The book The
White Queen of Okoyong shows us the true story of Mary Slessor, a
Scottish missionary who lived and worked among the people of Calabar (now
Nigeria). In the book, we see her as a brave, determined, caring, kind, and
God-trusting woman who refused to give up even when situations were dangerous.
She was also a woman
who was ready to give anything and everything for God’s glory, even while
battling serious health issues (for example, suffering from terrible fevers)
that left her weak and exhausted. Even through all this, Mary Slessor was, as
previously mentioned, a determined woman. Instead of staying in the mission
house (a place where most missionaries stayed to rest and eat before traveling
to preach), she moved to a village, took it upon herself to learn the local
language, and lived there as if she were one of them—helping anyone she could
while also teaching everyone about Christ and His love for them.
The book also reveals
her understanding about the harmful and dangerous traditions and practices that
villages in the region had (for example, killing and putting twins in pots
because they were believed to be devils, and forcing people to take tests by
drinking boiling oil or eating poison beans) and her struggle to raise
awareness of Christ and stop these practices.
Amidst
these challenges, Mary Slessor’s deep God-reliant character is clearly shown
through her words, “Lord,
the task is impossible for me but not for Thee. Lead the way and I will
follow.” This
quote reflects her unwavering faith and complete dependence on God’s guidance
in facing fear, danger, and opposition.
She put in great
effort by rescuing twins and adopting them as her own, going to places no
missionary had ever been before to share the love of Christ, solving conflicts
between tribes and preventing wars, giving medicine and healing the sick,
loving and caring for everyone around her, and never hesitating to help someone
in need.
A few things I liked
about this book are the valuable lessons I was able to learn from it: the
amount of time she spent working for God, the many days she pushed through
illness, the days she battled homesickness, and the immense love she showed for
the people around her. All of this led to her becoming a respected woman of God
who reached thousands of Nigerians and led them to Christ. This is as inspiring
and admirable as we read and imagine it.
Mary Slessor’s life
resulted in a strong impact for Christ. She is well known for abolishing the
practice of killing twins, and by the end of her life in 1915, her efforts had
not only established a strong Christian presence but also expanded trade, infrastructure,
and education—benefits that continue in the country to this day.
Therefore, this book
is a must-read for people who need a push toward living a life for God, help in
leading a faith-based and God-reliant life.
‘‘My life is one
long daily, hourly record of answered prayer. For physical health, for mental
overstrain, for guidance given marvelously, for errors and dangers averted, for
enmity to the Gospel subdued, for food provided at the exact hour needed, for everything
that goes to make up life and my poor service. I can testify, with a full and
often wonder-stricken awe, that I believe God answers prayer.’’-Mary Slessor
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