The others were reluctant to eat the food, but Awful said, “Well, the Lord says in His book, if you eat any deadly thing, it won’t harm you—so here goes!” He took a bite, chewed it, and said, “Not too bad. I’ve eaten worse in some dives in New York City.”
The rest of them managed to eat a few bites, which brought Beecham’s approval: “Good show!”
When they finished the meal, they said their goodbyes to the people. The Pahns crowded around, some of them reaching out to touch the visitors. A young woman, about sixteen, reached out timidly to touch Katie’s blond hair, then drew back.
“How do you say ‘sister’ in Pahn?” Katie asked Beecham.
He told her, and she smiled at the girl and put her hand out, saying, “Cetay.”
The maiden’s face lit up in a smile and she took Katie’s hand, repeating “Cetay! Cetay!” many times.
When they arrived at their wagon again for the long trip home, Barney said to Katie, “That was fine, the way you called her ‘sister.’ ”
“You did well too, Barney, but I feel so helpless.”
“I know what you mean, Katie.” He smiled at her, noting the lines of fatigue around her eyes. “But we’re in Africa, and that’s what counts.”
“Yes, that’s what counts,” she smiled. “But I wonder what it was we ate.”
“I don’t want to know!” he laughed. “Though I guess we’d better have a big supply of Beecham’s hot sauce before we leave for the interior. I’ve got a gut feeling we’re going to see more of their ‘delicacies’!”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The Company Decides
“Do you know the most difficult problem missionaries encounter in Africa?”
Stanley Beecham was looking out the window of his hotel room, idly watching the flow of black humanity below on the sun-dried walkways. Along with Andy, Barney and Gardner, he had just returned from the government office, where he had filled out more papers—an endless task, it seemed.
“I suppose disease,” Andy replied. He was sitting on the Englishman’s bed looking at a map of the country.
“Or maybe the wild animals,” Barney added.
“Neither.” Beecham turned and regarded the three men seriously. “The most crucial problem missionaries face is . . . other missionaries.”
“Oh, come now, Beecham!” Andy protested. “I can’t believe that!”
“I can,” Awful Gardner said. “And I think we’ve already seen a bit of it.”
A fleeting smile touched Beecham’s lips. He was somewhat reserved, a manner from his younger years as a British officer. But beneath his stolid exterior was a streak of passion he could not always conceal—like now.
“Blast it all!” he burst out angrily. “I wish you’d never heard of Reverend Myron Hansen!”
His impetuous outburst startled the men, Beecham saw, and he toned down. “Well, now—I don’t suppose I mean that literally.”
“I’d think,” Andy said thoughtfully, “since we’re all here for the same reason, and since we’re more or less a little band of brothers surrounded by those who don’t understand us, we ought to be very close to one another.”
“Basically, of course, that’s true,” Beecham nodded. He stood erect, like a soldier, trying to convince the newcomers of the problems they would face—which he had learned the hard way over the years. Now he wished to prepare them as well as possible.
“All missionaries are strong-willed people,” he continued, choosing his words carefully. “If they weren’t, they’d never get to the mission field. It takes great determination. So what do we have when they meet fellow workers on the field? People who are accustomed to fighting for what they think is right. And when you have that attitude in a group, what will naturally occur?”
“A blow-up,” Awful nodded wisely. “Couldn’t be no other way!”
“Exactly!” Beecham exclaimed. “We all want the same thing, to see the gospel proclaimed and the kingdom grow. To see souls saved. But we sometimes don’t agree on the most effective way to pursue these goals—and there it is.”
Andy thought of the talks he’d had with Dorothy and her father and said frankly, “This is what’s happened between you and Reverend Hansen, I take it.”
“Right! Myron has done a great work in Monrovia. I praise God for it, and pray that it will grow mightily. But we’ll never win Africa for Jesus by staying in the cities and large villages.”
“But it’s necessary to have a base, isn’t it?” Andy insisted. “A foundation to consolidate the rest of the work?”
“Ah, you’ve been listening to Myron—or perhaps his lovely daughter?”
Andy flushed. The missionary had touched a sore spot. “Well, yes, I have.” He became defensive, unable to hide the stubbornness in his face. “I’m not saying we shouldn’t go into the interior. On the contrary, we must. But we ought to plan carefully. If we rush off into the bush without being prepared, without support, we may not make it.”
Beecham clamped his lips tightly, fearing to express his strong feelings. He had gone to tremendous effort to bring these missionaries to Africa and didn’t want his project derailed by anyone. He had already made plans to place the new recruits in strategic locations in the interior—and now there was a strong possibility Hansen had convinced them to remain in the cities.
Breaking the long silence, he said slowly, “I can’t argue with you about that. I’ll only say that Reverend Hansen has been in this city for several years—and not once has he attempted to send the gospel to the tribes living in the interior. Well, that’s between him and God. But God has told me to carry the Word to those who’ve never heard the name of Jesus—and that means getting to them.”
“I’m with you there!” Gardner said.
Beecham looked toward Barney and saw that the young man was having a struggle. Hates to go against his brother, Beecham surmised. But he was a wise man, and knew when to push ahead and when to pause and give people time to think.
“Look, you must decide this among yourselves,” he said. “Pray about it, seek God—but there’s little time to waste. I’d like to get started this week, to get you all in place. I’ll make the preparations, and you can let me know your decision as soon as you make it.”
The three men left the hotel and made their way back to the mission compound. Gardner spoke easily of the matter of getting ready to leave, but Andy said little. It had been obvious to Barney that his brother had come to agree with some of Hansen’s methods that he’d been advocating to the group. And the young woman, Dorothy, had spent much time with Andy, the two of them going all over the city, working in the various outreaches of the City Mission.
When they reached the compound, Andy said, “We’d better meet tonight and have this thing out.”
“Have what out, lad?” Gardner asked. His sharp eyes rested on Andy, and he added, “My mind’s made up.”
“Well, mine isn’t!” Andy snapped. “And some of the others aren’t absolutely sure either.”
Awful gave him a steady look. “We were sure when we left America, Andy. It’s this easy livin’ that’s got you confused. God didn’t call me to Africa to eat off silver plates and have servants wait on me hand and foot.”
“That’s not fair!” Andy spewed. “You’re not looking at this thing right. Go pray about it. I’ll tell the others, and we’ll discuss it tonight,” he said and stalked off.
“You know, dear boy,” Awful said to Barney, “sometimes when a man is determined to get his way and is trying to persuade others to follow—he’ll say, ‘Go pray about it.’ But he doesn’t really mean that. What he means is, ‘I’m bound and determined, and you’re a fool if you disagree with me!’ ”
Barney smiled briefly, but said, “I’m worried, Awful. This could split the Company.”
“Aye, that it could. Some are waverin’ right now. I’d be surprised if Lily goes to rough it in the bush, and Slim won’t go without her.”
“Yes. She’s already talking about
a nice house here in Monrovia.”
“And I suppose that young lady Dorothy has helped her find one?”
“I suppose so.”
“That young woman’s got wiles like a serpent!”
“Awful, don’t say that! She loves the Lord well enough.”
“Aye, but she’s leadin’ that brother of yours around as if he had a ring in his nose! Andy’s easily impressed, lad. He sees all their big doings—the schools, the hospital, the big church—and he’s seen how it is in the small villages. He’s a man who likes big things, dear boy, and that girl’s at his elbow tellin’ him that he’s just the man to lead the whole show!”
Barney looked at Gardner with apprehension. The Australian was confirming what Winslow himself had noticed—and feared. Now he said, “I don’t know how we can do anything about it, Awful.”
Gardner had come to know Barney well and perceived the root of his problem. “Dear boy, I think you’re goin’ to have to do something that will be very difficult. I know how much you look up to your brother, but you may have to stand against him.”
“I—I can’t do that!”
“You never have, have you, lad? All your life you’ve stepped back and accepted whatever Andy said.”
“He’s so much more able than I am, Awful, that’s all.”
“No, that’s not all, Barney!” Awful objected. “This isn’t a matter of bein’ smart or able. It’s a matter of followin’ the will of God, and in my judgment, you’re closer to God than Andy.”
“That’s not so, Awful!”
“It is. But you can’t see it. The only way a person can get close to God is to get broken. You’ve been through a lot, lad, and Andy hasn’t—not yet. He’s such an able man, with great gifts and talents. And he makes some decisions based on his natural ability, not on what God wants. He doesn’t do it on purpose, not at all. He just hasn’t learned to wait on God.”
Barney shook his head dejectedly. “I think his mind’s made up, Awful. And I can’t do anything.”
“You can if you stand up for what God’s put in your heart, lad! Tonight in the meetin’, Andy’s goin’ to do all he can to convince the others that we ought to stay here in the city. Well, you’ve just got to go against that idea. You’ve got to make them listen to you.”
All afternoon Barney wrestled with Gardner’s advice. He was certain that Awful’s suggestion was impossible. Never had he won any contest when Andy was involved. How could he win now? Barney’s mind was in turmoil and he stayed in his room, praying and reading his Bible. He didn’t go to supper, and as the time for the meeting drew near, he felt deeply depressed.
It was nearly seven when Andy came to the room. “Come on, Barney. It’s time for the meeting.”
Barney followed him across the open compound to the schoolroom where the others were waiting. He took a seat, but Andy remained on his feet, taking charge as usual. “Well, this shouldn’t take too long, I think,” he said. “You all know the decision we have to make, and I’m sure most of you have prayed through. Let me explain the options again before we vote.”
Andy was fair enough in his presentation, Barney thought. The way he put it, it wasn’t a question of whether or not they should take the gospel inland, but when that should be done. He sketched a beautiful picture of how the interior could be evangelized after the base had been built in the city. While that was being done, he said, they could plan crusades to take the gospel to the more backward places.
He was an eloquent speaker, and when he had finished, Barney could see that some of those present were convinced. Slim and Lily Ranken showed approval of everything Andy said, as did Tobe and Pearl. That left Del Saunders and Irene Bailey, both independent thinkers, Katie, and Gardner. He, of course, was not impressed by Andy’s proposal and gave Barney a penetrating glance.
“Let’s have a little discussion before we vote,” Andy suggested. “I think we need to move as a unit. So I’m willing to do whatever the group votes.” He’s confident of the outcome, so there’s no problem for him to say that, Barney thought.
“It’s the best thing, of course, to stay here. I think we can see the advantages of it,” Lily said, bubbling over with praise for the work the City Mission was doing. “It’s a mercy that God has led us to this place!” she concluded.
Slim, Barney noticed, seemed impartial. “I suppose there are many here who need the gospel” was all he said when Andy pressed him for an opinion.
Pearl spoke next. “It’s fever season in the interior. If we waited, it would be better. You’d get sick the first thing, Tobe.”
“I’ll be all right, Pearl,” he said. “I think we ought to stay with Beecham.”
Irene Bailey and Del Saunders said little, a clear indication they were on the fence.
“I’m for the interior.” Katie spoke with such determination that Andy didn’t even try to dissuade her.
He calculated rapidly in his mind. He knew he and the Rankens would vote for the city. And, of course, Katie and Awful would vote for the interior. He was practically certain Barney would vote with them. That’s three for and three against, he thought. The others were undecided, but he felt fairly certain Pearl would vote with the city faction, and without a doubt she would get Tobe to vote her way. I think I can count on them—that’s five for the city and three for the interior, he decided. If either Irene or Del vote with us, that’ll be it!
“Well, let’s take a vote,” he said quickly. “How many are for staying in the city?” He raised his own hand, and saw at a glance that the Rankens and the De-Laughters raised theirs too. Del and Irene looked confused. “Well, now,” Andy said hurriedly, “it seems as if we’ve got a stalemate—five to five. Let’s discuss it a little further.”
He was certain he could change Irene and Del’s votes, and had just started going over the advantages of staying in the city when Barney stood up.
“I’d like to speak, Andy,” he said.
He’s joining us! Andy gloated. Barney had always followed his lead, and now he was coming around! “Of course, Barney,” he said. “Speak right up.”
Barney faced the group as if he were in a boxing match. Pale and with clenched fists, he spoke slowly, as always. Only Awful knew how torturous it was for the lad to take this stand.
“In New York,” he began, “there were lots of churches where people could go hear the gospel. But those who lived in the slums would never go near a church. That’s why Awful started the Rescue Mission. It was a place where those who were lost could go—people who didn’t have any other way to hear the gospel. Do you remember how they came? How they got saved?”
Katie listened as Barney told of the difficulties, how hard the work was. It all came back to her—the agonies and the joys. Barney may not have been as eloquent as Andy, but the passion of his heart was written on his face, and she found herself weeping.
“The way I see it,” he concluded, “things are about the same here. There are churches in town for those who want them. But how are the natives out in the bush going to hear about Jesus? They won’t—not unless someone goes to them with the gospel.” He paused and said in a determined voice, “I don’t want to see the Company broken up. We’ve come a long way together. I think God raised us up for this time and place. But whatever the rest of you decide to do, I know I’ve got to go to the lost in the villages—even if nobody else will!”
Andy was alarmed. He could see the effect of Barney’s words on the group, and knew he had to find some way to diffuse that influence. “We’ll pray about this and meet again tomorrow—”
“No, let’s vote now!” Katie stood to her feet, her tear-stained face filled with determination. Andy was the self-appointed leader, but she impulsively drove in her stake. “All who vote for going to the interior, stand up!”
Gardner popped up like a cork. Del and Irene followed. Tobe glanced at Pearl, then rose. She smiled and joined him.
Ranken’s eyes swept around the room as he made up his mind. “Honey, I’
m sorry, but we’re going in with the Company.” Though Lily began to cry, she was forced to stand with him.
“That’s nine out of ten,” Katie said. “What about you, Andy?”
Sick with disappointment, he forced a grin. “Well, I see I’m outvoted—but I’ll go along with the group.” His words were lost in the joyous cry that filled the air. We’ll see, he thought. Some of them will be glad to come back after a month without a shower!
The Hansens were crushed at the news, but Dorothy voiced their thoughts: “It’s just a matter of time, Andy. New missionaries are the same. They have this romantic idea about Africa, going to the heathen in a sun helmet. Grass huts and cannibals being saved. But after a few months, the ‘glamour’ wears off. Most of them come back to us or return to America.”
“You’ll just have to be patient, Andy,” her father agreed. “Just wait a bit, and we’ll have you and your friends here in Monrovia where things are really happening!”
****
The sun shone like a benediction on the group waiting to board the surfboats. Stanley Beecham had been delighted at the news that all ten missionaries had decided to go to the interior. “We’ll leave tomorrow,” he said. “Garroway will be our first stop. From there we’ll pair off to different stations. Since Garroway is about thirty miles up the coast, it’ll be quicker to go by surfboat than overland.”
One of the natives loading the baggage was Bestman, who had helped Katie when she’d left the ship. Surprised to see him, she said, “Why, Bestman, how good to see you again.”
“Yes, Mammy. You be careful. Not fall down again.” His white teeth flashed as he smiled.
When it was time to board the surfboats, the boatmen hoisted sails on both vessels and the group stepped in. The boats moved along the coast, sometimes driven at such a rapid pace it seemed they would be dashed to pieces on the rocks. Other times the waters would be so calm the oarsmen could frequently take a nap while they waited for the wind to become more favorable. This irritated Andy, who wanted to push on.
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