Mary was so successful in interesting the people in mission work that the
Board of Missions asked her to stay longer and visit more churches. Mary
did what the Board asked, although she was anxious to get back to
Africa. At last this work was finished. Now she could go back.

Mary was getting ready to go back to Africa when her sister Janie became
sick.

"You will have to take her to a warmer climate," said the doctor. "That is
the only way she will get well."

Mary could not afford to take her sister to Italy or southern France.

"I will ask the Board of Missions if I can take my sister with me to
Africa."

Anxiously Mary waited for an answer to her letter. At last the letter came.

We are sorry, but we must answer
your question with a No. We feel that
to take your sick sister along to Africa
would be an unwise mixing of family
problems and missionary work.

What should Mary do now? A friend told her to take her sister to southern
England where the climate was warmer than in Scotland. She wrote to the
Board to ask whether they would let her be a missionary if she took out the
time to take care of her sister. The Board of Missions wrote: