LISU-LAND CHURCHES of CHRIST IN BURMA"Where China/ Tibet*, and Burma Meet"

(Yunnan-Tibetan Christian Mission)

FIRST 1953 NEWSLETTER

R'-jy

A Typical Lisu Woman

"The Lord is my fight

and my saloatiom whom

shall I /ear? the Lord

is the strength of my lifef

of whom shall I be afraid?'

The J. Russell Morse Family and Associates.

P. O. Putao, via Myitkyina

Kachin State^ Burma

Mr. and Mrs. J. Russell Morse

REUNION

FAITH and FELLOWSHIP

In response to the many requests for news concerning theactivities of Mr. and Mrs. J. Russell Morse since their arrival inthe States and the interest intheir plans for the future, wesubmit this summary:

In the release of J. RussellMorse, after 15 months imprisonment in Kunming, China, wehave again witnessed the demonstration of the love, powerand guidance of our HeavenlyFather as He answered the prayers of his dear family and beloved co-workers and friendsaround the world.

Mr. and Mrs. J. Russell Morseand LaVerne Morse arrived in theStates on July 3rd, 1952. After Mrs. Ruth Morse

a brief visit with Mr. Morse'ssister in Seattle, Washington,they went on to Inglewood, Cali-fornia, where they visited Mr.Morse's living link church, theChristian Church of Inglewood,where Brother Ted Hurlburt -ministers. They were also greet-ed by their daughter, Ruth Mar-garet, who had gone to Califor- yrnia soon after her school closedin Terre Haute, Indiana. Thiswas the time for which she hadbeen praying. What aafter being away from her par-ents and her brother for threelong

Mrs. Rufh Morse, 92 years old,mother of J. Russell Morse, flew Ruth Margaret Morseto California to welcome her son,on whose behalf she had prayed so earnestly during the many monthsof his "silence"—not knowing whether she would see him again inthis iife, yet never wavering in her faith. It was a comfort to benear him when it was found necessary for him to have an operation."Mother" Morse, as she Is affectionately known to Christian brethren the country over, has served the mission efficiently and faithfully for more than thirty years and proudly (and justly so) talksof her thousands of "children in the Lord" in Llsulan^l. We salutea brave soldier of the Cross who has done a marvellous work for herLord!

We thank the Lord for Brother Russell's recovery and for in-creased strength which enabledhim to attend the National Mis-slonary Convention at DodgeCity, Kansas, where he deliveredthe a capac-

audience. Following this con-vention he visited with his mother

Tulsa, Oklahoma and ad-cj''6ssed the Midwest Christian

- i UPlpEjHH Convention before going to Cin-cinnati, Ohio, to preach the

Pi opening sermon of the "Confer-ence on Evangelism."

Mrs. J. Russell Morse camewith her husband from Califor-

to Oklahoma. She stopped atOklahoma City for a visit with

sister, whom she hadVI wSA / since her return

R. LaVerne Morse from Burma. She joined the folksR. LaVerne Morse

In Tulsa to go to the convention in Dodge City. At the close of theconvention she went to Springfield, Illinois, to visit her living linkchurch, Westside Church of Christ. She spoke for a number ofgroups in that area before joining Mr. Morse in Cincinnati.

LaVerne Morse came to the midwest soon after his arrival inthe States, speaking at the School of Missions at Lake James andCedar Lake, Indiana, as well as other camps and speaking for anumber of churches. He is now attending Cincinnati Bible Seminary, where he is a junior.

Ruth Margaret Morse is the youngest child and only daughterof Mr. and Mrs. J. Russell Morse. She is 18 years old and she, too,is a student at Cincinnati Bible Seminary, having entered last fallas a freshman. Before and after the time spent with her parentsin California, Ruth attended camps, rallies, and visited churches until time for school to begin.

Since LaVerne and Ruth have been studying in the Bible Seminary in Cincinnati, Mr. and Mrs. Morse have made their headquarters there this winter. Mr. Morse has been away speaking thegreater part of the time, but Mrs. Morse has tried to be with thechildren as much as possible as she and Mr. Morse epxect to returnto the mission work in Burma in the spring, the Lord willing. Unless the regulations concerning the Burmese visa are changed, theyshould be back In Burma by the first of June.

A FAITHFUL CO-WORKER

Drema Esther, our adopteddaughter, evacuated from Chinaalong with the rest of the fam-ily in the early part of Decem-ber, 1949, before the change ingovernment took place. Sincethat time she has been working

.£ V as a regular full-fledged mis-. sionary in the various phases of

the work. She usually teachesat least one class in our BibleSeminary Schools and translatesfor those of the mission who

' have not yet mastered the langu-X -. k age. She has taught Old Testa-I ment Stories and also stories in

Drema Esther Morse the Gospels. The use of theflannelgraph, which she learned

while in the States during our last furlough, has proven very helpful.She is a good teacher and the students have a sincere love and respectfor her.

Drema Esther Morse

Drema Esther has gone on several long teaching trips. As shetravels from one congregation to another, she, like the rest of us,conducts Bible Schools, helps advise with the church leaders in theirvarious problems, and dispenses medicines to the sick. She is avery good medical worker. Her love and sympathy for the people areshown by the careful and patient way in which she works. Her faith,kindness and her zeal to do the Lord's work as nearly perfect aspossible have produced good results.

By Mrs. J. Russell More

ANNOUNCING A NEW MISSIONARY!

The Yunnan-Tibetan Christian^^^^B^^^Mission is looking forward to ag^^HU^^Hnew missionary to work for the|Hfl[|̂ ^^H|Espreading of the "unsearchableHj^HH^^Qriches of Christ" in the regioniP^^^B|̂ K7"where China, Tibet, Burma, and

India meet." She is Lois CarolVr^^^^^^HEIIiott of The Cincinnati Bible

^^^^^^Seminary. After March 27, 1953,she is to be Mrs. R. LaVerne

For many years, Lois has de-^ ; \ y sired to work for* Christ in the

♦v ^ spreading of the Gospel to theunreached thousands of heathenpeople around the world. Thenlast summer, when she was working in the office of Lake RegionChristian Assembly, Cedar Lake,

Lois Carol Elliott Indiana, she met LaVerne Morse,be home on furlough from the Ti-

Mrs. R. LaVerne Morse betan border. He was visitingafter March 21, 1953 his living-link church at Joliet,

Illinois, and also the MissionsWeek program at Cedar Lake. Following that eventful meeting,throughout last fall and winter at The Cincinnati Bible Seminarytheir acquaintance and friendship grew and deepened.

A consecrated and talented Christian, Lois has had considerable experience in serving her Lord. She has taught in a numberof Daily Vacation Bible Schools and Sunday Schools and has beenactive in youth work. In addition, she has played the piano and sungextensively in churches during Seminary trips and otherwise. Asfriends over the country will know, she has a beautiful dramatic-soprano voice. On the Tibetan border, the Gospel message hasoften been carried In song into the hearts of the people. Thus Lois'

musical ability should be especially welcome and effective for theMaster's vineyard out there. Finally, besides ail her other qualifications, Lois has an earnest zeal to win people to Jesus Christ, WhoAlone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

The parents of Lois, Professor and Mrs. George Mark Elliott,have been well-known for their outstanding work with The Cincinnati Bible Seminary. Professor Elliott is loved and respectedas a spiritual, understanding, and truly Christian teacher of theGospel.

Lois has two brothers, both of whom are married and in theLord's work. AAark Elliott and his family are living in Cincinnati.He ministers part time to a church in Indiana. Vaughn Elliott, isto graduate from the Seminary this spring; then he and his familyare to work as missionaries with Elmer Kile and the Ye" Chapelin New York City.

An interesting sidelight is that the grandfather of Lois Elliott,G. W. Elliott, was an evangelist in South Dakota many years agowhen the grandparents of LaVerne Morse lived there. G. W. Elliottbaptized Frank Morse, the father of J. Russell Morse and grandfather of LaVerne Morse. Also, when J. Russell Morse was abouttwo years old, his mother—known to all as Mrs. Ruth Morse, forwarding agent for the Morse family In Tulsa, Oklahoma—asked G.W. Elliott to pray for her son that he might become a preacher ofthe Gospel and win many souls to Christ. They never knew thenthat their grandchildren would in later years unite to preach Christ"unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Miss Lois Carol Elliott and Mr. R. LaVerne Morse are to bemarried on Friday, March 27, 1953, at 7:30 P.M. at The CincinnatiBible Seminary chapel. Price and Grand Avenues, Price Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio. Any friends who will be able to attend the ceremonyare welcome to do so.

Following their marriage, Lois and LaVerne plan to completethis present school year and also one more year in the Seminary.Lois Is in her sophomore year and LaVerne in his junior year. Thisnext summer, then, they plan to visit Christian Service camps andchurch in this country and in Canada. Next year, in 19i54, aftermaking necessary preparations such as travel arrangements andbuying of equipment, the Lord willing, they plan to go to the Tibetanborder mission field in Burma to serve Christ, to win souls to eternallife in the wondrous ministry of the Gospel.

Did you know: That the book of Genesis and the book of Psalmsare the only books of the Bible outside of the New Testament, thathave been translated into Lisu?

That most of the natives of Tibetan LIsuland must be taughteven the concepts of life after death, of sin, and of love?

TWO NEW THIRD-GENERATION MISSIONARIES

Ronald Keith Morse, third son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene R.Morse was born at Muladi, near Putao, N. Burma on November 9,1952. Miss Dorothy Sterling, R.N., was the "attending physician."The other two boys are David Lowell, almost four years old, andThomas Eugene who will be two years old in July.

Stephen Anthony, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Morsewas born November 19, 1952 in Rangoon, Burma. Their other son,Jonathan Russell, was three years old last October 8th.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Morse and Family

-i. .fl

Robert

Jonathon Russell

BettyStephen Anthony

"Go . . . TEACH ALL NATIONS"

Because Robert Morse believes his linguistic ability is God-given and is to be used to His Glory, the work of "teaching the nations" in a remote portion of the jungles of North Burma has become a reality.

Even before the family came to the States on furlough in 1946,Robert Morse was deeply concerned about the salvation of theRawang tribespeople of North Burma. Having spent many monthswith them, he knew their great need of the Gospel and their capacityfor receiving it.

The Rawang people had no written language, so, being anatural linguist, it was Robert's great hope that they might have one.He was familiar with many of the tribal languages, and his two summers at the Wycliffe School of Basic Linguistics at the Universityof Oklahoma were a great help. But it was his love of the gospeland his great zeal for taking it to those who have not heard, thathas made it possible for him to make such splendid progress in theRawang translations.

After devising a written language, he prepared a primer withthe basic teachings of New Testament Christian and some hymns.These were printed in the summer of 1951. During the last yearRobert has completed the translation of the Gospel of Mark and it,too, has been printed. The work was finished in December 1952.

Robert and Betty have taught in the Lisu schools and Roberthas prepared much of the material but most of their time has beenspent working with and for the Rawang people. They are now in"Rawang country" where they and Dorothy Sterling are holdingBible Schools for both the Lisu and Rawang of that area. The effectsof Robert's work are discussed in a letter from Dorothy Sterling:

"The revival among the Rawang people is due largely to havingthe Gospel now in their own language. When they had to learn theLisu language to become Christians, some became Christians andlearned Lisu in order to be able to read the Bible, but many of themnever understood it very well and many never learned it at all.Since Robert Morse has been working on a written language for themand has translated a Gospel primer and the Gospel of Mark intoRawang, the people are turning to Christ in large numbers. Pleasecontinue to pray for him in this work."

The following excerpts from their letters tell of their stay inRangoon and of their trip from Rangoon to Muladi and from Muladito Kobudeh and Tiliwago. Robert wrote:

"We got to Rangoon one month behind schedule because theplane didn't come to Putao until we finally had to appeal for helpIFrom some friends in the American Embassy. Consequently ourRangoon time was quite full and we hardly had time to do the thingswhich were absolutely necessary, and the printers did not get throughwith the printing of Rawang Mark. We were supposed to fly backup to Putao on December 18th, but government officials had priority so we had to take the next plane which, was Christmas Day. ^earrived at Putao airstrip at 2:30 Christmas afternoon. Since wewere going north, it got colder and colder, and eventually, at Putao,we found it very cold with the light tropical clothes we were wearing. By the time we had our freight and baggage aissembled inloads for carrying, there were plenty of Lisu friends gathered tohelp us carry it to our home.

It was 3:15, and the sun was rapidly disappearing behind thehigh mountains in the west. The temperature was also rapidly dropping down from the 70's that we were used to and dressed for, to

the lower 40's. For a while I was almost panicky because we stillhad a three hour walk back through the jungle to Muladi, and ariver to cross there by rickety bamboo raft. But the Lord helped,iand although out of practice, we made the three hour trip in twohours and a half, and we got to the river crossing at dusk.

As darkness fell and the bitter cold of 39 degrees plus a windfrom the snow mountains bit into our light tropical clothing, westarted the river crossing. The raft was one made of 12 largebamboos tied together with cross-pole and vines, 2 to 2>/i feetwide and 25 feet long. It would hold 3 persons with loads, buteverybody's feet got wet and cold in the icy water because it sankinto the water several inches. The least bit of shifted weight, andthere would be sure trouble, namely a capsized boat. So I wentover as passenger the first time, carrying Stephen. Then Betty camewith Jonni on the second trip. Once across, we were in Muladivillage, so, without bothering to get our shoes back on, we rushedwith the two children back to our house to get warmer clothing forthem. The next week was convention week, and the whole familywent, including Stephen, and we camped out in a rice field along with1400 Rawang and Lisu Christians. Then afterwards we went backto Muladi to pack up and start the 10 day trek through jungle andover high mountains to get back to the Tiliwago area, wher^ wewere to hold a Bible school for Lisu and Rawang. Dorothy Sterlingis also helping with the teaching."*From Betty: (January 30, 1953)

"Well, here I am—back in the mountains and how Td like tostay! I say 'Til never leave them again.' After a year in the swampsof the Putao plains, the grandeur of these mountains is overwhelmingly beautiful. The main reason, though, that I do not want togo back is because of the terrible, terrible roads we passed over ingetting here. We'd have to go over them again in getting to Muladi.

Joni proved himself a good traveler. He rode horseback for64 miles straight with only one fall. How's that for a 3'/i year oldmissionary? Our tiny baby, Stephen, now a little more than 2months old, is doing very well. He laughs and coos at an earlierage than Joni did, 1 think. Sometimes he cries, but if Robert or Icome to him, he will start laughing. Both Joni and Stephen hadbad colds after our trip, but penicillin and sulpha—called "drama-cillin" have cured them very quickly.

We are very happy to be back here again and we are prayingthat nothing serious makes us leave before our mission here is completed. We get mail so seldom up here. Please write more often.

Oh, w^ have had snow ice-cream! Something new in the lifeof a Louisiana girl. Really, it's been very cold for about a week.Ice outside and so cold in our thin bamboo hut that I have to huddleover the campfire to keep from chilling. Robert has gone over toTiliwago to check up on things there and to prepare for the schoolwe are to teach."

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene R. Morse

Eugene HelenThomas Eugene^ David Lowell^ Ronald Keith

BUILDING FOR GOD

Members of the family and other co-workers refer to EugeneMorse as an evangelist and builder. Those who have labored withhim tell of his engineering ability. He has supervised and done muchof the actual building of the missjon homes at Pugeleh and Tadain the Salween Valley. Since he has been in Burma, he has directedthe building of the mission home, a large chapel with a seating capacity of 1300 (as the Lisu sit) and also a home for Robert andBetty, a few minutes walk away, where there would be a little lessactivity and perhaps a bit more quiet time for Robert's study andtranslation work.

The work of evangelism, teaching, holding elders' conferences—in short, the work of establishing, teaching and maintaining indigenous Churches of Christ at Muladi and in the entire Putao areahas been his first concern, and supercedes all else. The chapel wasbuilt that the people might come together in larger groups for theirconventions,' etc. A suspension bridge was built across the riverat Muladi so that people could come to church even when the riverwas too high and turbulent to cross on a raft. Eugene helped thenatives lay out the village of Muladi in orderly streets—an entirelynew experience to a people who had lived on the steep mountainslopes of West China before Communism forced them to evacuate.

Since this village has grown so successfully, other areas have askedhis help and, as he preaches and teaches, he helps in this way ifpossible.

Helen is a nurse and has had stenographic training and experience so she has remained at Muladi most of the time helping withthe medical work and the work of stencil cutting and mimeographing of the materials Robert has translated. Eugene, Helen and thechildren have gone on several trips to conventions, Bible Schools,etc., but usually Helen stays at home to "hold the fort." WhileEugene's mother was still in Burma, she went with him a number oftimes. Being an experienced teacher, and speaking the Lisu language fluently, she and Eugene made an effective team in evangelismand teaching. They held two-month Bible schools in various places.

There have been times of testing this past year and those inBurma are so thankful for the opportunities they have had to witness for their Lord, and helping the natives to realize how wonderfully God DOES answer prayer.

Quotations from letters written by Eugene and Helen illustrate:"The highlight of the month of June was the day we received

a telegram saying Daddy had reached Hong Kong, having been released from China. When we received the news, we couldn't helpcrying for joy. The Lisu man who brought the telegram to us spreadthe glad tydings through the village as he returned home, and soonpeople began to come to ask "Is it really true? Is MA-PA DA-MA(elder teacher) really free again?" and they were as happy as we,for they had all been praying for his safety and release too.. Andnow they could see another proof that God really does answer prayerfor His children. Especially so in the way God arranged that Motherand LaVerne should be there in Hong Kong just at the time Daddyarrived unannounced!"

In August there was a flood at Muladi and after describingthe definite answers to prayer at various times during the crisis, theywrote: "We have been so thrilled over these experiences and thenearness of our Lord, that it has been truly wonderful."

In October there was another flood which was even more devastating:

"Folks at Nunke and La-do thought surely Muladi must bewiped off the map. Above the village—between here and Nam-li-ka,where there used to be a big bend around a point of land, there isnow on straight sweep for about two miles. No one has any doubtthat the fact that this village is still here, intact, is only in answerto prayer, and evidence of God's care for His children. We havereceived reports that the Irrawaddy river is at the highest level everrecorded. You see now why we were ready to hold a very special'Thanksgiving'."

"Dorothy Sterling and her little adopted Lisu son arrived InMuladi September 5th. Disturbing and threatening rumors fromthe east made them feel that it was best for them to come on downhere." Dorothy has been working at Kobudeh, which is eleven daystravel nearer the China border. There is an ever-present dangerduring the months the mountain passes are not closed by the snows.Those months are from late May until late November. Because ofthis it makes it imperative that as much as possible be accomplishedbetween November and May. It was the reason for Dorothy returning to Kobudeh early in December and for Robert and Bettygoing to join her as soon as possible after the birth of Stephen.

LOOKING AHEAD

"The first week-end in April the Easter convention will be heldin Muladi, as the church building here is the largest. Last year wehad over 2000, and we expect at least as many this year.

During June and July we are planning to hoJd a school for thepreachers of this area. That will be during the rainy season whenit is almost impossible to do very much traveling anyway, so shouldbe a good time for the school. Pray that all the preachers will beable to attend, and that we will be able to teach them in such away that the greatest good may result."

SIXTH NATIONAL MISSIONARY CONVENTION

September 23-27, 1953

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH, LINCOLN, ILLINOIS

Mailed by MRS. OSCAR L. MYERS See. 34.66 P.L.&R2024 N. 14th Street

Terre Haute, Indiana

Form 3547 Requested

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2? Ter. Cash

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Chr. Std.

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M.O. Check Sttfftpj Caili'

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Inglewood, Califl:ay, 15, 19

Dear Sirs

le would like to see this article in your publica.tion soon:

J. RUSS3LL MGH3S RETURNS TO BURMA

Christians and Churshes all over the United States, as well as K!issionariesand native Christians in many foreign lands have been watching with interestthe activities of Russell and Gertrude Morse the past year.

ItfTissionaries of over 30 years in Lisu land and the surrounding countries,they v»ere welcomed with tears of rejoicing and thanksgiving to God, a yearago, when they returned to the States immediately following Russell'smiraculous release from 15 month in a Communist prison in Ktuiming China.

God's tiigeing was perfect. Russell was released on the very last day ofa continuous 10 day prayer time dedicated to this cause by the ChristianChurch of Inglewood, California, his living link Churchand just in time toreturn home with his wife. Gertrude and son Laverne who v^ere in Hongkongready to sail within a few hours.

The long months of strain and anxiety only strengthened the faith of theintire Horse family as well as the living-link Churches.

After undergoing major surgery and taking afew weeks rest, they were ontheir way to visit loved ones and report to and encourage Churches andConventions all ouer the land.

Arriving in Inglewood Apr* 24th., they spent their last week makingnecessary arrangements for the return to the land where this famousMissionary family has preached,the Word, doctored the sick, taught theignorant and by the guiding of the Holy Spirit, gave those ueoDle theirfirst written language.

Bro. Morse spoke at the morning hour in the Inglewood Church on Apr. 26th,and again in the after-noon when the Church sponsered Open-House for theirmany friends in the Churches of the surrounding area.

Friday evening May 1st., the Minister and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Hurlbiartinvited all to their home for a time of prayer and the wishing of God-speedafuer which many motored to the Air—port, where these consecrated servantsembarked on Pan-American plane and sailed away over the blue Pacific at11:59 P.M.

Depending intirely on the Lord and His people for theiir finances and prayersHussell and Gertrude Morse expect to spend many prophetdble years in thework of the Lord in Burma or where ever He sends them.

Lyle Smith, reporter.10008 Freeman Ave.,Inglewood, Calif•

USU and RAWANG CHURCHES OF CHRIST"Where China/ Tibet, Burma and India meet."

(Yunnan-Tibetan Christian Mission)

SECOND 1953 NEWS LETTER

Mrs. Ruth Morse, 92 years old,and her son, J. Russell Morse,shortly before parting in Tulsafor the last time.

"/ have fought a good fight^ / have fiimhed. my course^ I have kept thefaith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness^which the Lordy the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and notto me only^ hut unto all them also that love his appearing^

II Tim. 4:7, 8.

The J. Russell Morse Family and AssociatesP. O. Pufao, yia Myitkyina

Kachin State, Burma

1faiUit Bsleep

Mrs. Ruth MacKenzie Morse, aged 92 years, died in aTuisa hospital May 20, 1953 following an illness of influenza.She Is survived by one son, J. Russell Morse; two daughters,Mrs. Eva Melton and Mrs. Louise Whitham, of Tulsa; ninegrandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.

Her memorial sermon was preached by Raymond Summers, iformerly minister of the Westside Christian Church in which |she held membership. |

OUR MOTHER'S MEMORIES

Ninety-two years of living in America between 1861 and 1953can give a person extraordinary memories, for our mother, RuthMacKenzie Morse, born in the frontier outpostof Hutchinson, Minn.,on a blizzardy January fourth, they were a series of vivid pictures.

There was the flight in dead of winter from the massacres of theSioux Indians. She saw five of her sisters die. At seven, hermother died. She helped make maple ^rup and bring in the summer's harvest. At seventeen she marfTe^ RriHk Morse, ^and a year -later they began proving-up a homestead In South Dakota. Sheremembered the blizzards, th6 prairie fires, the enormous flocksof wild game that gave them food. She remembered the sod shantyand the little four-roomed house that replaced It. She recalled theSunday School which she started and the Christian Church in Alexandria, South Dakota, estabtisVied by evangelist G. W. Elliott (grandfather of Mrs. LaVerne Morse) . She saw her husband and theirfour older children baptized in that meeting.

Her year-old babe, Justin Russell, carried on his father's arm,was a smiling handshaker at the door.

The memories of Ruth Morse have to do with a grain ranch inSouth Dakota, of thousands of sheep and droves of horses. It wasa hard life, and she was plagued with illness. At 45 she was givenup to die, but she recovered from the illness.

The Morses moved to Indian Territory in 1904, to a land of civilized Indians, spouting oil-wells, and a town which yearly outgrew itsboundaries. Ruth Morse never had money riches, but she alwayspaid her debts. She was rich in the knowledge that her children wereschooled, that they engaged in honorable work: nursing, teaching,preaching, and home making. She loved to think of her nine grandchildren and her nineteen great-grandchildren. Her son and five-—of her grandsons are teachers of G^'s Word. The memories of RuthMorse include thirty years of the foreign missionary service of Justin

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Russell Morse, whose Forwarding Agent she was for so many years.There were church conventions at which she spoke and at whichshe made the friendships which have greatly enriched her life. HerChristian faith was strengthened by God's mercies to her childrenon the foreign field. Through pestilence, flood, fire, war, andeven imprisonment, their lives were spared to go ahead to moreservice in the Master's Name.

Death took her husband, her son John, and her daughter, MamieChase, fine Christians all, but she was sustained by the devotedcare of her daughters, Eva Melton and Louise Whitham. in herlast hours she called to memory the faces of a host of friends, somein far away places, others who had joined with her in building theWestside Christian Church. Their kindness made her decliningdays happier.

Ninety-two years!

A long time as man's life is usually reckoned, but a short time inmemory.

(Written by Louise Morse Whithom for her mother'smemorial ^rvice, Tuisa, Oklahoma, May 23, 1953.Ray Summers, Minister).

MR. AND MRS. J. RUSSELL MORSE LEAVE FOR TIBETAN BORDER

After ten months of being back In the United States on furloughto recuperate and visit Christian friends throughout the churches,Mr. and Mrs. J. Russell Morse left Inglewood, California, for themission field on AAay 1, 1953. They had hoped for an extension ofMrs. Morse's Burma re-entry visa time limit to enable them to remain longer in America, but received a telegram from the BurmeseEmbassy saying the extension could not be granted.

It was an especially hard parting for Mrs. j^uth Morse when shesaid good-bye to her son J. Russell.

Mr. and Mrs. Ray Partridge, close friends of the family and members of the Christian Church-of Inglewood, which is living-linkchurch of Mr. Morse, describe their departure as follows:

Inglewood, CaliforniaDear Mrs. Myers:

Greetings in Christ's wonderful name. Brother Russell and Gertrude left on Friday night amid tears of rejoicing by Christian friendsfor God's sparing their lives, and tears of sorrow at being separatedfrom them for a while.

On the Sunday before they left, we had an all-day meeting withthem at the church with basket lunch at noon. In the afternoonmany other churches and delegations came to hear Brother Russellspeak and show some movies of the work in Burma. Also Gertrudegave a message. It was a great day. From then till Friday they

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had a busy time trying to decide what to take with them on theplane and getting additional boxes ready to send by parcel post later.Only sixty-six pounds was allowed on each plane ticket. JimmieWhittle was a great help in packing and helping in many ways. Heand Louise are wonderful folk. l1ie time passed all too fast.

On Friday, the church planned a fellowship and prayer meetingfor them an hour before they were to go. It was a blessed time forus all. We arrived at the airport forty-five minutes before theplane arrived and did not have to hurry. Many members and friendsfrom other churches were also there to see them go. The planeleft at 11:59 P.M. with Russell and Gertrude each loaded down withparcels. Ruth Margaret, LaVerne, and Lois had telegraphed a corsage of roses for Gertrude. She looked very sweet and wore herwhite hat. They were wishing they could go by boat In order thatthey might take more with them and have more time for rest. However, they felt they must get to Burma earlier to avoid the Monsoonrains and also so that Eugene, Helen, and family could come homefor a furlough.

How often Brother Russell spoke of his regret at leaving his mother.She called the night he left to tell him good-bye and to say shedidn't think she would live to see him again. It was very hard forhim to leave her. He just walked back and forth In the kitchensaying, "My mother said she didn't expect to see me again, butshe didn't say I should stay." That seemed a comfort to him. Russelland Gertrude were very tired when they left,, but I think when theyget on the field into the work they will feel better.

Much Christian love,

Mrs. Clara Partridge

Following an overnight flight past the Pacific coast-line and outover the ocean, Mr. and Mrs. Morse arrived in Honolulu. Theywere "met at the airport by Glen and Ruth Powell, missionaries inthe Hawaiian Islands. While waiting a day for the connecting airplane across the Pacific, they visited with the Powells and were impressed by the great needs and worthiness of the Lord's work there.That evening their Pan-American Clipper winged across the blue,sunshiny Pacific Ocean to the tiny coral island of Wake in timefor breakfast. They lost one day when they crossed the International Date Line and arrived in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday when theythought It was Sunday. Harold Sims and Mark Maxey met them,at Haneda airport, Tokyo. They thoroughly enjoyed their visit withth6*missionaries In Tokyo, having tea with Mrs, Cunningham andbirthday dinhw with Sylvia Sims. In the evening the missionariesall gathered for a talk and prayer service.

Southwards from Tokyo, their airplane arrived over Hong Kong.However, the fog was so thick that, after two and a half hours ofcircling; the airplane had to continue roaring across the South ChinaSea to Manila. The next day, the sky was clear enough for the airplane to zoom down between mountains around Hong Kong to land.

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It was in Hong Kong that J. Russell Morse was released from Communist hands not quite a year ago. This time, though, Mr. andMrs. Morse after just a few hours proceeded to Bangkok, Thailand,in which country so many missionaries are doing a valiant work.

From Bangkok, Mrs. Morse had a valid permit to enter Burma.However, during Mr. Morse's experiences of the past three years,he had lost his copy of the Burmese government permit for him todo missionary work in Burma, Thus, from Bangkok Mrs. Morseproceeded alone to Rangoon, Burma, to make arrangements withthe government for a new copy of Mr. Morse's permit. A letterfrom her dated May 14 mentions the complicated regulations shehad been going through. For about five days she had been visitingthe Immigration Office, the Foreign Office, the Kachin State Ministry, and then again the Immigration Office. We should like friendsto be in prayer at this time that the permit for J. Russell Morse willbe granted soon.

As soon as his permit is granted, Mr. Morse is to rejoin his wife inRangoon. During the hot, rainy monsoon season of the nextfour months in Burma, travel northwards to nothernmost Burma isextremely difficult. Nevertheless, Gertrude and Russell Morse arelooking forward to being once more among the Lisu and RawangChristian brethren on the Tibetan border.

MARRIAGE OF MISS LOIS ELLIOTT AND MR. LAVERNE MORSE

and friends of the bride and£7 groom entered the House of

Worship of The CincinnatiI r Bible Seminary to witness the

uniting in marriage of Miss'|H Lots Carol Elliott, daughter of

Professor and Mrs. G. M. El-w liott of The Cincinnati Bible

4 ^ Seminary, and Mr. R. LaVerneMorse, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.

T ^ Jffl Russell More, missionaries tothe Tibetan border.

House

of Worship there lay an openvH Bible overshadowed by a large

i VH lighted cross and surroundedwi j t H by baskets of white lilies, snap-M'i t dragons, and gladiola nested

Lois Carol in beds of greenry.

» W . I HLois Carol

(Mrs. R. LaVerne) MorsePhoto by J. Russell Morse. kTp The program of music waso o y . usse chosen to fit the solemnity of

the occasion. Miss Alice Butler of Cincinnati, Ohio, was organist5

and Miss Anita Hoffman of Chicago, Illinois, was vocal soloist.

JohnWilson, minister of the Church of Christ at Springfield, Ohio,officiated at the double-ring ceremony. Vaughn Elliott, brother ofthe bride, was best man. Frank Watson was head usher. The bridewas given In marriage by her father.

The maid of honor. Miss Sue Frost of Orleans, Indiana, and thebridesmaid. Miss Ruth Margaret Morse, sister of the groom, woregowns of pastel nylon net over taffeta with matching tiaras, andcarried pink bridal bouquets. As the bride came down the aislewith her father, she looked very lovely in her floor-length gown ofsatin and lace with a fitted bodice and high stand-up collar. Herfingertip veil was secured by a tiara of seed pearls. Also she worea necklace of pearls. On her white Bible she carried a white orchidwith Iily-of-the-valley streamers.

Following the ceremony, a receiving line composed of Mr. andMrs. G. M. Elliott, Mr. and Mrs. J. Russell Morse, the bride, thebridegroom, the maid of honor, and the bridesmaid greeted theguests. Many guests were present from out of town—Chicago andJoliet in Illinois, Terre Haute and Columbus in Indiana, and otherplaces. Mr. and Mrs. David Rees, missionaries from the missicmfield on the Tibetan border, were also present from Indianapolis.

A reception at the home of the bride's parents preceded the departure of the newlyweds on their honeymoon in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. After a week there, theyreturned to Cincinnati to set up housekeeping and to resume studiesin the Cincinnati Bible Seminary. This summer they plan to speakat churches and Christian Service Camps in various parts of thiscountry and in Canada. Then, after another year in the Seminary.-during which they will make preparations for the mission fiefd, theyplan to go to preach Christ and together win souls unto eternal lifeamong the Lisu, Rawang, and other tribes-people "where China,Tibet, Burma, and India meet."

FLASH! IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

The Central Church of Christ, North at Tenth Streets, Mt.Vernon, Illinois, has taken the new bride, Mrs. R. LaVerne Morseas their living-link missionary. Lester E. Pifer is minister of theMt. Vernon church as it takes this stride forward in the preachingof the "unsearchable riches of Christ" "unto the uttermost parts ofthe earth." We rejoice to be able to make this announcement. MayGod richly bless all the Christians of the Mt. Vernon church, andespecially Brother Pifer and all the leaders of this congr^ation asthey continue to grow in power for the Gospel both at home andabroad.

For the first year, living-link support from the Church of Christat Mt. Vernon will be $800.CX). This is. to be supplemented fromother offerings from the churches for the mission work to make a

6

total of $1200.00. However, after this first year the Mt. Vernonchurch plans Itself to supply the total living-link for Lois (Mrs. R.LaVerne) Morse, that Is, the twelve hundred dollars a year necessary for personal expenses.

LaVerne's living-link (for personal expenses) is supplied by theFirst Church of Christ of Joliet, Illinois, whose minister is RobertGraham. They have been supporting LaVerne since 1947. Loisand LaVerne are looking forward, the Lord willing, to many yearsof wonderful Christian fellowship with the co-laborers in Christof these two churches, and as their missionaries for the Gospel.

Ruth Margaret Morse, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Russell Morse,has completed her first year of Seminary training. This summer, sheplans to work on the staff of Lake Region Christian Assembly, R.R. 2,Cedar Lake, Indiana.

O F b 23 E

congregations, and on the sec-

he held services in the eveningas well some special services,

elders

that of determining the age oftheir children so as to know Eugene on preacV>lng trip

whether they are old enough to get married. The elders in conference decided that girls should be at least 18 years of age and boysat least 20. Now, in all the congregations where Eugene has visited,they have made a census of the children, and by comparing the timethe child was born with some important event, they have figuredout the approximate age of each child. From now on, they willkeep a record of children born. In each church. This will really bea help in preventing the young people—especially the girls—fromgetting married too young.

Simple Faith

The other day, Drema and I (Helen) were looking out our window, up the main street of the village. About a block away (villageblock) we could see one of the village men approaching. He was

7

carrying his child in his arms, so we knew the child was sick andhe was coming for medicine. On the way here, he stopped andspoke to one of the elders. Then we saw him knee! down with thechild while the elder prayed that he might be restored to strengthand health. It made us stop and wonder how many people In Americatake James 5:15-16 literally, and think to call the elders to prayfor them when ill. And if they did, how many would kneel In apublic place while that prayer was offered? In this as in many otherthings, the simple faith of these people puts us to shame.

!V'/

hi-'i"T -

Street Scene in Mulodi

NEW BRIDGE FOR MULADI

On March 5, Eugene flew to Myltkylna, and was there for ten days.While there, he went to the head of the government Public WorksDepartment to speak on behalf of the village elders of the MuladIarea in requesting government aid In constructing a bridge acrossthe Nam Lang River, beside which MuladI Is located. Twice lastfall the suspension bridge was destroyed by floods, and the secondtime the cable was washed down so It was not possible to repair It.A new site had been chosen, at which It was not likely that thewater would rise high enough to cause any trouble to the bridge.As a result of Gene's visit, the official came to MuladI personallyto inspect the site and gave his approval for construction of a cartbride (instead of just a foot bridge) and also for construction of aroad from the airfield to the new bridge, and past Muladi south tojoin with the main road to Sumprabum and Myltkylna. When thisroad Is completed, it will mean that we will no longer be cut offfrom "civilization" during the rains when plane service is suspended.

Now plans are under way for the three-month preachers' BibleSchool to be held this summer, beginning In June. It is expectedthat there will be around sixty students. Including present full-timepreachers, and also those who have been doing part-time preachingbut may become full-time workers with additional training. Prayfor this school and for those teaching.

8

'IF ANY MAN . .(lukc 9>a»)

Shan Poul and preacher Levi

"Verily, 1 say unto you, There w noman that hath left house, or brethren, orsisters, or father, or mother, or wife, orchildren, or lands, for my sake, and thegospel's, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren,and sisters, and mothers, and children, andlands, with persecutions; and in the worldto come eternal life."

Mark 10:29-30.

The noon-doy sun shone bright and hot on the group of people gathered otthe river's edge. They were stonding in a semi-circle, interest ond attentionfocused on one man standing in the center. The man was speaking. "In the Bibleit says that for Jesus we must leave even our home and wife and children andfather and mother. Today I om doing that. From now on, you are my brothersand sisters, and with you I will feel at home." He spoke in Kachin, ond the youngpreacher beside translated his words into Lisu. The man continued, "I cm just anew Christion. There ore many things I do not yet know. But what I do knowI want to tell my people. Please prey for me." Again his words were translatedinto Lisu by the young preacher. The speaker was Zau Ma Aung, o Shan, heod-man of his village, the first of his people to turn from Bhuddism to the one trueGod. His translator was Levi, the Lisu postor who had been instrumental Inleoding him to the Lord.

While the group song the hymn "Whiter Thon Snow," Zau Ma Aung andtwo Lisu preachers, Titus and Jesse, started woding out toward the middle of theriver. With one preocher on eacti side, as is the Lisu custom, they boptizedZau Mo Aung, and the group on the bonk began singing "O Happy Doy." Truly,it was a happy day, both for Zau Ma Aung and for all who witnessed this scene.Zou Mo Aung's joy was reflected in the smile on his face as he woded bock toshore to shake hands wi.th those stonding there—his brothers and sisters in Christ,even though they spoke o different language. Immediately following this baptismalservice was the regular church service, and Zau Mo Aung, now to be known asPaul, for the first time shared in the observance of the Lord's Supper.

The story of Shon Paul's conversion is that of answer to three years of praying by the Christians in the Putoo plains area in the northernmost tip of Burma—proying for on opening to give the Gospel to the three thousand Shans in theareo. These Shons ore Bhuddists, ond hove firmly resisted all past ottempts topresent the Gospel messoge to them. While not openly hostile to the Christians,the Shons hove oppressed and persecuted them politically, in matters of toxes,obtaining land gronts, etc.

While on a preaching trip, Eugene hod stopped overnight at o Lisu villageonly a half mile from the Shan village of which Paul is heodmon. When Eugene

9

was giving out medicine the next morning, this Shan man brought his little four-year-old son for treatment. Not having the correct medicine with him, Eugenesent them to Muladi for treatment. It was necessary for them to remain severaldays, and during this time preacher Levi talked with him at length, explainingthe plan of salvation and exhorting him to accept Christ os hlS Savior. In teaching him, Levi used the New Testament in Shan, Kachin, Burmese, and Lisu.

Also, he mode use of gospel recordings in Kachin, Shan, and Burmese, andexplained the Viewmoster Bible Story reels which we have here. By the end ofa week, Zau Ma Aung believed in the Lord, and wanted to be a Christian andhove a Bible name. He knew that he would be facing much hardship and persecution from his own people in turning from Bhuddism, for Levi hadn't minimizedthe fact that we must often suffer for our faith in God and His Son. But he wrote0 letter to his home and informed his father of the stand he was taking, and askedhis wife to come and hear also. She came, and listened, but was here for onlyone day so did not accept the teachings, as her husband had.

This "babe in Christ" took the Christian name of Paul, for like the Apostleof old he hod persecuted and ridiculed the Christians. Now he was facing thesame treatment. And like the Apostle, he was eager to go and tell his people ofhis Saviour, of the God who hears end answers prayers. Who Is always wi^ Hischildren, the God Who is a father. He said, "I cannot but tell them so they toocan know Him."

Being a village headman, Paul is of the upper class and the Bhuddist lamasfear his influence. When they heard that he had become a Christian they senta group of lamas or priests to his village to teach their Bhuddist doctrines andto talk to Paul. When Paul heard that some of them were coming to talk to him,he left his village and came to Muladi to be baptized.

Since then he has been troubled by his family and other/in the village evenmore.- They are disturbed by the fact that alth^gh he is the only one in thevillage who has become a Christian, still the other Shan villages take for grantedthat the whole village has or will become Christian. They soy to people fromPaul's village, "Now that you ore all becoming Christians . . ." One Bhuddist priesttold Paul, "With you becoming a Christian it is as though we lost a hundred people,"indicating that they expect his influence to be great among his own people.

Other questions asked by the priests and other Shans included "What orethe foreign teachers paying you to be their agent?" This is probably becausehe is telling everyone about Christ. Someone asked him, "What do you expectto get out of it?" And to this Paul replied, "What do you expect to get out ofBhuddism—material value or spiritual value?" and the priest had no answer. Othershave sold, "Now that you follow the white man's God surely you will regain yourluck and become rich again," referring to the fact that formerly his father wasquite rich, and he himself was well to do.

When the priests began taking special notice of him, trying to teach him moreBhuddist doctrine, Paul had an answer, "Why do you take special notice of me now?"he asked. "When I was just another poor Shan you paid no attention to me, even,though there were times when I needed help. But now that I am a Christian youlsuddenly begin to consider me important. Why?" And he went on, "All my lifqI've heard what you have to say. You can't tell me anything new. I am a}Christian now, and nothing you con soy will change my mind."

This man, a new Christian, is giving a strong witness for His Lord to his ownpeople in a thrilling manner. Pray for him, that he may continue faithful, andthat his testimony may be the means of winning many others, especially his ownfamily for whom he is particularly burdened. And pray earnestly, faithfully, thatall the Shans will open their hearts to let Christ come in and bring His Light toillumine the darkness in which they now live as they worship idols of stone andmetal, the work of man's hands. Pray for them that they may accept Christ astheir Saviour before it is too late.

10 Helen M. Morse

RAWAK6-LISU SCHOOL HELD AT TILIWAGO

Robert and Betty Morse and sons, Jonathan and Stephen, leftMuladi on January 14, enroute to Kobudeh, where they and DorothySterling were to hold a Bible School. They travelled ten days overroads which in many places had been destroyed by landslides. Theroad was dangerous, and difficult—too bad even to take a horse thelast half of the trip. Just after their arrival, there was a big snowstorm at Kobudeh, the first in many years. The temperature dropped to zero. In a bamboo house the cold is not kept out—and thereis no central heating system! In order to keep warm, one stays asnear the fire as possible, wearing all the clothes possible.

The two-month Bible School began the first week in Februarywith 1]7 students, the number later increasing to 125. They wereabout half Lisu, half Rawang. Because of the language difficulty,It was decided that Robert should do all the teaching in Lisu, withthe Rawang preacher, Peter, translating into Rawang. Notes weregiven the students in both languages. Because many of the studentswere from many days travel—some came as much as 21 days inorder to attend—they could not provide their food. Those studentsreceiving their food were sent home at the end of one month Ifthey did not make passing grades. The school closed at Easter timewith 105 students finishing their studies.

During the school, in addition to the regular work entailed by thedaily classes, Robert undertook to analyze the seven different dialects of Rawang represented among the students. Now recentlyhe has begun translation of the Gospel of Luke into Rawang. Prayespecially for him in this work, that he might be specially guided andstrengthened by the Lord and enabled to complete the translationquickly.

Excerpts from a letter written by Robert Morse

Tiliwago, N. Burma

May 23, 1953

"The needs of this sector of the field are so great that we havegiven up plans for going to Muladi this summer to help teach inthe school, and also to meet Daddy and Mother. So many of ourpreachers have moved out to the Muladi-Putao area that we areextremely short-handed, and our preacher-training program, of coursecan't produce over night although we are making full use of "students" too. We are planning more and more schools. We can't seemto hold one central school, but must hold regional schools, as thingsare scattered so much, and food so difficult to get.

A recent convention in Rawang country was attended by close to500. Everything was in Rawang, no Lisu, which is getting to be common now. The new Rawanq Mark Gospel has arrived, and all copiesthat have arrived here (150) have long been sold out. The peopleare now looking forward to the next book to be printed. It seemsimpossible that just since the fall of 1951 when we came back fromthe States, and the first Rawang Gospel Primer of 3000 books wasprinted, the entire edition has been SOLD OUT. (They pay halfprice). That means that there are 3(X)d Rawangs or people interested in learning the Rawang script. The work among them hasgrown to tremendous proportions, and at times seems almost biggerthan the Lisu work! And yet we are the only ones who can workwith them. We had been hoping that Mel Byers and his wife couldjoin us but hear they will be unable to do so. The Rawangs are writing an appeal to the government to allow them to come. We don'tknow the outcome of this yet, of course.

We are planning to come back on furlough some time next year,but before we come, we want to finish at least another book of theNew Testament for the Rawangs. We have started on the Gospel ofLuke, but am putting it off for a while because of too much otherwork.

You know they started a grade school at Muladi Ipt year, and thisyear the Rawang churches are starting a school (with our help) forRawang children. It will be even more ambitious thdn the Muladischool, in that the two teachers Will be dividing their time teachingnot only the regular secular courses, Kachin, Burmese, etc., butthere will also be one class of Bible and another class of Rawang.Tychichus, my old helper, who is the resident minister at RAWANG-TANG, where the school is to be held, will be one of the teachers, andits main force. We expect about 50 or 60 students. They want us tomove down there to supervise it, but we can't now. Later, whenwe come back from furlough, we may move down there although itwould put us further three days' hard walk from Muladi.

As usual, the carrier is ready to leave, so must close."12

Early In February, Dorothy added another member to her family.A non-Christian man brought his little IVi week old baby girl toDorothy. The mother had died, and he had been keeping the babyalive on wine. Knowing that he would be unable to raise the child,he agreed to let Dorothy keep her, and the necessary papers weresigned. So now Judith Kobudeh has grown from 5Vi ibs. to 8!4lbs. and is doing very well.

At present, Dorothy is planning to begin the children's school thissummer. Because she will have no helper, (since Margaret All-dridgd was refused permission to enter Burma) it is possible to takeonly ten children instead of twenty as originally planned. Dorothywrites: "Please pray for this.school. Pray especially that these fewchildren who are privileged to attend school will each grow up witha missionary vision of helping their people to know God better, andto help them through medical; agricultural, educational work, etc."

ROPEHOLDERS, NOTICE!

In the past months, we have discovered that several letters withenclosed checks for the Yunnan-Tibetan Christian Mission werestolen. The checks had been mailed for the mission or membersof the mission to 114 South Denver Avenue, Tulsa 3, Oklahoma,

*^15 Mrs. Ruth Morse> forwarding agent. However, Mrs. Morsefound the checks had not arrived, and with the help of her daughter,Mrs. Louise Whitham, traced the thief and called the F.B.I. Consequently, the thief is „now in a federal penitentiary.

It may be there were one or two more checks sometime last fallor winter which the thief cashed which have not yet been discovered.However, the bank in Tulsa guarantees that any check fraudulentlycashed will be made good if the cancelled check is presented at thebank.

If any ropeholder who sent funds to Mrs. Ruth Morse last fallor winter has received a cancelled check with a strange signature,or perhaps not even a reply or a receipt, will you please contact Mrs.Louise Morse Whitham, 114 South Denver Avenue, Tulsa 3, Oklahoma, immediately, sending her the cancelled check to be reimbursed by the Tulsa bank.

PICTORIAL MISSION:RESCUE BOOKLETS AVAILABLE

Several thousand copies of the pictorial booklet Mission :Rescue,with pictures in cartoon style of the adventures of the Yunnan-Tibetan Christian Mission, have been made available to the missionby The Standard Publishing Company. These books, compiled byMiss Dorothy Faye Foster and R. LaVerne Morse, tell of the activities of the missionaries during the last war in the spreading of theGospel and in rescuring stranded American fliers "where China,Tibet, Burma, and India meet."

13

Any Christian Service Camps, churches, Sunday Schools, or DallyVacation Bible Schools desiring quantities of twenty-five to one hundred and twenty-five copies can obtain such without cost by writingto Mrs. Oscar L. Myers, 2024 N. 14th St., Terre Haute, Indiana.

DAVID AND JONATHON

David Lowell Jonathon Russell

These pictures of the boys were taken about a year ago. DavidLowell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene R. Morse, was four years old lastMarch and Jonathon Russell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Morse^ willbe four years old next October. '

David is very proud of his two little brothers, Thomas Eugene, almost two years old, and Ronald Keith, seven months old. Helen wroterecently, "David thinks he is a big boy now, and is looking forward tothe time when Grandma and Grandpa will come and also when wewill 'go to 'Merica.' Tommy is a little live-wire. He likes to go'splash-splash' in the nearby river and is not afraid of the water. Ronnie is a good natured baby, laughs and 'talks' a lot, and has the usualaccomplishments of a healthy boy his age."

Jonathon, too, is very proud of his little brother, Stephen Anthony, also seven months old. Betty wrote of their boys, "I sure wishyou could see Jonathon and Stephen. Joni is so bright and sweet andactive, and a real boy. He runs free in the mountain air from daylightto dark, and is very healthy now. Stephen is a darling baby. AH agreehe is beautiful—too pretty to be a boy. We sure enjoy him. He hasblue eyes and brown hair. He is really growing; Is 26 and three-fourths inches long now."

Both David and Jonathon are being taught the Calvert Pre-kinder-garten courses (by their mothers) and splendid progress Is reported

14

for both.

As of January, 1953, David is being supported by the BoulevardChristian Church of Muskogee, Oklahoma, where Lloyd McMillan isthe minister. His support is $25 per month.

May 1st, 1953, the Missionary Society of the Christian Church atHolyoke, Colorado assumed living link support, ($25 per month) forJonathon. We know these two congregations will have a special interest in these two little boys as they grow in stature and in theknowledge of the Lord, and will pray that they may be faithful servants in the Master's service.

... A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT . . .

To all friends and co-workers of the Morse missionary families:

This is to announce that Mrs. Oscar (Julia) Myers, 2024 N. 14thSt., Terre Haute, Indiana, has consented to assume the duties ofsecretary and forwarding agent for our missionary project in northern Burma, along the borders of China and Tibet. For the past fiveyears, Mrs. Myers has served as forwarding agent for her daughter,Helen, and Eugene, and has helped with many of our news-letters.Whenever possible at church conventions, Mr. and Mrs. Myers willpresent our Lisa and Rawang work with slides and literature.

This change in forwarding agent has been made necessary becauseof the ill-health of my mother, Mrs. Ruth Morse, now aged ninety-two years, and who has given efficient and appreciated service formany years. All future letters or donations for the mission workwill be cared for by Mrs. Myers. Her task will be difficult, but avital part of our mission service.

We all need your continued prayer-support. Mrs. Morse, (Gertrude), and I have returned to the Orient. Thank you all for somuch, so very much.

Faithfully, your co-worker in the Master's service,

J. Russell Morse

A volant Soldier of the Cross has gone Home. When BrotherRussell Morse wrote the above article, he did not realize that hismother's death was so near, and that she would be gone even beforethe announcement was given to the churches. Even though weknew she could not be with u% much jopger, yet her going has beena shock and in our grief we'^N deep.> of loss both personallyand to the missi3fif;» Is'XOflW ». t US

-.oxAs I attempt to carry on this task that lies ahead, I feel very

humble, realizing that no one can take the place of "Mother Morse"in this capacity. She has served faithfully and efficiently for more

15

than thirty years and her words of faith and encouragement will bemissed by Christian friends throughout the country.

Please pray for me as I try to serve to the best of my ability.

Mrs. Oscar L. Myers

LATE NEWS NOTES FROM EUGENE AND HELEN MORSE

MuladI, (near Putao) N. Burma.—June 18, 1953. "The Preachers' school closed the first week with 90 students. Please pray forthis school as we continue in the coming weeks. We also ask youto pray for Robert and Betty Morse and for Dorothy Sterling as theywork in the Tiliwago area."

RECOMMENDATION

We should like to recommend Harrold MacFarland, Mission Services, Willernie, Minnesota, for his fine work in behalf of direct-support missions. Christians throughout the country would do wellto subscribe to the monthly missionary paper Issued by him. HorizonsMagazine ($2 a year), for one of the most comprehensive publications of world-wide evangelism and direct-support missionary work.

SIXTH NATIONAL MISSIONARY CONVENTION

September 23-27, 1953

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH, LINCOLN, ILLINOIS

Moiled by MRS. OSCAR L. MYERS Sec. 34.66 P.L&R.2024 N. Mrii Street

Terre Haute, Indiana

Form 3547 Requested

Btirris Butler20 E. Ca(ntraX ParfcHayCtncianatl 10^ Chlo

LISU and RAWANG CHURCHES OF CHRIST"WHERE CHINA, TIBET, BURMA AND INDIA MEET"

(Yunnan-Tibetan Christian Mission)

THIRD 1953 NEWS LETTER

"The Church at Muladi"

"The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming infrom this time forth, and even for evermore/' pbaumb tans

The J. Russell Morse Family and AssociatesP. 0. Putao, via Myitkylna

Kachin State, Burma

News of the Muladi Area, North Burma

ANSWERED PRAYER

Once again we inave witnessed the wonderful way in which Godanswers the prayers of His children, in that in spite of numerousobstacles, seemingly insurmountable, He brought Mother and Daddy(Mr. and Mrs. J. Russell Morse) all the way to the mission stationin Muladi.

Even though Daddy had applied in February for his entrancevisa for Burma, it had not yet been received when they left LosAngeles by plane on May 1. They reached Bangkok, Siam, on May6, and then since Mother already had permission to enter Burma,she flew to Rangoon on May 8, to try in person to obtain Daddy'svisa. For over a month, she went daily from one office to another,being referred from department to department. Each day it seemedthat surely the next day would bring the desired approval, but eachtime she was told to "come back tomorrow." A person of less determination and weaker faith would have become discouraged andgiven up in despair. But Mother kept on, seeing first one official,then another, until finally, on June 15 the visa was granted, and onJune 23 Daddy arrived in Rangoon. However, the problem of obtaining a permanent residence permit still loomed large, and theprospect of having to wait perhaps another month in the scorchingheat of Rangoon was not pleasant—especially when they knew howmuch they were needed on the field. But in answer to much prayer,the permit was obtained in only a week, and on July 2, they leftRangoon by plane early in the morning, en route to Muladi.

It was a wonderful reunion for the family, as we had not seenDaddy since we left him in Kunming, in November 1949—over threeand a half years, and it had been more than a year since we hadseen Mother.

During the month since they arrived, both have been kept busy.Mother began teaching two classes in the Bible School the nextweek. Daddy is finding that the number of sick people needingattention is far greater than he had ever imagined, and is devotingmuch time, energy, thought, and prayer to treating them. Also,he is pleased at the potential possibilities of developing this areaalong agricultural lines, and already has been investigating as towhat varieties of fruits, vegetables, etc., at-e native to this region,with the hope of being able to introduce new varieties in the nearfuture.

Eugene Morse,Muladi, N. Burma.August 1, 1953.

BACK HOME IN LISULAND

The following account of the plane trip from "Rangoon to Myithyina and theirfirst days at Muladi was written to homefolks by Mrs. Russell {Gertrude) Morsesoon after their arrival:

"When I stepped into the plane I had the strongest feeling—like God was there and would take us through. When we leftMyitkyina, we had clouds all the way and could not see the mountains. We fust prayed that God would guide the plane! The pilotwas Chinese. It usually takes 50 nninutes or an hour to fly fromMyitkyina to Putao, but we kept on going, going.

It seemed the pilot could not find the Putab field due to theclouds. Russell and I had prayer, of course. After about one hourand forty-five minutes, just after we had prayed aga^n, we lookedout and saw a hole in the clouds and the earth beneath! PraiseGod, He saw us through! We found out later that Eugene, seeingthe time was overdue, had called a number of Christians to prayas they were waiting at the field.

We landed safely, and there we saw Eugene and about four orfive hundred of our Lisu friends. It was wonderful! How we didpraise the Lord! Eugene had rigged up two "wha-gans" (two bamboo poles with a swing seat of ropes in the middle) in which thestudents were going to carry Russell and me. We did not ride fora long time, but walked along with everyone. Finally they persuaded us to ride once in a while as it began to rain. I had taken wfmy shoes and was walking along bare-footed in the mud with therest. We got along all right. Finally we got to the river—the onewhere the flood took the bridge away. Eugene and the Christianshad fixed up a new bridge, using two ste.el cables from the old bridge.This bridge hafe a floor made of two bamboo poles tied together. Itis swinging, but there is something to hold on to. The flooded riveris rushing below and is about 300 feet wide. I finally m^e it acroM.Drema met us a little before we got to the bridge. On this sidethere was Helen, David and Tommy, and another long line of Christians to the bridge. The next day we had a holiday, with a Thanksgiving service at the church with about 500 present. B^h Russelland I spoke. Many people came to welcome us back. On SundayRussell preached to a large crowd and I spoke again, too. I startedteaching in the school on Wednesday—two classes. There areover one hundred students. Eugene and Helen also teach, withDrema translating for Helen. Russell works all day taking care ofthe sick."

Concerning the medical work J. Russell Morse wrote: "Bothdays and nights have been filled to the limit of my strength, for If'nd the needs and opportunities' so vast. Scores and scores ofvery sick people fill our clinic from morning to night, pesoitenearly seven years absence from Lisuland, I preached twice iri Li^to audiences of four to five hundred in this really great Muladichurch.

As Brother J. BusseU Morse sets forth some of the physical needs of thepeople of Burma, he also pictures their spiritual needs and their spiritual growth.On August 5th he wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Bay Partridge in California:

"Our dear friends: It is 10:30 and i write this in hopes it cango by plane on Thursday. Last year the flights were discontinuedabout two months earlier, but this year there have been weeklyflights until- last week. It seems the government has decided togive more attention to the development of this, it's one and onlydistrict bordering on Tibet, and the landing strip near Putao hasbeen improved to mal^e it serviceable during most of the monsoonseason.

If possible I would like to receive the seeds I mentioned byOctober first. Most of these are for the needs of the thousandsof our very underprivileged Lisu and Rawang Christians, and notonly for the missionaries. The vegetable seeds and fig cuttings Irequested are for experiment and demonstration and for wide-spreadpropagation for people who have never seen such. It seems to methat the most favorable season for the development- of these thingsbegins when the heavy rains begin to taper off in the fall and untilthey begin again the last of MSy or early June.

It is in this Putao district that the greatest river of Burma,the Irrawaddy, has most of it's tributaries head-watere. On the plairiand along the main rivers such as this one flowing past Muladi,the tropical fruits such ascitrus, papayas, bananas, pineapples, guavasand (I hope avacados) could be grown successfully.

All around this plain are mountains (heavily forested) which, tothe north on the Tibetan border are great snow-covered rangeseasily visible on clear days. Much of this country is practically unexplored as far as the white man is concerned. Our thousands ofChristian refugees from anti-Christian Communist oppress'on. andother thousands who have been and are now being won to Christthrough the'r witnessing are getting in on the "ground floor" asthis area develops but most are what people in the U.S.A. wouldcall desperately poor. They had forsaken nearly everything onthe China border and this area has long been notorious and generally avoided because of the several deadly var'et'es of malaria

We have been, and are helping them in many ways. I haveactually been overwhelmed by the constant flood of needs... Manyare so deeply in need and are so worthy of every help we can givethem. As Jesus said "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the leastof these my bretheren."

It has been difficult to find time for research In the medicalbooks here on many of the critical cases of sick that have floodedIn. We surely are standing in the need of prayer. I wish you couldbe here with us and see what we are seeing. It would both grieveyou and inspire you. Lisu and Rawang peoples living in povertyand semi-starvation and sickne.^s and yet because they have caughrthe heavennly vision of Jesus Christ, our Lord, they are treasuringthe Gospel and are progressing in it in a most commendable degree."

BIBLE SCHOOL IN MULADI

June 15 saw the beginning of a three-month Bible School inMuladi. The school was planned primarily for preachers and assistant (or "student") preachers^ but there were a number of otherstudents, less advanced, who also asked that they be allowed to attend. Some came from areas in which churches are not large enoughto support a full-time pastor—areas in which the people are so scattered that they cannot come together in large groups for services.We felt that it was best to let these and some others attend, althoughclasses still had been planned for the more advanced group, with theyounger, less advanced students keeping up as best they could, getting as much good as possible. We have been very pleased withthe group of students, which has numbered 100, and have enjoyedteaching them. About half are Lisu, and half are Rawang. They areall eager, earnest students, putting forth their best efforts to gaina better understanding of God's Word. The schedule is a full oneand is as follows:

7:30- 8:00 Chapel8:00- 9:00 Doctrines—Mrs. J. R. M.9:00-10:00 Hermeneutics—E. R. M.

10:00-11:00 Psalms—H. M. M. and D. E. M.11:00-12:00 Revelation—Mrs. J. R. M.12:00- 1:30 Noon hour, rest

1 :30- 2:30 Kachin Language—Rawang Peter2:30- 3:30 Harmony of the Gospels—E. R. M.

You may wonder what place a language class has in the scheduleof a B'ble School, but it is something which is proving very valuable. The non-Christians in this area are mostly Shans, and Kachins,among whom Kachin is either their native language or "trade" language, and thus widely used and understood. By learning Kachin,our preachers will be able to witness to them, carry the Gospel ofChr'st to them in their own language. Each weekend the preachersgo out to preach, leaving here on Saturday morning, returning Sunday night or Monday morning. The school will close with presentation of certificates on Sunday, September 6th.

In 1951/ there was opened in Muladi the first Lisu ChristianDay School. It was under the supervision of the church elders, witha board of directors drawn from parents of attending children. Thisyear it has an enrollment of about 60, and'two teachers. But inorder to provide for its further progress and enlargement, the mission is assuming the financial support of the school, making it amission school, in which there will be greater emphasis placed onBible and Christian training. We are hoping to build a new schoolbuilding and dormitory, in order to accommodate more students withthe new term beginning next March. Also, we are hoping to beable to find another well-qualified, Christian teacher. Please prayfor us, that we might know the Lord's will in these matters.

NEWS OF DREMA ESTHER

Drema is one of the kind of people that you wonder how you'dget along without. She is constantly busy, helping to care for the100-odd people who come daily for medical treatment, helping inthe school—translating notes into Lisu tor the students to copy,translating for Helen's class, in charge of distributing and measuring grain for the students from a distance for whom grain is beingprovided by the mission.. In addition, she helps in the many problems which come up each day. Pray for her, especially that theLord's will might be done in regard to her immigration numbercoming up, so that she can enter the States.

RAWANG LITERATUREWe are very happy that all 4000 copies of the Gospel of Mark

in Rawang arrived safely at Muladi, having been printed in Rangoon.Six hundred books were sent immediately to Tiliwago for distribution where the Rawang population is greatest. More are being sentas carriers are available.

FURLOUGH PLANS FOR EUGENE R. MORSE FAMILY

Although we had been planning tentatively to start to theStates on furlough shortly after the rainy season ends this fall, itseems fairly certain now that those plans must be postponed untillate winter or early spring, due to the pressure of work here on thefield, and the lack of anyone to take our place. By waiting, it willleave only a few months' interval between our leaving, and the timewhen LaVerne and Lois plan to be on the field. Humanly speaking,we are disappointed because we had been looking forward to seeingour family and friends, but yet we are glad for the opportunity tobe of further service here in the Lord's work

Thomas Eugene, second son ofMr. and Mrs. Eugene Morse.

\ —

Ronald Keith, youngest son ofMr. and M»rs. Eugene Morsewith a native woman.

EVANGELISTS REPORT

Just recently, two evangelists, Isaiah and II Philip, returnedfrom a 3-month trip into a difficult and unevangelized area, wherethe people are deeply under the influence of the "ni-hpa" of witchdoctors. In one place, the two preachers had a very unusual experience. They were travelling along toward a village when theymet a certain ni-hpa, who happened to be the village headman, aswell. After talking a few minutes, asking where they were going,etc., the ni-hpa said, "I'm going to visit a family up the road here,but this is my third time to go -to them, and I won't do any morefor them after this. If you come after I finish with them, theywill probably all become Christians!" They were very much astonished that he should say such a thing, but followed his suggestionanyway. They found the family, preached to them, a/id after hearing the Gospel the whole family, of six people, turned to the Lord!But that was not the last they saw of the ni-hpa. When they leftthe family and went back to the main road, they found him waitingfor them, with two other people who wanted to become Christians!The ni-hpa himself??? No, he didn't accept Christ, although he saysthat someday he surely will... Isaiah and Philip reported a total of20 new Christians as a result of their trip.

Far to the north, almost to. the Tibetan border, is the area inwhich the population is mostly Daru, a branch of the Rawang tribe.Reuben is one of the preachers in this difficult region of high mountains and scattered population. Recently he came the eleven-dayjourney to Muladi to get books, and medicine, and to confer oversome problems. While here he told us of one visit he had madeto a family who had once been Christians but had backslidden.With a companion, he had gone to exhort the family to return tothe Lord, but at the door the man of the house met them with aknife, threatening to kill them if they so much as mentioned thename of Christ. Some of the others in the family managed to holdhim, told the preachers to run while they had a chance, which theydid ' Then, the rest of the family came after Reuben and his companion, and caught up with them. They said that they really wantedto be Christians, but the man threatened them so that they hadn'tdared. They confessed their faith there on the road and asked forprayer. This is but an example of the difficulties facing many ofthe people out here who want to become Christians, and of theproblems and actual physical dangers facing the preachers. Theytruly need our prayers.

To the west of the Putao plain is a high mountain range, thedivide which forms the natural boundary between Burma and India.On the western side of the divide, iust across the border 'nto India(Assam), a Lisu village has been established. One of our part-timeevangelists, James, just recently returned from a visit to Ma-Io-shi-divillage and reports that it is made un of twenty families, and ofthese fourteen are Christian families. They have no regular preacher,

but are being "shepherded" by an elder who has also done somepreaching. James also reported that a small church had been builtby the Christians. Although this village is only about fifty mliesfrom Muladi, it takes six days travelling to reach them, becausethere is no real road—only a cut-as-you-go path. It is not possibleto travel more than eight or nine miles a day. There have been sixnew Christians added to the group.

"IF ANY MAN"—PART 11Shan Paul Has Remained Fait-hful

By Helen Morse

In our last newsletter we told of the conversion of Zau MaAung, the Shan village headman, and of the persecution he was receiving because of it. The fact that he has become a Christianhas been tremendously perturbing to the Bhuddist priests (calledpongyis). A special delegation was sent to Paul's village, to talkto him and to embark on a special campaign of teaching Bhuddistdoctorines. When Paul heard they were coming, he left and cameto Muladi, asking to be baptized. This was done on March 15. Whenhe returned home, he took with him a phonograph and Several gospelrecords, in order to witness to his own people. Many were interestedand listened to the records, and to what Paul had to say. But thepongyis increased their persecution. Paul has been threatened withbeing tied up and beaten. An effort has been made to separate hiswife and children from him. But Paul has remained constant in histestimony.

Although a number of people seemed interested in hearingthe Gospel, few dared to openly s'de with Paul, or to come to hisdefense against the pongyis. But he did not stand completely alone.One man had invited Paul to bring the phonograph and to talk tothe people gathered in his house Tor a wedding feast, and this hedid. Later, the pongyis much disturbed, and very angry, came tothe man's house looking for Paul, intending to make trouble forhim. But the man of the house defended Paul, told the pongyi hehad invited Paljl to come, and refused to be intimidated. So nofuther persecution resulted from that Incident.

Then, on May 7, a high-ranking Bhuddist priest from S. Burmaarrived in Putao. Undoubtedly it was thought that he would havea great influence, as he was a white man, an Italian. He was received with much pomp and ceremony, and given much homage. A"portable throne" (a seat on a bamboo platform) had been preparedby the Shans, and he was carried by women, as many as could crowdaround and touch the carrying poles. They spread down silk clothsfor him to walk on. and some of the women even let him walk ontheir hair—supposediv they gain merit by doing so. The ItaManrnngyi left on May 71, after a two-week visit, amidst another display of pageantry. He came to the airfield (again carried by women) at the head of a long procession, accompanied by much blowing

of horns, beating of gongs and drums, and weird dancing. At theairfield, he held a service, in which there were probably about 400men, women, and children participating, during which they all boweddown to him, as if he were the object of worship. As we watched,our hearts ached for those poor Shans, deep in the darkness of sin,ignorant of the Light of Life.

That evening after we had returned from the airfield (we hadgone In the hope th^t Mother and Daddy might arrive), Paul cameto visit us, bringing with him his father-in-law and the man whohad invited him to play the phonograph in his home. Both are interested in hearing more of the Gospel, and the Christ whom Paulserves. Thus far they have taken no definite stand, but we arepraying that they may do so.

We feel that a time of great blessing Is In store. The harvestis waiting, among the Shan people. But it can not be gathered inwithout much opposition from the devil and his forces of evil. ItIs only by prayer—much prayer, ours and yours—that the victorycan be won.

News of Tiliwago Area, Nori-h Burma

GROWTH OF THE RAWANG CHRISTIAN CHURCHESBy Robert Morse

The Missionary is PetiHoned

One evening last January, passing through a Rawang villageon my way back to Muladi, I was stopped by the headman who askedme to come in for a chat. Over a cup of bitter tea he then proceeded to render me speechless. • "Teacher, I've just returned froma conference." "Oh? What kind of conference?"

"A conference of all the leading Rawangs, headmen and churchelders. This Is what we decided: Although we have learned to knowChrist somewhat from the efforts of missionaries both to the Kachinsand to the Lisu, no one ever designed to learn our language, to teachus in Rawang. We've always had to learn either Lisu or Kachin tostudy the Bible, and most of us don't know these languages. Yet,we are the main tribute in this part of North Burma. We have resolved to be recognized as a separate group, the Ganung RawangChristian Churches, and we want a separate missionary all to ourselves . . .

"Teacher, since you are the only one who has learned our language, and have already given us Rawang books, we petition youto leave your missionary work among the Lisu and come and devoteall your time to us Rawangs. We need our own Biblis Schools,our own Christian literature, our own preacher training schools, inorder to really reach our people . . ."

For a long moment I was speechless. What a change was this,from the attitude shown a few short years back, when hajf-wlld, hostile, suspicious Rawangs wanted nothing to do with the Christians,much less the missionary. How the tables were turned, with themissionary being petitioned for his services. "Our forefathers neverhad such wonderipul opportunities," the headman went on, "so wewant to make the most of them now."

Once again the desperate need for workers was highlighted.How we do wish for hiore co-workers! If only all our former co-workers could be with us—Isabel Dittemore, Jane Kinnett, Davidand Lois Rees, Mel Byers . . . And how they would love to be backin this work, if only permission would be granted. But no newmissionaries have been able to come, and so those who have permits—Dorothy Sterling and the Morse family—must branch out as muchas possible. Here in the eastern sector (divided from the westernsector by a large area of dense uninhabited jungle), Dorothy Sterling has managed the difficult feat of juggling her time between herclinic, supervising a good part of the Lisu work, and teaching thegroup of native children choseo from ail parts of the field to studyin the Christian Day School she has established at Kobudeh. Although we have spent most of our time with or for the Rawangs,yet we are also needed over a large area of Lisu work. Then too,besides the regular yearly sessions of preacher training school, orBible Schools held in each sector, there is still much translationwork to be done for the Lisu. They still need many Bible Studymaterials, notes and textbooks for Bible Schools, as well as mostof the Old Testament.

GREETINGS FROM DOROTHY STERLING

Miss Dorothy Sterling, R. N., has been an associate of the J.Russell Morse family since 1944, working with them In the Salweenand Mekong valleys in West China. She was one of the groupwho crossed the "hump" into Burma in 1949 when the Communiststook control. She is the only one of the associates who was granteda residence permit by the Burmese government.

Kobudeh, N. Burma

Dear Friends: August 7, 1953

The school children have just set out happily on their Saturdayjaunt over the mountains to hunt berries. They love their schooldays, but like children everywhere, they enjoy the luxury of Saturdays spent roaming over the mountain with Silas, in search of berries, bamboo sprouts or bee grubs. The days are warm, with rainand'sunshine and clouds all mixed up together.

School is half over for this year, and how the days have flown!With only ten children, it would seem a snap to teach them, but it

is not so. Although nearly the same age, their abilities are sovaried, that they must be divided into four different groups. Beingso young, they cannot be set to their lessons and left to work alonewhile another group is being taught. They ail need constant supervision. Thus classes are spread out over the day from 7:45 in themorning until 4:30 or later in the afternoon; morning and eveningclinic coming before and after these hours.

The children all live here, and have come from over a widearea. Three are Rawang, two are Nung, and five are Lisu. The little Rawang children could not understand Lisu when they came,but they learn languages so quickly that now they can tell theirBible stories and learn their Bible verses in Lisu without much trouble. (Bible classes are always in Lisu so that the children may reallyunderstand what they are taught.)

Mark (Lisu boy adopted by Miss Sterling when he was a fewweeks old) and Judy send their greetings. Mark is SVi years oldnow. He is very happy at having school friends, and is making goodprogress, especially in reading which he loves. Judy is 6'/2 monthsold, and a healthy happy little baby girl. Her mother died whenJudy was 10 days old. The relatives were feeding the child wineand a little rice water, when some Christians persuaded them tobring her here rather than just let her die. She was lYi weeksold when they brought her, and very thin. The father and familydid not want her and so she was given to me for adoption. Markis proud of his baby sister. She is very sweet.

When I first came to the Mission field, my hopes were allfor a good Mission hospital to help relieve the Incrediable sicknessand suffering of the tribes people here in the Himalayas, wheremedical care is practically limited to the superstition and atrocitiesof the witch doctors. But Christian doctors have not been available, and the medical knowledge of the rest of us so completely inadequate for the needs, that it has come to seem to me that theonly hope is to obtain doctors and nurses from among the Lisuand Rawang people. Young Lisu men and women who are nowinterested in this have not the education to take such training.Although it will take many years, the only way seems to be to beginwith little children like Mark; give them the schooling required forthem to study elsewhere in good medical schools, Bible Seminaries,agricultural schools, etc., at all times praying and striving to instillIn them a vis'on of the help they can bring their own people; firstthrough the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and then through their ministry to their people's needs. With God's help it has been to thisend that the children's school has been started.

Sincerely,

Dorothy Sterling.

A LETTER FROM ROBERT MORSE

I:

Mrs. Robert Morse (Betty)with their youngest son,

Stephen Anthony.

In a letter dated July 13,Robert wrote, "We came downto Rawangtang last week, having left Tiliwago with familyand 'trappings' on July 1st. Westopped over night each in thevarious churches en route,and now we are in the schoolvillage, down In the center ofthe valley. Coming across therope bridge was really a problem. Although we didn't havemany loads, we only had fiverope-saddles ... so what withthe loads going over separately each time, one at a time,with some one coming afterto pull across, it took 25 crossings of the rope to get ourgroup across. The rope wasentirely a pull-kind, with noslide to it, so that going orcoming a person had to pullthemselves all the way. Surprisingly, I had some help getting pulled across the lasthalf, but Betty pulled her

self all the way across. Our dog, Skippy, started swimming as soon asBetty got half-way across. The water was very high, and he gotswept down past the landing, reaching the other side where therewas a cliff, so he couldn't climb up and got swept down past a bitof a fall, which buried him for a long while. He finally .came outfar down, and made shore, but by then some of the crowd were inhysterics. Sending the two children over, after that, was really aproblem! It isn't at all scary going over oneself, since it is level,but sending the children over, pulled by a native is a terrible strain.We finally put both Joni and Stephen together in Joni's carryingbasket, put pillows around them, tied it all up so they couldn't fallout, and let them go. Joni held on to Stephen tight, especiallywhen the basket started swinging terrifically as it was pulled upthe last stretch."

REPORT FROM A JUNGLE WIFEBy Betty Morse

Robert is standing up In front after Sunday services at Tiliwaguare over. "Our family is going down to Rawangtang and we needcarriers. Who will go?" Immediately over in the women's side aburst of incredulous whispers and remarks broke out. "Oh Ma-ma,

surely you aren't going there? Aren't you afraid to go down there?How can you take your two babies? Even we folks don't go downthere anymore since the foot bridge was washed away, and we'reafraid of the rope bridge." "Yes, we're going/' I answered. "Thechurches there have asked for so long and we must go. No, Robertand I aren't afraid, but we are a bit scared for the children." Again,"who will help us?" Not a Lisu volunteered, nor a Rawang man—they all had field work to do! But finally some adventuresomeRawang girls said they would go. Even so, it was our promise ofprecious grain that tipped the scales for some of them. Then altwere satisfied.

We started off July 1st, and stayed at Konglangpu, the firstcongregation enroute, for services that night. The next day we wenton down to Wuning. Though Wuning is plainly visible down theNam Tamai valley from Konglangpu, only seven miles away, it tookus until late that evening to get there. We crossed the AhkyangRiver by rope bridge that day. It took us four hours to get ourwhole party across. After some of the loads had been pulled overthe bamboo cable which is the "bridge," I went over so there couldbe one of us on each side when the children crossed. I slid justa little ways,—maybe 10 yards, or a tenth of the way—and fromthere on it was a long, hard pull up, hand over hand, using feet aswell. I felt like a monkey. I had the movie camera strapped tome so out in the middle I got my neck loose from the halter, hungby my feet and took color movies for you folks. (Just hope themonsoon hasn't ruined them). I was so upset over the childrens'crossing that I forgot to take movies of it.

And right here I want to pay tribute to all those parents—Robert's Mom and Dad, the Bares, the Newlands, Isabel Dittemore,the Reeses—all those who before us have had to push their childrenoff a high platform over a raging, torrential river in order to travelto inaccessible places for the Master.

The third day we started into the heart of the Hump. Manyplanes went down in this area during the war and right while wewere there, a group were busy making big cooking kettles out ofsalvaged plane metal. Our Tiliwago carriers were not used to thiskind of road and we were so sore from the rope bridge that It tookus seven and a half hours to make the five miles to Zongwitang.This heathen village has to be seen to be believed. It is half waydown a very steep mountain. The people and houses were indescribably filthy. I saw my first village idiot since leaving Kunming, China. But all were friendly. Robert said their friendlinesswas quite a change from a few years back because now there area few Christians In their village. Stephen was quite attracted bythe landlady's red lips and black teeth (caused by chewing betel-nut) and was determined to go to her. She said to the whole household, "It's plain that the child wants to come to me but the parents won't let him." We just couldn't let her hold him but afterwe have been in a place a while it's impossible not to let folks holdthe children.

The next day we went on down to Mazetaq, the first village ofRawangtang. Did I say down? We first went up, up, up till wedisappeared into the clouds, and then we went down, down, downuntil our only memory of going to Mazetaq is down. Rawangtangis a big area of three valleys coming together. This point shouldbe a nice wide valley, but a big ridge juts out to divide the valleysinstead. There are eight villages scattered about, almost all within calling distance. But'oh boy! Just try to go, instead of calling!It was about the greatest-thrill I've had to meet with the hundredsof Rawang Christians. All were so eager to greet us. And nowthey are asking us to moye down to Rawangtang. We want morethan anything else to live with the Rawangs. WeVe almost givenup being American and turned native. But this move would" bevery hard. Mail would take even longer to reach us and food supplies would be difficult to transport down there.

I was sick for a week with malaria. I couldn't keep food downso got very weak. Malaria has a devastating effect on morale andcauses the mind to do really strange things. I kept thinking I wasdoomed to that valley, because Vd never again have the strengthto climb out. Actually, after I could eat again and Robert gaveme some shots I regained my strength quickly and had lots of energyfor the return trip.

Back at Wuning again we had another strange experience.Robert and I each had a swollen ankle. Didn't hurt much, but wasvery swollen. When the village asked us to stay over a day weconsented, as walking would have been very difficult. That morning,elder Pongziram walked in as our food was nearly ready, askingwhy we were cooking. He then took us over to his house and there,prepared for us was another big feast. Although he himself isallergic to pork, he had killed a pig and several chickens and servedsom^ pf the jast of his white paddy rice. Afterward he gave us abig nam^which I promptly turned into a roast. Then next morningas we prepared to leave, the church presented us with another blanketshawl, a native hemp shoulder bag, and a big knife decorated withsilver and bone and in a briqht red scabbard. We were really chokedup because this was probably our last visit down there till after ourfurlc^qh next year. The whole trip had been so wonderful andevervone non-Chrisfians as well as Christians, had been kind andhospitable. Their speeches were so sincere, and their love for usso evident that as the prayer closed and we walked down the lineshaking hands witti everybody our "Pa-ma-ra" could only come asa whisper. "Pa-ma-ra, peace to you till ne meet again."

THE MISSIONARY IS SUMMONED

"Pa-ma-ra, Peace to you. Teacher We have come to caH youto come down to our village. AIpo, we want to get a load of Rawangbooks for the southern area." Thus spoke a tall smiling lad dressedin Rawang skirt as he suddenly appeared in our doorway, and stuck

out his hand for the conventional Christian greeting. It was earlyMay, and Peter, my informant, and I were hard at work translatingthe Gospel of Luke into Rawang. "Mutjong Christian Conventionbegins on the 8th at Rawangtan, and we want you to come down tostay an extra long time," the boy Dangshin Dang added as he handedme a Rawang letter from the Rawangtang church.

Joni had been exposed to mumps which prevented Betty fromgoing, but Peter and I went. 1 got the thrill of my life watchingthe Rawang Christian Churches take the initiative in planning aprogressive program. It had been many long heart-breaking yearsbefore the Lisu churches reached this stage, and stopped depending upon the missionary. But now, with their example, the Rawangchurches were learning fast. If only our teaching can keep pace.Certainly ours is a privilege without par, to be able* to work withthe Rawangs in such a fruitful ministry. Seeing how far they havecome, it almost seems impossible that most of them have beenChristians only a few short years.

Three days of convention were filled with preaching and worship, all in Rawang. It was interesting to note that a good number of people from the areas farthest away still used a mental"crutch"—not being sure of their religious vocabulary, especiallyon terms which we had to construct in Rawang during our translation work—they still used Lisu or Kachin terms in words likechurch, heaven, faith, love, elders, eternal. On two nights I wasable to show for the first time to the Rawangs, color slides from theLife of Christ. Their appreciation and new understanding gainedof what they had before been taught only by ear, proved once morethe value of this visual teaching aid.

After regular services were over on the last night, a singspir-ation service was held outdoors, around a big camp fire, whichlasted until 3:00 a.m. Peter introduced nearly all of the thirty-odd hymns newly translated into Rawang. Hymns like "Love Divine," "The Way of the Cross," "O For a Thousand Tongues toSing," "Is My Name Written There," were very enthusiasticallyreceived.

The conference of elders which took place at this conventionwas also perhaps the most far-reaching in its scope. Elders andpreachers from some 25 Rawang congregations came together andconferred on various church problems, location of the next convention, and the best location for the fall session of Bible School.Having heard before that Mel Byers was planning to return withhis new bride, they had been eagerly awaiting their arrival. SinceMel had learned quiLte;a,|?it^Oif_,t|̂ language during his short staybefore, and had vi§it^|n€^^<5f & area, we were all anxiousfor their s1^ to us to learn that Mel andhis wife were^ f^fiisey-perln^fen^wre-enter Burma. However, theRawangs decided to write a petition to the Government, from allthe Rawangs of this area, requesting that Mel and his wife be permitted to return to the Rawang country.

Home missionary work by the Rawang church is already a bigitem in their church program. Far to the south is an area whichseveral years back was positively hostile to the missionary. Justthis spring, in one village where a start had been made and a smallchurch building erected, the non-Christians came and hacked downthe church in an effort to stop the advance of Christianity In theirarea. However, these churches have continued sending a half dozenor so of the most promising of their young men down on regularevangelistic trips, and now the Christians In the far-off AmetVallen number in the hundreds. The various workers down there allreported on their "work, and told of new church buildings erected,new villages reached and more baptisms.

Perhaps the most outstanding single advance, however, is Inthe Krangku or Triangle area to the southwest. LaVerne, Mel andI had all toured it, and found some slight interest In the Gospel.One church had been established at Kamlum, but the Governmentrefused permission for us to continue the work. Now, at this conference, the Rawang churches decided to take this over as theirown missionary project. We had had several Kangku students Inthe Bible School at Kobud^h this spring, and they had been so Insistent that finally preacher Mark had been sent over for a shortteaching trip. Now came word that they would not let him comeback home. Moreover, they wanted two more preachers sent, andif possible a resident missionary family. And, now the latest reportsshow that there are now two thriving churches, believers In aboutfifteen villages, totalling over 370!

Mailed by MRS. OSCAR L. MYIRS Sec. 34 66 P L&R2024 N. 14th Street

Terre Haute, Indiano

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