The missionaries opened a school for boys and Selim attended it.

Dr.and Mrs.Van Dyck were living in Aitath at the time, and the young Druze maiden Abla, who was betrothed to a Druze Sheikh, became greatly attached to Mrs.Van Dyck, and came almost constantly to visit her.

The light of a better faith and the truth of a pure gospel gradually dawned upon her mind, until her love for Mrs.Van Dyck grew into love for the Saviour of sinners.

The Sheikh to whom she was betrothed was greatly enraged at her course in visiting a Christian lady, and meeting her one day when returning to her home, attacked her in the most brutal manner, and gave her a severe beating.
She fled and took refuge in the house of Mrs.Van Dyck, who had taught her to read and given her a Bible.

A short time after, several of her cousins seized her and scourged her most cruelly, and a violent persecution was excited against her and her brother Selim.