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Updated: June 8, 2025
On the fifteenth anniversary of that notable Sunday in 1888 when Mary settled at Ekenge, the first communion service in Okoyong was held. It crowned her service there, and put a seal upon the wonderful work she had accomplished for civilisation and for Christ. Alone, she had done in Okoyong what it had taken a whole Mission to do in Calabar.
"Ma, Ma," he cried, "the smallpox sickness has come to Ekenge. Chief Ekponyong and Chief Edem are sick and many, many more. Come quick, oh, come to Ekenge or we shall all die." "I will come with you at once," said Mary to the messenger from Ekenge. "I will help your people fight the smallpox sickness." Mary went back to Ekenge. The smallpox sickness was very bad. Nearly the whole village was sick.
When it was finally finished it was twenty-five feet wide by thirty feet long. We would not think that was a very big building, but it was the biggest in the village. "See," said the Chief of Ifako, "it is much better than the house at Ekenge." "It is a fine church," said Mary. "Now we must keep it clean and nice. There should be no dirty things in or around God's house."
But soon there were calls upon her. "He took a little child and set him in the midst." Her work began with a child. In a fight between Okoyong and Calabar a man of Ekenge had been beheaded. His head was recovered and sent home, thus removing the disgrace, but his wife did not survive the shock, and left a baby girl, which was now brought to Mary.
"I don't see how you could have done that work alone," said Mr. Ovens. "Won't you go and bury the rest of the dead?" asked Mary. "I was just too tired to do it." "Yes, we will," said Mr. Ovens. The two missionaries went to Ekenge. There they found the mission house filled with dead bodies. They buried these people and preached to those who were still living about the Saviour.
But her own chief warned her against acting too hastily, and she would probably have followed his advice and sought to strengthen her position at Ekenge and Ifako had the matter not been taken out of her hands.
The most joyous break in the domestic life at Ekenge, both for the house-mother and the children, was caused by the arrival of boxes of gifts from Scotland. So many congregations and Sunday Schools had become interested in her and her work that there was a continuous stream of packages to Okoyong. "I am ashamed at receiving so much," she would say.
"Let those who are younger and who have not been in this work as long as I have, take the places where the work has been begun." Many of Mary's friends among the natives had gone to Akpap, which was a village south of Ekenge. This village was about six miles from the Cross River. It was a large trading center. Many heathen came to this village to trade their goods for other things they wanted.
"It is Etim, the son of our chief, Edem. He is going to get married soon and is building his house. A tree fell the wrong way and hit him. He cannot move his arms or legs. This means bad trouble. The people will say it is witchcraft." Mary with her helpers quickly made a stretcher to carry Etim. They carried him to his mother's home at Ekenge. "I will nurse him," said Mary to Etim's mother.
When Mary came back the two chiefs could say, "It is peace." Mary was very tired. Slowly she tramped through the hot jungle. After many hours she came to Ekenge. "We have sent your trunks and things on ahead," said Chief Edem. "Here are my best rowers and best soldiers. They are ready to take you to Duke Town." Mary once more stepped into the canoe. This time there was no one to call her back.
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