This is the burial place of one of God's special young women. Her name is Laverne Collins - a young woman who had a yearning in her heart to do something with her life as a missionary. So she went to Bible School, and upon graduation she embarked upon her plans to go to African soil. She arrived just a young girl fresh out of college. But she had not been properly trained in the dangers of living deep in the jungles of the tropics. Nor did she know about the dreaded malaria that is so easily contracted there through mosquito's. She did not understand that her very life could be at stake unless she took precautions to protect her health. And so wisdom did not prevail.
She died shortly after her arrival. The natives were disappointed and did not understand why she came there only to die. Why did this occur? But even missionaries live in human bodies and must take care with their health. They are not immune to sickness.
She was buried here shortly after her death - and her family in America mourned her loss across the world. She was honored by my father and mother when they arrived. My Dad gave her a proper concrete burial plot with flowers. Her grave is marked today, back in the jungles of Liberia, 65 miles deep into the bush. Her eternal crown awaits forever - for at least she went, when others did not.
And when Dad completed his work I remember my parents having a small memorial service there at her white washed grave with all 4 children. They told us about making sure we would take our medication every day - the hated quinine pills that renders the malaria sickness harmless if bitten. We listened and tried to choke down the horrible bitter tasting pill every day.
Mother would melt it, mash it in jelly, tried to mask it with juice, make us hold our breath and swallow hard, all trying to get us to eat quinine. It is certainly the nastiest tasting medicine on the market! But it kept us safe. We would cry and plead 'not tonight mom' but she would remind us again of the white washed grave outside in the yard. We dreaded that ritual every night - taking the bitter pill! But she would not give in and we would somehow get the horrid things down night by night.
Funny I still have trouble taking pills!
And Sis Laverne - you did your part protecting our lives by giving your own, as we did understand the sacrifice that you had made and the seriousness of the situation fighting mosquitoes. And 4 little kids survived ages 4,5,6, and 8 while living deep in the heart of Africa, thanks to your sacrifice. I honor you this day Sis Laverne Collins. Thank you for your ministry to us.
Comments