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WEDNESDAY • MARCH 18Mark 10:35-45 (ESV)Aunty Betsey of HawaiiService – Servant – Slave“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoeverwould be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came notto be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”Aunty Betsey Stockton, former slave, was the first African-American womanmissionary to Hawaii from North America. She arrived in Sandwich Islands(Hawaii) on April 27, 1823, and opened the first school for the Makaainana—orthe eyes of the land—the Hawaiian commoners of Hawaii. She also served assuperintendent of the school. Later, when she returned to America, Aunt Betseyorganized and started other schools for black children in Philadelphia and aschool in Canada for Indians.Betsey Stockton was born into slavery. At age 9, she was given as awedding gift by her owner to his daughter, who married the Rev. Ashbel Green,president of Princeton College. While serving in their home, Betsey was allowedto use the family library, where she became self-educated. Eventually, Betseywas emancipated and was baptized and joined the church. She desired to be amissionary to Africa, but at the first opportunity she joined a missionary team toHawaii instead, where her skills as a trained nurse, midwife and teacher provedvery useful.Betsey loved children and was personally asked to start a school. Imagine,a former slave woman who loved to serve and share her Savior started the firstschool in Lahaina, Maui, for commoners!When Jesus was asked by His disciples, “Who is the greatest?” He answered,“You must be a slave, a servant to all.” Aunty Betsey of Hawaii, a former blackslave now emancipated, took it upon herself to be the greatest amongst us. All herself-education and newfound freedom culminated in her desire to be a missionaryteacher so she could serve Jesus by serving others.Can we, like Aunty Betsey, serve and be missionaries to those who do notknow Him—be a slave to all with the greatest Servant of all, Christ Jesus—bysharing in His suffering, death and resurrection? Because of the love He has forus, we can!“Come with me,” Jesus says.Father, Help me to see how You are already at work in the lives of people around.Help me to see how I can join You. We ask this in the great Servant’s name, JesusChrist.Clarence De Lude III (Native Hawaiian), Missionary at LargeWaianae, Hawaii36