Maud Kells: Fearless in the Forest (Trail Blazers)

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WEC’s former international training director, Phillip Crooks, said the organisation “was privileged to have had Maud as one of its members”. In the meantime a rumour spread locally that I had died. The governor, afraid that the shooting might be the start of a major incident, sent a large number of troops from Punia, armed with guns and grenades. My death could have set off a spiral of violence. Thankfully God preserved my life and saved Mulita from any further trauma.

Kells O.B.E. October 26, 2023 (peacefully) at The Macmillan Unit, Antrim Area Hospital, Maud, late of 73 Moneymore Road, Cookstown and formerly of Mulita, D.R.C., beloved daughter of the late William Andrew and Madge Kells, dearly loved sister of Margaret, Dorothy and the late Irene, sister-in-law of Colin, Harold and Tom and a cherished aunt and great-aunt. After six days in hospital, I was discharged to the home of Jon Cadd, the pilot who had come to evacuate me. Jon and his wife Cher were kind and hospitable, opening their home also to Matthias and Sabine so that they could continue caring for me, looking after my dressings and intravenous drips. Jon loved animals and kept me amused with his numerous pets, including chameleons, snakes and a parrot which he had taught to drink Coca-Cola. Photo: (1) Maud Kells taken taken in 2015 when she returned from the DRC (Credit Norman Bell) (2) with her Belfast Telegraph Woman of the Year Award the same year (Credit Belfast Telegraph) During her final visit to the country she was awarded a Medaille du Merite Civique by the governor in Kunda, for services to the DRC.

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In Maud’s case the answer isn’t complicated, she fell in love with Jesus and never left that commitment throughout her entire lifetime here on earth.” Today I know that you, her family and loved ones, will have many precious memories of her and the love, care and encouragement she provided as a sister, an aunt and a great aunt – things that others will know nothing of, and for those things we thank God.” The country had a fine infrastructure, with roads well maintained by the owners of the coffee, tea, cotton and rubber plantations, who also gave employment to local people and sourced goods from them. There were banks and post offices and other essential services. Maud, who was shot just days after being awarded an MBE and is also a former Belfast Telegraph Woman of the Year winner, went on to spend five decades there, providing maternity care and working to build a hospital and nursery in the rainforest village of Mulita.

Today I know that you, her family and loved ones, will have many precious memories of her and the love, care and encouragement she provided as a sister, an aunt and a great aunt – things that others will know nothing of, and for those things we thank God.” The coffin of Maud Kells is carried into Molesworth Presbyterian Church in Cookstown (Claudia Savage/PA) Maud’s call was for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, but we would do her a great injustice if we were to limit it to that,” he said.War in the Congo has played a big part in determining her life's work. During a rebellion against the colonial Belgian authorities in 1964, several missionaries were martyred and WEC International later decided to send some new young missionaries to replace them. Maud was among them.

The Cookstown and Mulita woman was the daughter of the late William Andrew and Madge Kells, dearly loved sister of Margaret, Dorothy and the late Irene, sister-in-law of Colin, Harold and Tom and a cherished aunt and great-aunt. Any movement I made set off waves of pain, but medication to treat the pain made me nauseated and sleepy. Trying to work out why I was feeling so ill and weak, I asked the doctor to cut down the medication. I began to feel better and decided I would rather have pain than the dreadful nausea... These last few weeks that she spent in Macmillan Cancer Unit in Antrim Area Hospital, she was very well looked after and has been able to spend quality time with family and friends... and chat with people and share their company." Ms Kells received an OBE for her work, which included overseeing the building of a maternity hospital, an operating theatre and a school. Maud Kells was a missionary nurse (Adrian Robinson/PA)At midday everyone was relieved when plane engines were heard overhead. The MAF pilot was Jon Cadd, a good friend. He came with other good friends of mine, German missionaries Dr Matthias and Sabine Holmer, who were based at Nebobongo. As soon as they heard what had happened, they volunteered to come down and help with the evacuation. Jon was delayed first by bad weather at Nyankunde and then needed to fly to Nebobongo to collect Matthias and Sabine, so eventually reached Mulita 12 hours after the shooting. By then I was almost unaware of what was happening, though I had a vague sense of people coming into the house.

It took only seven minutes for all of us to get on board the planes and take off to safety. It was only later that we were told that American spy satellites had spotted rebel forces approaching the airstrip apparently intent on taking us prisoner and using us as hostages. They had told the pilots to get us out." It's a life of sacrificial service to other people and most importantly, from Maud's point of view, a life of committed service to God. That's always been the driving force behind everything that Maud did. Blood was pouring from a wound between my shoulders where the bullet appeared to have passed through. Desperate to stem the bleeding, I staggered to the wall of the house, pressing myself against it as firmly as possible. Time seemed to stretch indefinitely as I stood there, fighting to stay conscious and keep the blood flow under control. Call after call elicited no response. Images flitted through my brain: pictures of Jesus left on the cross, crucified and alone. I had no fear. I was very conscious of God's presence surrounding me and the Holy Spirit's whisper that He was in complete control of the whole situation. He reminded me of Scriptures that had been precious over the years: 'The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in' (Psalm 121:8, esv); 'My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth' (Psalm 121:2, esv). While I was standing there with no physical help appearing, I thought, "Lord, are you taking me now?" I prayed my daily prayer whatever the situation: "Forgive me, Lord, for anything I've done wrong." Then I added: "I'm ready to go, Lord. But there are a few things I'd like to finish off on earth before I go." Our resourceful hospital secretary lifted my camera from a nearby cupboard and began taking photographs of all that was happening, building up a photographic record of the night. Among them are pictures of the chief and police interviewing me in my semi-conscious state at 3am.

Speaking about her, Dr Mawhinney said, “I was saddened to hear of the death of Maud Kells and would like to offer my condolences to her family and friends, both here in Ireland and the DRC, where she served God so faithfully and for so long. She was certainly part of a great generation of Christian womenwho demonstrated their love for Christ as they helped and supported others in need overseas.” Prior to the attempt on her life, in the New Year’s Honours List of 2015, she was appointed an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) for ‘services to people in the Democratic Republic of Congo’ by the late Queen. That same year, she was named Belfast Telegraph ‘Women of the Year.’ Having won the overall title, she was also named ‘Inspiring Woman of the Year’. In 2019 she published her autobiography ‘An open door – A true story of courage in Congo.’ Perhaps in Christian circles she gained a kind of celebrity status, but she never sat easy with the fame, much preferring to do what she did so well – caring for people who were her family and friends and who mattered so much to her,” he said