Volume Two

tells about all the adventures of their third term in Congo as they establish a new mission station in virgin territory that wold weather many storms in days to come. But for the Kroekers a gigantic shift was about to take place. Following their return to America for a furlough they experienced an accident that would prove fatal for their son Philip. It was then determined that a short detour to Europe to collect French literature for Africa would provide a time of healing and also equip them to better serve Africa. It was then that they realized Europe too desperately needed Christian literature.  Thus a decision was made to establish a publishing house in Europe to serve both continents: Africa and Europe. Abe lived out the rest of his life in Europe and was buried in the little town of Braine-le-Château in Belgium. Four months later his wife Mary died in the US and was buried in Reedley, California. Their story lives on through the books and also through the Open Heart Project that is getting established to rebuild the stations in the interior beginning with Matende, the last station founded by Abe.

Readers will laugh and cry as they empathize with all shake-ups, and times of rejoicing and find encouragement through the grace that God promises and supplies to all who trust Him.

Why the Books were Written

As Abe told of his missionary experiences in churches, homes, and schools across the U.S. and Canada, many begged for his life story. Alas, the life of a missionary is filled with heavy demands upon time and little time is left for the luxury of writing. Besides that he felt reluctant to write of his own experiences due to a sense of unworthiness. “Why, of all people, should a book be written about him?” he’d ask. But when diagnosed with a brain tumor he began to reconsider. The only condition he now required was that I, “Papa’s Daughter” as he called me, should do the writing. Though I too was heavily involved in ministry, I agreed to use Sunday afternoons and evenings for the task. Dad did, however, write the Preface and this is how it reads:

“When considering the life of Jesus, one would hardly dare to write of anyone else. It’s of Him that John the Baptist, ‘the greatest of men,’ exclaimed, ‘Hissandals I am unworthy to stoop down and untie’ (Mark 1:7). It’s my desire that He will be seen in the pages that follow. His ways and dealings with humanity are mysterious. Many are the lessons we learn too late. Soon after my conversion a booklet by Keith L. Brooks, then editor of Biola’s (Bible Institute of Los Angeles) magazine: The King’s Business, was given to me. The title of the book was, “Things God Uses.” This was the brightest ray of hope since my discovery of grace. I thought my life had already been burned out serving Satan, but what patience, wisdom and power has our Savior.”