North Burma Christian Mission

NOW WORKING IN THAI LAND

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"Taking the Light to the lost."

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FIRST 1977

NEWSLETTER

IN

MEMORIAM

Thousands of people, from one side of the world to the other, share the sense of loss felt by both the Morse family

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and the North Burma Christian Mission when Gertrude Morse was

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suddenly called Home to be with the Lord on February 7 1977-

Ottawa, Kansas.

Gertrude Erma Howe Morse was born December 19, I896, at

Her father, a Baptist lay preacher, moved his

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a sod house when she was small, and her fear of the wolves that howled overhead on the roof in the winter. Later, the family moved to Oklahoma City, and Gertrude attended and graduated
from the University of Oklahoma at nearby Norman, receiving

family in 1901 to the newly-opened Oklahoma Territory, where they lived a rugged pioneer life. Gertrude remembered life In

coveted Phi Beta Kappa key.

' From an early age Gertrude was interested in the Lord's work, and while in the university was a member of the Student

rx 70^7^0^^- Feb,7,1977 p }^7^1q77 Dec,19,1896 '

Gertrude H,

^ u Worse M

Volunteers. As fellow-officers of this organization, she and ' '^"^ssell Morse met and more a than friends. They were married May and 27, became 1920. friends, While attending meeting at

which Dr. Albert Shelton was the missionary speaker, they were challenged by and responded to his appeal for missionaries to go to Tibet. When Gertrude and Russell, with their

4-month-old son Eugene, left the U.S. on August 21, 1921, It was the beginning of more
than fifty years of missionary service. During all the years of missionary service in remote. Inaccessible areas of China, Tibet, and Burma, Gertrude's pioneer heritage stood her in good stead. She under
went the rigors of a 70-day trek through uninhabited jungles at the height of the rainy season; she endured the discomfort and fatigue of walking mountain trails, climbing to al most hidden Lisu villages; she took cheerfully the loss of home and possessions when they were swept away in a flood, being thankful that the lives of herself and the children were spared; she disregarded personal sorrow when separated from J. Russell for nearly three years, and put all her energy into doing the Lord's work in northern Burma, walking, rid ing horseback, visiting almost every village, holding 1-week schools for women, as well as teaching in the longer 2- or 3"month Bible Training Schools; at the age of sixty-nine she traveled on foot over 9000-ft. mountain passes, along trails that daunted people much younger, and was always in the lead, then lived six years in an extremely isolated area, cut off from the outside world, with no luxuries and often lacking even some basic essen tials, not complaining, but happy to be able to continue her labors of love for the Lord.

She was never too tired or too busy to talk with someone who had a problem.

She was al

ways eager to tell others of her Saviour, and would spend just as much painstaking care in teaching one person as a dozen or a hundred. Her ministry in intercessory prayer, as each day she brought each area of work, each congregation, each pastor and worker before the Lord, was a vital part of her life and work.

(continued on page 3

HIGHLIGHTS

1976
Art

One-month Bible Training School in January, with average of 55 students

and Pat Bitts became new forwarding agents for North Burma Christian Mission Janice and Faye Rostvit visited for two weeks, their ministry in music a great blessing, and

much appreciated....rented new Evangelistic Center....held S-month Leadership Training

School, with evangelistic teams going to villages every two weeks Bob undertook super
vision of children's hostel, with eighteen children, all attending Thai schools, all do

ing well in their studies....Lisu hostel (guest house) continued, with sometimes as many as 25-30 guests at once, receiving food aid lodging, plus teaching....more than sixty opium
addicts rehabilitated, most won to the Lord, and remaining free of opium habit....Robert

left in May for furlough in U.S

Helen and Margaret to U.S. in May to see Helen's mother,

Mrs. Julia Myers, who was ill and passed away in June; they returned to Chiang Mai in Oc
tober ... .J. Russell and Gertrude in Tulsa, Oklahoma, doing some speaking for the Mission;

attended NACC in Denver in July, also Missionary Convention in Dodge City....Fall session of Bible Training School in September-October, with average of 40 students bought new printing equipment, printed one primer, two small hymnals, sent most of books into Burma.... finished sending last of 30,000 Bibles, plus several hundred Lisu hymnals into Burma contributed funds and personnel to help in Lisu Bible revision work....continued evan gelistic outreach....five congregations built churches, called full-time pastors....Rob ert traveling, meeting heavy schedule of speaking in churches.... Bob and Joni visited Rangoon, Burma, met with several leaders from Putao and other areas of the Missionwork.. ..held three Thanksgiving conventions, three Christmas conventions....more than 200 bap
tisms during the year.

PRINTING AND LITERATURE

Preparation and printing of 1 i.tera* ture continues to be an important part of the evangelistic and teaching work. The most re

cent printing project was a 106-page booklet

in Lisu, entitled "Faith's Foundation", pre

pared by Joni.

More than 300 copies have al

ready been sent Into Burma, with that many more packed and ready to send. This book is al so being used by the new Christians here In Thai land, and was the textbook for one of the classes in the Bible Training School in March. It Is al so being translated Into some of the other lan
guages .

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assembled.
The New Testament and

The Bible Society has recently com-_

plated printing of the New Reader Scriptures in
Lisu, and is preparing to print the same book

in Rawang.

These are very helpful to new Christians just learning to read. Work is also continuing on revision of the Lisu Bible.

Psalms are completed, and an effort is being made to finish the remainder of the Old Testa ment as quickly as possible. Working with a committee of Lisu representing several areas

and dialects, Jesse Yangmi has been devoting full time to this project. He and his family returned to the U.S. in May to complete requirements for American citizenship, but Jesse is hoping to return to Thailand quickly to continue work on the Bible revision. Please pray for this project, and for all the ministry of the printed word, that it may be an ef
fective tool in reaching and strengthening people with the Gospel message.

CHILDREN

When the school year ended in March, it was also the end of the first year of operation of the Children's Hostel, with eighteen children, under
the supervision of Bob Morse.

These LIsu and Lahu children, some from Christ ian homes, some from non-Christian, all did well in school, ranking in the upper fourth of their clas

ses. One girl, Serephon (second from left in pic ture), won first place In her class of forty.
In addition to special tutoring in both Thai and Chinese, they also received Bible teaching each day, and attended the Sunday School class taught each week by Drema Esther or Sam Yangmi.

Dressed in their school

uniforms

and carrying lunch buckets, the children are ready to start the day.

The new school year began May 18, and the hostel is now accomodating more than sixty children. This means a lot more work, but presents a tremen dous challenge and opportunity for winning these children to the Lord, and, through them,

their parents also. The increased number of children this year is a witness to the fact that the parents are favorably impressed by what is being done, because they are willing to pay the fee of Baht 600 ($30) per year for each child. (Actual cost is about $10-15 per child per month). Please pray for the children, for Bob, and for all those who help
care for the children.

LATE NEWS:

Marsha s Margaret King, the Yangmi family, and Tom Morse arrived in the U,S,

in May. Eugene Morse is scheduled to arrive in mid June. Robert Morse is still in the U.S. Eugene, Robert and Tom can be contacted through Mrs. Bitts.
ADDRESSES: In Thailand: In the United States J. Russel1 Morse

Forwarding Agents

Eugene S Helen Morse and family

Joni and Bob Morse

4129 East 22nd Place

Mr. S Mrs. Arthur C. Bitts, Jr, P. 0. Box 407^

P. 0. Box 65 Chiang Mai, Thai1 and

Tulsa, Oklahoma

7^11^

Terre Haute, Indiana

^7804

NORTH BURMA CHRISTIAN MISSION

Box 178, Lincoln, ill. 62656

Bulk Rate; Non-Profit

U. S. POSTAGE

Permit No. 237

Lincoln, III.

Richard L, Bourne
Box 177

Keapton, IN

46049

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

BIBLE TRAINING SCHOOL

The winter session of the Bible Training School,

usually held in January, was postponed this year in

HHBH response to requests from the Lisu Christians, and beMarch 2. Attendance, interest, and response ^Intl^ were unusually fine this year among the more than SO

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' IKSji^ students who gathered to study God's Word. Each day were hours of class, plus an evening
' M I^usic, and Reading/Writing Skills (Lisu). The group
was divided into beginners and advanced students, and classes were taught by Eugene, Joni, Tom and Ron Morse and Marsha King. Meals were prepared by three students each day,
, ... . ^ l j

WmTa. All the students enjoyed enjoined the Bible

stories presented by puppet shows.

in rotation. Vegetables were bought in Chiang Mai by Drema Esther Yangmi, and taken up to the school every other day. Drema Esther has performed this service for the past two ses sions of the school also, and her efforts in this regard have been greatly appreciated, as it greatly relieved the work load of those who were teaching, saving time and effort. Two or three nights a week, following the evening chapel service, there were special programs, sometimes with a filmstrip, sometimes movies, and two or three times

the King sisters presented a puppet show, with the Morse girls and Lucy and Mickey Yangmi also taking part. These dramatizations of different Bible stories were very popular, and helped to fix the stories in the minds of the students, many of whom had not heard them
before. The puppet stage was made by Tom Morse.

The Fall session of the school is planned for August-September of this year.

Sev

eral of the usual teaching staff will be in the U.S. on furlough this year, so those on the field will be bearing a heavier load than usual. Please pray for the school, and especially for those who will be teaching, that God will bless them with all needed wisdom and strength
N MEMORIAM, cont'd

Besides being a tireless worker and teacher in the Lord's work, she was also a
devoted mother. She found the time to teach her children both their school work and their

Bible studies, and they accepted the Lord at an early age.

Besides her three sons, Eugene,

Robert, and LaVerne, and daughter Ruth Margaret (Johnson), she also raised two foster daughters - Anzie Ruth, who died of typhus in Putao, North Burma, in December, 19^9, and
Drema Esther, who with her husband Jesse Yangmi and family has been serving in Thailand. Besides her husband and children, she leaves behind her twenty-six grandchildren, of whom fourteen are already either in full-time Christian service, or preparing for it. Then in

her "extended" family circle are the 40,000 or so Lisu, Rawang, and Naga Christians - her
"children in the Lord" - scattered in hundreds of villages across North Burma, Northeast India, and perhaps even some remaining in China. They, too, feel the loss of not only her physical presence, but of her prayers on their behalf.

The feelings of children, grandchildren, and friends were wel1-expressed by Ron in a recent letter to friends, as he paid tribute to the life and Influence of Gertrude

and J. Russell:

"My grandparents' example has been one of the chief factors that influ

enced me to go into the Lord's work and follow in their footsteps. Their lives and teach ings have set a pattern for all of us to follow - something solid, something that worked

and bore fruit, something really WORTH following. We could see that In whatever they did, they made doubly sure It was God's will for them in their situation at a given time. I
know that my grandparents have been the finest that anyone could have."

NEWS OF BURMA CHURCHES

ri We continue to be in close touch with the churches in

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Burma, and in the past several months have been visited by

representatives from churches in eight different areas of

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country. It has been exciting to talk with them, to ing of new leaders. We learned, too, of their problems and needs. As the different ones returned, we were able to send
hear of progress made of outreach into new areas, of trainwith them many useful things, such as rad io/recorders, playback units, tapes, four public address units, a small generator, a fi Imstrip/sl ide projector, picture charts, books, teaching helps, and an accordion which was given by Marsha
and Margaret King.

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JIT^n

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for different groups:

News from the churches includes word of schools held

preachers, assistant preachers, el-

jflH young and old. From Binozup (Hidden Valley) came news of
in one area and thirteen families

JSL ders and deacons, children, and all-church schools open to

an intensive evangelistic program. Evangelistic teams have recently been sent to three different areas. Ten families
in another area have al-

j ^ ^ S B r e a d y turned to the Lord, and now many more are interested

and asking for teachers to come.
David checks out the play playback units before sendback send ing them into Burma.

These trips are financed

by using the offerings from the Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas conventions in that area. Twice, teams have been sent into Nagaland, and two new preacher families are moving there as missionaries, with a third family to follow this

Fall. The twenty-two preachers in the Binozup area are pooling their tithes, and using this to support one missionary family, although most of them receive only about $100 per

year (in cash, but they tithe that and the grain, animals, etc. which make up the remainder
of their support. The churches help to support the other missionaries, but since the con
gregations average only 20-25 families each, it is difficult for them to provide full sup port. Until there are churches established in the new areas, these missionary preachers

will have no local source of support, but must depend on the sending churches. The doors are open, and the people are begging for teachers. Evangelistic teams will continue to make tours of the area to help fill the need, but please pray that there will be more preachers who will be able to move into the Nagaland area on a permanent basis.

From Dukdang Village, in Putao area, comes word of a new church building, built according to the same pattern as the one designed by Eugene for Muladi Village, Ma terials were bought by the local congregation, and labor was all contributed by the mem
bers. Also at Dukdang, a new building is under construction to house the Putao Christian

Bible Seminary.

The overall cost of the building has been reduced by having the students

get most of the timbers and other materials from

the jungle, but such things as cement, roofing, etc., must be purchased. Some help has been given for buying these necessary materials.
Early in March we had an opportunity to

buy ^600 Lisu hymnals at a reduced price. Already 1600 books have been repacked and shipped into
the are made ready for

sending as there is opportunity. Please pray that all these books will get through to the churches safely, and without damage. The monsoon rainy will be difficult for travel, and books might be damaged by getting wet. The new church building in Dukdang.

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Teaching in a Lisu home

Drema Esther teaching the children on Sunday morning

EVANGELISTIC

OUTREACH

where they taught in several villages and encouraged people to attend the Bible Training School held in March. About that same time Ron held a four-day "school" in La-heh, at
tended by about 15 people, with two baptisms at the close. He then went on to Ko-la Vil

Reaching the unreached with the Good News continues to be our primary aim and purpose, "both in the villages and in Chiang Mai. Evangelistic teams continue to go out Into different areas. In February, a team led by Sam Yangmi went into the Samuh area,

lage for several days of teaching. by about forty people.

ian Mission), Daniel Kalnin {South East Asia Evangelizing Mission), and Eugene, Tom, and
More recently Sam Yangmi and a companion visited Huei Hto, the vil

The first week in April, Jesse Yangmi, (Asia Christ

Joni Morse went together to a Lisu village and held a one-week school, which was attended

lage where a couple months ago the preacher had to leave by night because of persecution. They found that the Christians have remained faithful, and the man who had led the per secution and threats against the Christians had drowned not long after the preacher was
Two families, from different villages, and two girls from a third village, all came re
cently to Chiang Mai, asking for teaching because they want to become Christians.
God that HE is "adding to the church daily".

chased out!

Continue to pray for this village.

Teams have visited other areas also.

Praise

uable contact point, as people come to stay and receive teaching along with hospitality.
The Children's Hostel, too, has been a means of winning new souls for the Lord. Several

The Hostel (Lisu guest house), under Jonl's supervision, continues to be a val

children were baptized during the past year. About twenty people have been baptized since the first of this year, as a result of these contacts. Also, there was a young Chi
nese nurse from Bangkok, whose fiance was baptized in Chiang Mai about two years ago. Recently the Lord has been bringing us into congact with a number of Chinese tized.

He

taught her, then brought her to Chiang Mai to receive additional teaching and to be bap

people, both Christians and non-Christians. Pray that we will be able to effectively
witness to them.

ADDITIONAL HOUSING ACQUIRED

gave up their study to make room for setting it up, but everything has been very cramped and crowded, without sufficient space to work efficiently. Before Marsha and Margaret King left for the U.S. in mid-April, arrangements were made to rent the house they had
been living in, which is in the same compound as Eugene's house.

When the printing equipment was purchased in the Fall of 1976, Eugene and Helen

printing equipment, supplies of paper, finished books, and some other supplies and equip
ment.

David Morse and Sam Yangmi will stay in this house, where ^here is room for the
Rental of this house will mean

an added expense of $125 per month, but will also mean added convenience and efficiency.

David will also conduct his typing classes there.

GERTRUDE
HOWE MORSE

MEMORIAL
from

Mis. J. Russell Morse, veteran missionary vi^ith her hussoutheast Asia, a

heart attack and
thus over years ago. a

life Monday, February 7,

r Burma. Butdetocirum
December 19, 1896 to February 1, 1977
difficult task for even
able to make the trek.

missionary service that began

Gertrude Erma Howe was

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bom December 19, 1896, in

Ottawa, Kansas. On May 27,

1920, she married J. Russell
Morse.

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stances beyond their control, it was impossible for them to leave by normal exit routes within the appointed time. So Gertrude and J. Russell, along with the families of Robert, Eugene, and their adopted daughter Drema Es ther, tried to reach the Indian border by foot. This was a
the

the newlywed couple volunteered to pioneer for the

Lord a remote and difficult mission field.

A few months later,

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young and agile. But the Lord gave strength to the aging Morses, and they were Through unusual circum stances, the Lord made it pos
sible for them to remain

In August, 1921, they left

for the borders of eastern Tibet to serve under the

'ith daughter Ruth Johnson at undemarcated border. Here Society. After five years, the Gertrude and J. Russell Morse with nvention last November. they were far from all estab the National Missionary ( Convention term of service they had lished government adminis agreed on, they found they could no longer freely preach the Gospel plan of salvation as set tration; the only government for them and the band of Lisu forth in the New Testament if they were to remain with the who fled Burma with them was God's. Here they were able to U.C.M.S. Subsequently, they resigned from this oi^anized work continue for another six years in teaching, leadership training, and, in the fall of 1926, launched in faith a new independent education, and preparation of study materials. Part of the exciting story of these years is told in the book,J5xodus to a work. Their original plan was to contine working among the Hidden Valley, written by Eugene Morse and published by Tibetans, whose language they had learned. But the Lord led Reader's Digest. In June, 1972, when Gertrude and J. Russell were in their them to live and work among primitive tribespeople living high 70's, the Lord opened the way for them and the rest of the in the mountains along the China-Burma border. During the family to leave Burma. At that time, there were about 30,000 next 20 years the Morses and their family - three sons and one daughter --served first in the Mekong Valley and later in the Sal- Lisu and Rawang Christians. All during these many years of service, J. Russell was able to ween Valley in China, primarily among the Lisu people. Scores help the people in two major areas of their physical well-being. of indigenous congregations were established, each with its own pastor, deacons, and elders. In 1946 the Christians numbered He helped them horticulturally by teaching them to plant and about 6,000. Thirty years later, in 1976, the Morses were able cultivate many of the best American varieties of fruit trees. And he helped them through medical work. People came from to learn that, despite persecution, attempted brainwashing, and
forced labor at the hands of the communist government, there are still several thousand Christians among the Lisu in China.

United Christian Missionary

among the Lisu people in an isolated jungle area with an

During these 20 years in China, they suffered the loss of all

their belongings in a flood and endured the privations of being cut off from civilization due to the Japanese war. During Worid War II their sons Eugene and Robert worked with the U.S. Army in establishing ground search and rescue units to help rescue airmen downed while flying the treacherous "Hump" in the eastern Himalayas. At the close of the war, they all re
turned to the U.S.

far and wide, often traveling several days' journey, to come to the white teacher who treated with prayer and loving concern as well as with drugs.

Through all this Gertrude was the helpmeet her husband

needed. Together they gave of themselves; together they per severed in the face of seemingly insurmountable hartkhips; together they raised a family of children committed to mission
ary work in southeast Asia. At the 29th National Missionary Convention in November, 1976, Gertrude and J. Russell announced their desire to return

In late 1948 they went back to China with four new recruits, including the brides of Eugene and Robert. They arrived only a
few months before the communist takeover of the country.

Less than a year later, in 1949, J. Russell, the last to leave Kun ming, was caught in the takeover of the city. During the next 15 months he was allowed to continue working. As a result, 235 new Chinese converts were baptized. But early in 1959 he was arrested, kept in solitary imprisonment for 15 months, and subjected to many forms of torture. In June, 1952, he was released and deported to Hong Kong. There, through the marvelous working of God, Gertrude and their third son LaVeme were seeking information concerning him. The joyful reunion there was followed by a short furlough in the U.S. But their commitment to mission service compelled them to return to Asia. In 1953 they rejoined their family in northern Burma. There they continued to work among the Lisu people. They also saw the growth of a new work among the Rawang tribespeople. Their efforts were directed primarily at evangelizing, establishing churches, and training leadership. In December, 1965, all missionaries were ordered out of

to Thailand to work among the Lisu there. Although Gertrude did not live to personally realize the fulfillment of their desire, it is being fulfilled vicariously by their children and grandchil dren. Their sons Eugene and Robert and several of their chil
dren are involved in the North Burma Christian Mission now

established in Chiangmai, Thailand.

director of ^uth East Asia Evangelizing Mission and is also a

professor at Cincinnati Bible College. Their daughter Ruth has also expressed interest in missionary service in Thailand. Their adopted daughter Drema Esther is serving with her husband Jesse Yangmi in Chiangmai. August, 1976, marked the 55th anniversary of the first departure of J. Russell and Gertmde Morse to the mission field. Since that time much has been accomplished. Much of the good that has come as a result of their work can never be
measured.

Their son LaVeme is

The staff of Mission Services joins many Christians in Amer ica and Asia in extending heartfelt concern and sympathy to the Morse family. Tmly Gertrude Morse was a willing servant of our Lord, deserving now the recognition of fellow Christians.

February 15,1977

(51)3

>
TO: Mr. Bill McGilvrey
Mission Services
Box 177

Kempton, IN 46049

Gertrude Morse, wife of J. Russell Morse and co-founder of the North Burma

Christian Mission died February 7 at their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Gertrude

was born on December 19, 1896 in Ottawa, Kansas and her family went into
Indian territory when it was first opened in Oklahoma when she was five. Her

mother was Margaret Filbert and her father, George Howe was a lay preacher.
Gertrude graduated from the University of Oklahoma and was a member of

the Phi Beta Kappa scholastic fraternity. She and Russell were married May 27,
1920 and in 1921 went to China to work with Dr. Albert Shelton. In over 50

years of missionary service she served in Western China, Tibet and northern
Burma. During this time over 70,000 natives became Christians.

She is survived by her husband, Russell and her daughters Ruth Margaret Johnson,
Joplin and Drema Esther Yangmi, Thailand; her sons, LaVerne, a professor at

Cincinnati Bible Seminary and founder of the Southeast Asia Evangelizing

Mission; Robert and Eugene, both carrying on the work of the North Burma Christian Mission in northern Thailand; and by 26 grandchildren.

submitted by;
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur C. Bitts, Jr. Forwarding Agents
North Burma Christian Mission
P.O. Box 4074

Terre Haute, IN 47804

812-466-5955

/?77
GERTRUDE HOWE MORSE

dent of Dwight L. Moody and became a Missionary Baptist traveling lay preacher in "frontier" settlements, and in I90I mpved his family in a prairie schooner out onto the frontier of the Black Kettle grasslands of
older sister, Helen, who constantly talked of being a missionary, Gertrude grew up oriented toward fulltime Christian service. Her preparation included two years as a high school teacher in Bristow and Tonkawa,

Gertrude Howe Morse was born December 19, f896, in Ottawa, Kansas. Her father had been a stu

the new Oklahoma Territory. From the age of 4, when she heard about the myriads without Christ in India, and having a much

Oklahoma, besides a B.A. degree from Oklahoma University and one from Phillips University. She was one of three out of the graduating class of the state university to receive membership in the Phi Beta Kappa
Honor Society. She was also secretary of the College Student Volunteer Movement for foreign missions. It was at orCSVM convention that she met another recruit, J. Russell Morse. This began a romance which continued through 58 years of life-long work together, as the young couple volunteered to pioneer for the
Lord on the remote China-Tibetan border under Dr. Albert Shelton.

In August, 1921, the Morses first left the shores of America with four-month old Eugene, the first of

4 children they were to rear and dedicate to the Lord's work. They returned to the States for the last time at the end of July, 1972, completing 51 years of service on the foreign field. During all this half century or so, Gertrude had no other support or income than that of her only living-link church, Westside Christian Church, Springfield, Illinois, and its faithful ministers and members. Gertrude never did fit into the role of mere housewife. Studying along with her husband the Chinese, Tibetan and later Lisu languages, she early established the pattern of being a true Bible teacher and soulwinner that prevailed to the end of her life, wherever she found herself. While on the mission field each
of the children in turn was tutored through grade school with the help of correspondence courses. In each

shared equally with her husband and children all the privations, dangers, hardships, fears and joys of a truly frontier pioneering evangelistic work. Laboring as non-denominational Christian-only faith mission
aries without a supporting Board, the Morses throughout more than 50 years carried out the principles of

of the many mission bases where they residedBatang, Sikang, Gartok Markham; Yeachi, Kangpu, Tobalo, Pugeleh, and Tada in Yunnan; Muladi, Tiliwago, Putao; and Binozup and Ziyudi, Naga Hills;Gertrude

identifying with the people on the one hand, and living life apart from wordly pleasures on the other. The Morses were led of the Lord away from the "civilized" cities and towns into the almost inaccessable deep mountain valleys of the "Hump" area of West China. Among the primitive tribes of Tibetans and Nashi, Lisu and Nung, Gertrude brought up her family in a frugal Spartan hardy life style in that almost

point, and day after day, down through the years, this was her main task. She spent long sessions each day teaching prospects, converts, or Christian workers. She taught individually or in groups in the homes and in many different Bible Schools. She taught in Tibetan, Chinese, and Lisu, or through interpreters to
Nashi, Rawang, Kachin, or Naga.

unknown hinterland where China, Tibet, Burma and India meet. Teaching new converts was her strong

Yangtze, Mekong and Salween; exploring new areas, or visiting and teaching new converts, she traveled
Chinese-Tibet, when it took six months one way to send mail to the United States, through the '40s when
countless miles over mountain trails of west Yunnan and northernmost Burma. From the beginning in

Never one to shrink back from pioneering, to stay at home with her children, she accompanied her husband, RusseTl, or went alone on teaching trips. Whether in Inner Tibet or along the river gorges of the

they were isolated in war-blockaded China, to the 6 years when they were cut off in "Hidden Valley", she
led her growing family of three generations in improvising and living off the land, under the unfailing providence of God. She was steadfast in her complete faith that G^ was in control and would undertake

for all their needs. She was a tower of strength and a pillar of intercessory prayer for the more than 70,000
souls and over 300 churches won to Christ and established during their ministry.

slacked in her devotion to the work of the Lord. When Russell made a necessary medical trip out to Hong

Though often apart from her husband under very difficult and dangerous circumstances, Gertrude never

Kong through brigand-infested territory she stayed behind with the two small boys in a new station on the

Tibetan border. When Russell went out on one-or-two-month long evangelistic trips, she kept her family

and continued her teaching. When Russell and Robert went out to "civilization" on the Burma Road for supplies in 1940, she taught among the Lisu congregations and held her family together when a flood swept away all the mission base and supplies. When Russell was arrested and imprisoned by the Cninese communists in Kunming, Gertrude pioneered in the north Burma work and faithfully interceded until his release in 1952,

rule in countless seemingly impossible situations which repeatedly faced her family. She also depended on Him in the innumerable cases of extreme danger or deadly sickness which overtook one or another member of the family. Her whole life was a testimony to the power of prayer and a demonstration of the loving
concern of the Lord for His children, whether her immediate family or the thousands of new Christians
scattered throughout the jungle.

Through all the years, she realized that there had to be a practical balance between theory and practice, between doctrine and experience. Her unlimited belief in the Word of Godii.as the sole rule of faith and life was matched by a daily hand-in-hand walk with the Lord who gave the Word. Believing in Jesus for salvation, she also trusted in Him for all her family's needs. I'iShe looked to the Lord to intervene and over

when the Lord led her to Hong Kong at the right time for a joyful reunion.

the powers of darkness which were her only enemy, she always remained vigilant and claimed victory in the
1926. She stayed with Russell to the end when all foreigners were ordered out of West China in 1927, walking 70 days through monsoon jungles with their two little boys, Eugene and Robert. She determined to stay on though everything was lost and lives almost snuffed out by flash-flood in 1940. When Communist
name of the Lord. Thus she worked with Russell to open a new field when the Tibetan work closed down in

Gertrude never lost sight of the fact that she was a soldier in the army of the Lord. She always put on the full armor of God and fought the good fight right to the end. Determined never to concede defeat to

battle of prayer which kept the North Burma field free and open for many years to come. Knowing that

forces threatened to overrun North Burma and got within 20 miles of Putao in 1962, she held fast in the

the "sword of the Spirit" is the Word of God, she never weakened in her constant efforts to teach the Bible thoroughly to all converts and to make it available for ail in their own languages. Gertrude en

couraged the younger generations of workers to emphasize the translation, printing, distribution, and teaching of the Bible in Tibetan, Chinese, Lisu, Rawang, Kachin and other languages of the mission field.
were influenced for Christ by the work of this pioneer white woman in Southeast Asia, through personal
contact and without any mass media publicity.

It is estimated that over half a million tribespeople scattered throughout that field became aware of and

Returning on furlough to the States in 1972, after more than 6 years in "Hidden Valley" and three months in Mandalay jail with II members of her family, she had no thought of retiring. But all her years
of labor took their toll and in late October of 1974, at the close of a month's speaking tour in California

with Russell, she almost succumbed to a heart attack. Due to the help of the Harvey Beards and many other kind friends in Southern California, who arranged her stay in Long Beach Community hospital and later convalesence, she was given an extra two years of life and service. Meanwhile, with her return to the States, diabetes had developed and her health deteriorated. Yet, she continued unceasing in her ministry

of missionary endeavor. With the help of faithful friends such as Alice Pray in Tulsa, she worked over a
work in Southeast Asia.

However, heeding the injunction of the Lord that we should be His witnesses and testify to what great things He has done, she felt impelled to start writing the story of the Lord's work through three generations
year and a half collating the historical records and recording the events of a half century of missionary service, making a first draft of what may well turn out to be a series of three books on pioneer missionary
The last months of Gertrude's life weee now quite limited in comparison to life on the North Burma field, but she maintained her goal and staunch spirit. In spite of failing eyesight she remained active, concerned and sweet in spirit right to the end. On the morning of the 7th of February, 1977, she made a trip downtown with Russell, and after visiting with various friends, what happened is recounted below in
Russell's words: "Our doctors had recommended several moderate daily walks. At about 4:00 P.M.,

and witnessing for Christ.

February 7, Gertrude said 'Now I'm going for a walk'. I replied 'I'll keep you company.' As there was

almost no traffic at that time in our residential area, we walked slowly westward two blocks on the street,

holding hands and praising the Lord, recounting some of His wonderful blessings during our 58 1/2 years together. Then she said,' I'd like to march ahead with you like this for one more block.' I said, 'Then the return home would total six blocks, perhaps too much for you.' She seemed to agree happily, so we yard she iaw two of their grandchildren, and told me to go inside to begin preparations for supper. I later

praised the Lord some more as we exchanged precious memories while walking homeward. In our neighbor's
learned that she walked eastward one more block, and upon return chatted affectionately with those two children. Next, from our kitchenette, I hear the front door open and close, thought 'That's my beloved Gertrude.' But at once I heard a heavy fall, then rushed to find her lying unconscious without even having

Lord.' A heighboTcanfie^ toTieTpT^lephone caTTs were made,"the parame^cs and ambulance came, then a surprising number of fellbw Christians rallied to comfort and help in every way needed. Now words fail to express my heartache and loneliness for Gertrude, but pray for me that I also may do as Jesus said, 'Be ye faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life. WFRnow truly that as she opened the door to step inside her home on earth, she stepped inside her home in Paradise instead, to her rest and joy." We want especially to thank all the ministers, board and members of Highland Park Christian Church in
Tulsa for all their help and support in all funeral and other arrangements. Blessed is the one whose strength is in Thee, In whose heart are the highways to Zion. Passing through the valley of Weeping they make it a place of springs... They go from strength to strength. Everyone of them appeareth before God in Zion. Behold, O God our Shield, And look upon the face of Thine anointed. For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God,
Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Ps. 84:5-7.9f

removed_^er overcoat. She went without a murmer or cry. 'Absent from the body, to be present with the

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the LodJ from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." Rev. 14:13

I tell you this, my brothers: an earthly body made of flesh and blood cannot get into God's kingdom. These perishable bodies of ours are not the right kind to live forever. For our earthly bodies, the ones we have now that can die, must be transformed into heavenly bodied that cannot perish but will live forever. When this happens, then at last this Scripture will come true - "Death is swallowed up in victory."
How we thank God for all this! It is He who makes us victorious through Jesus Christ our Lord!
I Cor. 15:50, 53f, 57

And now, dear brothers... I can tell you this directly from the Lord: that we who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet Him ahead of those who are in their graves.. .the believers who are
dead will be the first to rise to meet the Lord. Then we who are still alive and remain on the earth will

be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with Him forever. So comfort and encourage each other with this news. I Th. 4:13