rA-AK'

Field Address:

Alan & Janet BemoLane 157, Number 21Usin Sheng S* Rd., Sec* 1Taipei, Taiwan

February 15, I97I

Dear Precious Friends,

It has been nearly two months since I wrote to you last and those two months have beenfull of activity and blessing for us*

After all of the Christmas activities and final exams were over we decided to take alittle vacation* Mother, (Isabel Dittemore) went with us* We started Monday afternoon,December 2dth after a good American meal of hamburgers. We headed south out of Taipei,which is at the very northern tip of this island, for a destination as yet unknown. Wewanted to stay in a Japanese hotel someplace in the quiet country - preferably the mountains* We ended up driving half way down island to a beautiful place caiiea nu Shan.It took us nearly Zk hours to get there due to the brakes going out, and two holes in thegas tank* Therefore we had a forced stop-over in a small town in the wee hours of themorning till a gas station opened up. We drove over one way dirt roads the last fortymiles with ^0% grades, high centers, oncoming buses and trucks and several thousand feetdrop offs. We drove over a swinging suspension bridge atone place, which had been built by the Japanese during theoccupation before there was ever a car road back that far fllkin the mountains. Sven though bigger vehicles than ours SSmtravelled over it, we were still aprehensive as we snappedcrackled, popped and moaned across it* Our hotel was Ja-panese style, complete with tatami floors to sleep on andhot mineral baths to soak up to your neck in. It was ab- aMfcifesolutely at the end of the line* There was no traffic andno noise. The hotel was snuggled down deep in a valley sothe sun went down early and came up late. We stayed there „four days* Sach day was filled with excitement* To getto the hotel we had to walk the last 100 yards across a SHTnarrow swinging bridge* This was especially exciting for ^mother* We would put Jonnie on my back, Chinese style, ^and go hiking with the girls to see the aboriginal vil- -fV-• V\lages, the river and the forests. There were geese, tur- -y• S'"-* " "i-•'keys and other Chinese children to play with. People • "• _there spoke a lot of Japanese so Janet had a chance tobrush up on that. We were surprised to hear Beth count-ing in Japanese on our way back to Taipei. She hadlearned this while playing with the children there* ' •jjSrf

We are filled with many good memories of our vacation,and we thank God for it. It has been a physical,mental,and spiritual uplift ever since then*

Forwarding Agent:

Mrs. Sandi GantR. R. 1. Box 237Fort Gibson,Oklahoma 7^^5^

"Piggy -back"

The next big event to come around was Chinese Lunar New Year, which on our Solar calendarwas on January 27th. It is a time of feasting, visiting and firing firecrackers.....mostly firing firecrackers. The actual New Year's festivities lasted till our Febrauary10, which is their Lantern Festival* The most interesting thing to me about the ChineseNew Year's customs is that they seem to have originated in the Exodus of the Israelitesfrom Egypt* For example, the Chinese put red Chinese lettering over thsir doors andon each side of the doorway to keep out demons and death and bring them life and luck.

Passover?

time with the church, which will involveteaching a Chinese adult Bible Study on Sunday Doming and preaching at the worshiphour* Mr* Jeng and Mr* Suen will also be Passover?preaching often* Mr. Jeng preached last Sunday morning, Feb. 7th* We will also be starting a Wednesday night prayer meeting and Mr* Sues and myself will go calling two nights aweek. Since I still have a Bible Study on Monday night at the Jeng*8, teach an EnglishBible Class on Thursday night and study 15 hours of Chinese a week, this ought to keep mepretty busy* Janet is also planning on starting a Women's meeting soon.

That reminds me* Janet is preparing some Daily Vacation Bible School material for anyonewho wants it for a daily 10 minute missionary program in their D.V.B.S. Please write tous as soon as possible if you would like to use it* It would probably have other usestoo for youth meetings or Ladies' Meetings.

Bight now there are seven people who have said they would like to attend a Bible TrainingInstitute and there are several others who have expressed an interest. The missionarieshere are, at present, trying to set up some kind of program to train these people whichwe hope will grow into a regular Bible College. Bight now 7ed Bkiles and I are the onlyones who would be able to teach in this Institute* Please pray for us as we plan and prepare.

We have had more wonderful fellowship with our non-instumental brethren here and it looksas though we will be able to co-operate on such things as evangalistic meetings, summercamps, printing tracts, Bible College and other things. Please, please pray about this*

Our family are doing fine. Janet had two wisdom teeth pulled last week but recovered veryquickly. I am laid up with a vocal cold and Janet says it is really quiet around here fora change. Ha! Beth and Becky are doing too well, as they wear us out with their endlessenergy and mischief. Jonnie has four teeth now. He got two on Dec. 2Sth (just three sayslate for Christmas and two more in January. He is also crawling now.

We are all happy here to know that Miss Sue Bhodes is planning on coming to Taiwan to helpin the great task of spreading the Gospel to the 15 million Chinese here. Sue has beenmaking plans to leave for Taiwan at the beginning of March but because of a lack of pledged support is not sure if she will be able to leave by then or not. If you or your groupcan help in any way please write to her: Sue Bhodes, Box 636, Scottsbluff, Nebr. 6936I*

I would like to remind you that there is a new slide program on our work here with manuscript available for anyone who would like to use it. Just write to Sandi Gant, ourforwarding agent*

God Bless You.

Mrs* Sandi GantB.B.I, Box 237Fort Gibson» Okla*Beturn Bequested

//

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U.S. POSTAGE1*6^ paidFt.Gibson,OklaPermit No. 3 !

Field Address:

Alan and Janet BeraoNumber 21| Lane 157Bsin Sheng S.Rd* ,Sec«1Taipei 106, Taipei

rAK CASTCKOSAaCK

AUGUST 10, 1971

Forwarding Agent:

Mrs* Sandi GantR. R. 1 Box 237Fort GibsonIOkla*

Sisters helping blow out candle

Dear Christian Friends,

My scooter will go as fast at the Church's

We, Alan and Janet, servants of God, greet you saints of God who are our co-workers inthe gospel* We want to take this opportunity to share with you our joy in Christ's workso that you also might rejoice with us*

We have just observed Jonnie's forst birthday (July 30)* We had a hard time findingtime to have a party and then when we did I had forgotten to prepare my camera* We gavehim a second party at which I forgot to put film in the camera till half way through it*It has always been a tradition at our house that on the children's birthday they can eattheir cake and ice-cream in any fashion they wish* Jonnie smeared his all over his faceand the girls dubded him, "chocolate face*" He got shoes, a ball, a tricycle, a rockinghorse, and two cars* We have seen him develop a lot this first year: He started cuttingteeth at five months, had his first hair cut at seven months and started walking at elevenmonths* He is the smilingest baby we have had and, like our two girls, he has filledour lives with joy* ..1— - - " — — ...

Our greatest joy has been seeing ten people baptized into Christ within the last twomonths* All of these were ei^hex^J!ajnejtls_orljny stndan^tS-^'or people we had called on*I say this not to make you think we are great — the Lord has used us* I say this thatyou might know why we are especially happy — "they that sow in tears shall reap injoy*" One of these ten was a Mr* Jang, who had been a Baptist preacher* He startedcoming to services and at first wouldn't tell us he was a preacher* He finally told usthat he was searching for the truth and agreed with the restoration plea* After twoweeks of special intensive Bible study he was immersed because he said he felt that hisformer baptism was not scriptural* One girl who was baptised had to do it against herparents wishes because they are Budhists* They expect her to worship the familyancestors and know she couldn't do this if she becomes a Christian* Certainly these twoespecially need our prayers*

In June we finally had a telephone installed at the house* This is a real joy to us andif you would like to call us please do at number 715638* (don't call collect, please)

The Shih Ling Church of Christ bought a motor scooter the first of July for Peter and Ito use in calling. Since selling the car this is very convenient.

Four girls—recent converts Phillip leading singing at camp

We really had an exciting camp this year. We rented tents and camped out on the beach.We had a good curriculum for the ^3 college age students who attended, of which threefourths were unbelievers. Although none of them accepted the Lord, I know there waslots of good seed planted and watering done. The harvest is yet to come. After gettingsettled into our schedule real well, Tuesday, we got news of an approaching typhoon. Itwas predicted to be a small one and we would only catch the edge of it, but typhoons arenot always so predictable. Should we cancel camp and go home or should we rent and move

.>i-nto-8ome near-by cabins and continue camp? One teacher, Mr. Jang, decided he wouldhave to go back for sure because his house always flooded during typhoons. None of thestudents wanted to go back and some wanted to stay in the tents. We called long-disteinceto Taipei for an accurate weather report and decided that we would still have camp. Wemoved all girls into cabins and started taking down their tents. The gusting windshelped us as they blew two of them down for us. Then as the winds increased and it rained occasionally one tent full of boys decided they would move into a cabin too. Thisleft only sixteen boys in two tents but the camp-site was still full of hurried excitement. We put large stones all around the tents and dug trenches around them to carry offthe rain. At five everybody went to eat and at eight to evening chapel services. Thenwe went to bed and waited. It was supposed to strike at midnight. Some told ghoststories and some played Chinese chess. The winds increased till it was driving sand intoevery crack and smarting the eyes. Winds gusted up to thirty MPH not very strong butplenty big for a tent. At about twelve the rains came. The rain, instead of pouringdown , as we had expected, merely settled the sand and actually made things more pleasant,Although it was somewhat frightening not knowing Just how hard the wind would blow, howmuch it would rain, or how long it would last, the typhoon will always be remembered asone of the highlights of the camp.

The day after we got back from camp (July 24) I performed a wedding ceremony for a youngChinese couple. It was all in Chinese and quite an experience. One difference was thesigning of the wedding certificate. The preacher, groom, bride, parents and the *intro-ducer' all had to come to the front in turn and put their seal on the wedding certificateto make it official. Although not prevalent so much today there is an arranger or *intro"ducer* because wedding used to be arranged by the parents. Both parents paid someone tobe the go-between to make all the arrangements. In Chinese this person is called the "Jyesyau ren" or Introducer.

Now we are in full swing preparing for the revival coming up on August 15th to 19th. Mr.Reggie Thomas will be here with his family and the Rostivitt Twins to hold the evangelistic meeting in the Shih-Ling City Hall. More of this in the next FAR EAST CRUSADER.Pray for this.

Tours in Christ,

Mrs. Sandi QantR.R. 1, Box 237Fort Gibson, Okla

74434Return Requested

(S5/o'rA 9 ^ r' o ) c ^

/77

J- <y •

NON-PROFIT

.ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE

1.60 PAIDFt.Gibson,Okla_Permi^J[cUi^^^

r^fWAN

Our Work In The Republic Of China

Lillian Martin

Mrs. Isabel Dittemore

Alan and Janet Bemo

Ted and Bevely Skiles

Sam and Virginia Hazlewood

Chuck and Molly Johnston

Sue Rhodes

yH'l

ULUAN

REPORTS ONWORK IN

KO^HSmNOLillian Martin with ike six children to

be sent to the Shriner's hospital in Honolulu

The time has come for a general report of the Lord's accomplishments through us on Taiwan, and for usto share in our future hopes and aspirations in our ministry for Him.

Last year I spent June 23 through November 10, 1970 on furlough in the United States, sharing the workwith our congregations there and ministering to some of our young people in Christian Camps.

Some of my experiences in America were terrifying. Especially my experiences while in New York. Themountain-top experience out-weighed the hurtful things, however. I came back to Taiwan somewhat encouragedby some of the promises I had received. Mainly promises of transportation, equipment, and a building inwhich to start a Children's Center for the rehabilitation and treatment of crippled children.

While at home in Hawaii I visited the Shriner's hospital and the director, Mrs." Hilda Drew, was concernedand interested in the plight of the crippled children of Taiwan and she gave me some used wheel chairs,walkers, etc. These gifts were mainly responsible for myreturn to Taiwan for the third terra. Especially since she

also gave me 6 applications and said for me to find these(special) poor, intelligent, worthy kids and ready them to

be sent to Honolulu for rehabilitation.

The Shriner's hospital has offered to treat these children

surgically, medically and take care of their entire hospital-ization needs free of charge, but I must find the round-trip

plane fares for these children. Plus, one-way plane fare

for Mrs. Drew who will come and escort the children back

to Honolulu.

Why pay Mrs. Drew's fare? Well, there are several

reasons:

1. Honolulu and Kaohsiung, where I am serving Christ,

are sister cities.

2. This fact alone will help us do a job that otherwise

would be most difficult. Newspaper coverage of the

story about the children and their sister city's help

would receive island-wide publicity.

Result! free education of the rural people to the fact

that soitiething can be done to aid and rehabilitate theseyoung people, that they might lead productive, useful •

lives.

3. Mrs. Drew would be entertained by International Wo- jmen's Clubs of the larger cities. This would gain financial support for rehabilitation centers to be established

here. (I hope.)

I have already raised one-way fares for these six,rather seven children, A total of $1,428.00. This money hasall come from Taiwan. (International Women's Club, Lion'sClub and the Rotary Club.) The fact is, I still have to have ithe return fare for these children in the bank before I can

get their passports to enable them to get out of their own

country and go to America. We are praying that.the rest

of this money will come from the States and at a very

early date.

What of my future aspirations? Well, that will depend

largely upon your commitment to the ministry of Taiwan.

The Formgs'a Christian Mission needs buildings: a Church,

a Rehabilitation Center and a Bible School. We must show

these people that we have something or we just can't do

an effective work.

There are ten missionaries in Taipei. There is one

rented building for a Church. I'm sure there is not enough

room for all those people to work in that little Church.

The, young miss-ionaries of our brotherhood want a Bible

College in Taipei, I think.

I've been on Taiwan for 9 years, September 15, 1971. I

need a building from which to work. A building in which

to conduct English Bible classes; English conversation

classes; to stajt a center to give crippled children, physical

therapy treatments. We need to have a place to teach Christ

to these hordes of children on the streets. I need a room

for a typing school which I have wanted to start for three

years!

The fact is, seven wheel chairs, six walkers, one ex-

cercise bike, and several desks have arrived via Operation

Hand Clasp, but they are useless because I have no place

to put them to use.

I'm here, I've been here for a long time. I'm willing to

stay, but we are without our main tools.

What I yrant to do is a great work through Him, that

He might be greatly magnified.Lillian Martin

This is the seventh child added to

the original six whom I hope also

to send to Honolulu.

Apart from the seven kids selected to

be sent to Honolulu we have 70 more

like this on file that we have examined-

— they also can be rehabilitated.

rATWAW XAU^mFORMOSA CHRISTIAN MISSION

A Diary of the Activities of Isabel M. DittemoreFOREIGN ADDRESS: FORWARDING AGENT:P. O. Box 22384, Miss Margaret McGinnTaipei, Rep. of China 100 Box 79, Maspeth, N.Y. 11378

Now that our newer missionaries are getting on with the language, I

am relieved of the evangelistic part of our mission work and free toconcentrate more on the mass media side of it—that is, radio programs

and a magazine.

Not that I do this all alone. Far from it. Every issue of the magazinecontains something prepared by one, two or three of the other missionaries and I especially appreciate Alan Bemo's help, teaching 2 newchoruses for the radio program, each week — along with Peter Suen.

And, of course, all of it requires the help of an office staff. And the

funds to keep it going. (That is where you come in.) Each week, I must

write 6 or more Bible story scripts for our morning radio programs.

(We are on the air at night with the John programs also). The 1st 2

weeks of each month, however, are especially Courier time when we

must edit, translate and proof-read its copy.

The Courier is a magazine with English and Chinese, side by side. It

always contains one sermon by a Chinese preacher and one by an

American, plus one testimonial or story by each. Homer Liu has a

monthly column and each month, I include a part from 3 famous books,

alternately. They are "Evidences of Christianity," by J. W. McGarvey;

"The Divine Demonstration" by H.W. Everest and "The Scheme of Re

demption" by Robt. Milligan. Then we have Quotable Quotes; Questions

and Answers; Editorials; About our Writers and a Bible Study Plan.

We have pictured here our busy staff: Peter Suen who works 3 days

each week with me and 3 with Alan - as a translator; and our radio

correspondent; Jane Huang works 5 mornings a week as a typist;

Miriam Yao helps me 2 mornings and Janet 3 and is our Courier Cir

culation Mgr. and Celia Hsu works 3 mornings each week as a copyist.

From June 1st, Hope Cheng will be translating Courier copy, working

toward the day when she may become the editor. So we have a pretty

full schedule, including one afternoon a week of recording and one of

assembling the new program. Rebecca Suen and I record the Bible

stories, phrase by phrase, in English and then in Chinese, at the studio.

For me - who am not so energetic as I used to be, it is good to be

able to have an office in my home and carry on this work at my own

speed. And since I have been on the field longer, my financial supportallows me to do so, within limits, of course. The time cost for the two

COURIER & BOOK STAFF:1. The COURIER: Our ENGLISH & CHINESE MONTHLY MAGAZINE2. Publisher, Isabel Dittemore, conferring with typist 3. Hope Cheng, our

Chinese Editor, Miriam Yao, Circulation Mgr. & Celia Hsu, Copyist

programs is $160.00 per month. New tape and studio rental $60.00 Ormore. Courier printing costs $80.00 per month and the office staffabout $175.00. We have also given to the printer a Bible Story&Coloring book to be printed at once, for sale to radio listeners-whichwe intend to give to each home, in Shih Ling, this summer, advertisingthe evangelistic meetings we intend to hold—with the Reggie Thomasteam, in August, this summer, as well as the Shih Ling Church ofChrist and our radio programs. We will leave a Courier in each home,as well —hoping to completely cover the neighborhood, of this largesuburb of Taipei.

The Shih Ling Church of Christ first began tomeet there in May, 1965and is still meeting in a hall, although it is a larger hall than we hadfor the first 5 years. We are very much hoping to see a building builtbut so far have only $3000 in that fund, and land is probably as highhere as it could possibly be anywhere. Of course, God is able and ifHe makes it possible, we will be happy indeed.

Although the Shih Ling Church of Christ had its beginning inmy home,in Oct. 1964, and has grown steadily in the years since then, it is nowministered to by my son-in-law and daughter, Alan and Janet Bemo,with the help of the other missionaries, still mainly engaged in languageschool —the Ted Skiles, the Sam Hazlewoods and the Chuck. Johnstons.Yet I have a definite place there too, as older people are honored inthis .country, as having more experienced wisdom, so even the youngfolks "give me the benefit of the doubt."

These pictures, for instance, of the young people who work around meand with me speak for themselves of the bright-eyed folks who help usaccomplish the things we dp. All of them are happy Christians.

Every five weeks, I try to write and send out a diary newsletter ofmy own activities. -It is printed in the U. S. and sent to Camden Ave.Christian Church, 1334 Camden Ave., Louisville, Ky. 40214 and is mailedout from there. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter, sendyour name and address and $1.00 to Sterling Taylor, % the church.

Otherwise, my forwarding agent is Miss Margaret McGinn, whoseaddress is at the head of this letter, and she receives, receipts and

RADIOSTAFF;

notifies me of all offerings to these three main projects of mine: i. e. J. ScriptRadio production, time and follow-up; Courier and book publishing andprinting; and the building-fund of the Church of Christ in Shih Ling. Jane Huang_ . 3. Trantslator and Singer, Peter SuenIn addition to the families listed above, there are also the nurse, Mrs. and 4. Story teller-Rebecca SuenLillian Martin who is working alone in Kaoshiong until someone has the language enough to begin a churchin that southern city. And Miss Sue Rhodes, who just arrived and is now busy in language study. Mr. Bemo'sfather, Douglas Bemo, a minister in Muskogee, Oklahoma, of the First Christian Church, there, expects tojoin the work here, this summer also.

Yours for the spread of the glorious gospel of Our Saviour, Jesus, Christ to "every creature" (which,'in this dayand age of population explosions, must be by the mass media God has provided for the job —of printing,radio, television and followed up by personal teaching, in my opinion).

Isabel M. Dittemore, Producer and Publisher for Christ

Field Address:

Alan and Janet Bemo

Number 21, Lane 157

Hsin Sheng S. Rd., Sec. 1

Taipei 106, Taiwan

TAK EASTcnasAfxett

Forwarding Agent:

Mrs. Sandi Gant

R. R. 1 Box 237

Fort Gibson, Okla.

74434

Dear Friends,

On May 25th, 1971, I was having a Bible study with aChinese family and we were discussing how that-because

of Adam's, eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge ofgood and evil, law had come into the world and along withit the recognition of wrong, or sin. When he realized thatwithout law coming into the world there would have been

no sin, he said, "Since this is true, why have you come., to

tell people about Christ who have never heard the Gospelbefore? They would be better off not hearing the Gospelbecause before hearing it they would have been ignorant.

But afterward they will be condemned by it, if they don't

accept it." Surprisingly enough I have heard this question

more times in America than China. There are two wrong

concepts which give birth to this question: (1) People are ignorantlyinnocent if they haven't heard the Gospel, and (2) The Gospel is a set

of laws to be obeyed to be saved. We need to realize that becauseAdam ate the forbidden fruit that all men have law and therefore

have sinned already. They are already condemned because they have

broken their own laws whether they have heard the Gospel or not. We

also need to realize that instead of the Gospel being a set of laws, it

is the knowledge of a Savior who forgives us of the laws we have

broken and of a Holy Spirit who helps us live a sinless life. When we

talked about these things Mr. Ling had another question — "Does that

mean, then, all the Chinese people who have lived and died for the

last 4000 years and didn't know of Jesus were lost?" I had to answer

yes. He sat appalled! I went on to say, with tears in my eyes, "that

is why we feel such a great obligation to preach the Gospel to the

world." Reader, do you believe they are lost? God only knows what a

fraction of a percent of the 700 million people in Red China have

heard and obeyed the Gospel. Do you know that here in the small

island of Taiwan that there are an average of 1,638 people per square

mile or a total of 13 million people and only 5% even claiming to be

Christians? These who have not heard and obeyed are the living dead!

Can we shut up our compassion? Can we cease from praying about

these? Can we not give? Can we not go and take the Gospel ourselves?

Janet and I first came to Taiwan in 1966 on a year's internship but

the real impact of . the need here did not hit us until we were back in

the States finishing our schooling. We came again in 1968 with plans

of spending the rest of our lives in China. The summer of 1971 marks

Alan & Janet Bemo

Beginning their fifth year

of missionary work in Taiwan

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-.g Chinese officials -winding up their China tour5 p.m.

PopulationDensity PutsTaiwan 1st

Taiwan's population density isthe highest in the world, according to a family planning ^oup.

A survey conducted by theTaiwan Family Planning Promotion Committee showed thatthe number of people inhabitingarable land in Taiwan average1.638 per square kilometer compared with 1,489 in Japan.

The committee warned that thepopulation pressure in Taiwan isbecoming a serious problem.

It attributed the recent population growth in Taiwan to a decrease in the'death rate and acontinued rise in the birth rate.

Since 1960 Taiwan has vaultedpast Holland, Belgium and Japanto become the most denselypopulated area in the world.

a per Industry"Taiwan

four years, altogether, that we have been in Taiwan preach

ing and teaching the good news of Jesus. We love it here.

All of our three children — Beth, 4; Becky, 2; and Jonnie,

1—have been born here in Taiwan. August 17th, 1971 marks

our 7th wedding anniversary which means that Janet andI have spent most of our married lives here.

The second time we came here we started immediately into

language study. Janet studied full time for two years andI studied full time for two and a half years. I finally got

out of school in January, 1971. Language study is a very

trying ordeal.

Now we are working full time with the Shih-Ling Church

of Christ, first established by Mrs. Isabel Dittemore. Besidespreaching we go calling three nights a week, have a prayermeeting on Wednesday nights^ and have youth meeting onSaturday nights. Janet works with Miriam Yao two days aweek to put out a Church paper. On Saturdays Janet andMiriam study Chinese together. Peter Suen and I also worktogether two or three days a week to prepare teachingmaterial, write tracts, or make plans for working with theChurch. Janet and I both have classes each week with newChristians, and we each have a weekly English Bible class.

Our calling program now consists of making appointmentcalls. We have a systematic Bible study which takes fromfive to ten weeks. In a country where older people believe

in idolatry and young people are athiest, it is not an easything to teach a person to believe in Christ. People indenominationalism are hard to teach too, as in America,

with their philosophy of "that which enters the heart firstis Lord." This is a Chinese proverb which means that which

was first believed will always be considered as right and best.

We are fascinated daily with new experiences and customs

which we have and learn of as we serve the Lord here. We

would like to share these with you. If you would like to

keep in closer contact with our work please write to ourforwarding agent, Sandi Gant, and ask to be put on our FAR

EAST CRUSADER mailing list. Also, Mrs. Gant keeps anup-to-date colored slide program and a display on hand foranyone who asks for it. If there is anything we can do to helpyou with any missions project please write to us directly.

We really hate to think of going back to the States evenfor a few months of furlough but we feel it is necessaryfor the sake of our children, parents and supporting Churches. We plan on starting our furlough in June, 1972. Pleasecontact us for speaking arrangements.

Yours For A Christian World,

Alan, Janet, Beth, Becky, & Jonnie

J L-J h'41 r •! n r.i* b*j ft.*i

Alan & Peier calling

m

Two recently printed tracts

m

Miriam & Janet studying

Beth, Becky, & Jonnie

The

Taiwan T^rcftof Formosa Christian Mission

Dear Christian Friends,

Almost two and a half years ago, on January 14, 1969, we

stepped off the President Wilson into a new world. It was onlynew in the eyes of us, the beholders, for in actuality, this

country called Formosa, or Taiwan, or better still the Republic

of China, has the oldest written history in the world, outside

of the Jews, whose written history begins with the creation.But to us, hillbillies from Eldon, in the Ozark mountains of

Missouri, it was like stepping onto the pages of a storybook.

At six o'clock that morning, as we neared Keelung harbor, our

family ran up topside to catch our first glimpse of our new

home, and to see if any of our friends were waiting to meet us. For a long time the dock was deserted, butas we drew closer, we noticed the familiar faces of old friends. I was so excited at seeing Alan Bemo, that Ialmost bit my tongue off on a breakfast roll. It was only the beginning of many new experiences which wewould have in the days, months and years ahead in oui new country.

Getting through customs, which in toto took almost two weeks^ was the first of many times when werecalled that Scripture in Luke 9:62 where Jesus said: "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks backis fit for the kingdom of God." So, at the beginning, we determined, that God had led us here to do a job, andwe would seek to yield our stubborn wills to His perfect will, that by His grace. He might be able toaccomplish something through us for His own sake.

On January 24, with Alan Bemo's help, we moved into our new home in a new community, among many newpeople, who spoke a new and strange tongue. At first it was very frustrating to go shopping, buying thingsto fix up the house, and in general trying to get settled. Everywhere we went we had to carry a piece ofpaper and a pencil so we could have them write down the price of something we wanted to buy. But eventually, those first few days of adjustment were over, and we enrolled in Taipei Language School, only tomeet with a different kind of frustration, wondering if the Lord didn't know we were too dumb to learnsuch a difficult tongue. Again God's Word came to our rescue, and we latched on to those words spoken bythe Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." By God'sgrace and power, we were weathering another storm. Now, we study daily with a private tutor.

A month after starting language school, we were beset with many new kinds of sicknesses which we hadnever experienced before. Those sicknesses, until just recently, have plagued us constantly. Sometimes,because of illness, our schooling was interrupted for as much as two months at a time. At one time, lastsummer, the whole family was confined to the- house for almost a month. It was easy to get discouragedduring those days, for the. devil seeks to use anything he can to devour us all (I Peter 5: 8). As with everyproblem, so it was in this case too, God's Word had an answer. During those trying moments, we foundourselves recalling again those precious words from Hebrews 12.

Consider him who endured frOm sinners such hostility'against himself, so that you may not growweary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point ofshedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? —"Myson, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished byhim. For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives "

Family Photo — December 1970

We, by no means, are implying that every experience has been discouraging. On the contrary, we have hadmany humorous and richly rewarding ones too.

Almost from the beginning, we have had English Bible classes' in our home.Though the contacts have been many, the obvious results have been few.Last year, Bro. Stephen Chen was immersed into Christ. This year, on May23rd, Bro. Peter Hai was baptized. We just finished a series of 24 lessonsfrom the book, Advanced Coarse for English Bible Classes, by Bro. MarkMaxey, missionary in Japan. We felt the course was very well received, andthat Bro. Peter Hai, who had previously been sprinkled, made his-decision tobe immersed as a direct result of these lessons. Three others, at the end ofthe course, expressed an interest in accepting Christ, but as yet, no definitedecisions have been made. One of these young men, James Yang, would liketo accept Christ, but his parents and his two uncles, being Buddhists, have

forbidden it. We must be in much prayer for James, that Jie will make thedecision to obey Christ in spite of the present opposition. "He who lovesfather or mother more than me," said Jesus, "is not worthy of me," .Matthew

10!37. James does have faith, for we have seen it at work, and have heard him pray. Let us pray ferventlytogether, that he will make the right decision.

We have seen Mark, our oldest, enter BethanyChristian School and complete kindergarten andfirst grade with honors. He just received his final

report card last week, and received special recognition from his teacher. She said he took a test at

the end of school and scored a 4th grade level inreading, and 3rd grade level in others. We have

seen Greg, our second, and Vicki, our third, enter

Chinese kindergarten and adjust very nicely. Theyhave picked up the language surprisingly fast. Last

and least, we have seen a new addition to our

family since we left the States. Holly Sue was born

Nov. 11, 1970. She is now 6?/i months old, has twoteeth and is trying very hard to crawl. She has

the backward movement down pat, but it's a little

hard to see where you are going that way!

Yes, there have been many new experiences! We have been challenged with new ideas and new horizons!We have seen our faith grow deeper and stronger because of our problems, but through it all the Lord hassafely guided, and we anticipate His power working in our lives. The people, customs, language, country,and experiences have all been new, but the basics of human nature are the same. The age old problem ofsin, from the time of Adam, exists in any country in the world. There is only one hope for China, forAmerica, for any country, i.e. the new'and living way, through Jesus Christ. "The wages of sin is death, butthe free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord," Romans 6! 23. May we constantly pray forone another and labor to spread the good news of Christ, till He comes again!

James Yang

Vicki, Greg, Holly, Mark

Your fellow-laborers in Taiwan,

THE SKILES

Ted, Bev, Mark, Greg, Vicki, Holly

THE

SUNOF

TAIWAN MISSIONARIES:SAM A VIRGINIA HAZLEWOOD

'Tke Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wing' {Mai 4 :2)

'I am come a light into the world* CJohn 12 :46')

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Greetings to you in the name of the One Who

gives us life in 'abundance', Jesus Christ. May your

lives always be full of Him.

TAIWAN —Beautiful Island —It truly is this!

Since arriving here in October of '69 we have had

many interesting experiences.

Sam's English Bible classes have been averaging

10-15 students each week. On Friday night Apologe

tics is taught.- The Bible is taught on Sunday night.

The questions from these students are soul-search-

ing and heart - rending. The things we take for

granted are so new to these seekers of the truth.

Many have been brought up in a Buddhist or

Taoist home with idolatry as a family background.

The incense burning constantly, so as not to offend this particuliar 'god'. Granny and Mamma praying three

times a day with incense sticks to assure the hearing of the prayers is a part of this background. At the

temples on Saturday, where others have come to 'worship'l the throwing of the 'divining blocks' to see if the

answer is 'yes' or 'no' to a prayer offered; and the

offering of flowers and food to please the 'gods' is

another of this background. Is it any wonder the

students sit in amazement when you tell them that

we only have to. talk to God through Jesus Christ,

His Son? They seemed not to be able to grasp the

simplicity of praying to God.

When asked what they believe, they usually

answer, 'My parents are Buddhist.' pause 'But T

don't really believe, anything.' They usually are

considered the same as their parents, but only

because they respect their parents. In their hearts.Some English Bible Students

10

I

Sam, Virginia and Shane Hazlewood

they don't believe what they do in their actions. The void is felt by many. They say, ' We want to knoW

more about the Bible.'. Your prayers are needed for these young people and for us.

Last summer, we had Vacation Bible School in our backyard for the neighborhood, kids. Many of these

are Shane's playmates. Many of these had never seen a Bible or had heard who Jesus was. They only knew

that the Cross was the symbol of 'Christian.' They

are from Buddhist and Taoist homes. Some of the

mothers didn't want them to come, but they would

come, anyway. Our average attendance was twenty-

four. A direct result of the Vacation Bible School

was the Sunday-afternoon Sunday School. The

VBSers were asked if they would attend if one was

provided. They said, 'Yes.' Most of the ones who

attended VBS attend Sunday School. There are

some Sundays we end up with less than we started

out with. The mothers come down to see if their

child is here. If he is, he goes home with her and

stays there until he can come back. We average

about fifteen each week.

The many traditions of old China are slowly

but surely being put away as the new generation

is realizing that these traditions are not answering

their need. The traditions such as family worship,

honoring the family 'gods,' community dieties and the pai-pai feasts. They are looking for something else

that they can look up to with honor and pride. Some are trying to put position in this void. Others are

trying to fill it with material wealth and still others are seeking the pleasure offered by the 'pleasureTloving'

people to fill the gap in their lives. While still

others are seeking and finding the position of

honor and pride, unlimited treasures and the

greatest pleasure in the service in the Kingdom of

our Lord and King, Jesus Christ!

Please continue to pray for us in language

study, our adjustments to this culture, for our

students in our classes, and to our continued

support.

May God guide and direct your path is our

prayer.

©

Sunday-Schoolers and teachers

with Shane

Vacation Bible School

Yours in bringing the Son to Taiwan,

Sam, Virginia and Shane

11

CHALLeNOe

THE JOHNSTONS

Chuck, Molly,Jennifer, JeffreyJenette, Jeanene

AN URBAN MINISTRY

FOR AN URBAN SOCIETYOne of the great problems that we are faced with today is how tc get along with our fellow man in rapidlyurbanizing societies. Crime, predjudice, apathy, polution, noise, and a host of other problems are intensifiedin the "jam packed" environment of the city. Jesus Christ has the answers to the "urban crisis", just as He'has always held the answer to man's relationship to man "Love your neighbor as you -regard yourself".But Jesus' solution can only be implemented in the hearts of men who are born again among regeneratedhumanity. Social action without the power of the Holy Spirit to renew the inner parts of men'is futile, andits results will always be temporary and discouraging. The hope of the city is the same as the hope of theworld Jesus Christ.

It was with this in mind that Molly and I and our family came to the Rebuplic of China (Taiwan) in Marchof 1970. It was and is our desire to take the Gospel where the people are the cities of Taiwan and Asia.More- than 1/3 of the world's population is in Asia. The Republic of China is one of the last strongholds offreedom from which the Gospel can be preached in Asia. Molly and I have moved into an apartment tractwith the view of beginning an apartment ministry such as exists in Japan and South America. Currently weare involved in language studies which will take us another year and a half. At the end of that time wewill be able to give ourselves over completely to urban evangelism. Please pray for God's aid in learningthe Chinese language and spreading the good news.

12

2,000,000 people live in and around the

capital city, Taipei. Most people in the city

live in apartment buildings like these. Some

times houses are built on top of apartments!

(upper right) Thousands of people also live

in shanties built on city right of ways.

With 1^% of 14,000,000 people in Taiwan

living in cities like Taipei, a special kind

of ministry is called for.

In order to become acquainted with the

families living in our area Molly has begun

a Sunday School in our home on Sunday

afternoons. This has already resulted in

invitations to visit their homes. Through

these children we hope eventually to begin

Bible studies with their parents in their

homes or in ours. We look forward to the

day when our language study is past and

we can expand our contact with them.

There are over 4,000 people in the 5 block

area of our apartment complex. It is our

goal to start a church in our apartment tomeet the needs of those living in that area.

The long range plan would be for the church

to take up the lease from us when able.

We would then be free to move to a new

area and repeat the process. This enables us

to reach people with whom we have dailycontact.

V

Opportunities for contact with the Chinese

are also provided through English Bible

Study classes in our home. High school and

college age students and young adults are

eager to use the English they have learned.

Many come to learn and use English and

become interested in Jesus and what he

can do for them. Please pray that God will

be able to use us in this ministry and show

us new ways to. reach apartment-dwellers

and all Chinese in Taiwan.

New Testament Christianity to the Chinese

SUB RHODES, Missionary

June, 1971

Dear Christian Loved Ones,

Greetings to you in the name of our Heavenly Father. May God our Father shower you with blessingsand fill you with His great pea'ce.

As I write this letter, I am the newest arrival to Formosa Christian Mission. It is almost impossibleto believe I have been in the country of Taiwan for two months. Time passes so rapidly. The sun setseach day with many going to bed without the knowledge of Jesus Christ. I just pray the Lord will allowus the time to .reach these lost souls. They are so precious to Him and need the Gospel so badly.

Being here only a short while, I can not report to you concerning the souls that I have helped to win,nor of the many people that I have helped to teach. My first term of three years will be used primarily

to learn the language. The language which is used here

most is the Mandarin dielect of Chinese. It an interesting

I^HIIIIIIlim ' language well as being very difficult language toB ^ I learn. The Chinese langauge has four different tones. For

the first tone the voice stays level on a relatively high pitch.

H '̂ he second tone in the middle register and rises. TheI • third tone low and drops, before rising to the pitch on

j|| whicTi it began. The fourth, falls sharply from fairly high toI H quite low. One word might contain several tones. Then thereI fl sre thirty-seven sounds which make up the Chinese alphabet.

- ^—^1 ji| Sound interesting? It is, I'll assure you.srE « ^B ^ spend five mornings a week studying the language at

j JpjjM Taipei Language Institute. Virginia Hazlewood and myself\ make up the class in which I study.

Vr T ' Although I am not able to teach the Chinese people in theirWHBCIBBi language yet, still there are things that need to be doneI f^ ^ that I can do. Each month we print a Christian magazine

I ' 4 called the "Courier". It is printed both in Chinese and^ I English. The authors for the magazine are our own mission-

aries and other Christian individuals. I have already had^ the opportunity to write for the "Courier". -Many times

t this magazine gets into homes that we may not reachotherwise.

My welcome supper at the Each Sunday morning I teach some of our own missionarySkile^ home, children. They love to sing. So we sing, pray and study the

/JMy welcome supper at theSkilesl home.

Scripture together as seen through the eyes of "Sammy the Snake". Of course, Sammy is my puppet and helikes to go to church, too. Sammy loves to talk and tell Bible stories. Sometimes he even talks too much.But the children love him just the same.

May 28th was Dragon Festival Day here. That morning there appeared in the newspaper an explanationof the holiday and some of the customs that are kept within this day. For example, it is common for afamily to place a clump of ai tsao, a special variety of grass, in front of their door. This is intended to keepmosquitoes and insects out, as well as any evil spirts that might be lurking near by. It is one thing to

read this in your newspaper, then to walk out your door andsee that your neighbors have this grass in front of their door.It is so real to you and yet hard to believe that they reallybelieve this, but they do. This is all the more reason why

they need the Gospel so desperately. And they need it now!They need to be filled with the Holy Spirit that they mightnot have the fear of evil spirits. The Lord says, "My Spiritabides among you, fear not." Haggai 2:5

Please join with us in prayer concerning these lost souls.Might there be a realization take place of their need. Thenmight they take their stand and accept the truth, be buriedin baptism and walk in newness of life with Him.

Sammy the Snake

Some of our young Christian

teachers.

Taking Christ to the Chinese,

Sue Rhodes

i

Just a few of the many children

that need the Gospel.

/K

15

From left to right: Bob Frazier, George Moore, EnochThweat, Alan Bemo, Sam Hazlewood, Chuck Johnston,Peter Suen, and Ted Skiles.

MISSIONARY

Lillian MartinP. 0. Box 00506

Koahsiung 800, Taiwan

Mrs. Isabel DittomorcBox 22384

Taipei 100, Taiwan

Alan Bemo

No. 21, Lane 157Hsin Sheng S. Rd., Sec. 1Taipei 106, Taiwan

'N<K^-|:iney: ^mHsla;i^oad, $eelion ATaipli 106, Taiwan ^

Sam Hazlewood

No. 5, Lane 418 ,

An-Tung StreetTaipei 106, Taiwan

Chuck Johnston•No;"' •L ane

Kwang Fu South Road:I'aipji l'«o, T:MW-.r.

Sue Rhodes

No. 17-2, 3rd FloorAlley 6, Lane 19Dung Hwa StreetTaipei 106, Taiwan

FORWARDING AGENT

Mrs. E. Louise Gibson

3524 N. Cascade Ave., Lot 59Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907

Miss Margaret McGinnBox 79

L. 1., New Vo,is,1137S

Mrs. Sandi Gant

R. R. 1, Box 237Fort Gibson, Oklahoma 74434

Mr. & Mrs. Seth Bouldin

RouteRocky t,' Missouri, 65072:

Mrs. Mary Dorothy FranklinRoute 3

Charleston, Illinois 61920

"Blv'a^y:Wesi: •Lyliyroo i Chai^ih.ipf•, ChHy

•Lyhwood California

Mr. & Mrs. Mel Titchener1901 8th Avenue

Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69361

LLl

16

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^ -s-puaoj-f-tiia 'pooMu^Ta^Ti2.-ra©3ao q-tjoacj-uor

We have had wonderful fellowship with

the Church of Christ, non-instrumental

brethren, ever since we have been here.

We have shared teaching materials, they

have preached at Shi-Ling Church of

Christ, and before we had a baptistry

we often used theirs. Starting in 1971

we started having regular meetings

together for the purpose of fellowship

and discussing how we could work to

gether, The only reason that "we" call

"them" "they" is so you will know who

"we" are talking about. Actually we are

all one because we have the same head,

JESUS CHRIST.

These brethren started mission work

here in Taiwan when Roy Mullinax and

Enoch Thweat arrived in 1958. Other

missionaries here now are Bob Frazier,

Richard Ady, George Moore and Edward

Short. These men have worked to

establish eight Churches in Taipei and

two in Taichung. All of these have

national preachers but one, and this

one has Elders who preach often.

Jesus prayed, "that they may all be

one; even as thou. Father, art in me,

and I in thee, that they also may be

in us, so that the world may believe

that thou hast sent me."

Please pray that this co-operation and

fellowship might continue here and all

over the world.

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