We came to England in October for our first furlough and made our
headquarters with father's mother and sister at Abbots Langley.
His mother was an invalid and naturally was much cheered by having her
eldest son with her.
Father was much in demand as a preacher and speaker at missionary
meetings. I remember how proud I was when I heard him speak at a
crowded C.M.S. meeting in the Albert Hall. There were no
amplifiers in those days, but he was heard in every part of the Hall.
On Sept. 5th 1911 Gordon was born and what .a perfect baby we thought
him. When he was six weeks old we returned to our work in
Mombasa. It was sad for father saying goodbye to his mother. She
was still
an invalid and died the following January much to his sorrow.
The next four years were spent in Mombasa. We had most enjoyable
holidays
from time to time in the hills where the air was cool and most
invigorating and where the colour came back into the children's cheeks.
Elizabeth (Betty) was born the following year in October and Philip in
September 2 years later. We had two ayahs to help with the
children so I was able in a small way to devote some of my time to
missionary work.
Pictures of Gordon and Betty
with GWW
Gordon, Philip and Betty (with AMW and rickshaw)
Father's days were spent in visiting Europeans and Africans, having
classes for instruction for the latter - open air meetings and night
school in the evenings. I remember, so well, how he used to come
home in the evenings about 8 p.m. tired out he must have been after the
day’s work, but without a thought for himself he used to take the baby
from me and walk up and down the veranda till he or she was asleep. He
took part in four services on Sundays - 8 a.m. Holy Communion, Morning
and Afternoon Services for Africans, Evening Service for Europeans, as
well as holding a Service in the gaol.
As well as all this work in Mombasa., he did a good deal of itinerary
work during those four years, travelling amongst the people in the Digo
Country, south of Mombasa, preaching and giving out simple medicines.
These people had not been brought into contact with Christianity before
and were eager to take in all he had to tell them.
Doris was on the way when our next furlough was due and we left for
England in October 1915. Not a very comfortable voyage with three
small children. We had to tranship at Durban, and when nearing
England expected every day to be torpedoed, as the first world war was
on.