I Love The Trail A Sketch of the Life of Helen Emily Springer by Springer, John McKendree - 1952

Nashville, TN: The Congo Book Concern / Methodist Publishing House. Very Good+. 1952. 1st Edition; 1st Printing. Hardcover. B&W Illustrations; This book is in Very Good+ condition and was issued without a dust jacket. The book and its contents are in mostly clean, bright condition. There is some beginning bumping to the spine ends and corners of the book covers. The text pages are clean and bright. This copy has been signed by the author, with a short inscription. There is also a previous owner's inked name and address on the front endpaper. "After hearing Bishop William Taylor, Helen Chapman volunteered to go to Africa as a self-supporting missionary. In 1891 she sailed for the Congo (Zaire). She married a Danish missionary, William Rasmussen, whom she met during the voyage. After six months, their health broken by malaria, the Rasmussens had to leave Africa; but they returned with their son in 1894. In 1895 William died and Helen again left the field. After her son died, she sailed for Southern Rhodesia in 1901 as the first missionary there of the Methodist Episcopal Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society. Living in the villages to study Shona, she translated the Scriptures and hymns and in 1905 published A Handbook of Chikaranga. Over several years, she laid the foundation for Methodist girls’ education. In 1905 she married John Springer. Together they walked across Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and founded Methodist missions in the Congo (Zaire). The Springers opened Protestant work among the Lunda and in Katanga Province. Helen did women’s work, conducted ministerial training, and translated the Scriptures. On furlough in 1919, she was a powerful speaker in recruiting for the Student Volunteer Movement, and she wrote on Africa for young people." (from BU School of Theology) .