Mama was a Missionary, by Charles Ludwig, Zondervan

A biography of Twyla Ludwig, missionary to Kenya from 1927 to 1960, written by her son. This intriguing story gives insight not only into the personal life of Twyla Ludwig and her family, but into the history of Kenya and its people.

From the time she was a young girl, Twyla Ludwig always knew she would be a missionary. However, she married a farmer who was not even a believer at first. She prayed fervently for him. Finally when she had a severe illness and he feared he would lose her, he turned to God. She recovered and then prayed about missions. Her husband did not want to give up his farm, but finally put it up for sale for a high price, hoping it would not sell. However it sold immediately for full asking price. So the Ludwigs got some training and first pastored for several years in the United States before being sent to Kenya.

Charles was still a young boy at the time, and it is interesting to read about his own experiences living on this remote mission compound. Living conditions were extremely primitive. Water had to be brought on foot from a distance. There was an abundance of wildlife, from lizards, rats and insects in the house to leopards and lions outside. Most of the natives had no clothes. Men had several wives, who were like slaves to them, and it was expected that they beat them regularly to make them work harder. Witchdoctors were who the people went to for any kind of help, and they had all kinds of remedies, most of which made a sick person worse rather than better. For example cutting people all over their skin and then spitting on them. Women in childbirth were often beaten and scolded if the baby did not come out quickly.

Twyla Ludwig saw the dire need for the education of women in Kenya, and started schools for them first on their original compound, and later near Nairobi, working full-out non-stop until her death at the age of 70. She greatly influenced change in Kenya through her hard work and answers to prayer.