Mokili in Congo: a biography of William Millman

'Love with the urge in it' From 1897 until 1937 William Millman, known in Africa as 'Mokili', served the people of the Yakusu area of Congo as a pioneer Baptist missionary. For forty years he endured trials and dangers, frustrations and failures, sickness and disease, sadness and bereavement. Yet there were also the joys: extraordinary adventures, remarkable achievements, fun and laughter and life long friendships. As ordained missionary, committed teacher, self taught medical practitioner, administrator of a rapidly expanding Mission, project manager and builder of houses, schools and a vast New Church which still survives today, Mokili devoted his life to his faith and to the people of Congo he had come to love. Mokili died in 1956. The following year his daughter Litwasi, accompanied by her husband Jim (James Butterworth), journeyed to Yakusu to revisit Litwasi's birth place and the scene of her parents' life work. Jim Butterworth, researching this biography, was eager to discover how the people of Yakusu themselves saw Mokili and his contribution to their lives. Jim and Litwasi met Pastor Lititiyo whom Mokili had first met as a young chief's son carrying home a human leg to eat. Lititiyo had been converted to Christianity by Mokili and had become friend and colleague for over thirty years. Lititiyo was well suited to sum up for Litwasi and Jim the essence of Mokili's service to the people of the Congo: 'Love with the urge in it'