rA-AK'

Forwarding Agent:

Field Address:

Mrs. Sandi Gant

Alan & Janet Bemo

R. R. 1. Box 237

Lane 157, Number 21

Fort Gibson,

Usin Sheng S* Rd., Sec* 1

Oklahoma 7^^5^

Taipei, Taiwan
February 15, I97I
Dear Precious Friends,

It has been nearly two months since I wrote to you last and those two months have been
full of activity and blessing for us*
After all of the Christmas activities and final exams were over we decided to take a

little 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. We
wanted to stay in a Japanese hotel someplace in the quiet country - preferably the moun
tains* 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 the
gas tank* Therefore we had a forced stop-over in a small town in the wee hours of the
morning till a gas station opened up. We drove over one way dirt roads the last forty
miles with ^0% grades, high centers, oncoming buses and trucks and several thousand feet
drop offs.
We drove over a swinging suspension bridge at
one place, which had been built by the Japanese during the

occupation before there was ever a car road back that far
in the mountains. Sven though bigger vehicles than ours

fllk
SSm

travelled over it, we were still aprehensive as we snapped

crackled, popped and moaned across it* Our hotel was Japanese style, complete with tatami floors to sleep on and

hot mineral baths to soak up to your neck in.

It was ab-

aMfcife

solutely at the end of the line*

There was no traffic and
no noise.
The hotel was snuggled down deep in a valley so
the sun went down early and came up late.
We stayed there
four days* Sach day was filled with excitement*
To get

to the hotel we had to walk the last 100 yards across a

SHT

narrow 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-

lages, the river and the forests. There were geese, turkeys and other Chinese children to play with.

People

there spoke a lot of Japanese so Janet had a chance to

brush up on that.
We were surprised to hear Beth counting in Japanese on our way back to Taipei. She had

learned this while playing with the children there*

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*

^
^

-fV- V\

-y

S'"-*
"

" "i-'
_

' jjSrf
"Piggy -back"

The next big event to come around was Chinese Lunar New Year, which on our Solar calendar
was 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 Febrauary

10, which is their Lantern Festival* The most interesting thing to me about the Chinese
New Year's customs is that they seem to have originated in the Exodus of the Israelites
from Egypt* For example, the Chinese put red Chinese lettering over thsir doors and

on each side of the doorway to keep out demons and death

and bring them life and luck.

time with the church, which will involve

teaching a Chinese adult Bible Study on Sun

day Doming and preaching at the worship
hour* Mr* Jeng and Mr* Suen will also be
Passover?
preaching often* Mr. Jeng preached last Sunday morning, Feb. 7th*
We will also be start
ing a Wednesday night prayer meeting and Mr* Sues and myself will go calling two nights a
week. Since I still have a Bible Study on Monday night at the Jeng*8, teach an English
Bible Class on Thursday night and study 15 hours of Chinese a week, this ought to keep me

pretty 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 anyone
who wants it for a daily 10 minute missionary program in their D.V.B.S. Please write to
us as soon as possible if you would like to use it* It would probably have other uses
too for youth meetings or Ladies' Meetings.
Bight now there are seven people who have said they would like to attend a Bible Training
Institute and there are several others who have expressed an interest. The missionaries
here are, at present, trying to set up some kind of program to train these people which
we hope will grow into a regular Bible College. Bight now 7ed Bkiles and I are the only

ones who would be able to teach in this Institute*

Please pray for us as we plan and pre

pare.

We have had more wonderful fellowship with our non-instumental brethren here and it looks
as though we will be able to co-operate on such things as evangalistic meetings, summer
camps, 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 very
quickly.
I am laid up with a vocal cold and Janet says i t is really quiet around here for
a change. Ha!
Beth and Becky are doing too well, as they wear us out with their endless

energy and mischief.

late for Christmas

Jonnie has four teeth now.

and two more in January.

He got two on Dec. 2Sth (just three says

He is also crawling now.

We are all happy here to know that Miss Sue Bhodes is planning on coming to Taiwan to help
in the great task of spreading the Gospel to the 15 million Chinese here.
Sue has been

making plans to leave for Taiwan at the beginning of March but because of a lack of pledg

ed support is not sure if she will be able to leave by then or not.

If you or your group

can 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 manu
script available for anyone who would like to use it.

Just write to Sandi Gant, our

forwarding agent*
God Bless You.
Mrs* Sandi Gant

B.B.I, Box 237

Fort Gibson Okla*
Beturn Bequested

//

NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE

1*6^ paid
Ft.Gibson,Okla
Permit No. 3

Field Address:

Alan and Janet Berao

Number 21| Lane 157

Bsin Sheng S.Rd* ,Sec1

rAK CAST
CKOSAaCK

Forwarding Agent:
Mrs*
Sandi Gant
R. R. 1
Box 237

Fort GibsonIOkla*

Taipei 106, Taipei

AUGUST 10, 1971

Sisters helping blow out candle

My scooter will go as fast at the Church's

Dear Christian Friends,

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

We have just observed Jonnie's forst birthday (July 30)*

We had a hard time finding

time to have a party and then when we did I had forgotten to prepare my camera* We gave
him 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 eat
their cake and ice-cream in any fashion they wish*
Jonnie smeared his all over his face
and the girls dubded him, "chocolate face*" He got shoes, a ball, a tricycle, a rocking
horse, and two cars* We have seen him develop a lot this first year: He started cutting
teeth at five months, had his first hair cut at seven months and started walking at eleven
months* He is the smilingest baby we have had and, like our two girls, he has filled
our lives with joy*
..1 - " ...

Our greatest joy has been seeing ten people baptized into Christ within the last two
months*

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 that
you might know why we are especially happy "they that sow in tears shall reap in
joy*" One of these ten was a Mr* Jang, who had been a Baptist preacher* He started
coming to services and at first wouldn't tell us he was a preacher* He finally told us
that he was searching for the truth and agreed with the restoration plea* After two
weeks of special intensive Bible study he was immersed because he said he felt that his
former baptism was not scriptural* One girl who was baptised had to do it against her
parents wishes because they are Budhists* They expect her to worship the family
ancestors and know she couldn't do this if she becomes a Christian*
Certainly these two
especially need our prayers*

In June we finally had a telephone installed at the house*

if you would like to call us please do at number 715638*

This is a real joy to us and

(don't call collect, please)

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

Four girlsrecent 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 three
fourths were unbelievers.

Although none of them accepted the Lord, I know there was

lots of good seed planted and watering done. The harvest is yet to come. After getting
settled into our schedule real well, Tuesday, we got news of an approaching typhoon. It
was predicted to be a small one and we would only catch the edge of it, but
not always so predictable. Should we cancel camp and go home or should we
.>i-nto-8ome near-by cabins and continue camp? One teacher, Mr. Jang, decided
have to go back for sure because his house always flooded during typhoons.

typhoons are
rent and move
he would
None of the

students wanted to go back and some wanted to stay in the tents. We called long-disteince
to Taipei for an accurate weather report and decided that we would still have camp. We
moved all girls into cabins and started taking down their tents. The gusting winds
helped us as they blew two of them down for us. Then as the winds increased and it rain
ed occasionally one tent full of boys decided they would move into a cabin too. This
left only sixteen boys in two tents but the camp-site was still full of hurried excite

ment.

We put large stones all around the tents and dug trenches around them to carry off

the rain. At five everybody went to eat and at eight to evening chapel services. Then
we went to bed and waited. It was supposed to strike at midnight. Some told ghost
stories and some played Chinese chess. The winds increased till it was driving sand into
every crack and smarting the eyes. Winds gusted up to thirty MPH not very strong but

plenty big for a tent. At about twelve the rains came. The rain, instead of pouring
down , 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, how
much it would rain, or how long it would last, the typhoon will always be remembered as
one of the highlights of the camp.

The day after we got back from camp (July 24) I performed a wedding ceremony for a young
Chinese couple. It was all in Chinese and quite an experience. One difference was the
signing 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 certificate

to 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 to
be the go-between to make all the arrangements. In Chinese this person is called the "Jye
syau 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 evange
listic meeting in the Shih-Ling City Hall.

More of this in the next FAR EAST CRUSADER.

Pray for this.

Tours in Christ,
Mrs. Sandi

Qant

R.R. 1, Box 237

Fort Gibson, Okla
74434
Return Requested

(S5/o'rA

^ r' o ) c ^

/77

NON-PROFIT

.ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE

1.60 PAID
Ft.Gibson,Okla

J-

<y

_Permi^J[cUi^^^

yH'l

r^fWAN

Our Work In The Republic Of China

Lillian Martin

Sam and Virginia Hazlewood

Mrs. Isabel Dittemore

Chuck and Molly Johnston

Alan and Janet Bemo

Sue Rhodes

Ted and Bevely Skiles

ULUAN
REPORTS ON
WORK IN
KO^HSmNO
Lillian 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 us
to 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 work
with 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. The

mountain-top experience out-weighed the hurtful things, however. I came back to Taiwan somewhat encouraged
by some of the promises I had received. Mainly promises of transportation, equipment, and a building in
which 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 concerned

and 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 my
return 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 hospitalization needs free of charge, but I must find the round-trip

plane fares for these children.

for Mrs.

Plus, one-way plane fare

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 these

young people, that they might lead productive, useful
lives.

3. Mrs. Drew would be entertained by International Wo- j

men's Clubs of the larger cities. This would gain fin
ancial 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 has
all come from Taiwan. (International Women's Club, Lion's
Club and the Rotary Club.) The fact is, I still have to have i
the 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

This is the seventh child added to

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

the original six whom I hope also

an effective work.

to send to Honolulu.

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

English conversation

Bible classes;

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

Apart from the seven kids selected to

stay, but we are without our main tools.

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

be sent to Honolulu we have 70 more

like this on file that we have examined-

He might be greatly magnified.

Lillian Martin

they also can be rehabilitated.

rATWAW XAU^m
FORMOSA CHRISTIAN MISSION

A Diary of the Activities of Isabel M. Dittemore

FOREIGN ADDRESS:
FORWARDING AGENT:
P. O. Box 22384,
Miss Margaret McGinn

Taipei, 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 to
concentrate more on the mass media side of itthat is, radio programs
and a magazine.

Not that I do this all alone. Far from it. Every issue of the magazine

contains something prepared by one, two or three of the other miss

ionaries and I especially appreciate Alan Bemo's help, teaching 2 new
choruses 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 support
allows me to do so, within limits, of course.

The time cost for the two

COURIER & BOOK STAFF:

1. The COURIER: Our ENGLISH & CHINESE MONTHLY MAGAZINE

2. 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 Or
more. Courier printing costs $80.00 per month and the office staff

about $175.00. We have also given to the printer a Bible Story

&Coloring book to be printed at once, for sale to radio listeners-which
we intend to give to each home, in Shih Ling, this summer, advertising
the evangelistic meetings we intend to holdwith the Reggie Thomas
team, in August, this summer, as well as the Shih Ling Church of

Christ and our radio programs. We will leave a Courier in each home,
as well hoping to completely cover the neighborhood, of this large
suburb of Taipei.

The Shih Ling Church of Christ first began to meet there in May, 1965
and is still meeting in a hall, although it is a larger hall than we had

for the first 5 years. We are very much hoping to see a building built

but so far have only $3000 in that fund, and land is probably as high
here as it could possibly be anywhere. Of course, God is able and if
He makes it possible, we will be happy indeed.

Although the Shih Ling Church of Christ had its beginning in my home,
in Oct. 1964, and has grown steadily in the years since then, it is now
ministered to by my son-in-law and daughter, Alan and Janet Bemo,
with the help of the other missionaries, still mainly engaged in language
school the Ted Skiles, the Sam Hazlewoods and the Chuck. Johnstons.
Yet I have a definite place there too, as older people are honored in

this .country, as having more experienced wisdom, so even the young

folks "give me the benefit of the doubt."

These pictures, for instance, of the young people who work around me

and with me speak for themselves of the bright-eyed folks who help us
accomplish the things we dp. All of them are happy Christians.

Every five weeks, I try to write and send out a diary newsletter of
my own activities. -It is printed in the U. S. and sent to Camden Ave.

Christian Church, 1334 Camden Ave., Louisville, Ky. 40214 and is mailed
out from there. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter, send
your name and address and $1.00 to Sterling Taylor, % the church.
Otherwise, my forwarding agent is Miss Margaret McGinn, whose
RADIO
address is at the head of this letter, and she receives, receipts and STAFF;
notifies me of all offerings to these three main projects of mine: i. e. J. Script
Radio production, time and follow-up; Courier and book publishing and
printing; and the building-fund of the Church of Christ in Shih Ling. Jane Huang
_

3. Trantslator and Singer, Peter Suen

In addition to the families listed above, there are also the nurse, Mrs. and 4. Story teller-Rebecca Suen
Lillian Martin who is working alone in Kaoshiong until someone has the language enough to begin a church

in that southern city. And Miss Sue Rhodes, who just arrived and is now busy in language study. Mr. Bemo's
father, Douglas Bemo, a minister in Muskogee, Oklahoma, of the First Christian Church, there, expects to
join 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 day
and 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 EAST
cnasAfxett

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 a

Chinese family and we were discussing how that-because
of Adam's, eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil, law had come into the world and along with
it the recognition of wrong, or sin. When he realized that
without 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 Gospel
before? They would be better off not hearing the Gospel
because 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

Beginning their fifth year

more times in America than China. There are two wrong

of missionary work in Taiwan

Alan & Janet Bemo

concepts which give birth to this question: (1) People are ignorantly
innocent 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 because
Adam ate the forbidden fruit

mg

Aung

that all men have law and therefore

was

have sinned already. They are already condemned because they have
broken their own laws whether they have heard the Gospel or not. We

iovernor

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

officials

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

-.g Chinese officials winding up their China tour

5 p.m.

ovincial

given a
'

overnor

e afterparty

Population
Density Puts
Taiwan 1st

Taiwan's population density is

the highest in the world, accord
subing to a family planning ^oup.
ng to
A survey conducted by the
were
Taiwan Family Planning Pro

irming

Vice

at

motion Committee showed that

the number of people inhabiting

lipei. arable land in Taiwan

average

chief 1.638 per square kilometer com

idem

pared with 1,489 in Japan.

The committee warned that the
1 the population pressure in Taiwan is
pro- becoming a serious problem.
ry of
It attributed the recent popula
liang tion growth in Taiwan to a de
*resi-

t the crease in the'death rate and a

ntial continued rise in the birth rate.
dent
Since 1960 Taiwan has vaulted
the
.m-

past Holland, Belgium and Japan

to become the
most densely
populated 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,
1have been born here in Taiwan. August 17th, 1971 marks

our 7th wedding anniversary which means that Janet and

I have spent most of our married lives here.

J L-J h'4

1 r ! n
*

r.i

b*j ft.*i

The second time we came here we started immediately into

language study. Janet studied full time for two years and
I 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.

Alan & Peier calling

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

of Christ, first established by Mrs. Isabel Dittemore. Besides

preaching we go calling three nights a week, have a prayer

meeting on Wednesday nights^ and have youth meeting on
Saturday nights. Janet works with Miriam Yao two days a
week to put out a Church paper. On Saturdays Janet and
Miriam study Chinese together. Peter Suen and I also work
together two or three days a week to prepare teaching
material, write tracts, or make plans for working with the
Church. Janet and I both have classes each week with new

Christians, and we each have a weekly English Bible class.

Our calling program now consists of making appointment

Two recently printed tracts

calls. We have a systematic Bible study which takes from

five to ten weeks. In a country where older people believe
in idolatry and young people are athiest, it is not an easy

thing to teach a person to believe in Christ. People in

denominationalism are hard to teach too, as in America,

with their philosophy of "that which enters the heart first

is 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 our

m
Miriam & Janet studying

forwarding agent, Sandi Gant, and ask to be put on our FAR

EAST CRUSADER mailing list. Also, Mrs. Gant keeps an

up-to-date colored slide program and a display on hand for

anyone who asks for it. If there is anything we can do to help
you with any missions project please write to us directly.
We really hate to think of going back to the States even
for a few months of furlough but we feel it is necessary
for the sake of our children, parents and supporting Chur

ches. We plan on starting our furlough in June, 1972. Please

contact us for speaking arrangements.
Yours For A Christian World,

Alan, Janet, Beth, Becky, & Jonnie

Beth, Becky, & Jonnie

The

Taiwan T^rcft
of 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 only
new 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

Family Photo December 1970
home, and to see if any of our friends were waiting to meet us. For a long time the dock was deserted, but
as we drew closer, we noticed the familiar faces of old friends. I was so excited at seeing Alan Bemo, that I

almost bit my tongue off on a breakfast roll. It was only the beginning of many new experiences which we
would 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 we
recalled that Scripture in Luke 9:62 where Jesus said: "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back

is fit for the kingdom of God." So, at the beginning, we determined, that God had led us here to do a job, and
we would seek to yield our stubborn wills to His perfect will, that by His grace. He might be able to
accomplish 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 new
people, who spoke a new and strange tongue. At first it was very frustrating to go shopping, buying things
to fix up the house, and in general trying to get settled. Everywhere we went we had to carry a piece of
paper and a pencil so we could have them write down the price of something we wanted to buy. But event

ually, those first few days of adjustment were over, and we enrolled in Taipei Language School, only to
meet with a different kind of frustration, wondering if the Lord didn't know we were too dumb to learn

such a difficult tongue. Again God's Word came to our rescue, and we latched on to those words spoken by
the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." By God's
grace 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 had

never 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, last

summer, the whole family was confined to the- house for almost a month. It was easy to get discouraged
during those days, for the. devil seeks to use anything he can to devour us all (I Peter 5: 8). As with every
problem, so it was in this case too, God's Word had an answer. During those trying moments, we found
ourselves recalling again those precious words from Hebrews 12.

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

"

We, by no means, are implying that every experience has been discouraging. On the contrary, we have had
many 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 May
23rd, Bro. Peter Hai was baptized. We just finished a series of 24 lessons

from the book, Advanced Coarse for English Bible Classes, by Bro. Mark
Maxey, missionary in Japan. We felt the course was very well received, and
that Bro. Peter Hai, who had previously been sprinkled, made his-decision to
be immersed as a direct result of these lessons. Three others, at the end of

the course, expressed an interest in accepting Christ, but as yet, no definite

decisions have been made. One of these young men, James Yang, would like

James Yang

to 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 the
decision to obey Christ in spite of the present opposition. "He who loves
father 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 fervently
together, that he will make the right decision.

We have seen Mark, our oldest, enter Bethany

Christian School and complete kindergarten and
first grade with honors. He just received his final
report card last week, and received special recog
nition from his teacher. She said

he took a test at

the end of school and scored a 4th grade level in

reading, and 3rd grade level in others. We have
seen

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

Chinese kindergarten and adjust very nicely. They

have 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 two
teeth 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!

Vicki, Greg, Holly, Mark

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 has
safely 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 of
sin, from the time of Adam, exists in any country in the world. There is only one hope for China, for
America, for any country, i.e. the new'and living way, through Jesus Christ. "The wages of sin is death, but

the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord," Romans 6! 23. May we constantly pray for
one another and labor to spread the good news of Christ, till He comes again!

Your fellow-laborers in Taiwan,

THE SKILES

Ted, Bev, Mark, Greg, Vicki, Holly

THE

SUN
OF

TAIWAN

SAM A

MISSIONARIES:
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

Sam, Virginia and Shane Hazlewood

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

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 twentyfour. A direct result of the Vacation Bible

was the Sunday-afternoon

Sunday

School

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

Vacation Bible School

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.

Yours in bringing the Son to Taiwan,

Sunday-Schoolers and teachers

with Shane

Sam, Virginia and Shane

11

CHALLeNOe

THE JOHNSTONS

Chuck, Molly,
Jennifer, Jeffrey
Jenette, Jeanene

AN URBAN MINISTRY
FOR AN URBAN SOCIETY
One of the great problems that we are faced with today is how tc get along with our fellow man in rapidly
urbanizing societies. Crime, predjudice, apathy, polution, noise, and a host of other problems are intensified

in 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 regenerated
humanity. Social action without the power of the Holy Spirit to renew the inner parts of men'is futile, and
its results will always be temporary and discouraging. The hope of the city is the same as the hope of the
world

Jesus Christ.

It was with this in mind that Molly and I and our family came to the Rebuplic of China (Taiwan) in March
of 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 of
freedom from which the Gospel can be preached in Asia. Molly and I have moved into an apartment tract
with the view of beginning an apartment ministry such as exists in Japan and South America. Currently we
are involved in language studies which will take us another year and a half. At the end of that time we

will be able to give ourselves over completely to urban evangelism. Please pray for God's aid in learning

the 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

With 1^% of

14,000,000 people in

living in cities like

ways.

Taiwan

Taipei, a special kind

of ministry is called for.

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 to

meet 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 daily

contact.

In order to

become

acquainted

with the

families living in our area Molly has begun

a Sunday School in our home on

afternoons.

This

has already

Sunday

resulted

invitations to visit their homes.

in

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.

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

can do for them.

Jesus

and

what he

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 blessings
and fill you with His great pea'ce.

As I write this letter, I am the newest arrival to Formosa Christian Mission. It is almost impossible
to believe I have been in the country of Taiwan for two months. Time passes so rapidly. The sun sets

each day with many going to bed without the knowledge of Jesus Christ. I just pray the Lord will allow
us 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 '
B

language

well as being

very difficult language to

learn. The Chinese langauge has four different tones. For

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

'^he second tone

third tone

j||

I H
- ^^1 j i|
srE

quite low. One word might contain several tones. Then there
Sound interesting? It is, I'll assure you.

^B

^ spend five mornings a week studying the language at

j JpjjM

Taipei Language Institute. Virginia Hazlewood and myself

WHBCIBBi

'

Although I am not able to teach the Chinese people in their

^
4

language yet, still there are things that need to be done

that I can do. Each month we print a Christian magazine
called the "Courier". It is printed both in Chinese and

/J

the opportunity to write for the "Courier". -Many times

f^
'

^ I

t
My
My welcome
welcome supper at the
the

Skile^
Skilesl home,
home.

sre thirty-seven sounds which make up the Chinese alphabet.

make up the class in which I study.

I
I

whicTi it began. The fourth, falls sharply from fairly high to

I fl

Vr

in the middle register and rises. The

low and drops, before rising to the pitch on

English. The authors for the magazine are our own mission-

aries and other Christian individuals. I have already had

this magazine gets into homes that we may not reach
otherwise.

Each Sunday morning I teach some of our own missionary

children. They love to sing. So we sing, pray and study the

Scripture together as seen through the eyes of "Sammy the Snake". Of course, Sammy is my puppet and he
likes 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 explanation
of the holiday and some of the customs that are kept within this day. For example, it is common for a
family to place a clump of ai tsao, a special variety of grass, in front of their door. This is intended to keep
mosquitoes 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 and
see that your neighbors have this grass in front of their door.
It is so real to you and yet hard to believe that they really
believe 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 might
not have the fear of evil spirits. The Lord says, "My Spirit
abides 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. Then
might they take their stand and accept the truth, be buried
in baptism and walk in newness of life with Him.

Taking Christ to the Chinese,

Sue Rhodes

Sammy the Snake

Some of our young Christian

Just a few of the many children

teachers.

that need the Gospel.

15

/K

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

From left to right: Bob Frazier, George Moore, Enoch

Thweat, Alan Bemo, Sam Hazlewood, Chuck Johnston,
Peter Suen, and Ted Skiles.

we

started having regular meetings

together for the purpose of fellowship

and discussing how we could work to
gether,

MISSIONARY

The only reason that "we" call

FORWARDING AGENT

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

Lillian Martin
P. 0. Box 00506

3524 N. Cascade Ave., Lot 59

Koahsiung 800, Taiwan

Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907

Mrs. Isabel Dittomorc

Miss Margaret McGinn

Box 22384

Box 79

Mrs. E. Louise Gibson

Taipei 100, Taiwan

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

"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

Alan Bemo

No. 21, Lane 157

Mrs. Sandi Gant

R. R. 1, Box 237

Enoch

Hsin Sheng S. Rd., Sec. 1

Fort Gibson, Oklahoma 74434

missionaries here now are Bob Frazier,

Taipei 106, Taiwan

'N<K^-|:iney: ^m
Hsla;i^oad, $eelion A

No. 5, Lane 418

An-Tung Street
Taipei 106, Taiwan

Chuck Johnston
No;"'

L ane

Kwang Fu South Road:

I'aipji l'o, T:MW-.r.

Other

Richard Ady, George Moore and Edward

Mr. & Mrs. Seth Bouldin
Route

Rocky

t,' Missouri, 65072:

Taipli 106, Taiwan ^

Sam Hazlewood

Thweat arrived in 1958.

Short.

These

men

have

worked

to

establish eight Churches in Taipei and

two in

Taichung.

All of these have

Mrs. Mary Dorothy Franklin

national preachers

but one, and

Route 3

one has Elders who preach often.

this

Charleston, Illinois 61920

Jesus prayed, "that they may all be

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

and I in thee, that they also may be

Lyhwood California

in us, so that the world may believe

one; even as thou.

Father, art in me,

that thou hast sent me."

Sue Rhodes

No. 17-2, 3rd Floor

Alley 6, Lane 19
Dung Hwa Street
Taipei 106, Taiwan

Mr. & Mrs. Mel Titchener

Please pray that this co-operation and

1901 8th Avenue

Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69361

fellowship might continue here and all

over the world.

LLl

391^06 -JnVO 'aOOMNAI

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