LISU-LAND CHURCHES of CHRIST IN BURMA

"Where China/ Tibet*, and Burma Meet"

(Yunnan-Tibetan Christian Mission)

FIRST 1953 NEWSLETTER

R'-jy
"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?'

A Typical Lisu Woman

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 re

quests for news concerning the

activities of Mr. and Mrs. J. Rus sell Morse since their arrival in the States and the interest in

their plans for the future, we

submit this summary:

In the release of J.

Russell

Morse, after 15 months impris onment in Kunming, China, we

have again witnessed the dem

onstration of the love, power

and guidance of our Heavenly

Father as He answered the pray ers of his dear family and be loved co-workers and friends
around the world. Mr. and Mrs. J. Russell Morse and LaVerne Morse arrived in the

States on July 3rd, 1952. After

Mrs. Ruth Morse

a brief visit with Mr. Morse's

sister

in

Seattle,

Washington,

they went on to Inglewood, California, where they visited Mr. Morse's living link church, the
Christian Church of Inglewood,
where Brother Ted Hurlburt -

ministers. They were also greeted by their daughter, Ruth Margaret, who had gone to California soon after her school closed

yr

in Terre Haute, Indiana.

This

was the time for which she had

been praying. What a after being away from her parents and her brother for three

long

mother of J. Russell Morse, flew

to California to welcome her son,

Mrs. Rufh Morse, 92 years old,

Ruth Margaret Morse

on whose behalf she had prayed so earnestly during the many months of his "silence"not knowing whether she would see him again in this iife, yet never wavering in her faith. It was a comfort to be near him when it was found necessary for him to have an operation. "Mother" Morse, as she Is affectionately known to Christian breth ren the country over, has served the mission efficiently and faith fully for more than thirty years and proudly (and justly so) talks of her thousands of "children in the Lord" in Llsulan^l. We salute
a brave soldier of the Cross who has done a marvellous work for her Lord!

We thank the Lord for Brother Russell's recovery and for increased strength which enabled
him to attend the National Mis-

slonary
the

Convention

at

Dodge

City, Kansas, where he delivered

audience.
a capacFollowing this convention he visited with his mother

Tulsa,

Oklahoma
to

and

adthe

-i

UPlpEjHH Convention before going to Cincinnati, Ohio, preach

cj''6ssed

the

Midwest Christian

Pi

opening sermon of the "Conference on Evangelism."

Mrs. J. Russell Morse came with her husband from Califor-

VI wSA

to Oklahoma. She stopped at Oklahoma City for a visit with sister, whom she had

since her return

R. R. LaVerne Morse

from Burma. She joined the folks

In Tulsa to go to the convention in Dodge City. At the close of the convention she went to Springfield, Illinois, to visit her living link church, Westside Church of Christ. She spoke for a number of
groups in that area before joining Mr. Morse in Cincinnati.
LaVerne Morse came to the midwest soon after his arrival in the States, speaking at the School of Missions at Lake James and

Cedar Lake, Indiana, as well as other camps and speaking for a

number of churches. He is now attending Cincinnati Bible Sem
inary, where he is a junior.

Ruth Margaret Morse is the youngest child and only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Russell Morse. She is 18 years old and she, too,
is a student at Cincinnati Bible Seminary, having entered last fall as a freshman. Before and after the time spent with her parents
in California, Ruth attended camps, rallies, and visited churches un til time for school to begin.

Since LaVerne and Ruth have been studying in the Bible Sem
inary in Cincinnati, Mr. and Mrs. Morse have made their head

quarters there this winter.

Mr. Morse has been away speaking the

Un

greater part of the time, but Mrs. Morse has tried to be with the children as much as possible as she and Mr. Morse epxect to return

to the mission work in Burma in the spring, the Lord willing.

should be back In Burma by the first of June.

less the regulations concerning the Burmese visa are changed, they

A FAITHFUL CO-WORKER

Drema

Esther,

our

adopted

daughter, evacuated from China along with the rest of the fam-

ily in the early part of December, 1949, before the change in

government took place. Since

V .

that time she has been working as a regular full-fledged missionary in the various phases of the work. She usually teaches
at least one class in our Bible

Seminary Schools and translates

for those of the mission who

-.

'

k age. She has taught Old Testament Stories and also stories in
the Gospels. The use of the flannelgraph, which she learned

have not yet mastered the langu-

Drema Esther Morse

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 respect
for her.

Drema Esther has gone on several long teaching trips. As she travels from one congregation to another, she, like the rest of us, conducts Bible Schools, helps advise with the church leaders in their

various problems, and dispenses medicines to the sick. She is a very good medical worker. Her love and sympathy for the people are shown 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 as possible have produced good results.

By Mrs. J. Russell More

ANNOUNCING A NEW MISSIONARY!

^^^^B^^^Mission is looking forward to a g^^HU^^Hnew missionary to work for the |Hfl[|^^^H|Espreading of the "unsearchable Hj^HH^^Qriches of Christ" in the region iP^^^B|^K7"where China, Tibet, Burma, and India meet." She is Lois Carol Vr^^^^^^HEIIiott of The Cincinnati Bible ^^^^^^Seminary. After March 27, 1953,
she is to be Mrs. R. LaVerne
For many years, Lois has de^; \ y v sired to work for* Christ in the

The Yunnan-Tibetan Christian

^ spreading of the Gospel to the

unreached thousands of heathen

Lois Carol Elliott be Mrs. R. LaVerne Morse after March 21, 1953

people around the world. Then last summer, when she was work ing in the office of Lake Region Christian Assembly, Cedar Lake,

Indiana, she met LaVerne Morse, home on furlough from the Tibetan border. He was visiting his living-link church at Joliet,
Illinois, and also the Missions

Week program at Cedar Lake. Following that eventful meeting, throughout last fall and winter at The Cincinnati Bible Seminary their acquaintance and friendship grew and deepened.
A consecrated and talented Christian, Lois has had consider able experience in serving her Lord. She has taught in a number of Daily Vacation Bible Schools and Sunday Schools and has been

active in youth work. In addition, she has played the piano and sung extensively in churches during Seminary trips and otherwise. As
friends over the country will know, she has a beautiful dramatic-

soprano voice. On the Tibetan border, the Gospel message has often been carried In song into the hearts of the people. Thus Lois'

cations, Lois has an earnest zeal to win people Alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The parents of Lois, Professor and Mrs. have been well-known for their outstanding cinnati Bible Seminary. Professor Elliott is
Gospel.

Master's vineyard out there. Finally, besides ail her other qualifi

musical ability should be especially welcome and effective for the

to Jesus Christ, Who

George Mark Elliott, work with The Cin loved and respected

as a spiritual, understanding, and truly Christian teacher of the

Lord's work. AAark Elliott and his family are living in Cincinnati. He ministers part time to a church in Indiana. Vaughn Elliott, is to graduate from the Seminary this spring; then he and his family are to work as missionaries with Elmer Kile and the Ye" Chapel
in New York City.

Lois has two brothers, both of whom are married and in the

An interesting sidelight is that the grandfather of Lois Elliott, G. W. Elliott, was an evangelist in South Dakota many years ago
when the grandparents of LaVerne Morse lived there. G. W. Elliott

baptized Frank Morse, the father of J. Russell Morse and grand

father of LaVerne Morse. Also, when J. Russell Morse was about two years old, his motherknown to all as Mrs. Ruth Morse, for warding agent for the Morse family In Tulsa, Oklahomaasked G. W. Elliott to pray for her son that he might become a preacher of the Gospel and win many souls to Christ. They never knew then
that 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 be

married on Friday, March 27, 1953, at 7:30 P.M. at The Cincinnati Bible Seminary chapel. Price and Grand Avenues, Price Hill, Cin

cinnati, Ohio. Any friends who will be able to attend the ceremony
are welcome to do so.

Following their marriage, Lois and LaVerne plan to complete this present school year and also one more year in the Seminary. Lois Is in her sophomore year and LaVerne in his junior year. This next summer, then, they plan to visit Christian Service camps and

church in this country and in Canada.

Next year, in 19i54, after

making necessary preparations such as travel arrangements and buying of equipment, the Lord willing, they plan to go to the Tibetan border mission field in Burma to serve Christ, to win souls to eternal life in the wondrous ministry of the Gospel.

Did you know: That the book of Genesis and the book of Psalms

are the only books of the Bible outside of the New Testament, that
have been translated into Lisu?

That most of the natives of Tibetan LIsuland must be taught

even 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, and Thomas Eugene who will be two years old in July.
Stephen Anthony, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Morse

was 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

Betty

Stephen Anthony

"Go . . . TEACH ALL NATIONS"

Because Robert Morse believes his linguistic ability is Godgiven and is to be used to His Glory, the work of "teaching the na tions" in a remote portion of the jungles of North Burma has be
come a reality.

Even before the family came to the States on furlough in 1946,

Robert Morse was deeply concerned about the salvation of the

Rawang tribespeople of North Burma. Having spent many months with them, he knew their great need of the Gospel and their capacity
for receiving it.

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

After devising a written language, he prepared a primer with the basic teachings of New Testament Christian and some hymns. These were printed in the summer of 1951. During the last year
Robert 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 Robert
has prepared much of the material but most of their time has been

spent working with and for the Rawang people. They are now in "Rawang country" where they and Dorothy Sterling are holding Bible Schools for both the Lisu and Rawang of that area. The effects of Robert's work are discussed in a letter from Dorothy Sterling:

"The revival among the Rawang people is due largely to having the Gospel now in their own language. When they had to learn the
Lisu language to become Christians, some became Christians and

learned Lisu in order to be able to read the Bible, but many of them never understood it very well and many never learned it at all. Since Robert Morse has been working on a written language for them and has translated a Gospel primer and the Gospel of Mark into Rawang, the people are turning to Christ in large numbers. Please continue to pray for him in this work."

The following excerpts from their letters tell of their stay in

Rangoon and of their trip from Rangoon to Muladi and from Muladi to Kobudeh and Tiliwago. Robert wrote: "We got to Rangoon one month behind schedule because the plane didn't come to Putao until we finally had to appeal for help IFrom some friends in the American Embassy. Consequently our Rangoon time was quite full and we hardly had time to do the things which were absolutely necessary, and the printers did not get through with the printing of Rawang Mark. We were supposed to fly back up to Putao on December 18th, but government officials had prior

ity so we had to take the next plane which, was Christmas Day. ^e
Since we

arrived at Putao airstrip at 2:30 Christmas afternoon.

were going north, it got colder and colder, and eventually, at Putao,
we found it very cold with the light tropical clothes we were wear ing. By the time we had our freight and baggage aissembled in loads for carrying, there were plenty of Lisu friends gathered to help us carry it to our home.

It was 3:15, and the sun was rapidly disappearing behind the high mountains in the west. The temperature was also rapidly drop ping 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 still had a three hour walk back through the jungle to Muladi, and a river to cross there by rickety bamboo raft. But the Lord helped, iand although out of practice, we made the three hour trip in two

hours and a half, and we got to the river crossing at dusk.

As darkness fell and the bitter cold of 39 degrees plus a wind from the snow mountains bit into our light tropical clothing, we started the river crossing. The raft was one made of 12 large bamboos tied together with cross-pole and vines, 2 to 2>/i feet wide and 25 feet long. It would hold 3 persons with loads, but everybody's feet got wet and cold in the icy water because it sank into the water several inches. The least bit of shifted weight, and there would be sure trouble, namely a capsized boat. So I went over as passenger the first time, carrying Stephen. Then Betty came with Jonni on the second trip. Once across, we were in Muladi village, so, without bothering to get our shoes back on, we rushed with the two children back to our house to get warmer clothing for them. The next week was convention week, and the whole family went, including Stephen, and we camped out in a rice field along with 1400 Rawang and Lisu Christians. Then afterwards we went back to Muladi to pack up and start the 10 day trek through jungle and over high mountains to get back to the Tiliwago area, wher^ we were to hold a Bible school for Lisu and Rawang. Dorothy Sterling is also helping with the teaching."* From Betty: (January 30, 1953)
"Well, here I amback in the mountains and how Td like to

stay! I say 'Til never leave them again.' After a year in the swamps of the Putao plains, the grandeur of these mountains is overwhelm ingly beautiful. The main reason, though, that I do not want to go back is because of the terrible, terrible roads we passed over in getting here. We'd have to go over them again in getting to Muladi.
Joni proved himself a good traveler. He rode horseback for 64 miles straight with only one fall. How's that for a 3'/i year old missionary? Our tiny baby, Stephen, now a little more than 2 months old, is doing very well. He laughs and coos at an earlier age than Joni did, 1 think. Sometimes he cries, but if Robert or I come to him, he will start laughing. Both Joni and Stephen had bad colds after our trip, but penicillin and sulphacalled "dramacillin" have cured them very quickly.

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

Oh, w^ have had snow ice-cream! Something new in the life

of 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 huddle

over the campfire to keep from chilling. Robert has gone over to Tiliwago to check up on things there and to prepare for the school
we are to teach."

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene R. Morse

Eugene Helen Thomas Eugene^ David Lowell^ Ronald Keith

BUILDING FOR GOD

Members of the family and other co-workers refer to Eugene

Morse as an evangelist and builder. Those who have labored with

him tell of his engineering ability. He has supervised and done much of the actual building of the missjon homes at Pugeleh and Tada in the Salween Valley. Since he has been in Burma, he has directed the building of the mission home, a large chapel with a seating ca
pacity of 1300 (as the Lisu sit) and also a home for Robert and Betty, a few minutes walk away, where there would be a little less

activity and perhaps a bit more quiet time for Robert's study and
translation work.

The work of evangelism, teaching, holding elders' conferences

in short, the work of establishing, teaching and maintaining in

digenous Churches of Christ at Muladi and in the entire Putao area

has been his first concern, and supercedes all else. The chapel was built that the people might come together in larger groups for their
conventions,' etc. A suspension bridge was built across the river at Muladi so that people could come to church even when the river

was too high and turbulent to cross on a raft. Eugene helped the natives lay out the village of Muladi in orderly streetsan entirely new experience to a people who had lived on the steep mountain
slopes of West China before Communism forced them to evacuate.

Since this village has grown so successfully, other areas have asked his help and, as he preaches and teaches, he helps in this way if
possible.

ing of the materials Robert has translated. Eugene, Helen and the children have gone on several trips to conventions, Bible Schools, etc., but usually Helen stays at home to "hold the fort." While

Helen is a nurse and has had stenographic training and exper ience so she has remained at Muladi most of the time helping with the medical work and the work of stencil cutting and mimeograph

guage fluently, she and Eugene made an effective team in evangelism and teaching. They held two-month Bible schools in various places.
ness for their Lord, and helping the natives to realize how wonder
fully God DOES answer prayer.

times. Being an experienced teacher, and speaking the Lisu lan

Eugene's mother was still in Burma, she went with him a number of

There have been times of testing this past year and those in Burma are so thankful for the opportunities they have had to wit

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 re

crying for joy. The Lisu man who brought the telegram to us spread the glad tydings through the village as he returned home, and soon people began to come to ask "Is it really true? Is MA-PA DA-MA
for they had all been praying for his safety and release too.. And
arrived unannounced!"

leased from China. When we received the news, we couldn't help

(elder teacher) really free again?" and they were as happy as we,

now they could see another proof that God really does answer prayer for His children. Especially so in the way God arranged that Mother and LaVerne should be there in Hong Kong just at the time Daddy

In August there was a flood at Muladi and after describing

the definite answers to prayer at various times during the crisis, they

wrote: "We have been so thrilled over these experiences and the nearness of our Lord, that it has been truly wonderful."
In October there was another flood which was even more de
vastating:

"Folks at Nunke and La-do thought surely Muladi must be

wiped off the map. Above the villagebetween here and Nam-li-ka,
where there used to be a big bend around a point of land, there is now on straight sweep for about two miles. No one has any doubt that the fact that this village is still here, intact, is only in answer to prayer, and evidence of God's care for His children. We have received reports that the Irrawaddy river is at the highest level ever recorded. You see now why we were ready to hold a very special
'Thanksgiving'."

"Dorothy Sterling and her little adopted Lisu son arrived In Muladi September 5th. Disturbing and threatening rumors from
the east made them feel that it was best for them to come on down

here." Dorothy has been working at Kobudeh, which is eleven days travel nearer the China border. There is an ever-present danger during the months the mountain passes are not closed by the snows.
Those months are from late May until late November. Because of

this it makes it imperative that as much as possible be accomplished

between November and May.

It was the reason for Dorothy re

turning to Kobudeh early in December and for Robert and Betty going 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 held

in Muladi, as the church building here is the largest. Last year we

had over 2000, and we expect at least as many this year. During June and July we are planning to hoJd a school for the preachers of this area. That will be during the rainy season when it is almost impossible to do very much traveling anyway, so should be a good time for the school. Pray that all the preachers will be
able to attend, and that we will be able to teach them in such a way 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
2024 N. 14th Street

See. 34.66 P.L.&R

Terre Haute, Indiana

Form 3547 Requested

Acc. ftec.

0
Inglewood, Calif l:ay, 15, 19
Dear Sirs

s 2?
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Mdsti, Cash Ter. Cash

Chr. Std.

'

CQ
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Siind.

M.O. Check

Sttfftpj Caili'
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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!issionaries and native Christians in many foreign lands have been watching with interest the activities of Russell and Gertrude Morse the past year.

ItfTissionaries of over 30 years in Lisu land and the surrounding countries, they vere welcomed with tears of rejoicing and thanksgiving to God, a year
ago, when they returned to the States immediately following Russell's miraculous release from 15 month in a Communist prison in Ktuiming China.

God's tiigeing was perfect.

Russell was released on the very last day of

a continuous 10 day prayer time dedicated to this cause by the Christian

Church of Inglewood, California, his living link Churchand just in time to

return home with his wife. Gertrude and son Laverne who v^ere in Hongkong ready to sail within a few hours.

The

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

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

Arriving in Inglewood Apr* 24th., they spent their last week making
necessary arrangements for the return to the land where this famous

Missionary family has preached,the Word, doctored the sick, taught the
first written language.

ignorant and by the guiding of the Holy Spirit, gave those ueoDle their

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 their
many friends in the Churches of the surrounding area.

Friday evening May 1st., the Minister and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Hurlbiart

invited all to their home for a time of prayer and the wishing of God-speed
afuer which many motored to the Airport, where these consecrated servants embarked on Pan-American plane and sailed away over the blue Pacific at
11:59 P.M.

Depending intirely on the Lord and His people for theiir finances and prayers Hussell and Gertrude Morse expect to spend many prophetdble years in the
work 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 Tulsa
for the last time.

"/ have fought a good fight^ / have fiimhed. my course^ I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness^
which the Lordy the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only^ hut unto all them also that love his appearing^
II Tim. 4:7, 8.

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

Kachin State, Burma

faiUit Bsleep
Mrs. Ruth MacKenzie Morse, aged 92 years, died in a Tuisa 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; nine grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.

she held membership.

formerly minister of the Westside Christian Church in which

Her memorial sermon was preached by Raymond Summers,

OUR MOTHER'S MEMORIES

Ninety-two years of living in America between 1861 and 1953 can give a person extraordinary memories, for our mother, Ruth

MacKenzie Morse, born in the frontier outpostof Hutchinson, Minn., on a blizzardy January fourth, they were a series of vivid pictures.

Sioux Indians. She saw five of her sisters die. At seven, her mother died. She helped make maple ^rup and bring in the sum mer's harvest. At seventeen she marfTe^ RriHk Morse, ^and a year of wild game that gave them food. She remembered the sod shanty
and the little four-roomed house that replaced It. She recalled the
Sunday School which she started and the Christian Church in Alex

There was the flight in dead of winter from the massacres of the

later they began proving-up a homestead In South Dakota. She remembered the blizzards, th6 prairie fires, the enormous flocks

andria, South Dakota, estabtisVied by evangelist G. W. Elliott (grand

father of Mrs. LaVerne Morse) . She saw her husband and their

four 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 in

South Dakota, of thousands of sheep and droves of horses.
up to die, but she recovered from the illness.

It was

a hard life, and she was plagued with illness. At 45 she was given
The Morses moved to Indian Territory in 1904, to a land of civiliz ed Indians, spouting oil-wells, and a town which yearly outgrew its boundaries. Ruth Morse never had money riches, but she always

schooled, that they engaged in honorable work: nursing, teaching, preaching, and home making. She loved to think of her nine grand
children and her nineteen great-grandchildren. Her son and five-

paid her debts. She was rich in the knowledge that her children were

of her grandsons are teachers of G^'s Word. The memories of Ruth

Morse include thirty years of the foreign missionary service of Justin
2

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

Death took her husband, her son John, and her daughter, Mamie Chase, fine Christians all, but she was sustained by the devoted
care of her daughters, Eva Melton and Louise Whitham. in her

last hours she called to memory the faces of a host of friends, some in far away places, others who had joined with her in building the Westside Christian Church. Their kindness made her declining
days happier. Ninety-two years!

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

memory.

(Written by Louise Morse Whithom for her mother's

memorial ^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 furlough

to recuperate and visit Christian friends throughout the churches, Mr. and Mrs. J. Russell Morse left Inglewood, California, for the mission field on AAay 1, 1953. They had hoped for an extension of Mrs. Morse's Burma re-entry visa time limit to enable them to re main longer in America, but received a telegram from the Burmese Embassy saying the extension could not be granted.

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

Mr. and Mrs. Ray Partridge, close friends of the family and mem bers of the Christian Church-of Inglewood, which is living-link church of Mr. Morse, describe their departure as follows:
Inglewood, California

Dear Mrs. Myers:

Greetings in Christ's wonderful name.
from them for a while.

Brother Russell and Gert

rude left on Friday night amid tears of rejoicing by Christian friends for God's sparing their lives, and tears of sorrow at being separated

On the Sunday before they left, we had an all-day meeting with

them at the church with basket lunch at noon. In the afternoon

many other churches and delegations came to hear Brother Russell

speak and show some movies of the work in Burma. Also Gertrude

gave a message.

It was a great day.

3

From then till Friday they

had a busy time trying to decide what to take with them on the plane and getting additional boxes ready to send by parcel post later. Only sixty-six pounds was allowed on each plane ticket. Jimmie Whittle was a great help in packing and helping in many ways. He

and Louise are wonderful folk. l1ie time passed all too fast.
On Friday, the church planned a fellowship and prayer meeting for them an hour before they were to go. It was a blessed time for us all. We arrived at the airport forty-five minutes before the

plane arrived and did not have to hurry. Many members and friends
from other churches were also there to see them go. The plane
left at 11:59 P.M. with Russell and Gertrude each loaded down with

sage of roses for Gertrude. She looked very sweet and wore her white hat. They were wishing they could go by boat In order that they might take more with them and have more time for rest. How ever, they felt they must get to Burma earlier to avoid the Monsoon rains and also so that Eugene, Helen, and family could come home
for a furlough.
How often Brother Russell spoke of his regret at leaving his mother.

parcels. Ruth Margaret, LaVerne, and Lois had telegraphed a cor

She called the night he left to tell him good-bye and to say she
didn't think she would live to see him again. It was very hard for him to leave her. He just walked back and forth In the kitchen

saying, "My mother said she didn't expect to see me again, but she didn't say I should stay." That seemed a comfort to him. Russell
and Gertrude were very tired when they left,, but I think when they

get 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 out over the ocean, Mr. and Mrs. Morse arrived in Honolulu. They were "met at the airport by Glen and Ruth Powell, missionaries in the Hawaiian Islands. While waiting a day for the connecting air plane across the Pacific, they visited with the Powells and were im pressed 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 time for breakfast. They lost one day when they crossed the Interna tional Date Line and arrived in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday when they thought It was Sunday. Harold Sims and Mark Maxey met them, at Haneda airport, Tokyo. They thoroughly enjoyed their visit with th6* missionaries In Tokyo, having tea with Mrs, Cunningham and birthday dinhw with Sylvia Sims. In the evening the missionaries all 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 of circling; the airplane had to continue roaring across the South China

Sea to Manila. The next day, the sky was clear enough for the air plane to zoom down between mountains around Hong Kong to land.
4

do missionary work in Burma, Thus, from Bangkok Mrs. Morse proceeded alone to Rangoon, Burma, to make arrangements with the government for a new copy of Mr. Morse's permit. A letter the Immigration Office, the Foreign Office, the Kachin State Min
be granted soon.

It was in Hong Kong that J. Russell Morse was released from Com munist hands not quite a year ago. This time, though, Mr. and Mrs. 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 to

from her dated May 14 mentions the complicated regulations she had been going through. For about five days she had been visiting

istry, and then again the Immigration Office. We should like friends to be in prayer at this time that the permit for J. Russell Morse will
Rangoon.
As soon as his permit is granted, Mr. Morse is to rejoin his wife in

During the hot, rainy monsoon season of the next

extremely difficult. Nevertheless, Gertrude and Russell Morse are looking forward to being once more among the Lisu and Rawang
Christian brethren on the Tibetan border.

four months in Burma, travel northwards to nothernmost Burma is

MARRIAGE OF MISS LOIS ELLIOTT AND MR. LAVERNE MORSE

7
I r

and friends of the bride and

groom entered the House of

Bible Seminary to witness the
Worship of The Cincinnati
uniting in marriage of Miss

'|H Lots Carol Elliott, daughter of

4
T ^

Seminary, and Mr. R. LaVerne

Morse, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.
the Tibetan border.

Professor and Mrs. G. M. Elliott of The Cincinnati Bible

Jffl

Russell More, missionaries to

House

of Worship there lay an open

vH

VH

Bible overshadowed by a large

lighted cross and surrounded

wi j . W M'i

t H I H t

by basketsand of white lilies,nested snapdragons, gladiola

in beds of greenry.

Lois Carol (Mrs. R. LaVerne) Morse

Photo o.o kTp by y J.. Russell usse Morse

5

The program music was chosen to fit theof solemnity of

the occasion.

Miss Alice Butler of Cincinnati, Ohio, was organist

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 of
the bride, was best man. Frank Watson was head usher. The bride was given In marriage by her father.

The maid of honor. Miss Sue Frost of Orleans, Indiana, and the bridesmaid. Miss Ruth Margaret Morse, sister of the groom, wore gowns of pastel nylon net over taffeta with matching tiaras, and

with her father, she looked very lovely in her floor-length gown of satin and lace with a fitted bodice and high stand-up collar. Her
fingertip veil was secured by a tiara of seed pearls. Also she wore
a necklace of pearls. On her white Bible she carried a white orchid with Iily-of-the-valley streamers.

carried pink bridal bouquets.

As the bride came down the aisle

Mrs. G. M. Elliott, Mr. and Mrs. J. Russell Morse, the bride, the bridegroom, the maid of honor, and the bridesmaid greeted the guests. Many guests were present from out of townChicago and
Joliet in Illinois, Terre Haute and Columbus in Indiana, and other
places. Mr. and Mrs. David Rees, missionaries from the missicm

Following the ceremony, a receiving line composed of Mr. and

field on the Tibetan border, were also present from Indianapolis.

A reception at the home of the bride's parents preceded the de parture of the newlyweds on their honeymoon in the Smoky Moun tains of Tennessee and North Carolina. After a week there, they

country and in Canada. Then, after another year in the Seminary.during which they will make preparations for the mission fiefd, they
plan to go to preach Christ and together win souls unto eternal life

in the Cincinnati Bible Seminary. This summer they plan to speak at churches and Christian Service Camps in various parts of this

returned to Cincinnati to set up housekeeping and to resume studies

among 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 Morse as their living-link missionary. Lester E. Pifer is minister of the

Mt. Vernon church as it takes this stride forward in the preaching of the "unsearchable riches of Christ" "unto the uttermost parts of the earth." We rejoice to be able to make this announcement. May God richly bless all the Christians of the Mt. Vernon church, and

especially Brother Pifer and all the leaders of this congr^ation as

they continue to grow in power for the Gospel both at home and
abroad.

at Mt. Vernon will be $800.CX). This is. to be supplemented from

other offerings from the churches for the mission work to make a
6

For the first year, living-link support from the Church of Christ

total of $1200.00. However, after this first year the Mt. Vernon church plans Itself to supply the total living-link for Lois (Mrs. R. LaVerne) Morse, that Is, the twelve hundred dollars a year neces sary for personal expenses. LaVerne's living-link (for personal expenses) is supplied by the
First Church of Christ of Joliet, Illinois, whose minister is Robert Graham. They have been supporting LaVerne since 1947. Lois

and LaVerne are looking forward, the Lord willing, to many years
of wonderful Christian fellowship with the co-laborers in Christ

of 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, she plans to work on the staff of Lake Region Christian Assembly, R.R. 2,
Cedar Lake, Indiana.

F b

23

congregations, and on the seche held services in the evening as well some special services,
elders

that of determining the age of

their children so as to know Eugene on preacV>lng trip

whether they are old enough to get married. The elders in confer ence decided that girls should be at least 18 years of age and boys at least 20. Now, in all the congregations where Eugene has visited, they have made a census of the children, and by comparing the time the child was born with some important event, they have figured out the approximate age of each child. From now on, they will keep a record of children born. In each church. This will really be a help in preventing the young peopleespecially the girlsfrom
getting married too young.
Simple Faith

The other day, Drema and I (Helen) were looking out our win dow, up the main street of the village. About a block away (village block) 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 and
he was coming for medicine. On the way here, he stopped and spoke to one of the elders. Then we saw him knee! down with the child while the elder prayed that he might be restored to strength and health. It made us stop and wonder how many people In America take James 5:15-16 literally, and think to call the elders to pray for them when ill. And if they did, how many would kneel In a public place while that prayer was offered? In this as in many other things, 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 Works Department to speak on behalf of the village elders of the MuladI area in requesting government aid In constructing a bridge across the Nam Lang River, beside which MuladI Is located. Twice last

fall the suspension bridge was destroyed by floods, and the second time 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 the water would rise high enough to cause any trouble to the bridge. As a result of Gene's visit, the official came to MuladI personally
to inspect the site and gave his approval for construction of a cart bride (instead of just a foot bridge) and also for construction of a road from the airfield to the new bridge, and past Muladi south to

join with the main road to Sumprabum and Myltkylna. When this road Is completed, it will mean that we will no longer be cut off from "civilization" during the rains when plane service is suspended.
Now plans are under way for the three-month preachers' Bible School to be held this summer, beginning In June. It is expected that there will be around sixty students. Including present full-time

preachers, and also those who have been doing part-time preaching but may become full-time workers with additional training. Pray
for this school and for those teaching.
8

'IF ANY MAN . .

(lukc 9>a)

"Verily, 1 say unto you, There w no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or

children, or lands, for my sake, and the

gospel's, but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time, houses, and brethren,
to come eternal life."
Mark 10:29-30.

and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world

Shan Poul and

preacher Levi

The noon-doy sun shone bright and hot on the group of people gathered ot the river's edge. They were stonding in a semi-circle, interest ond attention focused on one man standing in the center. The man was speaking. "In the Bible

it says that for Jesus we must leave even our home and wife and children and father and mother. Today I om doing that. From now on, you are my brothers and sisters, and with you I will feel at home." He spoke in Kachin, ond the young preacher beside translated his words into Lisu. The man continued, "I cm just a new Christion. There ore many things I do not yet know. But what I do know

I want to tell my people. Please prey for me." Again his words were translated into Lisu by the young preacher. The speaker was Zau Ma Aung, o Shan, heodman of his village, the first of his people to turn from Bhuddism to the one true God. His translator was Levi, the Lisu postor who had been instrumental In
leoding him to the Lord.

While the group song the hymn "Whiter Thon Snow," Zau Ma Aung and two Lisu preachers, Titus and Jesse, started woding out toward the middle of the

river.

With one preocher on eacti side, as is the Lisu custom, they boptized

Zau 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 to shore to shake hands wi.th those stonding therehis brothers and sisters in Christ,

even though they spoke o different language. Immediately following this baptismal
service was the regular church service, and Zau Mo Aung, now to be known as Paul, 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 pray ing 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 the
areo.

present 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.

These Shons ore Bhuddists, ond hove firmly resisted all past ottempts to

While on a preaching trip, Eugene hod stopped overnight at o Lisu village only 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 fouryear-old son for treatment. Not having the correct medicine with him, Eugene
sent them to Muladi for treatment.

days, and during this time preacher Levi talked with him at length, explaining the plan of salvation and exhorting him to accept Christ os hlS Savior. In teach
ing him, Levi used the New Testament in Shan, Kachin, Burmese, and Lisu.

It was necessary for them to remain several

Also, he mode use of gospel recordings in Kachin, Shan, and Burmese, and explained the Viewmoster Bible Story reels which we have here. By the end of
a week, Zau Ma Aung believed in the Lord, and wanted to be a Christian and hove a Bible name. He knew that he would be facing much hardship and per secution from his own people in turning from Bhuddism, for Levi hadn't minimized
the fact that we must often suffer for our faith in God and His Son. But he wrote

0 letter to his home and informed his father of the stand he was taking, and asked his wife to come and hear also. She came, and listened, but was here for only one day so did not accept the teachings, as her husband had.

This "babe in Christ" took the Christian name of Paul, for like the Apostle of old he hod persecuted and ridiculed the Christians. Now he was facing the same treatment. And like the Apostle, he was eager to go and tell his people of

his Saviour, of the God who hears end answers prayers. Who Is always wi^ His
He said, "I cannot but tell them so they too

children, the God Who is a father.

can know Him."

Being a village headman, Paul is of the upper class and the Bhuddist lamas fear his influence. When they heard that he had become a Christian they sent a group of lamas or priests to his village to teach their Bhuddist doctrines and to 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.

more.- They are disturbed by the fact that alth^gh he is the only one in the
village who has become a Christian, still the other Shan villages take for granted that the whole village has or will become Christian. They soy to people from Paul's village, "Now that you ore all becoming Christians . . ." One Bhuddist priest told 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 ore the foreign teachers paying you to be their agent?" This is probably because he is telling everyone about Christ. Someone asked him, "What do you expect to get out of it?" And to this Paul replied, "What do you expect to get out of Bhuddismmaterial value or spiritual value?" and the priest had no answer. Others have sold, "Now that you follow the white man's God surely you will regain your luck and become rich again," referring to the fact that formerly his father was
quite rich, and he himself was well to do.
When the priests began taking special notice of him, trying to teach him more Bhuddist doctrine, Paul had an answer, "Why do you take special notice of me now?"

Since then he has been troubled by his family and other/in the village even

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 youl
suddenly begin to consider me important. Why?" And he went on, "All my lifq

I'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 own people in a thrilling manner. Pray for him, that he may continue faithful, and that his testimony may be the means of winning many others, especially his own family for whom he is particularly burdened. And pray earnestly, faithfully, that all the Shans will open their hearts to let Christ come in and bring His Light to illumine the darkness in which they now live as they worship idols of stone and metal, the work of man's hands. Pray for them that they may accept Christ as
their Saviour before it is too late.

10

Helen M. Morse

RAWAK6-LISU SCHOOL HELD AT TILIWAGO

Muladi on January 14, enroute to Kobudeh, where they and Dorothy

Sterling were to hold a Bible School. They travelled ten days over roads which in many places had been destroyed by landslides. The
road was dangerous, and difficulttoo bad even to take a horse the

Robert and Betty Morse and sons, Jonathan and Stephen, left

last half of the trip. Just after their arrival, there was a big snow storm at Kobudeh, the first in many years. The temperature drop ped to zero. In a bamboo house the cold is not kept outand there is no central heating system! In order to keep warm, one stays as near the fire as possible, wearing all the clothes possible. The two-month Bible School began the first week in February with 1]7 students, the number later increasing to 125. They were
about half Lisu, half Rawang. Because of the language difficulty, It was decided that Robert should do all the teaching in Lisu, with the Rawang preacher, Peter, translating into Rawang. Notes were given the students in both languages. Because many of the students were from many days travelsome came as much as 21 days in
order to attendthey could not provide their food. Those students receiving their food were sent home at the end of one month If they did not make passing grades. The school closed at Easter time with 105 students finishing their studies.

During the school, in addition to the regular work entailed by the daily classes, Robert undertook to analyze the seven different dia lects of Rawang represented among the students. Now recently he has begun translation of the Gospel of Luke into Rawang. Pray especially for him in this work, that he might be specially guided and strengthened by the Lord and enabled to complete the translation quickly.

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 have

given up plans for going to Muladi this summer to help teach in

the school, and also to meet Daddy and Mother. So many of our preachers have moved out to the Muladi-Putao area that we are extremely short-handed, and our preacher-training program, of course can't produce over night although we are making full use of "stu dents" too. We are planning more and more schools. We can't seem to hold one central school, but must hold regional schools, as things
are scattered so much, and food so difficult to get.

A recent convention in Rawang country was attended by close to 500. Everything was in Rawang, no Lisu, which is getting to be com
mon now. The new Rawanq Mark Gospel has arrived, and all copies that have arrived here (150) have long been sold out. The people

are now looking forward to the next book to be printed.

It seems

impossible that just since the fall of 1951 when we came back from
the States, and the first Rawang Gospel Primer of 3000 books was

printed, the entire edition has been SOLD OUT. (They pay half
ested in learning the Rawang script. The work among them has grown to tremendous proportions, and at times seems almost bigger than the Lisu work! And yet we are the only ones who can work with them. We had been hoping that Mel Byers and his wife could join us but hear they will be unable to do so. The Rawangs are writ
know the outcome of this yet, of course.

price). That means that there are 3(X)d Rawangs or people inter

ing an appeal to the government to allow them to come. We don't

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 the New Testament for the Rawangs. We have started on the Gospel of
work.

Luke, but am putting it off for a while because of too much other

year the Rawang churches are starting a school (with our help) for

You know they started a grade school at Muladi Ipt year, and this

Rawang children. It will be even more ambitious thdn the Muladi

school, in that the two teachers Will be dividing their time teaching not only the regular secular courses, Kachin, Burmese, etc., but

Tychichus, my old helper, who is the resident minister at RAWANGTANG, where the school is to be held, will be one of the teachers, and its main force. We expect about 50 or 60 students. They want us to move down there to supervise it, but we can't now. Later, when we come back from furlough, we may move down there although it would put us further three days' hard walk from Muladi. As usual, the carrier is ready to leave, so must close."
12

there will also be one class of Bible and another class of Rawang.

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

At present, Dorothy is planning to begin the children's school this

summer. Because she will have no helper, (since Margaret All-

dridgd was refused permission to enter Burma) it is possible to take only ten children instead of twenty as originally planned. Dorothy writes: "Please pray for this.school. Pray especially that these few children who are privileged to attend school will each grow up with a missionary vision of helping their people to know God better, and to help them through medical; agricultural, educational work, etc."
ROPEHOLDERS, NOTICE!

In the past months, we have discovered that several letters with

*^15 Mrs. Ruth Morse> forwarding agent.
enclosed checks for the Yunnan-Tibetan Christian Mission were stolen. The checks had been mailed for the mission or members of the mission to 114 South Denver Avenue, Tulsa 3, Oklahoma,

found the checks had not arrived, and with the help of her daughter, Mrs. Louise Whitham, traced the thief and called the F.B.I. Con sequently, the thief is now in a federal penitentiary. or winter which the thief cashed which have not yet been discovered.
bank.

However, Mrs. Morse

It may be there were one or two more checks sometime last fall

However, the bank in Tulsa guarantees that any check fraudulently cashed will be made good if the cancelled check is presented at the

If any ropeholder who sent funds to Mrs. Ruth Morse last fall
or 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, Okla homa, immediately, sending her the cancelled check to be reim
bursed 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 YunnanTibetan Christian Mission, have been made available to the mission

by The Standard Publishing Company. These books, compiled by Miss Dorothy Faye Foster and R. LaVerne Morse, tell of the activ Gospel and in rescuring stranded American fliers "where China,
Tibet, Burma, and India meet."
13

ities of the missionaries during the last war in the spreading of the

Any Christian Service Camps, churches, Sunday Schools, or Dally

Vacation Bible Schools desiring quantities of twenty-five to one hun

dred and twenty-five copies can obtain such without cost by writing
to 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. David Lowell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene R. Morse, was four years old last March and Jonathon Russell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Morse^ will
be four years old next October. ' Helen wrote

David is very proud of his two little brothers, Thomas Eugene, al

most two years old, and Ronald Keith, seven months old.

recently, "David thinks he is a big boy now, and is looking forward to

the time when Grandma and Grandpa will come and also when we

will '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. Ron nie is a good natured baby, laughs and 'talks' a lot, and has the usual accomplishments of a healthy boy his age." Jonathon, too, is very proud of his little brother, Stephen An thony, also seven months old. Betty wrote of their boys, "I sure wish you could see Jonathon and Stephen. Joni is so bright and sweet and active, and a real boy. He runs free in the mountain air from daylight to dark, and is very healthy now. Stephen is a darling baby. AH agree he is beautifultoo pretty to be a boy. We sure enjoy him. He has
blue eyes and brown hair. fourths inches long now." He is really growing; Is 26 and three-

Both David and Jonathon are being taught the Calvert Pre-kindergarten courses (by their mothers) and splendid progress Is reported
14

for both.

As of January, 1953, David is being supported by the Boulevard Christian Church of Muskogee, Oklahoma, where Lloyd McMillan is
the minister. His support is $25 per month.
May 1st, 1953, the Missionary Society of the Christian Church at Holyoke, Colorado assumed living link support, ($25 per month) for Jonathon. We know these two congregations will have a special in terest in these two little boys as they grow in stature and in the knowledge of the Lord, and will pray that they may be faithful ser
vants 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. 14th
St., Terre Haute, Indiana, has consented to assume the duties of secretary and forwarding agent for our missionary project in north

ern Burma, along the borders of China and Tibet. For the past five years, 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 will
present our Lisa and Rawang work with slides and literature.

of the ill-health of my mother, Mrs. Ruth Morse, now aged ninetytwo years, and who has given efficient and appreciated service for many years. All future letters or donations for the mission work

This change in forwarding agent has been made necessary because

will be cared for by Mrs. Myers.

vital part of our mission service.

Her task will be difficult, but a

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

a shock and in our grief we'^N deep.>

the announcement was given to the churches. Even though we knew she could not be with u% much jopger, yet her going has been

Russell Morse wrote the above article, he did not realize that his mother's death was so near, and that she would be gone even before

of loss both personally

and to the missi3fif; Is'XOflW . t US -.ox

As I attempt to carry on this task that lies ahead, I feel very

15

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

than thirty years and her words of faith and encouragement will be
missed 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 Preach

ers' school closed the first week with 90 students. Please pray for

this school as we continue in the coming weeks. We also ask you to pray for Robert and Betty Morse and for Dorothy Sterling as they work in the Tiliwago area."
RECOMMENDATION

We should like to recommend Harrold MacFarland, Mission Ser

vices, Willernie, Minnesota, for his fine work in behalf of directsupport missions. Christians throughout the country would do well to subscribe to the monthly missionary paper Issued by him. Horizons Magazine ($2 a year), for one of the most comprehensive publica tions 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
2024 N. Mrii Street

Sec. 34.66 P.L&R.

Terre Haute, Indiana Form 3547 Requested

Btirris Butler

20 E. Ca(ntraX ParfcHay
Ctncianatl 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 in
from this time forth, and even for evermore/' pbaumb tans
The J. Russell Morse Family and Associates P. 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 God answers the prayers of His children, in that in spite of numerous obstacles, seemingly insurmountable, He brought Mother and Daddy (Mr. and Mrs. J. Russell Morse) all the way to the mission station
in Muladi.

Even though Daddy had applied in February for his entrance visa for Burma, it had not yet been received when they left Los Angeles by plane on May 1. They reached Bangkok, Siam, on May 6, and then since Mother already had permission to enter Burma, she flew to Rangoon on May 8, to try in person to obtain Daddy's visa. For over a month, she went daily from one office to another, being referred from department to department. Each day it seemed that surely the next day would bring the desired approval, but each time she was told to "come back tomorrow." A person of less de termination and weaker faith would have become discouraged and given up in despair. But Mother kept on, seeing first one official, then another, until finally, on June 15 the visa was granted, and on June 23 Daddy arrived in Rangoon. However, the problem of ob taining a permanent residence permit still loomed large, and the prospect of having to wait perhaps another month in the scorching heat of Rangoon was not pleasantespecially when they knew how much 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 left
Rangoon by plane early in the morning, en route to Muladi.

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

During the month since they arrived, both have been kept busy.
Mother began teaching two classes in the Bible School the next

week. Daddy is finding that the number of sick people needing attention is far greater than he had ever imagined, and is devoting much time, energy, thought, and prayer to treating them. Also, he is pleased at the potential possibilities of developing this area along agricultural lines, and already has been investigating as to what varieties of fruits, vegetables, etc., at-e native to this region,
with the hope of being able to introduce new varieties in the near
future.

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

BACK HOME IN LISULAND

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

"When I stepped into the plane I had the strongest feeling

Myitkyina, we had clouds all the way and could not see the moun tains. We fust prayed that God would guide the plane! The pilot was Chinese. It usually takes 50 nninutes or an hour to fly from
Myitkyina to Putao, but we kept on going, going.

like God was there and would take us through.

When we left

and forty-five minutes, just after we had prayed aga^n, we looked

out and saw a hole in the clouds and the earth beneath!

It seemed the pilot could not find the Putab field due to the clouds. Russell and I had prayer, of course. After about one hour

God, He saw us through! We found out later that Eugene, seeing

Praise

the time was overdue, had called a number of Christians to pray as they were waiting at the field.

We landed safely, and there we saw Eugene and about four or five hundred of our Lisu friends. It was wonderful! How we did

praise the Lord! Eugene had rigged up two "wha-gans" (two bam boo poles with a swing seat of ropes in the middle) in which the students were going to carry Russell and me. We did not ride for a long time, but walked along with everyone. Finally they persuad
ed us to ride once in a while as it began to rain.

my shoes and was walking along bare-footed in the mud with the

I had taken wf

where the flood took the bridge away. Eugene and the Christians had fixed up a new bridge, using two ste.el cables from the old bridge.

rest. We got along all right. Finally we got to the riverthe one

This bridge hafe a floor made of two bamboo poles tied together. It is swinging, but there is something to hold on to. The flooded river is rushing below and is about 300 feet wide. I finally m^e it acroM.
there was Helen, David and Tommy, and another long line of Chris tians to the bridge. The next day we had a holiday, with a Thanks
Drema met us a little before we got to the bridge. On this side

and I spoke. Many people came to welcome us back. On Sunday Russell preached to a large crowd and I spoke again, too. I started teaching in the school on Wednesdaytwo classes. There are
over one hundred students.
the sick."

giving service at the church with about 500 present. B^h Russell

Drema translating for Helen. Russell works all day taking care of

Eugene and Helen also teach, with

Concerning the medical work J. Russell Morse wrote: "Both days and nights have been filled to the limit of my strength, for I
f'nd the needs and opportunities' so vast.

very sick people fill our clinic from morning to night, pesoite nearly seven years absence from Lisuland, I preached twice iri Li^
to audiences of four to five hundred in this really great Muladi
church.

Scores and scores of

As Brother J. BusseU Morse sets forth some of the physical needs of the people 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:

about two months earlier, but this year there have been weekly
flights until- last week. It seems the government has decided to

"Our dear friends: It is 10:30 and i write this in hopes it can go by plane on Thursday. Last year the flights were discontinued

give more attention to the development of this, it's one and only district bordering on Tibet, and the landing strip near Putao has
been improved to mal^e it serviceable during most of the monsoon
season.

If possible I would like to receive the seeds I mentioned by

October first. Most of these are for the needs of the thousands

of our very underprivileged Lisu and Rawang Christians, and not

propagation for people who have never seen such. It seems to me

only for the missionaries. The vegetable seeds and fig cuttings I requested are for experiment and demonstration and for wide-spread

that the most favorable season for the development- of these things
begins when the heavy rains begin to taper off in the fall and until they begin again the last of MSy or early June.

and (I hope avacados) could be grown successfully.

It is in this Putao district that the greatest river of Burma, the Irrawaddy, has most of it's tributaries head-watere. On the plairi and along the main rivers such as this one flowing past Muladi, the tropical fruits such as citrus, papayas, bananas, pineapples, guavas

explored as far as the white man is concerned. Our thousands of Christian refugees from anti-Christian Communist oppress'on. and other thousands who have been and are now being won to Christ through the'r witnessing are getting in on the "ground floor" as

All around this plain are mountains (heavily forested) which, to the north on the Tibetan border are great snow-covered ranges easily visible on clear days. Much of this country is practically un

call desperately poor. They had forsaken nearly everything on the China border and this area has long been notorious and gen
erally avoided because of the several deadly var'et'es of malaria

this area develops but most are what people in the U.S.A. would

We have been, and are helping them in many ways. I have actually been overwhelmed by the constant flood of needs... Many

are so deeply in need and are so worthy of every help we can give
of these my bretheren."

them. As Jesus said "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least

It has been difficult to find time for research In the medical books here on many of the critical cases of sick that have flooded

In. We surely are standing in the need of prayer. I wish you could be here with us and see what we are seeing. It would both grieve you and inspire you. Lisu and Rawang peoples living in poverty and semi-starvation and sickne.^s and yet because they have caughr the heavennly vision of Jesus Christ, our Lord, they are treasuring the 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 in Muladi. The school was planned primarily for preachers and as sistant (or "student") preachers^ but there were a number of other students, less advanced, who also asked that they be allowed to at tend. Some came from areas in which churches are not large enough to support a full-time pastorareas in which the people are so scat tered that they cannot come together in large groups for services. We felt that it was best to let these and some others attend, although classes still had been planned for the more advanced group, with the younger, less advanced students keeping up as best they could, get ting as much good as possible. We have been very pleased with the group of students, which has numbered 100, and have enjoyed teaching them. About half are Lisu, and half are Rawang. They are all eager, earnest students, putting forth their best efforts to gain a better understanding of God's Word. The schedule is a full one
and is as follows:

7:30- 8:00 Chapel

8:00- 9:00 9:00-10:00 10:00-11:00 11:00-12:00 DoctrinesMrs. J. R. M. HermeneuticsE. R. M. PsalmsH. M. M. and D. E. M. RevelationMrs. J. R. M.

12:00- 1:30 Noon hour, rest

1 :30- 2:30 Kachin LanguageRawang Peter 2:30- 3:30 Harmony of the GospelsE. R. M.
You may wonder what place a language class has in the schedule of a B'ble School, but it is something which is proving very valu able. The non-Christians in this area are mostly Shans, and Kachins, among whom Kachin is either their native language or "trade" lan

guage, and thus widely used and understood. By learning Kachin,

our preachers will be able to witness to them, carry the Gospel of Chr'st to them in their own language. Each weekend the preachers

go out to preach, leaving here on Saturday morning, returning Sun day night or Monday morning. The school will close with pre
sentation of certificates on Sunday, September 6th.

In 1951/ there was opened in Muladi the first Lisu Christian Day School. It was under the supervision of the church elders, with a board of directors drawn from parents of attending children. This year it has an enrollment of about 60, and'two teachers. But in order to provide for its further progress and enlargement, the mis sion is assuming the financial support of the school, making it a
mission school, in which there will be greater emphasis placed on Bible and Christian training. We are hoping to build a new school building and dormitory, in order to accommodate more students with

the new term beginning next March. Also, we are hoping to be able to find another well-qualified, Christian teacher. Please pray
for 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'd

get along without.

She is constantly busy, helping to care for the

100-odd people who come daily for medical treatment, helping in the schooltranslating notes into Lisu tor the students to copy, translating for Helen's class, in charge of distributing and measur ing grain for the students from a distance for whom grain is being provided by the mission.. In addition, she helps in the many prob lems which come up each day. Pray for her, especially that the Lord's will might be done in regard to her immigration number coming up, so that she can enter the States. RAWANG LITERATURE We 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 distribu tion where the Rawang population is greatest. More are being sent
as carriers are available.

FURLOUGH PLANS FOR EUGENE R. MORSE FAMILY Although we had been planning tentatively to start to the

States on furlough shortly after the rainy season ends this fall, it
seems fairly certain now that those plans must be postponed until late winter or early spring, due to the pressure of work here on the field, and the lack of anyone to take our place. By waiting, it will leave only a few months' interval between our leaving, and the time when LaVerne and Lois plan to be on the field. Humanly speaking, we are disappointed because we had been looking forward to seeing

our family and friends, but yet we are glad for the opportunity to
be of further service here in the Lord's work

Thomas Eugene, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Morse.

Ronald Keith, youngest son of

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Morse
with a native woman.

EVANGELISTS REPORT

from a 3-month trip into a difficult and unevangelized area, where

Just recently, two evangelists, Isaiah and II Philip, returned

In one place, the two preachers had a very unusual ex

doctors.

the people are deeply under the influence of the "ni-hpa" of witch perience. They were travelling along toward a village when they
met a certain ni-hpa, who happened to be the village headman, as well. 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 more

for them after this. If you come after I finish with them, they

will probably all become Christians!" They were very much aston

anyway. They found the family, preached to them, a/id after hear ing the Gospel the whole family, of six people, turned to the Lord!

ished that he should say such a thing, but followed his suggestion

But that was not the last they saw of the ni-hpa. When they left

the family and went back to the main road, they found him waiting for them, with two other people who wanted to become Christians! The ni-hpa himself??? No, he didn't accept Christ, although he says that someday he surely will... Isaiah and Philip reported a total of
20 new Christians as a result of their trip.

which the population is mostly Daru, a branch of the Rawang tribe.

Far to the north, almost to. the Tibetan border, is the area in

Reuben is one of the preachers in this difficult region of high moun tains and scattered population. Recently he came the eleven-day

some problems. While here he told us of one visit he had made

journey to Muladi to get books, and medicine, and to confer over

With a companion, he had gone to exhort the family to return to the Lord, but at the door the man of the house met them with a
name of Christ. Some of the others in the family managed to hold

to a family who had once been Christians but had backslidden.

knife, threatening to kill them if they so much as mentioned the

him, told the preachers to run while they had a chance, which they did ' Then, the rest of the family came after Reuben and his com

panion, and caught up with them. They said that they really wanted

to be Christians, but the man threatened them so that they hadn't dared. They confessed their faith there on the road and asked for

prayer. This is but an example of the difficulties facing many of

the people out here who want to become Christians, and of the problems and actual physical dangers facing the preachers. They
truly need our prayers. To the west of the Putao plain is a high mountain range, the divide which forms the natural boundary between Burma and India. On the western side of the divide, iust across the border 'nto India

evangelists, James, just recently returned from a visit to Ma-Io-shi-di village and reports that it is made un of twenty families, and of
these fourteen are Christian families. They have no regular preacher,

(Assam), a Lisu village has been established. One of our part-time

but are being "shepherded" by an elder who has also done some preaching. James also reported that a small church had been built by the Christians. Although this village is only about fifty mlies from Muladi, it takes six days travelling to reach them, because there is no real roadonly a cut-as-you-go path. It is not possible to travel more than eight or nine miles a day. There have been six new Christians added to the group.
"IF ANY MAN"PART 11
Shan Paul Has Remained Fait-hful
By Helen Morse

In our last newsletter we told of the conversion of Zau Ma

Aung, the Shan village headman, and of the persecution he was re

ceiving because of it. The fact that he has become a Christian

has been tremendously perturbing to the Bhuddist priests (called pongyis). A special delegation was sent to Paul's village, to talk to him and to embark on a special campaign of teaching Bhuddist doctorines. When Paul heard they were coming, he left and came
to Muladi, asking to be baptized. This was done on March 15. When

he returned home, he took with him a phonograph and Several gospel

records, in order to witness to his own people. Many were interested and listened to the records, and to what Paul had to say. But the
pongyis increased their persecution. Paul has been threatened with

being tied up and beaten. An effort has been made to separate his
wife and children from him.
testimony.

But Paul has remained constant in his

Although a number of people seemed interested in hearing

the Gospel, few dared to openly s'de with Paul, or to come to his

defense against the pongyis. But he did not stand completely alone.
One man had invited Paul to bring the phonograph and to talk to the people gathered in his house Tor a wedding feast, and this he

did. Later, the pongyis much disturbed, and very angry, came to the man's house looking for Paul, intending to make trouble for
had invited Paljl to come, and refused to be intimidated.
futher persecution resulted from that Incident.

him. But the man of the house defended Paul, told the pongyi he
So no

Then, on May 7, a high-ranking Bhuddist priest from S. Burma arrived in Putao. Undoubtedly it was thought that he would have a great influence, as he was a white man, an Italian. He was re

ceived with much pomp and ceremony, and given much homage. A "portable throne" (a seat on a bamboo platform) had been prepared by the Shans, and he was carried by women, as many as could crowd
around and touch the carrying poles. They spread down silk cloths for him to walk on. and some of the women even let him walk on

their hairsupposediv they gain merit by doing so. The ItaMan rnngyi left on May 71, after a two-week visit, amidst another dis

play of pageantry.

en) at the head of a long procession, accompanied by much blowing

He came to the airfield (again carried by wom

of horns, beating of gongs and drums, and weird dancing. At the airfield, he held a service, in which there were probably about 400 men, women, and children participating, during which they all bowed down 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 had gone In the hope th^t Mother and Daddy might arrive), Paul came to visit us, bringing with him his father-in-law and the man who had invited him to play the phonograph in his home. Both are in terested in hearing more of the Gospel, and the Christ whom Paul serves. Thus far they have taken no definite stand, but we are
praying that they may do so. We feel that a time of great blessing Is In store. The harvest is waiting, among the Shan people. But it can not be gathered in without much opposition from the devil and his forces of evil. It Is only by prayermuch prayer, ours and yoursthat the victory
can be won.

News of Tiliwago Area, Nori-h Burma

GROWTH OF THE RAWANG CHRISTIAN CHURCHES

By Robert Morse

The Missionary is PetiHoned

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

"A conference of all the leading Rawangs, headmen and church elders. This Is what we decided: Although we have learned to know
Christ somewhat from the efforts of missionaries both to the Kachins

and to the Lisu, no one ever designed to learn our language, to teach us in Rawang. We've always had to learn either Lisu or Kachin to study the Bible, and most of us don't know these languages. Yet,
we are the main tribute in this part of North Burma.
selves . . .

We have re

solved to be recognized as a separate group, the Ganung Rawang Christian Churches, and we want a separate missionary all to our
"Teacher, since you are the only one who has learned our lan

guage, and have already given us Rawang books, we petition you to leave your missionary work among the Lisu and come and devote all your time to us Rawangs. We need our own Biblis Schools, our own Christian literature, our own preacher training schools, in
order 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, hos

tile, suspicious Rawangs wanted nothing to do with the Christians, much less the missionary. How the tables were turned, with the missionary being petitioned for his services. "Our forefathers never

had such wonderipul opportunities," the headman went on, "so we

want 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 usIsabel Dittemore, Jane Kinnett, David and Lois Rees, Mel Byers . . . And how they would love to be back in this work, if only permission would be granted. But no new missionaries have been able to come, and so those who have permits

Dorothy Sterling and the Morse familymust branch out as much

as possible. Here in the eastern sector (divided from the western sector by a large area of dense uninhabited jungle), Dorothy Sterl

clinic, supervising a good part of the Lisu work, and teaching the group of native children choseo from ail parts of the field to study

ing has managed the difficult feat of juggling her time between her
though 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, or Bible Schools held in each sector, there is still much translation work to be done for the Lisu. They still need many Bible Study materials, notes and textbooks for Bible Schools, as well as most
of the Old Testament.

in the Christian Day School she has established at Kobudeh. Al

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 Salween and Mekong valleys in West China. She was one of the group who crossed the "hump" into Burma in 1949 when the Communists took control. She is the only one of the associates who was granted a residence permit by the Burmese government.
Kobudeh, N. Burma

Dear Friends:

August 7, 1953

jaunt over the mountains to hunt berries. They love their school days, but like children everywhere, they enjoy the luxury of Satur days spent roaming over the mountain with Silas, in search of ber

The school children have just set out happily on their Saturday

and'sunshine and clouds all mixed up together.

ries, bamboo sprouts or bee grubs. The days are warm, with rain
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 so varied, that they must be divided into four different groups. Being so young, they cannot be set to their lessons and left to work alone
while another group is being taught. They ail need constant super vision. Thus classes are spread out over the day from 7:45 in the

morning until 4:30 or later in the afternoon; morning and evening

clinic coming before and after these hours.

The children all live here, and have come from over a wide area. Three are Rawang, two are Nung, and five are Lisu. The lit tle Rawang children could not understand Lisu when they came, but they learn languages so quickly that now they can tell their
Bible stories and learn their Bible verses in Lisu without much trou

ble. (Bible classes are always in Lisu so that the children may really
understand what they are taught.)

Mark (Lisu boy adopted by Miss Sterling when he was a few weeks old) and Judy send their greetings. Mark is SVi years old

now. He is very happy at having school friends, and is making good progress, especially in reading which he loves. Judy is 6'/2 months old, and a healthy happy little baby girl. Her mother died when Judy was 10 days old. The relatives were feeding the child wine
and a little rice water, when some Christians persuaded them to bring her here rather than just let her die. She was lYi weeks old when they brought her, and very thin. The father and family did not want her and so she was given to me for adoption. Mark is proud of his baby sister. She is very sweet.
When I first came to the Mission field, my hopes were all

for a good Mission hospital to help relieve the Incrediable sickness and suffering of the tribes people here in the Himalayas, where medical care is practically limited to the superstition and atrocities
of the witch doctors. But Christian doctors have not been avail

able, and the medical knowledge of the rest of us so completely in adequate for the needs, that it has come to seem to me that the only hope is to obtain doctors and nurses from among the Lisu and Rawang people. Young Lisu men and women who are now
interested in this have not the education to take such training.

Although it will take many years, the only way seems to be to begin
with little children like Mark; give them the schooling required for

them to study elsewhere in good medical schools, Bible Seminaries, agricultural schools, etc., at all times praying and striving to instill
In them a vis'on of the help they can bring their own people; first

through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and then through their min
istry to their people's needs. With God's help it has been to this
Sincerely, end that the children's school has been started.

Dorothy Sterling.

A LETTER FROM ROBERT MORSE

In a letter dated July 13, Robert wrote, "We came down to Rawangtang last week, hav ing left Tiliwago with family and 'trappings' on July 1st. We stopped over night each in the various churches en route,

I:
Mrs. Robert Morse (Betty)

and now we are in the school

village, down In the center of the valley. Coming across the

rope bridge was really a prob lem. Although we didn't have many loads, we only had five rope-saddles . . . so what with the loads going over separate ly each time, one at a time, with some one coming after
to pull across, it took 25 cross ings of the rope to get our group across. The rope was entirely a pull-kind, with no slide to it, so that going or coming a person had to pull

themselves all the way. Sur prisingly, I had some help get with their youngest son, ting pulled across the last Stephen Anthony. half, but Betty pulled her self all the way across. Our dog, Skippy, started swimming as soon as Betty got half-way across. The water was very high, and he got swept down past the landing, reaching the other side where there was a cliff, so he couldn't climb up and got swept down past a bit of a fall, which buried him for a long while. He finally .came out far down, and made shore, but by then some of the crowd were in hysterics. Sending the two children over, after that, was really a problem! 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 carrying basket, put pillows around them, tied it all up so they couldn't fall out, and let them go. Joni held on to Stephen tight, especially when the basket started swinging terrifically as it was pulled up
the last stretch."

REPORT FROM A JUNGLE WIFE

By Betty Morse

Robert is standing up In front after Sunday services at Tiliwagu are over. "Our family is going down to Rawangtang and we need carriers. Who will go?" Immediately over in the women's side a burst 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 down there anymore since the foot bridge was washed away, and we're afraid of the rope bridge." "Yes, we're going/' I answered. "The churches there have asked for so long and we must go. No, Robert and 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 adventuresome Rawang girls said they would go. Even so, it was our promise of
precious grain that tipped the scales for some of them.
were satisfied.

Then alt

We started off July 1st, and stayed at Konglangpu, the first

congregation enroute, for services that night. The next day we went on down to Wuning. Though Wuning is plainly visible down the Nam Tamai valley from Konglangpu, only seven miles away, it took

us until late that evening to get there. We crossed the Ahkyang River by rope bridge that day. It took us four hours to get our whole party across. After some of the loads had been pulled over
the bamboo cable which is the "bridge," I went over so there could

be one of us on each side when the children crossed. I slid just a little ways,maybe 10 yards, or a tenth of the wayand from there on it was a long, hard pull up, hand over hand, using feet as well. I felt like a monkey. I had the movie camera strapped to me so out in the middle I got my neck loose from the halter, hung by my feet and took color movies for you folks. (Just hope the monsoon 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 Reesesall those who before us have had to push their children off a high platform over a raging, torrential river in order to travel
to inaccessible places for the Master.

The third day we started into the heart of the Hump. Many planes went down in this area during the war and right while we were there, a group were busy making big cooking kettles out of
salvaged plane metal. Our Tiliwago carriers were not used to this

us 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 way
down a very steep mountain. The people and houses were in

kind of road and we were so sore from the rope bridge that It took

describably filthy.

I saw my first village idiot since leaving Kun

a few Christians In their village. Stephen was quite attracted by the landlady's red lips and black teeth (caused by chewing betelnut) and was determined to go to her.

ming, China. But all were friendly. Robert said their friendliness was quite a change from a few years back because now there are

hold, "It's plain that the child wants to come to me but the par

She said to the whole house

ents won't let him." We just couldn't let her hold him but after we have been in a place a while it's impossible not to let folks hold
the children.

The next day we went on down to Mazetaq, the first village of Rawangtang. Did I say down? We first went up, up, up till we disappeared into the clouds, and then we went down, down, down until our only memory of going to Mazetaq is down. Rawangtang is a big area of three valleys coming together. This point should be a nice wide valley, but a big ridge juts out to divide the valleys instead. There are eight villages scattered about, almost all with in 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 hundreds of Rawang Christians. All were so eager to greet us. And now they are asking us to moye down to Rawangtang. We want more than anything else to live with the Rawangs. WeVe almost given up being American and turned native. But this move would" be very hard. Mail would take even longer to reach us and food sup plies would be difficult to transport down there. I was sick for a week with malaria. I couldn't keep food down so got very weak. Malaria has a devastating effect on morale and causes the mind to do really strange things. I kept thinking I was doomed to that valley, because Vd never again have the strength to climb out. Actually, after I could eat again and Robert gave

me some shots I regained my strength quickly and had lots of energy

for 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 was

very swollen. When the village asked us to stay over a day we consented, as walking would have been very difficult. That morning, elder Pongziram walked in as our food was nearly ready, asking why we were cooking. He then took us over to his house and there, prepared for us was another big feast. Although he himself is
allergic to pork, he had killed a pig and several chickens and served

som^ pf the jast of his white paddy rice. Afterward he gave us a

big nam^which I promptly turned into a roast. Then next morning

as we prepared to leave, the church presented us with another blanket shawl, a native hemp shoulder bag, and a big knife decorated with silver and bone and in a briqht red scabbard. We were really choked up because this was probably our last visit down there till after our evervone non-Chrisfians as well as Christians, had been kind and hospitable. Their speeches were so sincere, and their love for us
so evident that as the prayer closed and we walked down the line

furlc^qh next year. The whole trip had been so wonderful and

shaking hands witti everybody our "Pa-ma-ra" could only come as a 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 you

to come down to our village. AIpo, we want to get a load of Rawang books for the southern area." Thus spoke a tall smiling lad dressed in Rawang skirt as he suddenly appeared in our doorway, and stuck

out his hand for the conventional Christian greeting. It was early May, and Peter, my informant, and I were hard at work translating the Gospel of Luke into Rawang. "Mutjong Christian Convention begins on the 8th at Rawangtan, and we want you to come down to

stay an extra long time," the boy Dangshin Dang added as he handed
me a Rawang letter from the Rawangtang church.

Joni had been exposed to mumps which prevented Betty from going, but Peter and I went. 1 got the thrill of my life watching the Rawang Christian Churches take the initiative in planning a progressive program. It had been many long heart-breaking years before the Lisu churches reached this stage, and stopped depend ing upon the missionary. But now, with their example, the Rawang churches were learning fast. If only our teaching can keep pace. Certainly ours is a privilege without par, to be able* to work with the Rawangs in such a fruitful ministry. Seeing how far they have come, it almost seems impossible that most of them have been Christians only a few short years.
Three days of convention were filled with preaching and wor ship, all in Rawang. It was interesting to note that a good num ber of people from the areas farthest away still used a mental "crutch"not being sure of their religious vocabulary, especially on terms which we had to construct in Rawang during our trans lation workthey still used Lisu or Kachin terms in words like church, heaven, faith, love, elders, eternal. On two nights I was able to show for the first time to the Rawangs, color slides from the Life of Christ. Their appreciation and new understanding gained of what they had before been taught only by ear, proved once more the value of this visual teaching aid.

After regular services were over on the last night, a singspiration service was held outdoors, around a big camp fire, which lasted until 3:00 a.m. Peter introduced nearly all of the thirtyodd hymns newly translated into Rawang. Hymns like "Love Di vine," "The Way of the Cross," "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing," "Is My Name Written There," were very enthusiastically
received.

The conference of elders which took place at this convention was also perhaps the most far-reaching in its scope. Elders and preachers from some 25 Rawang congregations came together and
conferred on various church problems, location of the next conven tion, and the best location for the fall session of Bible School.

Having heard before that Mel Byers was planning to return with his new bride, they had been eagerly awaiting their arrival. Since

Mel had learned quiLte;a,|?it^Oif_,t|^ language during his short stay

before, and had viit^|n^^<5f &
Rawangs decided to write a petition to the Government, from all

for their s1^ to us to learn that Mel and his wife were^ f^fiisey-perln^fen^wre-enter Burma. However, the
the Rawangs of this area, requesting that Mel and his wife be per
mitted to return to the Rawang country.

area, we were all anxious

Home missionary work by the Rawang church is already a big

item in their church program. Far to the south is an area which several years back was positively hostile to the missionary. Just this spring, in one village where a start had been made and a small church building erected, the non-Christians came and hacked down

the church in an effort to stop the advance of Christianity In their area. However, these churches have continued sending a half dozen or so of the most promising of their young men down on regular
evangelistic trips, and now the Christians In the far-off Amet Vallen number in the hundreds. The various workers down there all

reported on their "work, and told of new church buildings erected,

new villages reached and more baptisms.

Perhaps the most outstanding single advance, however, is In the Krangku or Triangle area to the southwest. LaVerne, Mel and I had all toured it, and found some slight interest In the Gospel. One church had been established at Kamlum, but the Government refused permission for us to continue the work. Now, at this con
ference, the Rawang churches decided to take this over as their own missionary project. We had had several Kangku students In

sistent that finally preacher Mark had been sent over for a short

the Bible School at Kobud^h this spring, and they had been so In

teaching trip. Now came word that they would not let him come

show that there are now two thriving churches, believers In about
fifteen villages, totalling over 370!

back home. Moreover, they wanted two more preachers sent, and if possible a resident missionary family. And, now the latest reports

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