1909. Photographer unknown. 430038. A new pupil who has just arrived at the girls' school. This photo is evidently meant to show how little girls in the Quiongua area looked when all dressed up in their best before the missionaries exerted their influence. The original caption said "Raw material...in heathen costume" and the photo is from a series called "As they come." I think she is extremely cute as she is. Note the little stool behind the box Madita is standing on. Joao Mbaxi appears in a book, Miracles in Black, by Angola Methodist missionary Dr. John C. Wengatz. Dr. Wengatz "tells of an African convert who was left at a new mission station to carry on the Lord's work with a cannibal tribe. It was the dry season when Joao Mbaxi took over, but soon the tropical rains would be coming. Month after month went by, however, without a cloud appearing in the sky. Then came the time for the normal dry period. By now everyone was suffering, and many were on the brink of starvation. In all the years they had worshiped their ancient gods, the rains had never failed them, and so Joao was told that he must leave the country and take "the white man's God" with him. The courageous Christian refused to go. Then, flushed with anger, the chief sullenly warned, "If your God is as good as you say and so powerful that He rules the sky, why doesn't He send us the needed showers? If it doesn't rain by sunrise tomorrow, we will drink your blood and eat your flesh!" Recalling the Biblical account of Elijah, Joao went to his hut and prayed for divine help with the same urgency as that of the ancient prophet. Meanwhile the members of the tribe waited for the dawn when the Christian leader would become the victim of their horrible feast. Just before daylight, thunder was heard in the distance, lightning flashed across the sky, and abundant rain refreshed the entire region! As a result, Joao was able to continue his work for Christ." http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon8/prayer_of_a_righteous_mann.htm