Religion: I Loaded My Shotgun

Dr. Richard Reusch is a short, slight (5 ft. 2 in., 110 Ib.) Lutheran missionary of 58 who chose to work among one of the fiercest tribes in Africa—the blood-drinking, spear-wielding Masai. Going back to Tanganyika from his last furlough in the U.S., he had two practical gifts: a tractor presented to him by St. Paul’s Church in St. Paul, Minn, and “a splendid shotgun” given by the First Lutheran Church in Worthington, Minn. He has used the first to grow corn, beans and tobacco, the second to shoot “three lions and many hyenas.” His days range from dullness to drama, from frustration to reward. His letter describing one exciting 24 hours appeared last week in Current

Religious Thought. Wrote Missionary Reusch:

“I had come to Longido in the Masai Plains to baptize some adults. The chapel was small and the Christians, the baptismal candidates and many others gathered under the trees. Suddenly during the sermon the Masai chief and his warriors began to come in groups. Within ten minutes our assembly was surrounded by a ring of fully armed warriors looking irritated and with a strange light in their eyes. It seemed apparent they had come to make trouble. But we were allowed to finish our service unmolested.”

Spear & Tea. “Then a few minutes later there was a roar. One of the warriors wanted to spear a father whose son was enrolled in our school. In a few moments the spear was wrested out of the hands of the attacker. Again everything became quiet and everyone, including the attacker, went to eat and drink tea. Until late in the night Christians and pagans ate, drank tea and sang.

“Expecting trouble during the night, I loaded my shotgun with small shot. But nothing happened. Only the hyenas roared and the jackals barked hoarsely over the remnant of the festive meal.

“Early next morning I heard a knock at my door. I opened, and there was the chief with his elders and a number of warriors. We exchanged greetings and I invited them to sit down. The weather conditions, the health of the cattle, the condition of the pastures were talked over. The chief was visibly uneasy. The others were also. Quite suddenly, almost abruptly, the following conversation took place.

” ‘Did you know that we speared a government official two years ago at Narok?’ ‘Yes, I know it.’ ‘Are you aware that we could spear your people even today?’ ‘Yes, I know it and I expected a spear between my ribs yesterday, especially when I was baptizing your young men.’ ‘What would you have done in such a case?’ ‘During the service I would have done nothing and would have forgiven those who had speared me.’ ‘Hm, hm, but afterwards?’ “

Bad Business. ” ‘To be frank, chief, if you had speared one of those whom I had baptized, I would have taken this gun and would have fired without mercy all the cartridges of this belt into your crowd.’ ‘Hm, hm, are there bullets in your gun?’ ‘No, chief. Only buckshot and small shot, the kind I use on hyenas.’ ‘The kind you use on hyenas! Why?’ ‘Because I would have enjoyed letting the aggressors suffer as the hyenas whom I kill to protect your children and goats.’

“‘Hm, hm, bad business! Bad business ! We know your gun and its devastating power! It is a terrible tool! You know we watched the baptism yesterday. And we have heard the Christians sing and they sang fine. And we have taken part in your festival. And everything ‘went smoothly and peacefully and fine. And, you know, we … we … have changed our mind. Here are about 25 men who want to become Christians and others will follow, about eight or ten. And the man whose spear was taken away from him asked that it remain in the house of God. And . . . and (deeply moved) … I want my own son to be baptized after he finishes the school and becomes a little older. Baptize him as you baptized those others yesterday. We … we have changed since yesterday because of what we have seen and heard.’

“I was speechless and dumfounded. Then, ‘Chief, shake hands! I have nothing to give you now. But here is my pipe which I like very much. Take it. It is yours.’

” ‘I know what comforter your pipe is to you. I shall take it, use it and honor it as a present from you, my friend.’

“There is not much to be added, except that the 25 and the nine who came later were enrolled. Today is already the third day that they are under instruction, those men who came with the intention of making trouble with their spears. God bless them and their instruction. And may He help the chief also to come and to ask to be baptized.”