Though Lions Roar: The Story of Helen Roseveare, Missionary Doctor to the Congo

Though Lions Roar: The Story of Helen Roseveare : Missionary Doctor to the Congo (Faith's Adventurers) by Mary Beth Lagerborg
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Helen Roseveare grew up in Northern Wales, and wanted to tell other people about Jesus, long before she had a relationship with Him herself. When she became older, she decided to become a doctor, and in college she fell in with another girl who had a Bible study. This changed Helen’s life.

This book looks into Helen’s life and tells of her struggles against herself, the world, and with the “Lions,” as mentioned in the book’s title. One incident was especially encouraging to me. When she was in missionary training, she was given a task: to clean the ladies’ bathroom floor. As she finished in one area, people would come in, and walk on the floor with their dirty shoes. Elizabeth, the one who had assigned the job, asked what was bothering Helen, and Helen told of her discouragement. She asked, “For whom are you scrubbing this floor, Helen?”
“Why, for you, of course.”
“No, my dear. If you are doing it for me, you may as well go home. You’ll never satisfy me. You’re doing it for the Lord, and He saw you the first time you cleaned it. That is tomorrow’s dirt.”

We also read of times when Helen was on the mission field, and Helen fell to relying on her own strength for her work. She saw it as her work, not letting go, and taking both all responsibility and credit. Finally she saw that it was the Lord’s work, and she was only one of his workers. It was encouraging to me, to look at my own life, and my own endeavors.

When Zaire received it’s independence, one of the violent “patriotic” factions was called the Lions, who cherished a hatred for foreigners. One day the Lions came to the mission hospital to steal and plunder, and their lieutenant beat and assaulted Helen before taking her prisoner. She was a prisoner for some time with others at a convent before being released.

Helen still teaches and encourages those around her to a life of surrender to Christ.