The Final Adversary (17 page)

That was the beginning for Barney. The idea never left his mind. And he was not alone. Reverend Beecham had made his mark on the mission, and the group of young people talked
about him and about Africa constantly. When Beecham sent a letter telling of his return to Africa and asking for those who felt God calling to write him, they were overjoyed.

But it was three weeks before Barney came to a firm decision. He went to see his parents to share his dream. “I wanted to tell you first,” he said simply. “God has called me to go to Africa.”

Mark and Lola were speechless. They had been so happy with the change in Barney that it never occurred to them that he would make such a decision. Finally Mark found his voice. “Son, are you
sure
about this? I know Reverend Beecham made a tremendous impression on you, but that’s not the same as actually going.”

“Why, Barney,” Lola added, “you can’t think what you’re saying! God is blessing your work at the mission. Your father and I are ready to expand it, and we thought you would want to be in charge.”

“Well, Mother,” Barney said, “it’s not so much what
I
want. I’ve prayed about this for weeks. I’ve tried to get out of it, but God won’t take no for an answer.”

They talked for a long time, but nothing his parents said could shake his intention. “I love you both, and if I could, I’d do as you ask. But I’ve found God, and I’ve got to do what He says.”

He left the house feeling very low, for he could see that they were upset. But he squared his shoulders and went back to the mission. When he got there, the young people were discussing some projects with Awful and Katie, so he took the plunge.

“I’ve got something to tell you,” he said, and saw Katie’s eyes open wide. “You all remember what Reverend Beecham said about some being called out of this place for service in Africa? Well—God’s called me, and I’m going!”

Katie let out a squeal and ran to him, throwing her arms around him. “Oh, Barney! I’m
so
glad! Now I won’t have to go alone!”

One of the young men, Slim Ranken, said with a slow grin, “I guess this is the day for announcements. I was going to tell you all later, but I’m in the same shape as Barney. God’s called me to go to Africa, too.”

“And me, too!” Irene Bailey, a young woman who had been saved out of terrible sin, piped up. “Isn’t it wonderful?”

Tobe DeLaughter and Del Saunders, both smiling from ear to ear, confessed that they, too, had received the call. “We told each other a week ago, but we thought we were both crazy!” Tobe said with a wry grin. “Now we’re all crazy, I guess.”

Gardner was delighted and began to laugh. He laughed so hard they all wondered what was so funny.

Gardner finally got his breath. “I guess I’m the crazy one,” he admitted, a twinkle in his eye. “I wrote to Reverend Beecham three days after he left here. I told ’im God was callin’ me, and I’d jump on a boat the minute he told me to. And what’s more, I got a letter back just a week ago.”

“What did it say?” Barney said.

“I leave for Liberia in December!” Awful shouted. “Ain’t that lovely! Me, a missionary!”

Gardner’s news shocked them all, for up until he spoke, going to Africa was just an
idea,
but Awful was actually
going
to Africa! They all burst forth with questions. Finally Barney raised his hand. “Quiet! We’ve got to make plans.” He turned to Awful. “I’m going to write today. What’s his address?”

“Write for all of us, Barney,” Slim Ranken suggested. “Tell him the Company is ready!”

****

The next two months were the most hectic—and the happiest—Barney had ever known. From dawn to midnight he hurried from one task to another, for the leadership of what the newspapers called “The Water Street Company” had somehow fallen to him. No one ever elected him, but Gardner was busy training those who would operate the Rescue Mission after the group left for Africa. The others just seemed
to assume that Barney was in charge, so he found himself as active as a man could be.

He stayed in constant contact with Reverend Beecham, trying his best to carry out all the instructions the missionary sent. It was a complicated business, involving lots of red tape—passports, finances, supplies to be taken on the ship.

The first major obstacle proved to be the matter of identity. Barney had asked several denominations to sponsor the Company, but they all said the same thing: “You’ll have to go to our schools and prepare yourselves for the mission field.”

But the tickets for the Company were already purchased, and Beecham was laying the groundwork for their arrival in January or February. For several weeks things were rather grim. Where was the support for the group to come from? Barney said little, and prayed much. The others assumed that somehow
he
would come up with a solution, but when November loomed ahead and they still had no support, slivers of doubt began to filter into Barney’s mind.

He didn’t voice his thoughts to the others, but began to fast and pray in earnest. One night the Lord came to him, and Barney felt a peace he had never known. He went about his work with a smile, and when someone asked about finances, he would reply, “God is faithful.”

He found out
how
faithful one Friday evening when he took time to visit his parents. He still felt guilty about leaving them, and tried to see them as often as he could. They had a good dinner, and afterward the three sat on the porch together.

The sky was clear, and as they looked up, Mark mused, “I wonder what the sky looks like from Africa? Not like this, I guess.”

“You’ll have to come and pay us a visit, Dad,” Barney said.

“We may do that.” Mark was silent; then he turned to face his son. “Barney, your mother and I haven’t been too supportive of your calling. I apologize for that. I’m so blasted selfish I just want to keep you with me.”

“Both of us have been selfish, Barney,” his mother said.
She looked very young in the moonlight, and her eyes were glistening. “But we’re so proud of you! So very proud!”

“That’s—that’s so good to hear!” Barney said. His heart was full, now that he had their consent, and he said tightly, “I love you both very much.”

They sat there quietly, all of them thinking of the long road they had traveled to reach the point where they now stood. “I was talking to a few of my friends last week,” Mark said, breaking the silence. “You’ve heard of some of them, I suppose. We got to talking about missions.” Mark grinned in the dim light. “Well, I had to brag a little on you and the Company. Getting senile, I suppose! Anyway, one thing led to another, and it turned out pretty well.”

“Oh, tell him, Mark!” Lola urged when he paused.

“Some of us organized a nonprofit organization. I got the Union Pacific to ante up, and when the collection was taken, it turned out that we had enough to finance a mission to Africa. Guess which mission we picked?”

“Dad!” Barney stared at his father. “I can’t believe it!”

“The money’s in government bonds,” Mark went on, enjoying his moment. “The interest will be paid monthly, so if you’ll just let me have your address, you won’t need to worry about cash.”

Barney’s throat tightened with emotion. “God is good!” he said. “I’ve been praying for support—but I never
dreamed
it would come from you!”

“Oh, Barney!” Lola cried. “It’s so hard to give you up!”

Barney tried to comfort her. “Well, Mother,” he said, “you’ll still have Andy around.”

But he was mistaken, as they all learned three days later.

Barney had asked the Company to meet every evening after services to pray for the mission work, and it had become a rich time for them. On Tuesday night, Andy came to the service, and afterward asked Barney, “Could I talk to you?”

“Well, those of us who are leaving for Africa have a little prayer meeting in a few minutes. Can it wait?”

“May I join you?” Andy had a mysterious smile on his lips.

After the group had spent some time in prayer, Barney said, “Let’s just thank God for all He’s done for us.”

Expressions of gratefulness for God’s leading and provision were offered spontaneously. Andy, too, uttered his thanks to the Lord, then said aloud, “I’ve something to say to all of you.” Questioning eyes focused on him. “I’ve been very unhappy the past few months,” he confessed. “God has been dealing with me, and it’s been quite difficult. I’ve watched you all carefully. And to be truthful, I couldn’t convince myself your plan was of God. It seemed so reckless!” His eyes met those of Barney’s.

“But,” he blurted out, “I’ve
got
to go to Africa with you. God has left me no choice!”

The news startled and excited everyone and they jubilantly gathered around him. “Well, we’ll have one real, live preacher in the group!” Tobe DeLaughter laughed. “The rest of us are all amateurs!”

“No, I’m the newest member,” Andy protested. “Besides, the minute we step off the boat in Africa, we’re
all
green-horns!” He grinned at Barney. “Well, Bishop, what do I do first?”

Barney laughed. “First, you start work! We’ve got a million things to do and little time left!”

In the next few days Andy was very visible. Somehow without anything being said, the leadership of the group passed from Barney to him. It was a subtle matter, and only Katie commented on it.

“Barney,” she said one evening after service, “I don’t think it’s fair.”

“What’s that?”

“The way Andy’s taken over the Company.”

Barney smiled at her. “He’s good at organizing things, Katie. I’m not. We’re lucky to have him.”

Katie didn’t argue, but later she brought up the matter to Gardner.

“Well, it’s not been what I’d like,” Gardner agreed. “Andy is a fine man. Got more education than the lot of us put together. But Barney wuz doin’ quite well, I thought.”

“When we get to Africa, I suppose Reverend Beecham will take over,” Katie said.

“I suppose—but it’s a big place, Africa. I’m thinkin’ we’ll all have to walk a little taller to match up to it.”

Nothing more was said, and the weeks seemed to fly by. All of a sudden Christmas was upon them. A huge party was held at the Rescue Mission, with every square inch packed. During the evening Gardner introduced the new leadership to carry on the mission, special prayer surrounded them, and the mission leaders in turn prayed for the group going to Africa. It was a joyous occasion.

That night just before they went to sleep, Awful said to Barney, “It’s been a grand time, ain’t it, Barney? Who’d have thought when we wuz in Sing Sing that me and you would ever be goin’ to Africa?”

“I’m a little scared, to tell the truth,” Barney replied.

“And why not? But the Good Lord will never forsake us!”

Two weeks later they were standing at the rail of the S.S.
Caledonia,
Barney between Katie and Andy, waving goodbye to the ones who had come to see them off.

“Goodbye, Mom! Goodbye, Dad!” Barney called at the top of his voice, his eyes fixed on them as the ship slowly left the dock.

As the faces faded from sight, Katie said, “It’s sad, leaving people, isn’t it, Barney?”

He looked down at Katie, who had tears in her eyes. “Yes,” he replied, “but we’ll see them again.”

Barney was excited about the future. The huge bulk of Africa lay ahead, and his heart swelled at the thought of what God was going to do through the Company in that great continent, of the teeming millions who would hear the gospel for the first time.

“God won’t let us down, Katie! Didn’t He promise, ‘I am with you, even to the end of the earth’?”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Across the Atlantic

The first day of 1898 swept in like a lion. The
Caledonia
had plowed through bad weather almost since leaving New York, but as the first pale gleam of sunlight came from the east, all Barney could see was heavy rolling seas. He had come up early to spend some time alone on deck, but the ship rolled under the heavy seas so badly that he could do little but hang on to the rail. Finally he gave it up and went below.

He shared a small cabin with Awful. Barney smiled at the slumbering Australian, peacefully asleep in his narrow bunk. Winslow well knew that most of the others were probably not so much at ease. He sat down on his bunk and read the Psalms for an hour until Awful awakened.

“Well, it’s 1898, dear boy,” he said cheerfully, rolling out of his bunk and assembling his shaving gear. “Think of it! A whole year to serve the Lord Jesus!” He shaved with clean, swift strokes, talking constantly, dressed, and said, “Let’s go have us a little service, lad. Nothin’ like a rousin’ service before breakfast!”

They made their way down the narrow corridor. The
Caledonia
was primarily a cargo ship refitted to carry about twenty passengers, with a room, fifteen feet wide and twenty feet long, assigned as the recreation room. It held a few chairs, a couple of tables, and a worn collection of games—checkers, darts, cards. It was the best place, or perhaps the
only
place, to have their services, and most of the passengers spent the
majority of their time there. The tiny cabins were too much like coffins to appeal to most of them.