Franklin Springs Family Media

Dr. Livingstone, I Presume?

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Being in Zambia last week brought a renewed appreciation for the marvelous, adventurous life led by Dr. David Livingstone.  As we visited villages in the Ndola area with blood:water mission, it was easy to imagine Livingstone on his treks through Africa 150 years ago.

While Livingstone was on his final African expedition, Henry Morgan Stanley, on assignment from The New York Herald, traveled deep into the interior of the continent in search of Livingstone, who hadn’t been heard from since September, 1869.  There was worldwide speculation and intrigue surrounding the highly revered Livingstone:  he was rumored to have been savagely killed, some thought he was in need of rescue, others were certain he was still on his quest to find the source of the Nile River.  When Stanley finally located Livingstone in Ujiji (in present day Tanzania) on November 10, 1871, Stanley offered the understated words that are now emblazoned in history:  “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”.

There was widespread celebration at the news that Livingstone had been found alive.  But rather than enjoy a heroic return to England, Livingstone chose to continue his work in Africa, where he remained until his death - in Zambia - on May 1, 1873.  Livingstone’s longstanding assistants carried his body back to the eastern coast of Africa, where it was then ferried from Zanzibar back to London, where there was a national outpouring of appreciation for the renowned missionary explorer. 

Fifteen months ago, on our last trip through London, we went back to Westminster Abbey, and were taken again with the burial site of David Livingstone.  In a place where so many notable historical figures have been laid to rest, the expansive space allotted to Livingstone’s gravesite is testimony to his far reaching influence.

The inscription goes on to read “For 30 years his life was spent in an unwearied effort to evangelize the native races, to explore the undiscovered secrets, to abolish the desolating slave trade of Central Africa, where with his last words he wrote ‘All I can add in my solitude is, may Heaven’s rich blessing come down on every one, American, English, or Turk who will help to heal this open sore of the world.’”

Oh for the time to make all the films we’d like to…

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