Stewart and Rachel Watt lived in Africa as missionaries, many years ago. At that time there were not strict laws about animals and hunting that there are now. Things were very primitive, and this led to many interesting encounters with wild animals.
Some of these animals were entertaining, like some smaller kinds of monkeys. One handsome bearded species of monkey used to enjoy riding on the backs of their cows, not seeming to notice or care about how scared the cow was as she ran around trying to get rid of her load.
Many wild animals of different kinds prowled around their house at night, causing Mrs. Watt many sleepless nights. More frightening than the rest, there were many lions and leopards that came to their home. The leopards made much less noise than the lions when they roared, but Mrs. Watt still heard them grunting and growling as they prowled over their porch every night. Their doors and windows were not very secure, since they didn’t have locks or even hinges. They were just made of reeds tied tightly together, which would easily break if a leopard slashed at one with his sharp claws.
The leopards caused them the most trouble. One day they stole two young cows from within 50 yards of the Watts’ house. They came and caused trouble so often that Mr. Watt finally set a trap to get rid of some of them. He had a hut built, made of heavy trees. At one end of it was a strong cage for a goat, to attract the leopard. Right at the entrance to the hut they put a large steel trap covered with leaves and dry grass to look like the ground. It was attached to a nearby tree by a strong chain.
The next day, early in the morning, they heard a noise near the trap. Mr. Watt rushed out with his rifle. As he got close, he saw a huge leopard’s head sticking out of the hut. When the leopard saw him, he gave a terrific roar, which made Mrs. Watt jump out of bed. Immediately, she heard the crack of the rifle, and then all was still.
At the moment of the roar the leopard had made a powerful leap, trying to reach Mr. Watt, who instantly fired his rifle. Thankfully, the leopard had dropped dead before reaching him. The force of the leopard’s jump had broken a link in the heavy iron chain which held the trap, so if the leopard had not been killed, Mr. Watt would have been torn to pieces.
The Watts had many interesting things happen to them in Africa, and many very hard and dangerous things, too. Can you guess why they were living there, so far from family and friends, willing to suffer so many things? It was because they loved the Lord Jesus and wanted to teach people who didn’t know the Lord Jesus about how He loved them and came to earth to die for them. No matter where you live, did you know that you can tell people you know about the Lord Jesus? But first, it’s important to know Him for yourself as the One who loved you so much that He died for you. “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)). “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:1515And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)). “All the world” can simply be a friend at school or someone in your neighborhood, while you are young.
Messages of God’s Love 9/14/2025