Overview

This collection gathers the letters of Buena Rose Stober (1897-1972), a Disciples of Christ missionary nurse who served in the Belgian Congo from 1923 to 1960, mostly at the remote station in Mondombe. Written to family, friends, and church supporters back home, Stober's letters offer a vivid, ground-level view of missionary life. With clarity and quiet resolve, Stober describes her work as a nurse: overcrowded hospitals, medical improvisation, long journeys into the backcountry, and the steady demands of daily life. She also writes attentively about the beliefs, practices, and social rhythms of the Congolese people among whom she lived, recording moments of learning, tension, humor, and trust. Her correspondence reveals mission work not as an abstract calling but as a lived experience shaped by relationships and place. Extensive annotations and an extended introduction provide essential historical, cultural, and theological context for reading these letters today. Together, they situate Stober's voice within the wider story of Disciples of Christ mission work and the realities of colonial-era Congo, helping readers grapple with both the devotion and the contradictions that marked her service. Personal, observant, and often moving, these letters open a compelling window onto a life of faith, endurance, and cross-cultural encounter.

Full Product Details

9781532692598

Table of Contents

Reviews

""Mama Mputu is a significant contribution to the history of Christianity in colonial Central Africa during the mid-twentieth century (1923-1960), viewed through the remarkably frank and fresh letters of Buena Rose Stober, an American Protestant missionary nurse. Dr. Seay's introduction to the collection of letters is a beautifully crafted overview of the Belgian colonial context, the missionary society (Disciples of Christ Congo Mission), and the life of Stober herself. Seay's scholarly comments on historiography and letters, as well as issues regarding race, gender, and class, add critical context for understanding their role in her life."" --Paul Williams, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Author Information

Scott D. Seay is William G. Irwin Associate Professor of Church History at Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis. He has written extensively on the history, theology, and mission work of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

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