I WAS one of thirteen children born to my father by his three wives. I have lingering memories of a happy childhood, fishing, swimming and snail hunting in the large creek near my home​—a thatched hut in a large African village. What good times I had with my girl friends washing clothes in the stream! Little did I know that the creeks were becoming infested with parasites small enough to pass through the skin and affect a girl’s ability to bear children​—her main role in life in Africa.

The Reproach of Barrenness

At childbearing age I responded to a young man’s “I love you” and entered into a trial marriage arrangement. My parents wanted to be sure that my lover “could hold a woman good.” I looked forward to the day when I would bear my first child. Imagine the disappointment when I miscarried. After that, no “belly” again for me. Something vital had gone out of my life. I was like a tree without fruit, a cloud without rain.

Next my husband moved to shatter my heart. Without delay he married my younger sister. Then he came and self-justifyingly said: “Ever since you be with me, you never ‘born’ child. I have no children by you. I know the thing I will do to you will make you cry!” “Since Jehovah’s name is on me,” I replied, “I can’t cry. Since it is your money you want, and you have taken my sister and all the other girl friends you have, and you tell me now that I am just a barren woman, I am going to give you your money!”

Then, in due course, came baptism. My life now had definite meaning, for now I belonged to God. What a blessing I could be to others! How well I understood the fears and despairs of my superstitious country sisters! Particularly to those who could not have children I poured out my heart. Rather than the work of witchcraft, as they supposed, it was possibly the work of parasites that can affect the internal organs to the point of “spoiling the young belly.” Doctors later expressed the opinion that this had been the cause of my miscarriage. But the great Healer would soon correct our imperfect bodies. Miscarriages, stillbirths, malformed and sickly offspring will not mar the joy of those who share in repopulating the earth. No longer will mothers “bring to birth for disturbance.”​—Isa. 65:23.