“We were young and foolish, full of life and poor choices, and she saw through it all and hoped only for the best,” David Oldberg, a former student of Elaine Peterson, said. “And we are better for it now. Earth is a better place because of her life.”
On May 18, 2004, a funeral service for retired covenant missionary to Zaire, now known as the Congo, Elaine Peterson was held at Malmo Mission Covenant Church, Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada.
A native Canadian born, Elaine was born March 22, 1921, in Metiskow, Alberta. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Seattle Pacific College in 1954, though she had attended Covenant Bible College at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and North Park Junior College in Chicago.
She served thirty-two years as a missionary in Karawa, Congo, Africa. In 1955, the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) called her to teach elementary and high school children in Karawa that was in partnership with the Evangelical Free Church.
She taught elementary and high school missionary children at the Ubangi Academy and was the principal there for a short time.
In her 1958 autobiographical writing, she stated, “I have always been interested in missions and early in life told the Lord that if He called me into missionary work, I would be willing to go.” But when asked to go to Africa, Elaine wrote, “I wasn’t very enthusiastic because I would’ve rather gone somewhere else, but He kept making Africa more definite until I yielded and had a peace about it.”
Elaine skillfully used chalk drawings and singing for village “Big Sunday” events. She taught Sunday school to children and adults.
Always looking for new teaching techniques, Elaine learned French and taught the language to the student nurses. In that way, they could improve the service at the regional hospitals.
However, it was Elaine’s hospitality and friendship that won and blessed many.
“The door to her house was always open to welcome people, whether missionary, student, African or anyone else. She was glad to talk and pray with them and always had a cup of coffee or tea to share,” wrote Harvey Widman, a colleague of Elaine’s.
She died May 14 at age 83 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Of the Father's Love