As it was, Maud spent an anxious seven minutes calling for help after being shot. She collapsed in the doorway of her home but people were afraid to come to her aid after hearing the shot. She was 75 when she was hit at point blank range after grabbing hold of the gun as a bandit opened fire during an attempted robbery. 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. In an age that is increasingly obsessed with personal agendas and material gain, we do well to stop for a moment and ask the question as to why someone would live a life that is so counter-cultural. Mourners attend the funeral of Maud Kells (Claudia Savage/PA) Maud Kells lived "an absolutely outstanding life" says Rev Tom Greer who has known the brave missionary nurse for 22 years.

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. Twelve hours after the shooting Ms Kells was airlifted out of Mulita and spent several weeks being treated at Nyankunde hospital. Presbyterian Moderator, Right Reverend Dr Sam Mawhinney, said he was saddened to hear of her passing at the Macmillan Unit of Antrim Area Hospital on Thursday. This incredible story of courage in the face of danger and opposition to her mission characterises Maud’s testimony throughout her fifty years in DRC. Her memoir tells of an emergency evacuation in 1998 in which Maud and other missionaries waited to be rescued by aeroplane after rebels threatened to take foreign aid workers hostage. If not for Maud’s white anorak used to signal a safe place for the plane to land, the evacuation may not have been successful. Maud’s story constantly reveals God’s provision and protection over her both in DRC and further afield. Suddenly we heard the sound of two planes approaching. I was wearing a white anorak and one missionary grabbed it from me and threw it on the ground. It was the signal the pilots were waiting for and they landed.

On her return to her home, two men wearing camouflage uniforms ran towards her. One was carrying a gun covered in leaves to disguise it. She thought it was a piece of wood and tried to disarm the robber. The Apostle Paul tells us in his Letter to the Ephesians, ‘For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them’ (Ephesians 2:10). Maud was a humble and true example of that,” Dr Mawhinney said. Maud’s incredible story, told fully in her book An Open Door: A True Story of Courage in Congo, was written in collaboration with her close friend, Jean Gibson. When asked what she hopes her readers will take away from her testimony, Maud writes, “I trust they will praise and glorify our wonderful Lord Jesus, and that they will be challenged to serve Him too.” It doesn’t really get better than that!

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. In an age that is increasingly obsessed with personal agendas and material gain, we do well to stop for a moment and ask the question as to why someone would live a life that is so counter-cultural. It was a narrow escape but she had an even closer brush with death just 10 weeks ago when she was confronted by two bandits at her home in Mulita in the north east of the vast country. She had been lured from her home by a bogus call to the maternity unit, which she had helped build and where she trained local nurses and midwives. 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. In the 1960s Maud received training for her mission work at the WEC Missionary Training College in Glasgow, Scotland

Let your light shine

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) Mademoiselle is dying! Mademoiselle is dying!" A Congolese friend, Mado, visiting me in Mulita, appeared from the guest house where she was staying. She always reasoned it to me by saying, ‘well in Africa we have to walk everywhere so if where I’m going is close enough, I’ll walk it’.” Maud certainly impacted the lives of many people here but the real legacy of Maud's lies in the heart of Africa - it lies in eastern Congo. She had a deep spiritual impact on people's lives.. but there's no doubt she saved the lives of many people in her medical work. 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.

Adapting to working in turbulent situations, Maud worked in South Sudan between 1998 and 2002 as it was too dangerous for mission work in DRC. Reflecting on this chapter of her work, Maud writes, “I maintain that one can adapt to any situation if they have the right mind-set.” Certainly, Maud’s testimony stands as an incredible reminder of finding new faith and dynamic spiritual growth during turbulent and unpredictable experiences. Upon each return to DRC, Maud explains that words from scripture encouraged her to persevere and trust in God’s leading – a practice that sustained her spiritually throughout her life.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." Having suffered from hearing problems all her life, it was ironic that she should be the first to respond to my screams. As she joined in my attempt to call for help, Mado shouted: "Mademoiselle is dead! Mademoiselle is dead!" While my time as a missionary doctor in a hospital outside Nairobi was relatively short, it was an experience that I will never forget. In paying tribute to Maud today, and her selfless and tireless gospel-inspired work, having followed so faithfully the call from God over so many years, I also want to commend all those who are called by God to His service overseas, especially our own Global Mission Workers in PCI.

He added: "I 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 women who demonstrated their love for Christ as they helped and supported others in need overseas." 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. 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.

An Open Door: A True Story of Courage in the Congo is a fascinating and insightful read, taking the reader on a journey from her early years training as a nurse, midwife and missionary to her arrival, aged 25, in the Congo where she was replacing martyred missionaries. Ms Kells received an OBE for her work, which included overseeing the building of a maternity hospital, an operating theatre and a school.