(1895) Escape to Chefoo

[NOTE: Footnote entries within text of chapter apparently lost. See original chapter file. Perhaps this chapter can be reconstructed from original chapter].

The new year went peacefully and quiet. But before it was all over; they got a "släng med av skänk" (toss of the ladle).

In the midst of all this Hedvig thinks of her mother and sister alone back home, struggles with being away from home, and the fact that little progress has been made in China.

Time is short. Oh how short. One day after another flies by and how fast. Take care of each day. How, and in what way ?? Oh God I feel so useless. Can't do anything, can't perform. My tongue is bound, bound. Jesus help, help me, help us both. Our hearts are burning with longing to preach the gospel for these dear friends in the sinful world.

Soon, soon we will be called away [to heaven], bookkeeping must be shown. Think if there are no pearls in the crown . .

Oh my soul's groom hold my hand and let it never need to separate and I would have to go out and ask Jerusalem's daughter if she has in my soul's love. Jesus help me to speak and pray and talk so your spirit may be jubilant.

Lindberg who had been in China the longest would usually preach in the street opposite the chapel was preaching this day to a Chinese audience in the garden. The number of people has been increasing lately. Though Hedvig cannot communicate with the crowds, she encouraged that she can at least pray.

Dear Lord Jesus come and open not only their ears, but also their hearts. Show them your holy word and let there be miracles at this place. Lord I can't do any work among the women yet, but I'm still glad that I can pray for them that work.

Sharing the Good News

It was not until Saturday, January 12 of 1895 that she tried for the first time to talk to a Chinese lady about God. "Had yesterday my first small try with this difficult language for a Chinese daughter about God's love and how stumbling it went. May God bless and lead this old Chinese woman to begin to think about soul's eternal doom."

The next day, Hedvig received a letter from her brother Janne - No brother named Janne -. Could this be Manne?in Sweden telling her of their father's last days. Janne said that their father, knowing that he was going to die, spoke of death only as someone would speak who was at peace with God. "He was . . . calm, even glad at the thought of death." This letter comforted Hedvig tremendously. Having made his peace with God meant that she would be seeing him again. "O Lord you know what a burden has lifted from my heart. So I must believe that my father is in heaven and you Father you have stood by your promise in answer to prayer." She asks God that the remainder of her family in Sweden will also become true Christians.

Chinese Society

Chinese society was quite different from anything that Johan and Hedvig had known before. Besides learning the language, they would also need to become familiar with the assumptions of life and a person's place in it, and about death and the afterlife. Communicating to a people was more than communicating words. It was also communicating concepts, ideas and differing values. Some ideas the Chinese did not even have words for. Johan and Hedvig had to take from the Chinese culture to explain new ideas.

Escape

Hedvig and Johan Alfred's time of language study was to be short.The war that had seemed so far away had arrived in Shantung. In 1894 the Sino-Japanese war broke out. A Japanese army crossed into Manchuria from Korea. Another landed near Port Arthur. A third force later came to take the naval base of Wei-hai-wei - Also spelled Weihaiwei . In January the fighting between the Chinese and Japanese moved to the province of Shantung. Soon they heard that the Japanese had bombed Teng-chu-fu and the fort of Wei-hai-wei.

On Saturday, February 2, 1895, a letter arrived from the American consul in Chefoo ordering American missionaries in the district to go immediately to the fishing village of San-San-Saddle, Alternate spelling San-Shan-Shair? where an American cruiser, the Charleston, would meet them at a certain bay in northern Shantung and transport them to Chefoo. It was no longer safe for them in Shantung. The Swedish missionaries were invited to join the Americans fleeing.

After their first wave of anxiety had settled, Hedvig and Johan packed their foot locker and on Sunday left with regret early the next morning for Pingtu not knowing if they would ever see their humble home again.

The day's journey was without incident, and the small family arrived in Pingtu that evening. The ship pictured here is the USS Charleston obtained from a US government source online, and thus free of copyright restrictions. Currently I am attempting to verify that this was the ship that picked up the missionaries.This may be found through ship's logs. For general information on ship's logs see the Department of the Navy's Ships' Deck Logs (http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq73-1.htm). For more specific information see: National Archives Special List 44, List of Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships, Stations, and Miscellaneous Units, 1801–1947. For this check the National Archives website (http://www.archives.gov/) . LJH]

In Pingtu the Rinells met with the other fleeing missionaries. These included Johan E. Lindberg and Anna Holtz who were to be married on March 1. They had stayed in Pingtu during the winter. Lindberg and Anna, considering the uncertain journey before them, decided to get married immediately. Being married would make it more convenient for traveling probably, especially considering that they may need to share sleeping quarters with the others during their escape. Dr. H. A. Randle, an English Baptist missionary doctor, conducted the ceremony "in all simplicity" according to Hedvig, on Monday, February 4, in the midst of their hurried packing. The other missionaries acted as witnesses. John and Anna were both dressed in Chinese clothes with Lindberg sporting a traditional Chinese pigtail. Anna wore a traditional Chinese dress.

Early the next morning mules and donkeys were at the front gate their bells tinkling. Lindberg and Anna's "honeymoon" began with the groom riding a donkey and the bride a "Shen-tse," a padded stretcher suspended between two mules, one mule in front and one in the rear. Accompanying them were two American missionaries and their two children, two English missionaries and their three children, and the other two Swedish missionaries with one child, a total of eight adults and six children. Each woman rode a Shen-tse with a child or two riding with her. Since mules are not prone to keep in step, the ride was jerky and uncomfortable, which led one of the party to comment this mode of transportation should be "reserved for the devil and his angels." The men rode donkeys or walked. H. A. Randle was designate as the leader.

The weather was bitterly cold, a teeth-chattering wind blew from the northwest following on their footsteps. Snow covered the ground as the party of fourteen began their overland two day journey. During the day the temperature was 10 to 15 Celsius. During the night it was unbearable if they were in the open.

At the end of the first day's journey they found a humble inn, a "bed and breakfast" without the breakfast John writes. The whole party, men, women and children slept together in one room. The entrance lacked a door, and the window opening lacked glass or even paper, a typical window covering. It was bitter cold, but the building at least blocked the strong north wind, and the extra bodies helped provide some heat.

The following day the weather was calm and milder, but they had a long and journey ahead of them. After a long and tiresome day, late in the evening on Wednesday, February 6, the caravan of missionaries approached the fishing village of San-San-Saddle. Outside the village stood a humble inn where they asked to rent a few small cottages for the night. The innkeepers refused. Neither they nor their fellow villagers nearby wanted anything to do with this group of foreigners. Discouraged, the missionaries continued toward the village. For a description of San-San-Saddle see the following book available on Google Books (also downloaded to author's computer as a PDF file): "The China Sea Directory" by Great Britain Hydrographic Office, page 507.

As they approached the village the missionaries asked two Chinese 'voice carriers' or messengers to go ahead of the missionaries to speak with the the villagers, asking if that they would give permission for the travelers to stay in the village inn. The missionaries followed a long distance behind.

When the people in the village heard that foreigners were close to the village and were soon to arrive they were frightened thinking these foreigners were Japanese. They told the messengers that they would certainly not give these foreigners shelter.

The villagers beat drums, sounded other instruments, and fired cannon to scare away the "foreign devils." Under this cacophony of instruments and cannon and the threat of real violence the missionaries retreated. They were now at loss as to how to get a roof over their heads. No other village was in the area. The night was dark and snow still covered the ground. If they continued their journey they would have to cross a river, which would not be easy.

Johan Alfred's wrote in his diary:

One cannon after the other was set off, and there was nothing else to do, but go back. That had its problems. We have to go across a river and with children this was not easy, and exhausted as we were it was not easy. . . The small children cried from cold and hunger. Little Egron had lost both shoe and sock on one foot.

The missionaries left by way of the inn they had first came to. The landlord of this inn, who before refused their entrance, now for some reason had a change of heart, and even seemed concerned for their safety. The landlord [owner?] agreed to let these foreigners have a couple of rooms for the night. The party gladly entered the rooms of the inn. The dusty k'angs were surrounded by dirty boxes, barrels, cackling chickens, and screaming donkeys. They unpacked what they needed, settled in and tried to keep warm while laying on the k'ang. The villagers were still frightened. All through the night the they fired their cannon one blast after another still trying to keep the foreign devils away.

During the night a few of the missionary party woke to the sound of voices. A villager, either outside the inn or in another room, was discussing how these foreign guests could best be rendered harmless. Perhaps they should be killed another villager suggested. Another villager responded that it is said that it would take one hundred Chinese to kill just one foreigner. If they were to attack and kill these foreigners they would have to be very careful of their own safety.

The other missionaries were awaken and told of the danger. A few, naturally, started praying. Fearing for their lives, but with no place to go, they took turns keeping watch during the night. The others, exhausted, slept soundly despite the danger.

The night drew on slowly for those keeping watch, but the morning came without incident. The following day a number of village men, guns in hand, came from the fishing village to see what kind of Japanese these foreigners were, and decide what they were to do with them - either kill them or compel them to leave the area was their decision. After a heated argument, with the missionaries explaining a 'long palace' or ship was coming to pick them up, the men of the village agreed they could stay until noon, but no longer. The villages returned to their village. The sound of cannon stopped. The innkeeper emphasized they could not stay in the inn another night. He did not want any more trouble.

On February 6 Rear Admiral Carpenter, commanding U.S. Naval forces on the Asiatic Station, received a communication that some American missionaries desired to be rescued and brought to Chefoo. Carpenter ordered the USS Charleston to do so. The Charleston set sail at 4:30 am on the 7th.

Early in the morning of February 7, Dr. H. A. Randle, leader of the missionary group, together with a couple of the men headed down to the shore determine what spot would be the most likely for a boat to come ashore. They climbed a hillock with binoculars in hand to scan the shore for a possible landing spot, and the horizon for signs of the American ship.

To there utter dismay the sea before them was blocked by uneven, impassable ice stretching 20 (li a Chinese unit of distance, equivalent to about one-third of a mile (0.5 km) over the inlet). There was no way for a boat, even a small boat, to reach the shore. And, it would be impossible for their party to traverse the jagged ice to reach the open sea. Besides, there was no ship in sight. They had no choice but to sit and wait. They certainly could not return to the village. Continuing on in another direction that day was out of the question if only for the reason they were all exhausted, especially the children. If the ship did not come or if they could not reach it they considered sending a few of their party on the overland road to Wang-cou-fu (another source possibly gave the name as Teng-cou-fu) and take a boat the next day from there to Chefoo to seek help for those remaining behind. What those who were left behind were to do was, apparently, left as an open question.

In the mean time they waited. A cold wind blew strongly across the hillock.

At 11:00 one of the men picked up the binoculars and looked out to sea. He saw what seemed to be a column of smoke on the horizon. After some time he could make out a smokestack, and still later he could make out a ship as the vessel rounded the curve of the earth. It was the cruiser Charleston. Saddling the donkeys quickly the men and the rest of the party rode, walked and ran to the beach.

Upon reaching the shore, and to their amazement, they found that a narrow passage had opened through the ice from the shore to the deeper waters. The strong wind had, apparently, divided the ice. A noisy steam-driven launch from the cruiser made its way through the narrow ice passage, and came right up onto shore. The missionaries unpacked their belongings from the mules, and friendly, smiling sailors loaded the missionaries, their children, and their few possessions 'solidly' into the small boat leaving the donkeys and mules where they stood. With a rare bit of sarcasm Johan Alfred writes, "Even the charming people from the small farm town were out to see "the people with the big noses." The unfriendly townspeople numbering in the thousands stood along the shore watching as the foreign devils were helped into the launch. With baggage and person securely in place, the missionaries and sailors chugged off toward the "long palace".

Upon arriving at the Charleston sailors helped them climb the tall walls of the ship's hull, followed by their possessions. The friendly greeting the missionaries received from officers and men onboard was so much, and so unexpected after the long and difficult trip, and the opening of the ice at the last minute so miraculous that they could only cry. They boarded the Charleston at about 4:00 PM. They were invited to sleep in the admiral's quarters and given something to eat.

They had arrived just in time. Behind them the ice had again closed in and their was again no passage. About twenty-four hours after they were "escorted around the ship to see its beauty from the inside out."⁹⁷ Johan Alfred's diary Jag är född i Krokebo Jag är född i Krokebo, February 7, 1895. Not long after they were docking in Chefoo. Johan Alfred was delighted that the food, lodging and transportation didn't cost them a thing. "The ship's cabins and foods were to the cost of the Charleston," Johan Alfred writes ⁹⁸ Johan Alfred's diary Jag är född i Krokebo, February 7, 1895.

They arrived at their destination and the safety of Chefoo on at 2:00 PM Friday afternoon, February 8. "American Diplomatic and Public Papers--the United States and China: Series III, the Sino-Japanese War to the Russo-Japanese War, 1894-1905" - by Jules Davids - Political Science - 1981 - pages 121-123 Check the archives of the New York Times (www.nyt.com) for movement of the Charleston during this time.

American Diplomatic and Public Papers--the United States and China: Series III, the Sino-Japanese War to the Russo-Japanese War, 1894-1905 - by Jules Davids - Political Science - 1981 - pages 121-123

Hedvig writes, "What a miracle our unworthy eyes have seen! Have we not come through our Red Sea unhurt, and was it not guaranteed that our all mighty wonderful God would take care of us in our work in China?" Johan Alfred of course also saw this rescue as divine intervention. "God has let a wind blow, so the ice separated right in half," he writes. ⁹⁹ Johan Alfred's diary Jag är född i Krokebo, February 7, 1895.

Though the missionaries felt that God had miraculously rescued them, and though the men of the ship were very kind, Rear Admiral Carpenter who had ordered their rescue was not altogether pleased with the missionaries, at least the American missionaries. He wrote:

In connection with the subject of American missionaries, I beg leave to call the attention of the Department to the difficulties experienced in endeavoring to get these people to place themselves out of danger. At best the obstacles in the way of rendering assistance are numerous, and these have been increased in a great degree by the missionaries themselves. As a class they are thoroughly helpless and irresponsible as far as taking precautions are concerned, and by their lack of unanimity of action would defeat the best laid plans for their rescue.

The Consular Agent in Chefoo, and the Commander-in-Chief have been most urgent in their reiterated admonitions to the missionaries in the outlaying districts to seek refuge in Chefoo, where ample protection could be afforded. That this should have been done before the rigor of winter made traveling a hardship, and the advent of the Japanese increased the danger from the ignorant, disorderly element of the Chinese classes, requires no comment.

The missionaries appear to have no conception of a state of war. As long as the danger appears to them remote they disregard all advise, preferring to remain to care for their worldly possessions, rather than to prepare for possible contingencies. When it becomes almost too late, and they find themselves confronted with dangerous conditions, they appeal with pitiful energy for assistance, and start aimlessly for the coast hoping for aid and succor. To them the presence of ice along the shore and the absence of soundings on the chart mean nothing as long as they reach seaboard at any time they apparently think their responsibility ended.

The hazardous duty for which the "CHARLESTON" was order could only be justified by the supposed imminent danger to a number of defenseless fellow countrymen and women.

["American Diplomatic and Public Papers--the United States and China: Series III, the Sino-Japanese War to the Russo-Japanese War, 1894-1905" - by Jules Davids - Political Science - 1981 - pages 121-123. Check the archives of the New York Times (www.nyt.com) for movement of the Charleston during this time.]

Within twenty-four hours of the Charleston's return to Chefoo, the American Counsel informed Rear Admiral Carpenter that another group of missionaries, who had not thought it necessary to go to San-San-Saddle, may need rescuing.

Carpenter was not far off the mark. During the Boxer uprising [give figures including the number of Swedes killed].

In Chefoo the Lindbergs continued their honeymoon in a more normal way at the Ottaway Hotel without the company of their fellow missionaries and their children.

Though safer Chefoo did not turn out to be a haven of refuge. Japanese troops were expected to arrive any day and the people of the city and the missionaries were more than a little concerned. Johan Alfred writes, "in Chefoo we were actually scared mainly of the new [Japanese] regime." ¹⁰⁰ Johan Alfred's diary Jag är född i Krokebo, February 8 - 11, 1895. "The Japanese were closing in and every day we heard the cannon in the distance. We even heard them in our rooms.

The foreigners in the city including the missionaries were relying on the fifteen warships Johan Alfred says in Swedish "cannon boats" anchored in the Chefoo harbor. With these gun ships near at hand they felt fairly calm, but stressed at the same time. The Chinese in Chefoo and surrounding villages, however, were afraid of both the Japanese and the foreign ships anchored in the harbor.They did not trust either. They started to flee their homes, villages and Chefoo.

The Japanese, however, never attacked the city. They did take Wei-hai-wei. [Do a web search using the terms "Wei-hai-wei and 1895". Many citations come up.] They commandeered the Chinese fleet in the area, along with building materials, weapons, ammunition, provisions, coal and whatever else they considered of value and left Shantung province, but leaving a garrison of about 1000 soldiers at the fort. After the fort's fall to the Japanese many English officers who had fought for the Chinese at Wei-hai-wei came and stayed at the hotel. The missionaries heard many exciting war stories from these soldiers. Unfortunately, the missionaries did not write down any of these exciting stories.

Dr. and Mrs. Randle invited Johan and Hedvig to stay with them, so they packed up their meager belongings and spent the rest of their stay with the Randles where they enjoyed Christian surroundings and fellowship.

Back to Kiaochow

After a while the war seemed to have moved on. Lindberg, Rinell, Randle and Sears decided that the Chinese and Japanese troops had probably left Shantung, and they were all tired of waiting in Chefoo. On March 11 a little over a month since they had arrived, Lindberg and Johan thinking "it is a painful situation not to have anything to do" as Hedvig writes, but also, no doubt, wanting to check out the situation back home, traveled inland to Kiaochow. Anna and Hedvig with little Egron stayed in Chefoo. Though safe, Hedvig and Anna were not very happy with being left behind. Hedvig writes, "Alone, alone and little Egron has been ill twice. A trying time." But she does not loose her optimism. She continues, "Oh yes Lord, even for this we will praise you. The sun's wonderful rays are again beginning to show between the clouds and the wind with grace is beginning to give a breeze. And even the hope of soon going home to our loved ones is again slowly shining."

Rinell and Lindberg together with Randle and Sears who lived in Pingtu and a Presbyterian missionary from Wei-hsien, J. A. Fitch, headed off together to Pingtu. They estimated it taking about four and a half days which was the amount of time for which they had food.

They started off with their pack animals with anticipation of soon being home. But after some distance a cold storm came in upon them. They laid up for two days in a Chinese inn whose owners, apparently, did not think them to be devils. The cold was so biting that many travelers had to cover themselves with bedding even during the day to keep fairly warm. After four and a half days their food supply was nearly exhausted. Dr. Randle and Johan could not eat the Chinese food. [For what reason I do not know. Perhaps they were not feeling well. LJH.]

The doctor suggested in jest that perhaps they should make some egg pudding, probably thinking of English egg pudding they had no doubt enjoyed in Chefoo. To the others this suggestions was as if said and done. They all would make some egg pudding. The next moment they were all in the inn's kitchen washing dishes and coffee cups, mixing the eggs under Dr. Randles supervision, and assisted by Johan. From what they could buy at the inn, and from their own meager remaining provisions they mixed and poured the egg pudding into the coffee cups. Everyone thought it to be pretty good egg pudding. From that day forward Dr. Randle and Johan were in charge of pudding making.

When the storm let up and they could travel they were slowed by deep snow drifts and iced over rivers. As the days continued the snow and ice began to melt causing deep mud. The poor animals that had to carry the party's belongings fell again and again. The men frequently had to help the mules back up on their feet. Since the animals had enough to worry about, the men walked rather than ride. Slowly men and animals worked their way toward Kiaochow. They progressed another two Swedish miles (twenty kilometers) that day, and the second two and a half Swedish miles. The second day? The rest of the time traveling went a little better.

In contrast to the journey to Chefoo, the Chinese along the route "showed us great friendliness" Johan later wrote. Several times Dr. Randle took advantage of the spectacle of they as white foreigners making their way across the Chinese landscape to preach to attentive audiences. On March 21 after eleven days, rather than the four and a half days first estimated, they arrived in Kiaochow. Expecting the worse they were overjoyed that in general nothing had been touched during their absence. Everything was in good order. Johan, however, saw an emptiness in his house and felt an emptiness in his heart. Six weeks after leaving Chefoo he writes:

A home without a family, how empty and ghastly. No loving smiles and helpful wife. No child's babble! - Check translation. Actually says 'oskuldsfullt' (innocence) - Everything quiet. The home has almost ceased to be a home. It has at [the very] least lost its former sweetness.

It was almost unbearable. And he was worried about his little family. "God protect and be with my dear [expensive] loved ones where they are!"

Johan wanted to bring his family home. The question was if the war was indeed over. Johan took the chance and started off on April 25 for Chefoo. It took only four days this time. On Monday afternoon on May 29 he was already with his family. Not having had a chance to get off a message saying he was coming, it was a complete surprise when he showed up in Chefoo, which increased their joy all the more. "To describe both sides of our happiness, I'm not even going to try."

Word was spreading around the city that a peace treaty would be signed between the Japanese and Chinese in Chefoo on Wednesday, May 8. It looked like peace had indeed arrived. It was time to go home. On May 6 Hedvig, Egron, and the new Mrs. Lindberg started off for home with Johan leading. This time the journey home was without storm, and they made the journey within normal time. They arrived in Kiaochow on, Saturday, May 11. Arriving in Kiaochow they passed a garrison of Chinese troops. Hedvig and Egron were in the first "Shen-tse" in the caravan. Egron's little face "shone like sunshine", Hedvig writes, and he waved his little hand to the soldiers. It was almost a triumphal procession through the city as the townspeople and the soldiers watched this small group of white foreigners make their way through the streets. On the same day Hedvig writes, "Happily we now return to work." Mr. Lindberg with joy welcomed his wife to Kiaochow, the first time she had seen this city. Mr. and Mrs. Lindberg stayed with Johan and Hedvig until their new home was constructed. With Hedvig, Egron and their home filled with friends, their house really was feeling and looking a like a home again to Johan.

Floods

The construction of the Lindbergs two story home went slowly in the "old wheels footstep" as Johan puts it. But it was finally ready by June 27 and Johan's and Hedvig's friends moved into their new home. June and July of the summer went without incident, and the summer was pleasant. The temperature was not as hot as in past years, which was a blessing for the Rinells in their "unhealthy and non-ventilated cottage." On Saturday night, August 15 rain fell. It rained all night accompanied by the lightning and thunder. The waters rose. On August 16 the rains fell like they had not fallen before. Water in some streets near the river rose so high that one could row a boat down them. The waters continued to rise and threatened the Rinell's home.

The poorer mud brick houses in the neighborhood started crumbling, and walls of houses fell over with a muffled splash. The Rinell's servant-lady's house fell off its foundation and the house fell over. And still the rains fell. Sunday night the rain continued with more destruction. Water rampaged around Rinell's landlord's house, but with the help of others they managed to save it. Water continued to threaten the Rinell's home. For two nights they did not sleep in fear of drowning or being crushed by the weight of the house falling upon them. Hearing the collapse of many houses near them was unnerving. They did not know how long theirs would stand.

The rain let up on Monday. But part of Kiaochow were devastated. [Should the description of this flood be in chapter 1896 or were there two floods?]

The Work

Despite danger and some hardship, the work continued. In this year of 1895 the Swedish Baptist Mission in China now had eight missionaries (four men and four women), nine native helpers (six men and three women), six chapels, all probably very humble, and 151 baptized believers, 139 church members (though not everyone attending church would be a member), two boarding schools with twenty-four students, four day schools for thirty-one pupils and contributions totaled $340.72.

In November Johan prepared for his first sermon in Chinese. He shared with his audience the fact of God's wonderful kingdom. His text was from the New Testament, Philippines 3:20, and the theme was heavenly citizenship.

He got up before a large audience of Chinese townspeople. Hedvig and the other missionaries sat with excitement, eagerness, anticipation and nervousness waiting to hear the first Chinese message from their fellow Swedish-born missionary. Johan started off telling his audience that as white foreign-born persons in China, he and his wife would always be asked where they were from, what country they are citizens of and what they do as occupations in their country. This is a normal and natural thing to ask. But, Johan, told his audience, the Apostle Paul says that we are citizens of the heavenly kingdom, so therefore we should all think of our citizenship in this way.

But where is God's kingdom? It is inside you; it is in the church family; it is in heaven.

What is this kingdom like? Here there is war and uncertainty; in heaven there is peace. Here there are bad people who kill, steal, lie, drink, gamble, smoke opium and worship idols. In heaven there are none of these things. Here there is sin and death. There in heaven there is cleanliness from sin, no death or dying, eternal happiness.

And who are the members of this kingdom? God, Jesus, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and all the prophets and apostles, all who Jesus saved. And many of my personal friends are also there.

And where will you go. Don't you also want to ask God's forgiveness of your sin and come with and be member, a citizen of God's kingdom?

Johan's first Chinese sermon was over. It was a success. His accent was not too bad. People understood what he was saying. He was beyond joy to be finally preaching to the people in their own language.

The happiness which was felt when I . . . felt myself worthy in our own place to hold my first sermon in Chinese I will not try to explain. It felt good . . . that after such a long time to stop and open my mouth and share with a large audience God's, our Savour's, wonderful kingdom.

ing voice in the desert' to save and rescue for many many Chinese. So may it be!

An eventful year was coming to a close.

One year has passed and an other is beckoning. What will happen in this newly begun year? What (?) motivations will meet us? Yes, you know God. In your hands we (anticipating command) us and pray with the singer [psalmist]: 'Give us all that we need, during this new year, blessings and strength for every day and the time that passes. Give us the feeling to always be your spokesman. Your will be done in the we listening serve on our (?) (?) wandering here.'

LeRoy Jewett

On March 27 in Manchester, New Hampshire, USA.

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