December 20: Dennis shared a letter from Bishop Tugwell regarding a potential new Bible translation in Owerri, located in Ibo country. The proposal aimed to create a translation understandable beyond the Onitsha District. Dennis and Mattie felt called to the project and recognized the need for careful, prayerful consideration.
May 8, 1905: Dennis departed for Owerri without Mattie, who remained busy in Asaba. The journey was difficult, marked by intense heat and limited shade, as he traveled through multiple villages and crossed several rivers. Along the way, he reached Oguta Lake, described as clear and shallow, and encountered a village in the midst of making a sacrifice.
As the journey continued farther from Asaba and Onitsha, local dialects became increasingly challenging, requiring occasional use of an interpreter. The following day began early, leading onto the Oguta–Owerri road, noted as one of the best roads in Nigeria, though largely without shade. Dennis arrived in Owerri by noon and stayed at the home of Chief Igwe, a prominent and influential local leader.
Despite ongoing language barriers, Dennis and his companions engaged with many residents, working to communicate their mission. It was noted that within only a few weeks, someone from Onitsha was able to understand the Owerri language, and the group made significant progress in just five days.
Dennis observed that Owerri was smaller than expected, with an estimated population of around 2,500 people spread across four villages. Nevertheless, it functioned as an important hub due to its access to a dense surrounding population and its well-maintained roads. The Niger Company had also established a small factory in Owerri, primarily serving local soldiers, with approximately 200–300 stationed nearby. Locals were known to travel to Oguta for better prices on palm oil and kernels.
On his first morning in Owerri, Dennis, accompanied by Mr. Onyeabo, visited the king and received a warm welcome. Unlike other regions, kola nuts were not part of the greeting tradition. Instead, they were offered yams, eggs, coconuts, and palm wine. Dennis also noted that the local salutation in Owerri was “Ndewo,” differing from “Nnuo” in the Onitsha dialect.
Later that day, Dennis visited Mr. Douglas, the District Commissioner, who offered him accommodation in the government bungalow. Dennis declined, choosing instead to remain among the local population. He spent the remainder of the day visiting village chiefs and preaching to gathered audiences. The message was well received, and there were requests for the group to consider staying longer and for boys to be taken back to Asaba for training.