Arthur
Wood, the elder of the two brothers. The meetings were to last two weeks and every night we sat under
the challenging message of the word of God given by Fred Wood. There must have been a revival
amongst the young people for night after night that large hall was packed and the response of those
desirous of accepting the Lord Jesus was amazing. I felt the "pull" but I loved the world and my worldly
friends. Every morning I got up with a load on m y heart and I would say to myself "what is it I am going
to d, oh yes! one day I am going to get right with God" and so I went on. The pressure grew greater and I
thought, "If I can take the Lord and still have the world I’ll become a Christian. The Campaign was
drawing to a close. Only two more nights left. The sermon was to be on "Questionable Amusements" and
I meant to get every word. I wanted the best of both worlds and if I could have this, I would be a
Christian. The last night but one came and went and I turned to go home a disappointed girl of twenty
one. The preacher did not say definitely, but I knew it must be all or nothing, and I loved the world. I got
up the next morning with the cloud of heaviness still over me - how I had hoped for peace! I went to the
last meeting far from happy and the sermon was on one word, "Come". What a picture he painted of a
loving Saviour with arms outstretched on the Cross of sacrifice - in spite of myself I was drawn, but still
Beginnings
resisted. He was closing his word, but, as was his usual custom, he finished with a short anecdote - a
traveller arrived late one night at a toll gate and knocked the door for the gatekeeper to let him through.
A voice called out "I’m coming" but no sound of movement. Somewhat puzzled the traveller knocked
again, he got the same reply. He waited, but still no movement from within so, finally losing patience, he
hammered on the door and then, at last, there was a sound of shuffling feet, drawing of bolts and an old
man appeared. "My dear man," said the traveller, "I have been knocking on this door ;many times and
every time you answered, "Coming" but you never came, why?" "Oh, sir, forgive me," said the old man,
"I get so used to hearing the knock that I answer in my sleep." That got me! It was just what I was going
and I could go on doing this and waken in a lost eternity. Up shot my hand and out I went to be
counselled, nothing could hold me back - and He received me - oh the peace of sins forgiven and a love
like God’s. No cloud the next morning but a wonderful feeling of walking on air. All desire for the world
had gone. The words of the hymns came back to me and I knew I belonged to Him. Although my brother
had had a similar experience, he did not speak of it to me, but I knew he too, was walking with God.
Mother must have been overjoyed because I realised it was her prayers that had brought us under deep
conviction. I now could share with the hymn writer those words,
Heaven above is softer blue
Earth around is deeper green
Something lives in every hue
Christless eyes have never seen
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow
Flowers with deeper beauties shine
Since I know, as now I know
I am His and He is mine."
Life continued to have its problems, as well as its pleasures, but the deep sense of His Presence was with
me all the time. When the enemy came along, as he often does, to the children of God telling them they
are not really saved, I took to referring him back to the wonderful experience I had had and he was
silenced along that line! Shortly after my conversion I found I was only at the beginning of my new life
and there was much for me "just around the corner". A friend of mine invited me to a Pentecostal
meeting and the wonder and joy of not only speaking to my Lord, but hearing Him speak to us through
the gifts of the Spirit thrilled my soul. Acts 2 became very real to me as I realised the Baptism of the
Holy Spirit was for today. I learned from the word that the gifts of the Spirit could be received in these
days as in Bible times. The gifts of healing, prophecy, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues
could be sought by believers and distributed as He saw fit. I therefore sought the Baptism of the Spirit
and it was with a sense of awe that I began a closer walk with God. The need for water baptism by
immersion was brought before me and I was duly baptized in water.
The Call
Deep down in my heart, even as a child, I felt I would be called to service in the foreign field. I often said
I was going to be a missionary. Shortly after receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit I felt an inward
Beginnings
urge to go out to the black folk of Africa. I had a vision of a crowd of black sheep wandering around
looking for food. When I awoke in the morning, I asked the Lord to confirm the call if it was of Him by
an outward circumstance. I was going to Church that night, so I asked the Lord to cause me to know what
to do without saying anything about my call. After the service we were standing around in groups
chatting together. I was looking around the hall when I felt a gentle tap on my arm, as if my attention was
being called to what was being said and I turned around and said, "Excuse me, what was that I just heard
you saying about the Mission Field?" and the young woman said, "I was just telling them that the Pastor
has a class for those called to the Mission Field, but one has to apply and state the reasons for thinking
one is called." Praise God - there was my answer and confirmation - He never fails. I duly applied and
was accepted and joined the special class for study.
I also joined a Correspondence Course arranged by the Elim Pentecostal Church. Some months later I
was attending our usual week night meeting and having arrived later than usual, as I entered the Hall I
just heard the text, "Behold, I have set before thee an open door." I wondered if this was God’s word to
me, especially as it was given by a missionary from South Africa; so I arranged an interview with him.
Here I received my first "set back" for I found I had to pay my own fare and my monthly support. This
was a great blow to me, for although I was in a responsible office job, I had not got that kind of money. I
had not yet learned the way of faith, that lesson I would learn in days to come.
Out of God’s Will

Now, in my haste to go the way I felt led, I began to make my own plans. I obtained a better position
away from home and fellowship and, with all the best intentions in the world, set myself to earn my way
into Bible College. I made the mistake, however, of not seeking the Lord’s will. Of course I prayed about
it, but after I had made my arrangements. This error took me nearly six years out of the way. The drift
was gradual, but I have praised God for a praying mother. In an effort to keep my feet from sliding, I
joined as a worker in a mission in the slums of Cardiff called, at that time, Tiger Bay. It was opened to
people of all races. Families of seafaring men, blacks from various parts of Africa, Arabs, Chinese - and
their offspring were many. The police were very vigilant, as fighting was a usual factor amongst these
people. However, the children were mainly our responsibility and we held Sunday School and Gospel
Services continually. This work was mainly a salve to my conscience for I knew I was slipping badly. No
Bible study or prayer life now, but the graciousness of the Lord amazed me. One Sunday I was on my
way to the Mission, passing through a side street, when suddenly the doors of the houses flew open and
out streamed Arabs - drug or drunken - and surrounded me. I was petrified and just cried in my heart to
the Lord to know what to do. He
said, "walk straight on with your eyes looking ahead just as if there was no one there." This I did -
looking ahead and to my amazement they opened a way and I passed straight through them and on to the
Mission. I only realised that the angels of the Lord had made a way for me and I praised God for His
mercy.
In spite of this experience I continued my slow drift away from the right path. The world and worldly
friends were filling my life, although there were times when a longing for the old paths gripped me. One
night I knelt down and prayed, "Lord, reveal Yourself to me" then got into bed and fell asleep. That night
I had a dream or night vision. I dreamed I was talking to a meeting of people, telling them about a vision
I was seeing. I urged them to look and see it. Up in the sky was a marvellous circle of heavenly beings - I
Beginnings
cried out at the beauty of them and the glorious light surrounding them, then it seemed as if the Lord
Himself stood in the centre of them. A great longing filled my heart to go up and join with them, but I
could find no way up - instead I found myself forced to turn my head and look in the opposite direction.
To my horror I saw over my head a great black cross, it was terrifying and I cried out in my sleep, "Oh,
but the cross! the cross!" I awoke crying and asked the Lord what the dream meant and He replied, "If
any man will be My disciple, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." I realised then
that the only way to enjoy the glory I had seen was via the Cross! I lay awake for a long time considering
the vision and all it meant, but finally got up to face another day and, as time passed it was gradually
pushed to the background, though never entirely forgotten. Worldly friends and pleasures continued to be
the pattern of my life. There was one thing for which I shall never cease to praise God, I had a praying
Mother; I felt the power of her prayers, sometimes I said, "Why does my Mother pray for me?" I knew
her prayers kept me from going my own way, which could have ruined my life. Looking back how I
thank God for the woman of faith that was Mother. It strengthened and encouraged me when I later
became a mother myself and also a grandmother. After about three years in Cardiff during which time I
was drifting still further away from God, my chief bought his own business in Southampton and asked
me to go with him to open up an office and engage staff as I needed. This I did, although unaware at the
time, that it was God’s way of leading me back to Him. I eventually made my home in Southampton with
a lovely Christian woman attached to the Brethren. Her witness was faithful and I shall never forget her
reproof as I left the house on a Sunday morning with my tennis rackets to go pleasuring with my worldly
friends. Her "lectures" were always received with a careless laugh. The Lord had often spoken to me
during those years of backsliding - I have already mentioned the dream of the Cross and on evening after
work I had a terrifying experience. It was a Saturday night and the office of the shop was always the last
to close up. My office was in an upstairs section attached to the shop with just as dividing door between
the two. It was about three flights of stairs upwards and I had just locked up the safe and turned to come
down the stairs to leave and go through the shop to the main door. I had just reached the door at the
bottom of the stairs when all the lights were switched off and I was in complete darkness. I groped for
the handle of the door, but it was locked and, as I did so, the awfulness of my position swept over me.
The porter had locked up and gone home and here I was, on a Saturday night, in complete darkness. The
feeling of horror in that awful blackness swept over me, I could not remember whether I was at the top of
the stairs or the bottom - I never realised what the awfulness of complete darkness really meant until
then. I just cried out, "Oh God, let me see some light" and in a quick second He caused me to look up and
there shining several floors about me was the glimmer of a light from under a door. That saved my
reason, now I knew where I was and I climbed the stairs to reach the door. I pushed it open and saw the
light came from the butchers shop across the street. I found the phone book and in the faint light from the
shop managed to get the butcher’s number. I phoned him and told him of my predicament and he phoned
the police station and promised to leave his light on.
What a relief it was to hear a policeman’s voice and to be reassured that they were doing their best to get
the keys. What a blessing it was when the lights came on and my door was opened and I was free! I
could not help reflecting on the horror of eternal darkness without God and without hope. How that
glimmer of light under the door showed me the way! Yes, He spoke then and yet I still went my own
way. Nevertheless deep down within I was conscious of a desire for the old paths. My dear Mother’s
prayers were coming between me and the danger of my making life long mistakes. I resented them at the
time, but how often since those days of wandering have I thanked God for those prayers. I was gradually
becoming dissatisfied - worldly pleasures were not lasting and I knew what I needed but could not break
Beginnings
away. One Sunday I came in from a day of pleasuring, flung my racket on the bed and said, "Lord, speak
to me from Thy word." I picked up my Bible, long unused and opened straight away to Isaiah 58 and I
found myself reading Isaiah 58 v.l3-l4. God was speaking to me and I was amazed, "If thou turn away
thy foot from the Sabbath and from doing thy pleasure on My holy day and call the Sabbath a delight, the
holy of the Lord, honourable and shalt honour Him, not doing thy own ways, nor finding they own
pleasure, nor speaking thine own words. Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord and I will cause thee
to ride upon the high places of the earth and will feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father, for the
mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Although shaken by what I knew was God’s message to me, I closed
the Bible and went on in the same careless way. However the emptiness of my life persisted and a
longing for the old paths swept over me.
The Way Back
The day before going to my office I cried "Lord, let me feel Thy Hand in my life." What a prayer to pray!
little did I realise all that this petition would bring upon me! A few days later a young man in my
business house took his life and the despair and deep desolation he must have been feeling came on me. I
seemed to collapse with the same despair that he had had. I went down to the depths, it might have been
called a
nervous breakdown but I was told there was nothing physically wrong with me. I dreaded the night when
I could not sleep but literally shook with an awful inward fear, and dreaded the day because those same
feelings would sweep over me from time to time. How I got through my day’s work I do not know, but
there was only One to whom I could turn in desperation, the One I had rejected for so long, yes, I had my
careless prayer answered and God’s hand was heavy upon me. I wrote my Mother and she alone
understood for she had never ceased to pray for me and knew it was God dealing with me.
I went to the Brethren meetings with my landlady but found only temporary peace. Day by day those
dreaded feelings like a heavy cloud would sweep over me. Very often I would be on my knees in my
office or in my bedroom praying for freedom. On my half day I took up hospital visitation in a
Southampton Infirmary TB ward where, in those days the patients were terminally ill.
I had the joy of leading a poor orphan girl to the Lord. As she lay dying I stood at the foot of her bed -
there were two neighbours with her - and pointed upwards. She nodded her head and smiled. I followed
Elsie later to the grave-side - my first and last experience of a pauper’s burial. Trundled in a covered
hand-cart, led by a careless looking Chaplain, his white gown fluttering in the breeze. The word of the
poet came to my mind I pondered her burial after - "Rattle his bones over the stones, he’s only a pauper
whom nobody owns" but Elsie was in the Presence of the Lord of Glory. One Sunday afternoon when
this burden of depression was upon me, a lady from the Elim Church, a Miss Hunt, who had faithfully
prayed for me and periodically dropped notes in the door for me, which I had carelessly ignored, passed
in a letter saying the Pastor’s wife was preaching that evening and would I care to go. This time her news
was eagerly received by me and I felt an inward urge to go. I went, and immediately felt the mighty
Power of God upon me. I took my seat in the centre of a large Church which was quickly filling up with
people. The remembrance of those early days of deep fellowship with God’s people swept over me and I
longed for renewal. However, as the service proceeded, I was seized by that black heaviness and an
urgent, harsh voice within said, "You are ill, get up and go out." I was trembling with an inward fear and
was about to move, when a quiet, gentle voice said, "Sit still, sit still." I sat, but was weeping silently and
said, "Lord, speak to me from your word." I then opened my Bible at random but read, "Satan hath
Beginnings
desired to have you that he might sift thee as wheat, but I have prayed for thee" I stopped there repeating,
"I have prayed for thee" over and over again with tears streaming down my face. I gave no thought to
those around me, they must have wondered! After the service we had communion - I had not taken it for
several years - and just before the elements went round someone from the back of the Church spoke in
tongues and away upon the pulpit the Pastor interpreted it. Imagine my amazement when God spoke
from the passage lying open on my lap. It was to one whom Satan had desired to sift as wheat, but our
Lord had prayed for them. Could I doubt He was speaking to me with a call to yield myself to Him
again?. Oh how wonderful is His love for the erring one and how Holy Spirit inspired are the gifts! I saw
the Pastor’s wife after and she gave me great encouragement,
urging me to battle against the attacks of the enemy by using the Name of Jesus and the Power of His
Blood. I went home fortified and strengthened in the Lord and His word. I had wonderful fellowship at
that Church, although I continued being assailed by the enemy very frequently. I armed myself with the
Sword of the Word and took as my weapon I John 3.7, the latter part, and gradually as my faith grew
stronger my victories were obvious.
However, there were times when the battle was terrific. I went into the Church late one evening,
distressed and cast down and the first words I heard as I sat down were "For it is God that worketh in
you." I sat bolt upright and cried in my heart, "Lord, if it is you, work on, for You are love and will lead
me on. I thought it was the enemy."
Then the Pastor and his wife sang, "Make me and mould me to Thy will, while in Thy hand I am lying -
still." What balm that was to my strife-torn soul! One morning as I finished my breakfast and was
preparing to leave for the office, I felt this terrifying heaviness drop over me and down before the Lord I
cried in desperation, "Lord, how much longer am I to endure this, I have yielded myself entirely to you, I
only desire Your perfect will, when can I have peace?" Almost immediately the word dropped into my
heart, "The thing that has troubled you will trouble you no more" and from that moment my deliverance
was complete and I was troubled in that way no more!
As time slipped by I became conscious of a need for a companion, one who had been a deep way like
myself and with whom I could have real fellowship. In answer to prayer God brought me in touch with a
Miss Mary Wilson, a member of our Church. She and I became very close and had some blessed times of
prayer together. She was a few years younger than me but God’s dealings with us both were a great
source of wonder to us. We are still friends today, although she still lives in Southampton and I in
Weston.
To my great wonderment God renewed His call to me for foreign service. The pressure on my heart of
the needs of the African people for the message of salvation was heavy and I was led to ask the Lord for
a token as to whether I should make application to a certain Missionary Society. Later I held in my hand
the unusual and unexpected token I had asked for. Now a strange thing happened - instead of obeying the
Lord and making the application shown to me, I laid it aside and went steadily on my way - working at
;my office, taking my Sunday School Class and attending Church. However after a few weeks I became
aware of a certain deadness in my spiritual life - nothing moved me - the thrill of working for God
seemed dead. At last on becoming aware of my condition I spoke of it to the Pastor. His reply was clear
"Either you are doing something you should not do, or there is something you should be doing which you
are disregarding. Go home, take up your Bible and on your knees ask the Lord for the reason." I did just
that - I knelt down and prayer-fully opened my Bible. My eyes went straight to these words, "When thou
Beginnings
vowest a vow unto God delay not to pay it." I gazed at these words and the Spirit whispered, "What
about the token I gave you a few weeks ago?" The amazing truth swept over me, I had accepted the token
and had not fulfilled my part! With great contrition I sat down immediately and sent in my application to
the Missionary
Society. They replied that I was too old for the Congo but Nigeria was in a need of a helper and so
eventually I became an accepted candidate for the "Gospel to the Sudanese Faith Mission". Every need
was to be prayed in and my past experience in which I had failed God stood me in good stead. I saw God
answer my prayers for certain needs for outfit etc. in amazing fashion.
On one occasion I was at the end of my resources when the Lord said, "Pray for £20". Now in my day
this was a large sum and I began to search my mind as to who could do this for me and could think of
no-one.
However God had said "Pray", not look around you, so I began to pray, "Lord, send me £20". I prayed
for about three days and then Sunday came and the Pastor’s wife said, "Well, has any money come in
yet?" I said, " I received half a crown this morning." Later when leaving her house she said, "Look up,
maybe He will send you £l0 in the morning." I said to myself, "If only you knew it is £20 I am asking
for" and fell on my knees by my bed and was about to ask the same request, but the Lord said, "Ask no
more, the thing is done". With great wonder I got into bed and fell asleep. In the morning my landlady
brought me up a letter and as I opened it a gentle voice said "£20". It was so - I gazed at it in wonderment
- how great and faithful is our God! In the evening at Crusaders I hurried to tell the Pastor’s wife - she
said, "Did you say £20?" I said, "Yes". Then she said, "Let me tell you what happened to me after you
had gone. I knelt by my bed and said, ‘Lord, if you are calling this woman to Africa, send her, I was
about to say £l0, but could not, I had to say £20! by the morning’" How we rejoiced together at His
wonderful ways of confirmation. I finally gave up my job so that I could be free for deputation work. The
Lord graciously gave me a guidance promise, which proved a source of blessing and comfort to me, as I
felt led to accept calls from places to tell my testimony - it was, "My Presence shall go with thee." It
amazed me how that text would turn up for me from various sources. I received many invitations to give
my testimony and received many money gifts, so that in due course my outfit was complete and my
passage booked. I was to sail with a Mrs. Hammerton, a widow who was engaged to marry Mr.
McCullagh, the leader of the work. Mr. McCullagh and Mr. R. Green had already left for the field. I was
at their farewell meeting and did not realise then that I was to know Mr. Green more intimately in the
future. Mr. Hammerton and I were due to sail on the S.S. Adda from Southampton in February l933 and
my Mother and Sister came as far as Waterloo Station to see me off. As we were leaving the house, my
sister suggested we should take a promise from the promise-box - imagine my amazement when I found
myself reading out, "My Presence shall go with thee"! Any doubts my Mother and Sister might have had
were immediately dispelled for they knew what this promise had meant to me over the past months - how
graciously the Lord dealt with us all! We had a lovely company of friends to see us off including my
close friend, Mary Wilson. My new companion proved a very gracious and spiritual friend and we had
warm fellowship together. Also I formed a close friendship with a veteran missionary connected with
another society and she proved a great help, because of her experience and fluent knowledge of the
Hausa language. We formed a warm
liking for one another, although strangely enough we never corresponded during our stay in Nigeria
when our ways parted. Some eighteen to twenty months later I was to receive a letter from her when she
was due for furlough, and at that time I was living 500 miles from where she thought me to be and
Beginnings
married - yet God in His purpose and plan saw that letter safely delivered and at the right time. How
marvellous are His ways!
I shall never forget my first trip on a large vessel. Although we left England in the cold and dreary month
of February, we were only a few days at sea when we were sailing through warm and sunny weather. We
were able to wear summer dresses and the ship’s staff wore white suits. We awoke one morning to find
the vessel had stopped and could hear the soft lapping of the sea. On looking through the port hole we
saw we were just outside a beautiful island fringed with palm trees - it was Madeira. Later we were able
to take a short trip over cobbled streets in a cart with no tyres, but these discomforts were nothing to our
wonderful experience of another climate.
After a pleasant voyage we arrived at Lagos and were met by the Mission Leader and taken to a
missionary friend’s home, where we would stay until the journey up country in a Dodge car was ready.
We had to prepare for meals on the way, picnic style, and also carry our own pure water. We were no
longer in a land of cafes and good drinking water.
Ants and Their Ways
While in Lagos I took a walk around the grounds and saw what I thought was a stream of water passing
over the pathway. I went forward to investigate and to my surprise it proved to be a procession of ants,
similar to our own garden ants. They were moving in perfect order and seemed to be carrying what
appeared to be small maggots. I could not see the beginning of the trail or the end, but they evidently
knew where they were going. I wondered what would happen if I placed a stone over the stream, and
proceeded to do so. Immediately there was confusion, they began running around in disorder. At that
moment I was called into the house for breakfast but a short while after I returned to find out what had
happened. to my amazement there appeared to be a hedge formed on either side of the stone and a certain
order was being restored and the procession reformed. It was the hedge that puzzled me, how did that
come? Then on looking closer, to my surprise, I found that it consisted of the linked bodies of larger ants.
They had linked their legs around each other on either side of the stone and their appearance was as if
someone had made a wire hedge, their black shiny heads forming knobs. I was astonished at their
ingenuity. I had seen no sign of a larger ant previously. A large number of small ants were still running
around lost, until I looked closer and saw large ants standing up on their hind legs and signalling with
their antennae to these strays who could evidently hear and they also found themselves redirected and
joined the procession, and I noticed it carrying on as usual. I could not help but marvel at the work of our
Great Creator. I was to meet with many similar wonders in future days.
On Our Way
We were now ready to commence our journey up country. The sides of the Dodge car were stacked with
kerosene tins filled with filtered pure water which would be unobtainable on our journey until we came
to another mission station many miles away. The roof of the car was covered with folding tables and
stools and food.
The food had to be tinned, such as corned beef, which would be eaten and not kept in the heat of that
climate together with ships biscuits and some bread. Hopefully we might buy some bread en route and
ask no questions as to how and under what conditions it was made. We took butter but as it became
runny as soon as opened, we generally decided on jam, kept in a screw topped jar. The large ant-proof
trunks that Mrs. Hammerton and I had purchased were sent by rail, but the holdall and other cases were
Beginnings
packed in the boot. Other necessary things like sugar and tea were packed in screw topped jars because
of the ants. By the time the car was packed it really created a sensation and a great deal of interest as we
finally moved off, to the well wishes of the gathered crowd.
After leaving Lagos the road began to deteriorate and driving was difficult. We often had to get out and
help to get the car out of a rut - we were only too thankful that there had been no rain. When we needed
refreshment we unpacked the top of the car for the tables, unstopped a tin of water which, by then, was
lukewarm, and lit a fire for boiling water. It was amazing to become aware of a silent audience of mostly
children and a few women who were very interested in our manner of eating and drinking. The children
were completely unclothed, while the women wore draped cloths around their waists and loose kimono
tops. We were glad of an opportunity of giving our message to the people. I was able to tell about the
love of God in sending His Only Son, Jesus, to die on a cross for them, as well as us. The leader
interpreted into Hausa for them to understand. They had never heard the Name of Jesus. We finally
packed up and proceeded on our way. We women slept in the car and the two men on the ground outside
with fires lit to keep leopards away.
After some days of travelling in this way, we came within sight of the Mission House - Rahama,
Northern Nigeria. It was dark and as the car made its way up the hill, the hooter on the vehicle let out a
blast and could not be silenced. This all added to the excitement of our arrival. The folk were shouting
their joy, dogs were barking and the hooter had to be pulled out bodily to quieten it. The welcome was
marvellous. The leader had built a one storied house of stone. One flight of stairs to the upper floor for
Mrs. Hammerton and myself: a bedroom with a veranda at far end. Downstairs was a living room. The
house stood overlooking various mud and gross-roofed huts used by the workers.
Settling In
The settling in process was slow, but the assurance that when God calls, He equips, was a great comfort
to us and His grace was sufficient. We were also conscious of the upholding power of the friends and
loved ones at home. The food was no problem because it never varied. Meat was bought daily from the
local market by our cook boy from a special stall for Europeans meat, specially examined (the Nigerians
could eat
any kind of meat and suffer no after effects). We had no potatoes but had instead yam. The vegetable was
very large, required peeling and cutting up, but we soon got used to it, although it was very dry and
required butter with it.
One thing we praised God for and that was the fruit, which was cheap - pawpaw, passion fruit, mangoes
and watermelons - so fruit salad was usual every day.
And now to tell of the women. They were extremely pleased to see us, but oh, so hard worked! They
were usually just the chattels of the men. A man might have as many wives as he could afford. He
usually arranged the purchase of a girl without consulting her, it just depended on the number of goats or,
in some parts, cows etc. that the parents were willing to take. The woman was expected to help on the
land, sowing or planting and harvesting, take the produce sometimes miles on their heads to market, have
children and prepare the evening meal. The men ate first and the women after. That was how things were
done when we were in the country. Morning and evening a procession of women passed through our
compound, carrying vegetables etc. to market and back again in the evening. There was no time to talk,
only greetings as they passed.
Beginnings
However we were able to trek several miles once or twice weekly to visit the villages, and there was
always someone there, women left with the children and the Headman to receive our message. Most of
the surrounding villages were peopled by pagans - worshippers of an evil spirit they called juju. We saw
crudely fashioned shrines built in holes in the walls, containing offerings of dubious kinds given to
appease, as they thought, this evil spirit. What a change the message of a God of love was to these
people, who had always lived in fear of the anger of this spirit they thought existed. As the opportunity
arose from time to time to speak to the women the message was particularly attractive because their
teaching in those days was that only beautiful women would be received by Mohammed and as for the
rest, there seemed nothing for them after death but a hole in the ground. You can understand how the
message of a God of love who died to redeem them and cleanse them from sin by faith in Him and His
wonderful Name of Jesus, gave them peace and hope for the future. I believe there were many secret
believers in these hard-worked women.
By the time we joined the mission there were already a good number of people who had given up spirit
worship and turned to the Lord. Many would travel miles to get to the services to worship the Lord,
singing our tunes to words in their own language. The great need of the children (and women, if their
time permitted) was to learn to read and write in the common language Hausa. The men had been sent as
boys to Mission Schools, so reading was not a problem to them. I took the children and some women
under my wing and with the help of books and the Bible and my limited knowledge of the language, I
began to teach them. In the afternoons I myself had lessons from an old Hausa man and with my studies
progressed slowly.
Our mission was on a hill and down below was a small well kept village occupied by Muslims. We were
not permitted by law to preach to these people unless invited by the Chief. They were quite friendly and
from time to time would invite us to come down and give our message.
They would listen respectfully, but when we had finished we would ask what they thought of Jesus
Christ - invariably we received the same answer, "He was a good man but Mohammed was the prophet
of God". It has always been hard to win these people for God, for one thing, if one should see the Truth,
they would be afraid to say so - it could mean death - poison in their food! - dead and buried in a few
hours and no-one the wiser - in the days when I worked among them.
When God sent us to Africa, He equipped us not only with the power to preach deliverance to the
captives bound by evil spirit worship, but He gave the Power of the Holy Spirit to give deliverance from
physical affliction. This view was also held by Mr. McCullough, Mr. Green and Mrs. Hamerton. At times
of need we were privileged to see souls delivered after the laying on of hands.
The first instance that stands out before me was one evening when we were all having our evening meal
in the Mission House when the door was flung open and two boys led in our cook boy. His face was
ashen and we discovered he had been stung by a scorpion while leaning against the mud kitchen wall. He
was terrified because the agony of these stings can last for days, and it was obvious that a crude native
attempt to dig out the sting with ordinary knives had been made. We just did what the Lord commanded
and gathered around the stricken lad, laying our hands on him and pleading the Name and Power of the
Blood of Jesus to deliver him. We battled in prayer and then had to go over the compound for the prayer
meeting. When I returned, I called for him by name and he came all smiles - "Allie," I cried, "how is it?"
"Ya fita" (all gone) he said and together we thanked our Lord. I looked at the place and there was no
sign, only a scar mark where they had cut the flesh. What a wonderful Lord we have!
Beginnings
How I praised God for the opportunity of passing on the news of Salvation these dear people. Their lives
had been full of fear, fear of offending the spirits of their ancestors or of the evil god, JuJu - now through
our own joyful trust in the Lord and the Power of the Holy Spirit and great love of Jesus we were able to
pass on to them the same faith and freedom from fear that we had.
We were able to continue to teach the children to read and write in Hausa in the mornings, then if I was
not having Hausa lessons, I was able to trek miles along the narrow bush paths to a village and teach
them. Rex Green used to go away trekking for several weeks. He would have a carrier for all his
household stuff, food and camp bed and mosquito net. He would be able to stay several days, preaching
and praying for the sick before continuing his journey further on. It was a time of great thankfulness for
us all with all its natural shortcomings, for we felt we were where the Lord wanted us.
Marriage
When I had re-dedicated my life to God, I was thrilled to hear once more the call for service abroad.
Everything else in my life was put aside. Any offers of marriage that I had had did not include the
mission field to which I felt God was calling me and so were declined. I only wanted to do God’s will. I
had gone my own way long enough and now I felt I must go alone with Him. When we arrived at the
Mission Station, we were just four in number: two men and two women. The leader,
Ronald McCullough, was engaged to the lady with whom I had travelled out and Rex Green was engaged
to a lady who, strangely enough had had no missionary call, but had agreed to follow him later, rather
than break off the engagement. I did not see much of Brother Green, as he spent most of his time
trekking from one village to another. Mr. McCullough and his future wife worked more locally.
Sometimes when Mr. Green was home we were able to have some fellowship together, getting to know
one another’s background, and the success, or otherwise, of his work amongst the tribes.
In the rainy season we were thrown more together in the evenings and had some pleasant times singing
and playing a small portable organ I had been given. He sometimes spoke of the young lady to whom he
was engaged and I inwardly marvelled that she had no real desire to come to Nigeria as a missionary but
would come later on. During his journeying from place to place he always found the people pleased to
see him and at night, although only sleeping behind a rush mat door, they always respected his privacy.
He awakened one night to hear a most peculiar sound going on under his camp bed and on switching on
his torch saw a snake swallowing a frog! He had to get his man to remove the creatures, but the incident
was only one of many which we found amusing in retrospect.
One evening while sitting along on the upstairs veranda of my quarters meditating on the word of the
Lord and His wonderful dealings with me, I became aware that the Spirit of the Lord was moving on me.
I heard but voice but felt conscious of a finger pointing in the direction of Brother Green’s mud hut and
an inward voice saying, "There is your companion for your future life." I was astounded! for I had had no
feelings in that direction in an intimate way, apart from the fact that he was already engaged to be
married and was also ten years younger than me. I had put aside all thoughts of matrimony, and had no
desire to be married, yet the pressure of this impression was so strong upon me that I knew there was
only one way out and that was to seek the confirmation or otherwise from God’s Word. I was led to pray
that when I got under my mosquito net that night with my torch (no electricity!) and my Bible, He would
direct me straight away - no turning of leaves - to words to this effect, "This is the man of whom I spoke"
I had no idea they were in the Bible. Secretly, I thought, "This will close up the matter!" As arranged, I
got into bed and after a time of prayer, I carefully opened my Bible. Imagine my utter astonishment when
Beginnings
I found myself looking at these words, "Behold the man whom I spake to thee of" l Samuel 9:l7. I just
wept before the Lord in amazement.
I said, "What must I do, Lord?" He directed me to turn the page, and I read, "Do as occasion serve thee,
for God is with thee." 2 Samuel l0:7. I lay in bed for some time going over the wonder of what God had
shown me, but I did not want this way and felt (although I had marked the place in my Bible with the
date) I would try to forget this happening. A few weeks later I became ill. It might have been malaria, but
I did not seem to recover. One day I cried to the Lord, "What am I doing here being waited on whereas I
came to work for Thee?" Almost immediately I seemed to hear Him say, "Obey My voice and I will heal
you." I pondered this, then remembered God’s wonderful leading a few weeks earlier and remembered
what He had shown me. I was convicted. "Lord," I said, "if You will
change my heart toward him, I will do as you lead me." I got up in faith and, as I went downstairs, I saw
Brother Green returning from itinerary and as I looked at him and greeted him, I knew I felt drawn to
him.
That evening, in accordance with my promise to the Lord, I took my Bible and went in to the Church for
private prayer. I told the Lord I was prepared to do His will and how was I to go about it. He told me to
turn to His Word and straightaway I found myself reading, "Elisha prayed, ‘Open the young man’s eyes
that he may see.’" 2 Kings 6:7 - in other words, "Pray that it may be revealed to him." From that time I
knew what form my prayer was to take. No one knew of my experience, it was just between the Lord and
me. Night after night I continued praying in this manner. When he was home we sometimes took walks
together, but our friendship continued in an ordinary way and showed no deepening. One evening during
our supper he happened to tell Mr. McCullough that his young lady had received £50 towards her fare for
coming out. I felt an awful hypocrite and as soon as possible I went to private prayer. I told the Lord I
could pray that prayer no more and the Lord said, "There is no need, the thing is done." This amazed me
beyond measure and I asked the dear Lord for confirmation of this. As usual He directed me to His Word
and straightaway I opened to Numbers 22:3l, where we are told God opened Balaam’s eyes and he saw
an angel standing in his way hindering his progress. I just praised our gracious Lord for His guidance and
felt within myself much satisfaction that I need pray that way no more and that at some distant date He
would bring His Word to me to pass. However my thoughts were not His thoughts - the very next
evening Brother Green and I were together, and he was showing me a map of the villages he had visited
and of those he hoped to visit, when suddenly he stopped, looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Has
God revealed anything to you?" Inwardly I gasped but, outwardly calm, I said, "In what way, Brother
Green?" He said, "I feel sure God spoke to me just now." I said, "about what?" He said, "About
ourselves, you and me." I just did not know what to say, so he went on, "I feel I am making a mistake in
my marriage, that I should be going out of God’s will." Then he said, "I want to do the Lord’s will, do
you?" Knowing what I did, yet not wanting to speak plainly, all I could say was, "Yes." Then he
suggested we met in the morning early and talk some more. How thankfully I left him and could only fall
on my knees before the Lord marvelling at His ways.
Then I asked if I might reveal all the Lord had shown me. "If he asks me the same question again I take it
I can show from my Bible all You have shown me" and it was left like that. The next morning we met as
arranged and the first words he said were, "Now tell me has God revealed anything of this to you?" With
that I said, "Yes" and opened my Bible pointing out His very first word to me - underlined and dated, and
then all the others. Before finishing I said, "What made you ask?" He said, "I had had a dream in which I
was likened to Balaam pressing against the will of God." I just gasped, "The Lord showed me that" and I
Beginnings
showed from the Word the confirmation. We were both awe-struck at God’s dealings. He said, "I want to
do God’s will" and I said, "I also". There was no question of having fallen in love with one another - the
whole matter was deeper than that - this was an act of God and we desired His will.
Natural affection came after, but before that the serious matter of breaking off an engagement had to be
faced and we both realised that all this would mean much misunderstanding. However we knew that we
must obey the will of God at any price. Rex realised that this matter should have been dealt with before
he left England because it was obvious that the young lady had no call, however he did not care to finish
the engagement then and hoped all would be well. The storm that broke over our heads was fierce, but
the Lord sustained us and brought us through. Some time later when we returned to England on furlough
this was the first lady he visited and he was well received, she was happily married and conscious she
could never have faced the climate and hardships.
After the great testing time of misunderstanding Rex and I were able to exchange confidences of God’s
dealings with us and we found we were both called to the Faith life along the lines of George Muller. We
had a desire to prove God as he had and little realised, then, that this would be our way.
We were married on June l2, l935 at a C.M.S. Church in Zaria Province. Rex had to take the journey in
the first place about two weeks before that date as the Church in Zaria Province was some hundred miles
away, and the trains ran from our station every two days I remember rightly. However he left for Zaria
Province for the Mission Station in Wusasu and was well received by the minister, Rev. Guy Buller and
his wife. It was arranged that we would be given separate accommodation the day we arrived. They
would arrange a best man and sponsor for me, and then we were allocated the house of a missionary on
furlough for the few days we would be there while waiting for a returning train. I must make special
mention of the great kindness of these dear people to two missionaries of a different denomination whom
they had never met. We spent a few happy days with them and then returned to occupy Rex’s mud house
at Rahama.
God’s Healing Hand
On our arrival at Rahama we found that Mr. McCullough and his wife had gone to another distant district
in which they were interested and we carried on with our work in and around Rahama. One instance
stands out vividly before me and that was the miraculous healing of a young lad of about 9 years.
The circumstances leading up to this were particularly outstanding. You will remember my mentioning
our occasional visits to a Muslim village - at their invitation - to take our message of the Lord Jesus.
After one of these visits a man gave himself to the Lord Jesus and because of the threats of the people, he
took his wife and young boy up to our Mission Station and made his home among the believers. For
some weeks he received instruction along the Bible lines and gradually proved himself a firm disciple.
After a while he asked to go out to distant villages with the good news and was finally allowed to go
evangelising, leaving his wife and child on our compound. One day it was reported to us that the wife
had returned to the Muslim village with the child.
We were troubled on account of the man who was away on the Lord’s work and could only pray that
God would bring the woman back. One morning she came to the pastor’s house carrying the child in her
arms, laid him down on the ground and went out again. The child was in a desperate condition, quite
unconscious and suffering from poisoning - obviously the work of an enemy of the father. The pastor
sent over for us and as we laid our hands on the child’s burning body, it was apparent that unless our
Beginnings
Lord intervened the child would die. I think that for two hours we battled in prayer for the lad, yet every
time the Pastor leaned over him and called his name, there was no response. We were almost despairing
when my husband was led to pray for the return of the mother. Before many minutes had passed the rush
mat was pushed aside and she appeared. My husband took her aside and questioned her on her life in the
village and she confessed she had erred. He told her this was the reason for her son’s condition. She knelt
down and confessed her guilt before the Lord and asked forgiveness - the Pastor leaned down once again
and called the boy’s name - he immediately answered with open eyes and the fever left him. How we
praised God for his deliverance. The mother gathered him in her arms and carried him to the hut
allocated to her and gave him food. The next day he was running around with the other children perfectly
whole - to God be all the praise and glory.
The Call to Move
One day two men who had travelled up from South Eastern Nigeria to where our Mission Station was,
some 500 miles distance, called on Mr. McCullough, the leader, to ask him to send missionaries to them,
as they were desirous of hearing about the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. The leader replied that he could
do nothing to help them, but suggested, as an afterthought, that they had better come over and ask
Brother Green. This they did and we felt we could not send them away until we had got the mind of God
on it.
We told them to stay with someone for a day or so, while we prayed over the matter. We began to feel
strongly that this was a call of God and, although it would mean resigning from the Mission and stepping
out in faith for His provision, our confidence was in Him. However we decided to get confirmation from
the Word before making our decision. That night we both went to the Word separately and the next
morning, on comparing notes, we were surprised to find we both had the same Word: "Prepare thy stuff
for removing." Ezekiel l2:3. We called the men and sent them home with the message that we would
come as soon as they sent word to us that they were ready for our coming and had a suitable place for us
to live in. Meanwhile a Christian Nigerian living in Jos not many miles from Rahama offered us
accommodation in his house until we were ready to leave.
The New Venue
We said our farewells to Rahama and duly left for the Nigerian friend in Jos. This place was very
beautiful, with homes for many European government officials with well-built villas. The Nigerian
friend’s house was large and well able to receive us and our equipment, and we were able to spend some
weeks while awaiting news from South Eastern Nigeria, teaching and leading the Church services which
were conducted generally by
Nigerians. At last the news reached us that the Ibo tribe were ready to receive us and would await our
arrival with excitement. Meanwhile we counted the financial cost and found, if taking all our equipment
with us, that we would have insufficient money to complete our journey. This disturbed me, but not so
my husband, who affirmed that if God was leading us to this tribe, He would supply the means and that
no one else need be told of our problem - only the Lord. I anxiously examined our belongings to see if
there were some things we could leave behind. During these efforts of mine I was overcome by a great
spirit of heaviness. It was obvious to me that there was nothing that could be left behind.
When moving from one place to another there would be absolutely nothing for European use. Camp
beds, mosquito nets, bedding and blanket, pails, saucepans, bowls, cooking utensils, a zinc bath, wearing
Beginnings
apparel etc. had to go with us. I sat down in the middle of it all and informed Rex there was nothing we
could do without. His reply was, "Have it all packed up and I will go with the young men to the station to
get it weighed up and its transport paid for." On agreeing to this a deep sense of peace swept over me and
the heaviness of spirit left me. When he returned from the station eh told me it was all paid for and we
had just enough money left to take us half-way on our journey. The next morning we were aware of a
large crowd of native people gathered in the courtyard and an awful sense of frustration came over me
for a moment, until I remembered the unfailing faithfulness of our Lord and my husband’s faith.
Before we left the house the owner and his friends gathered with us for a time of prayer and I must
confess that I had hoped my husband would mention our financial need in his prayer. not so!
Never a hint, that need lay between us and God. However while we were praying, the Lord gave me, in
my heart, a revelation. He said when we got to the booking office a man would come up to my husband
and ask to buy our portable organ - we were to let him have it! Then all recollection of this revelation
was taken from my mind and only a deep sense of peace settled on me. We rose from our knees, headed
the crowd of laughing and singing people and moved toward the station. When we got to the booking
office, I said to Rex, "What are you going to do?" He replied, "Trust God every step of the way." He
said, "You get into the carriage and wait for me there." I saw him coming along the platform and was
watching his face to see if there was any change but he looked the same and, as he got to the carriage
window, I asked what happened and he replied, "I have booked to Kafanchung" - just half-way! I was
staggered, then he started looking around him and saying, "Who is that man?" I said "What man?" He
leaned over the window and said softly to me, "Here is a man asking to buy your portable organ." I just
gasped - only then remembering God’s word to me - "Let him have it," I said, "the Lord told me this
while in prayer and I had forgotten." Rex said, "The Lord told you!" and then he called the man. He said,
"It is my wife’s - ask her." I said, "I am willing to sell it." On his asking how much I wanted for it, I said,
"£5", the exact amount of our need and without the usual haggling, he said, "That is what I am prepared
to pay." So the organ was sold and our financial need met by a wonder-working God. I would refer here
to a
promise that the householder had made us when we arrived first. He said, "When you go to my old home,
I will give you £5." I therefore asked the Lord to remind him of this promise and hoped my husband
would refer to it, but no so! Rex was looking to God, and afterwards the words of that hymn came to me,
"The arm of flesh may fail you, we dare not trust our own." He found a way, praise His Name.
Our Arrival in Ummahia
This was South Eastern Nigeria near Mary Slessor’s district. Quite a number of people were waiting to
meet us. They were of the Ibo tribe and knew some Hausa language, but most spoke broken English. It
was tropical midday and we found we were to trek five miles, single file along the bush path to our
destination. There were several carriers and they led the way and so with a quiet prayer for strength we
set off on our journey. I had spasmodic conversation with the man walking in front of me and managed
to learn from him the usual greeting words. If I remember rightly it was "N’Derwo". This took some
mastering, but I practised as I travelled. After we had walked some distance I became aware of a great
noise, like the roaring of lions, and on asking what it meant, he said "The people know you are coming."
Apparently our carriers were the first to be seen. They had emerged from the bush path into a large open
space which was the market and hundreds of women were there buying and selling, but when they saw
our carriers, a great cry of welcome rose up and they came running from all directions to await our
Beginnings
coming.
When we eventually emerged I found I was the centre of attraction because, in those days, many had
never seen a white woman. They stood smiling and bowing at a respectful distance and I was gazed at
from head to foot. My hair, my colour, my dress, my shoes were all subject to scrutiny, meanwhile with
smiles of friendship I made use of the greeting word. Finally we went on our way again, across the
market and into the narrow bush path with the cries of welcome still echoing in our ears. At long last we
arrived at a native settlement and a mud hut was pointed out as being designated for us. Boys were only
then sweeping the pathway leading up to it and on entering, to our horror we discovered a great gaping
hole in the roof, also no mats at the doors for privacy, and there were two doors one on either side - or
rather openings. We were assured this was reserved for us but naturally showed that we could not regard
it as a permanency. The hole in the roof alone would prove no protection in the rainy season. However
we made the best of it, as night was coming on. We put up our camp beds with the very necessary
mosquito nets, but all our possessions were stacked outside unprotected from thieves. The next day we
were astonished to see a procession of women passing through the hut from one opening to another
viewing us unreservedly. After prayer, Rex decided to borrow a bicycle and go with another man into the
nearby town to see if we could find a more suitable home. Praise the Lord He went before us and they
arrived at chief Ikoro’s house, which he had had built on European lines and had an upstairs vacant flat,
which he was only too pleased to let to us. How we praised God for His leading. This chief was not a
Christian, but God used him to offer us the use of a large animal barn
for meetings. He was pleased to have white people living in his house and of course, being chief, he
attended the meetings and naturally his people came also. How we praised God for this remarkable
confirmation of His guidance! Later on we were to find a still more wonderful reason for our Lord’s
leading in this way. Meanwhile, instead of preaching the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, as we had been led
to expect, we found these people were unsaved, so we proceeded to teach the Way of Salvation. This had
to be done through a second-rate interpreter as the people were mostly Ibos and were not too acquainted
with Hausa. However, we were conscious of the Lord being with us and guiding us. We had our
teaching, including the Baptism of Holy Ghost, outlined in English and Ibo, so that the many men who
visited us in our upstairs flat could take one away and read it for themselves.
We often used to say to one another, "Where are the people to whom we felt God leading us, these dear
souls need salvation and we praise God for this marvellous opportunity, but we are sure there are others
who know Him, somewhere?" Then it happened - one Sunday afternoon, as usual, we received two
young men who spoke English well and had come to ask about our teaching. When they read our
pamphlet they said, "We have received the Holy Spirit and have spoken in tongues." We were thrilled -
here were the people! We found they were under a spiritual man called Brother Wogu and that they had
several churches operating under his leading, and had been praying for a year for European leaders who
knew this truth.
We asked them how they came to find us and they said that while praying that morning, the Spirit of God
through the prophetic word had instructed them to take a train to Ummahia Station where they would
find a white man and woman who would instruct them in Holy Spirit moving. They arrived at the Station
and, on enquiry, were told of us living in Chief Ikoro’s house. Thus our wonderful God showed us the
way and the reason for our coming. Of course, we got in touch with their leader and found him a real
man of God. He had been receiving instruction from a South African man by post and remarkably
enough his name was Norman Green, whereas my husband was Rex Norman Green. This man’s
Beginnings
instruction had been faithful in every way and Brother Wogu had been lead to leave the Faith Tabernacle,
where the work and gifts of the Holy Spirit were not received. He had many who desired the deeper truth
and so they formed themselves into a Church of Pentecost. By the time we met them they had formed
themselves into several gatherings under leaders appointed by Brother Wogu.
We shall never forget the first gathering of Spirit-filled Ibo Christians to whom he took us. It was a thrill,
and how we rejoiced at the leading of God. These dear ones needed deeper instruction on the Word and
God was answering their prayers. Also, and this was another cause for praise, Wogu was able to speak to
our own gathering in their own language and so we knew they were getting the Word of God faithfully.
We were greatly uplifted by the wonderful way in which our Lord had brought us in touch with these
Pentecostal groups who were praying for white leadership and, at the same time, allowed us to form a
gathering of unbelievers to whom we could preach the Gospel. Chief Ikoro was a worldly man, proud of
having white people and willing to have his large barn
prepared each Saturday for our Sunday services. Brother Wogu was able to preach in their language and
we felt sure the blessing of God rested on the Word.
During all this time it was amazing how God met our needs. We took no offerings, but from time to time
someone would bring us a fowl and eggs. For finance we looked to God and He never failed. Friends
would be moved on in the H homeland to send us money gifts, which always arrived at the time of need.
We had a cook boy (he cooked on the ashes on the floor - in a pan, of course, but if he was not watchful
the dog would get it first!) The Fulani women brought us butter and milk for which we paid them
weekly. Every fortnight my husband would go to the station for our mail and every fortnight letters
would arrive and one or two would have enclosures of small gifts for our needs for the coming two
weeks. Every other fortnight the supply had to be more because each month we had our girl worker and
interpreter, cook boy etc. to pay for this work, and each fortnight that need was met. We never had to tell
our staff there was no money to pay them - if the Lord had asked us, "Lacked ye anything?" we could
answer, "Nothing, Lord." Of course we had our tests and inward qualms when just before mail day the
last penny was spent, but there, in the mail the need was met. Never too much, but just enough.
One day my husband returned from the station with empty hands saying, "No post from England at all." I
just gazed spellbound - what would we do? - then he drew out of his pocket a letter from a fellow
missionary in Lagos, containing a gift! Just enough, and that dear brother had never contacted us ever
before or after! Just that once, led by the Lord because the Lord foresaw the hold-up of our mail! On
another occasion we received just one letter from a lady I never knew personally or met since. It
contained money sufficient and the following story - "I had some tithe money put by and, as I cleaned up
my grate, I asked the Lord what I must do with it. Your face came before me. you had been a speaker at a
women’s meeting and you were telling of your call to Africa. He said, ‘Send it to her’. I said, ‘But I do
not know where she is in Africa.’ I knew your brother but did not know where he lived, so I just
committed the matter to the Lord for His guidance."
Some days later, I was getting on a tram and your brother was getting off it. I just let the tram go and
caught hold of your brother - ‘Tell me your sister’s address,’ I cried, ‘I have to write to her.’ We went to
the kerb side and he took out his address book, tore a scrap of paper and hurriedly wrote your address
down, then we both went our ways, but God had arranged that meeting." As God’s ways are perfect, the
money was sent and arrived at a time when hers would be the only letter to arrive and the need was met. I
never heard from her again, she was just used that once, but what a wonderful God we have and what a
Beginnings
perfect timetable He has. I am overwhelmed as I write, if we had been great evangelists, known
world-wide - but mere unknowns! Oh, He is too marvellous for words. And so the days went by, we
helped in Brother Wogu’s Church and amongst his people and he helped in ours.
One day my husband said, "I feel the Lord is preparing us to go home on furlough." and I felt the same.
However, the natural question arose, "What about our fare?", and we agreed to pray about it. The Lord
gave me this word, "Go home to your friends and tell them what great things He has done for you."
These instructions were going to open up to us one of the most amazing and outstanding experiences of
the unfailing and gracious Guidance of our wonderful Lord. I have called it The Red Sea.
The Red Sea
We were with our backs against the wall, as the hymn writer says, "No way out, no way back, no other
way but through". We had agreed that our time for furlough was drawing near. The Lord indicated to us
in several ways, pointing to our homeland and telling us to make the necessary arrangements for the
work. Of course the question of finance arose and this we continually put before the Lord. We had no
society behind us to whom we could appeal, even if our faith stand permitted it. We wrote home to our
families, saying we felt the Lord would be bringing us home shortly but, of course, no mention of
financial need.
Day by day we continued our preparation, packing some things for travel and others for storing, because
at that time we had no idea that it would be many years before returning and then under different
circumstances, owing to the outbreak of war, which was looming some distance ahead unknown to us.
Gradually the Churches were being prepared for our going and needless to say the fortnightly mail was
eagerly awaited, but yielded no more than our usual needs.
One day my husband called my attention to the sailing list which was fastened to the wall of our living
room and he said, "See that vessel and date of sailing - that is the vessel and date on which we shall sail
(about six weeks ahead). I see nothing beyond this." I said, "How can you say this when there is no sign
of passage money?" However when young men workers came to see us, he would give them the date and
the name of the boat on which we were leaving. They, of course, had no idea that we had no money
behind us. I would walk out of the room saying, "Why does he say that? He is burning all our bridges
behind us."
About that time God gave me a remarkable dream. I woke up laughing because, at first, it just seemed
funny, but as I began to relate it to my husband, its true significance gripped us. I dreamed that we were
both standing on some high ground overlooking the sea, which we knew we had to cross, but did not
know how. Suddenly my husband said, "What others have done, I can do" and he left my side. I wanted
something easier and just at my feet lay a path, while a voice said, "Go that way, you will get there
without any trouble", but I found my feet would not move. I thought I would look to see how my
husband was getting on. To my surprise he was almost across the sea - walking over it, his feet resting on
something unseen - perfectly level and above the water. A voice said, "Watch, everything hands on the
last few steps, watch!". As I watched he seemed to slow down and take high, carefully thought out steps
and then he reached the other side, stepped up and over, and as he did so he was dressed, to my
astonishment in an overcoat and bowler hat - it was this that made me laugh as I awoke. Rex said,
"Walking on water - that is a walk of faith. It seems that is how we will be led."
During those days the Scriptures were being opened up to us in marvellous ways and the Red Sea
Beginnings
continually came before us. One day the word came distinctly to me, Exodus 14:2 about encamping by
the sea and I was alarmed and cried, "Oh no, Lord, please let us see our passage money before we leave
here."
The days were going swiftly by with no sign of a break - our people wrote that they were glad we were
coming home. About this time I received a letter from a veteran missionary with whom I had travelled
out. It was addressed to my first mission station in Northern Nigeria and in my maiden name. We had
never corresponded, so she never knew of my marriage and subsequent change of mission. How it ever
reached me living then five hundred miles south and under my married name is a miracle in itself. She
wrote apologising for not having kept in touch and saying she was shortly going on furlough.
My husband said it would be easy to see her en route from where we were now living, as she would pass
through our local station and then he said, "Perhaps she is travelling at the same time as us and on the
same ship"! I just laughed and said, "You can talk - what about our passage money?" But he replied that
this was in God’s hands. I wrote telling her where we were living now and that we would run down to the
station and shake hands with her if she would let us know when she was going. She replied that she was
travelling on such and such a date and going on the Accra - the very day and date on which the Lord had
shown my husband we would travel. I replied that we would meet her at the station, but made no mention
of our going also. Our plans continued to go ahead with a view to our leaving and our farewell meetings
with the various churches were held.
Our mail was due on the Monday, the day we were due to leave, and my hopes were centred on that. On
the Sunday we had our farewell with our local Church and the people had made arrangements to see us
off. Yet the mail arrived with nothing at all for us, the first time this had happened.
Surely the miracle of God’s provision would be met before we left for the station. The people were all
gathered in the courtyard below, laughing and singing choruses - not a soul knew of our utter dependence
on the Lord for even our train fare. We had given away things that would not keep and I sat on the
bedstead crying in my heart for a word from Him. I said, "Lord, just listen to the people, if only we could
slip out some back way and see how you were providing for us." He just led me to open my Bible which
I held and I read, "Arise, take all the people (of war) with thee and go." My husband said, "What did the
Lord say?" I showed him and he said, "This is it, come let us go and remember, as you go step by step,
He will go before." I just got up and it was as he had said. Faith began to grow as we walked down the
stairs and, as we headed the crowd of natives laughing and singing, we laughed also.
Of course the enemy raged, "You will make fools of these people, they will never believe again", he said.
One thing I was dreading was meeting the lady missionary who would be on that train. As we arrived at
the station the train was just pulling in and there was my friend looking out of the window and waving,
and she was holding a tin in her hand. We hurried forward, asking God to give us suitable words and to
give her understanding. In reply to her greeting I said, "We are coming on the train." "Are you sailing
also?" she asked. I replied, "Miss H, we go a step at a time". She said, "I have met others led a similar
way". I got in her carriage and she said, "You won’t need the tea I have here in the tin, but you may be
glad of the Nigerian money on the top". She handed it to me just as my husband came into the carriage
and I turned and passed it to him - he immediately went out again straight to the booking office - it was
our train fare and a little over for an night’s lodging, that my friend had been holding out of the carriage
window as the train steamed into the station!!. He had not failed!
Beginnings
There were no shamed faces, only sad ones at parting. What a deliverance! As the train moved out, we
were waving from a corridor window and my husband said, "Can you doubt that the rest of our need will
be supplied." I could not doubt! When we got back into the carriage our friend said, "Where did your
husband go - to the booking office?" I said, "Yes." She just laughed heartily and we joined her, but we
said no more although we knew that by then she realised our position. As we neared Port Harcourt she
asked what we would do and we said we would have our two boxes put on deck and see the manager.
She finally left us to go on board, her luggage was properly labelled. The manager saw us and we told
him we hoped to sail, so he chalked the destination on the cases and had them put on deck. We then left
to go to the C.M.S. Hostel for the night. The story of the Red Sea had been continually with us and our
reading was, "The Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night." The next morning
we sought the Lord’s face for guidance separately. My husband got up from his knees and said he had
been instructed to phone (there was one in the room) and book a cabin. This he did and there was one
vacant. He asked what the Lord had told me and I said, "All I could get was, ‘Go to Miss H’ (our lady
traveller) but I said, "That can’t be right, she has done all she could." He made no reply and said he was
off to the Manager’s Office and he left me. We had no doubt we were to sail on that ship and perhaps the
fare would be cabled by someone on which the Lord suddenly moved. I could not take the word given
me seriously, so after a while I left the hostel and made my way to sit with my husband in the Manager’s
Office.
We were praying inwardly desperately and the time for the ships sailing was very near. Again and again
the word to me came pressing on me and at last, I jumped up and said, "I must go to Miss H." I took a
Nigerian lad with me and went on; board and asking where she was, I was told, "In the writing room." As
soon as she saw me she came toward me, "Anything come?" she said. "No, I replied, we are still
waiting." Then she said an amazing thing, "My dear, I can pay your passages." I gazed in astonishment.
"You, Miss H." "Yes, but we must hurry as time is almost up."
Then I was led to say an entirely unpremeditated thing - I only know it was the leading of God, "Would
you be prepared to put this in writing?" "Certainly" and she seized a piece of notepaper and wrote, "I am
prepared to pay the passages of Mr. and Mrs. Green, my credentials are (so and so) and I have travelled
this route for many years." "There, will that do?" and I thanked her and gave the paper to the lad with me
to
take to the master. Then she said, "We must hurry," and we met Rex coming along the deck. I just had
time to tell him Miss H was paying our passages, as she hurried him off to the Purser’s Office. When we
got there she told the Purser she could pay our fares by English cheque, when, to our great astonishment,
the Purser said could he could not take an English cheque. We were astounded. This was the end. Miss H
was like one inspired and even as we were turning towards the gangway, she called out, "Keep your eyes
on that office."
As we moved towards the gangway the Lord said to me, "You are on this ship and I intend you to stay." I
could only say, "How Lord?" as I went to take my first step down. I had to draw back as a lad was almost
up and I saw it was the one with the piece of paper of Miss H’s in his hand. Our eyes instinctively
followed him. The Manager and the Purser read it and then the Purser put up his hand, "We will take
your cheque, Miss H." What an experience! Tried to the 12th hour. A few seconds later the gangway
came up, our boxes returned to deck and the Red Sea crossing began.
My husband asked what had been on the note the messenger brought and I told him for he had not seen
Beginnings
it! Tested right up to the last moment, but He never fails! We went with Miss H to her cabin and our tears
of thanksgiving flowed freely. Then she told us of her side of the experience. It appears that the post
brought her pass book from the bank and her lady supporter had sent her twice the amount she needed.
She said to the Lord, "How is this, Lord? I feel ashamed to be leaving the country with this sum of
money", but the Lord told her all was well and she would need it. There was no question of it being
loaned. This was not God’s way. She wrote after and said she had never had such a wonderful furlough.
Always she had been expected to pay her way, but this time everything was supplied, she was richly
blessed of God and her needs supplied. We were offered a loan by a kind Christian missionary to take us
up country but had to refuse it and wonderfully Rex’s father sent us a letter of welcome and enclosed
money in case we needed it. Praise God, the experience was testing but how it proved the faithfulness of
our Lord. The final sequel came when Rex’s father took him around the shops and he returned dressed in
a warm overcoat and a bowler hat - my dream fulfilled to the letter..
From time to time it was our privilege to relate to gatherings this wonderful way of the Lord. Souls were
greatly blessed and encouraged. We all learned this, that one must be definitely sure of the leading of the
Lord beyond doubt and then step out in Him. The Lord had said to Moses as they faced the Red Sea,
"Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward." and as the rod of faith was lifted up - so the way
opened up!
These memories of mine go back to 1930 and 1935. I would have liked to have been a reaper, for to reap
would have been much more rewarding, but in those days Africa was very different and the sowing of
the Word was a great necessity. Our mission leader had already built a one storied house of brick, while
dotted around the compound were the mud walled, grass thatched huts of the various helpers including
the Nigerian pastor, a well respected and faithful man of God. The church was being repaired so the
meetings were held outside the mission house under the veranda. Such meetings were attended by a lot of
people from the surrounding villages. It was for these folk that we prayed especially - for they were spirit
and ancestor worshippers or JuJu followers of their evil god. They lived in continual fear of offending
these - for they believed they would bring great misfortune to them. They were continually making crude
altars containing gifts.
Here was the ground, we had the seed - but was it hard ? In some places more than others. There were
times when we were invited to take our message to the Muslim village at the foot of the hill where the
mission was built. They would sit around their white robes folded around them, listening and nodding
their heads at some of the things that we said. When we had finished we would ask, "What do you think
of Jesus Christ now?" They would reply, "He was a good man, but Mohammed is the Prophet of God".
Always the same answer, hard ground ? Yes, but we had sown the seed and we left the result with God.
Amongst the spirit-worshippers, however, we were conscious of the movement of the Spirit of God.
They began to see that we were not afraid of our God for He loved us and had sent us from our homes
and families to tell them that because He loved them He sent His only Son to die for their sins as well as
ours, and that He rose again from the dead and was willing to receive them as His own also.
Following our return from Nigeria we lived for a short time between my mother’s home in
Weston-Super-Mare and Rex’s home in Bristol, but we began to receive requests from various churches
to tell of our experiences. My husband was a great admirer of that great man of God George Muller, and
when we stepped out in faith in our missionary work. All our needs were brought to God only. Rex’s
grandparents knew a lot about the Muller homes in Bristol, and no doubt he learned much of the faith life
Beginnings
from that grand man. We were able to prove for ourselves that "those who trust Him wholly find Him
wholly true.
We eventually went to help in a young men’s hostel in North London and while working there God
promised us a son. This was surprising as we had given up all thought of having a family. Our son was
born in January 1939 and we were making arrangements to return to Nigeria at the end of that year. This
proved impossible because of the outbreak of war with Germany. The work in Nigeria was handed over
to the care of an American missionary society and we were pleased to hear, from time to time of its good
progress.
My husband took up war work until he received a call to got to South Africa to help in native work there.
He was released from his work for this purpose but I was not allowed to go with him as at that time I was
expecting our second child. When the war ended I was able to join my husband in South Africa and we
worked for a while in a mission station at Boksburg near Johannesburg. We later moved to a suburb of
that city and took up secular jobs. We became attached to the Full Gospel Church. We shall never forget
the wonderful ministry and friendship of Pastor and Mrs. M. Oliver.
About sixteen years must have elapsed before once more the call came to leave our daily occupation and
return to Nigeria. This proved a great sacrifice as we had to leave our children behind, and Pastor and
Mrs. Oliver offered to care for them.
I can never forget what that parting meant, especially to David who found it at the age of eleven very
difficult to understand.
Although we were not stationed at the same place we had the privilege of being taken around to tour the
places in which we had originally worked. We also had the joy of meeting up once again with brother
Wogu who was then working with the American Assemblies of God. It was a great joy to re-visit that
place where he had received us as the leaders for whom he had been praying. Previously it had been just
a mud walled grass-roofed building. We were delighted to see that a large Bible school had been built on
the spot. How we praised the Lord for His goodness!
Much could be recorded of God’s dealings with us during the war years and afterwards, before our return
to Nigeria, but this must be left for a later record, as God permits. It is my prayer that this account may
be used by the Lord to renew and continue faith in a wonder working God who has said, "I will never
leave you or forsake you."
God could say to us, "Lacked ye anything?"
And we answer firmly, "Nothing Lord".
© David A. Green as web document April 1999

http://www.green-bd.freeserve.co.uk/index.html
dgreen_uk@bigfoot.com

A Sower Went Out

Încărcat de

Informații document

Titlu original

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

A Sower Went Out

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Beginnings

A SOWER WENT OUT

events to take control.

Out of God’s Will

© David A. Green as web document April 1999

S-ar putea să vă placă și