“She hath done what she could…”

Mark 14:8

We all know the story of Marilla Ingalls, don’t we?

Don’t we?  No, me neither.  But like so many other people who lived and died “by faith”, not many will know their name, but they were faithful to share the gospel!  Enjoy this story below.

Lovell Ingalls was serving as a missionary in Burma when his wife died, leaving him with a small family.  After he returned to America on furlough, the Lord brought Lovell and Marilla together.  They married, and the returned to Burma.  Shortly after their arrival, the Baptists of the North and South split over the subject of slavery and the Ingalls’ support fell to nearly nothing.   But the couple struggled on.  Then on a voyage between Calcutta and Rangoon, Lovell Ingalls died.  His widow refused to forsake their earlier ministry, and continued raising their children and teaching the gospel to the ladies of the small jungle village of Thongze.

For the next fifty years this missionary widow remained faithful to her responsibilities, and slowly the Lord began to bless, as husbands of the women to whom she ministered were saved.   Historian F.P. Haggard reported that at the turn of the Twentieth Century “over one hundred Buddhist priests, the most difficult class in Burma to reach, have as a result of [Marilla’s] service become humble followers of the once despised ‘Jesus religion.’”

Marilla Ingalls went to be with her Saviour in 1902.  She left behind hundreds of Christian wives and families from which came pastors, evangelists, teachers and churches. (David Oldfield)

If we claim to be a born again Christian, then may we also do what we can!  If you are not a born again Christian, turn from sin and come to Christ today!  “She hath done what she could…”