A Pilgrimage Of Faith, J.B. Toews, 1993

rica was underway. The following year the Janzens returned home for their first furlough in fifteen years. Their purpose was to seek ad- ditional help for the overwhelming needs on the African field. A few years later, other missionaries joined them on a faith mission basis: Martha Hiebert, Katherine WUlems, Anna Go- ertzen and Martha Manz. The testings for Aaron Janzen were not oven In 1937 his wife, Ernest ina, who had faithfully shared his vision and labors, was buried in the soil which earlier claimed their two sons. Now there were three gravestones, but Aaron Janzen pressed on. Other missionaries also suffered under the continual on- slaught of deprivation and fever Martha Manz, who came out in 1938, soon became ill. When she was advised to re- turn home to seek medical attention, her answer was, "I would rather die in Africa to show people that I love them 99 A PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH than to go home." She died in 1941 Over the years Aaron Janzen repeatedly appealed to the Mennonite Brethren Conference to assume responsibility for the growing success of evangelism in Africa. His concern was not for himself but rather for the future nurture and develop- ment of the emerging African church. He had to wait from 1920, when the work began for the Mennonite Brethren, until 1943 for the conference to take this step. As a pioneer missionary, Aaron Janzen saw clearly that colonial methods would not build a permanent church. His ministry included a threefold program of assistance: He taught the native people how to build a solid agricultural base for their economic survival; he brought them education; and he developed a strong medical program to help the body as well as the soul. The Africa story cannot omit some mention of Heinrich and Anna Bartsch, who went independently under the Afrika Missions Verein in Canada to assist Aaron Janzen, and later es- tablished their own missionary program elsewhere in Africa, The stirring spirit of the Bible schools inspired many to give themselves to this cause, including William and Margaret Baerg, Irwin and Lydia Friesen, John B. and Ruth Kliewer, John C and Edna Ratslaff and Anna Enns, These all followed the example and dedication of Aaron Janzen, who left a per- manent impact on the missionary staff in Africa. As General Secretary of the Mennonite Brethren Board of Missions and Services 1 had an unforgettable experience when visiting the Africa field shortly before Aaron Janzen came home because of failing health and advancing years. One night, while staying in a tent in the heart of