Mr. and Mrs. Quelch had labored faithfully in Africa for three years, but there had been very little response from the natives to the message of the gospel. The missionary had translated some of the scriptures into the language of the Lugu people, and now they had been printed.
Mrs. Quelch was taking a brief rest outside the mission bungalow one afternoon when she saw a strange sight. An African clad in skins had come out of the long grass. He was leading a goat by one hand, while he grasped his spear in the other. Mrs. Quelch watched while he tied his goat to a banana tree. Then laying aside his spear, he approached the bungalow with a smile of keen anticipation on his face.
“White lady,” he began, “has God’s Book arrived in our country?”
Mrs. Quelch was surprised. “Are you interested in God’s Book?” she asked.
“Yes,” replied the man, taking some small pieces of paper from a hidden place. “My son brought me these papers from the coast where he has gone to work for the white men. He says that on them are the words of the Father of creation, and my boy has taught me these words: ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.’ White lady, I want to learn to read God’s words. I have walked for five days, and I have brought this goat to buy God’s Book.
Gladly Mrs. Quelch gave him a Gospel of John. How cheered she was to see the joy that shone in that dark face before her as that poor native took the precious Book into his hands, raised it to his lips and kissed it.
Kacengu, for that was his name, proved an apt pupil, and within six months, the missionary found in him a true helper in the gospel. He seemed to fairly drink in the words of life and made rapid strides in reading. His one desire was to take the gospel to his home five days journey away, and great was his joy when he was at last able to return there as an evangelist.
A year later Kacengu came back to the mission station to say that six Africans wanted to be baptized. The missionary was surprised to find out how much real knowledge of the gospel these converts had. And all because one man had thirsted for the word of God and had received it with joy.
ML-12/19/1976