(1896) A New Home

They had found everything as they had left it when they returned to Kiaochow. It was good to be back home again. Language study continued. They could identify with the apostle Paul who about 1900 years previous wrote, "Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" But the question was how to introduce the subject of Jesus to a great consolidated mass of human life, rooted in its old civilization, philosophy and religion and bustling with intense and varying activities. They struggled with how to win the attention and reach the hearts of an intelligent, industrious, superstitious, but not unfriendly people.

Preaching to the People

Lindberg had been longest on the field and was alone responsible for the worship service on Sunday in the chapel. He had good help in his cook, Suen Woe-uh, an old Christian and Baptist who had before many years served Dr. Hartwell, and who had also been allowed to follow him to and from America. Johan Alfred joined Lindberg in preaching in the street chapel in the city. They also preached in the marketplace of Kiaochow and the surrounding villages. There were really no restrictions on preaching. One could stand anywhere and speak as long as you did not block the traffic. So like a speaker perched upon a box on Hyde Corner in London or the Apostle Paul in the marketplace of Athens they preached to anyone who would listen to their message - and people often wanted to listen.

The preaching often started with friendly chatter about business and harvest predictions or local news, subjects that were of common interest. Johan Alfred and Lindberg might then begin speaking about Chinese history and literature, and Chinese philosophy and religion. They would acknowledge the spiritual values of Chinese religions and morals, but at the same time talk about the similarities and the uniqueness of the Christian faith. After listening to these foreigners about their religion one person in the audience said, "the doctrine is good, and if one acted up to it neither government or laws would be needed."In insightful comment and true enough, but it was difficult for people to accept something new and to break with their old and familiar religions.

After speaking with the people individually or in groups, Lindberg and Johan Alfred would would distribute tracts, Bibles, or portions of the Bible and other Christian literature. The British and Foreign Bible Society and the American Bible Society supplied Christian literature at very favorable prices. At first the literature was given away. Later they found that it better to put a very small price on the books. The Chinese held such a reverence for the printed characters. If they paid for the literature, they valued it more highly and were more likely to read it. No doubt this Christian literature also reached people in places where the missionaries would not have opportunity or knowledge to visit.

Lindberg and Johan Alfred spoke every day a whole month on New year's period of 1896. One of them stayed in the Chapel to welcome people, the other went out on the street and preached to the crowds, and invited listeners in to the chapel to hear further about this new religion and to listen to music. The organ they had invested in was not doubt a real attraction. Most Chinese had never heard such a musical instrument. In fact the music itself was quite different to traditional Chinese music. Attending a lecture then was a unique experience for the Chinese attending.

By in large the spreading of the gospel went slowly, but enough people were interested so that the missionaries thought it worthwhile to start a class for those wanting to know more about this new religion.

Besides the preaching in the City Chapel and the streets in the town, longer or shorter preaching trips were made by foot or on horseback or mule to the many remote villages. These excursions were made on dirt roads and paths. The villages were both large and small the latter not even being big enough for a market in the district.

The message about God and Jesus love for them and what they needed to do to have their sins forgive was something totally new for the listeners, and was difficult to understand. The thoughts and expressions of these two white foreigners were strange. To complicate things Lindberg and Johan Alfred spoke in broken Chinese though Lindberg's Chinese was certainly better. To help bridge the communication gap Johan Alfred asked a local artist to paint illustrations the first being the biblical story of Belshazar's feast. Johan Alfred used this illustration hundreds of times in Kiaohsien and in the villages. Later a missionary society published pictures of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan, which the missionaries started using for their lectures.

A New Home

The Rinells had been living in a small house with a dirt floor, windows made of wood and paper, and no fireplace. Johan Alfred and Hedvig longed for something more suitable and closer to the comfort of what they were used to in Sweden. With a child coming they also needed more room. For five or six months they tried to rent or buy another home, but with no luck. A few times negotiations had even gone quite far, but in the end "an unforeseen stop came in between" as Johan puts it. With their obvious need they wondered why God was not helping them find a place for them to move into.

The last delay occurred with a Mr. Li's house. They tried many times to buy his large well-built 26 'kien' house, but things kept getting in the way, not the least of which was the fact that some of Li's neighbors were against the sale, possibly because the potential buyers were foreigners. The neighbors said that if the deal went through and the contract signed, these foreigners would never be allowed to occupy the home. Someone would put a stop to it. Evidently they did not want their neighborhood ruined. Perhaps property values would go down. And, who knows what kind of trouble these round-eyed, long-nosed foreigners might bring.

In the late hours of the Chinese new year, however, the Rinells were offered to buy Sih Kia's house which was located just before Mr. Li's property, but separated from it by a wall. The house was in the western part of the city within the city walls and only about thirty to forty minutes from their humble mud home. It was quite a bit larger measuring 42 kien, and had not one but two yards unlike Mr. Li's property, and it was well-built. The property being so much larger would allow breezes to circulate more freely during the hot summer months. It was also built on high ground, so there was not much danger of flooding when the river running through the city flowed beyond its desired bounds. Lindberg's house on the other hand was on lower ground and was more in danger.

It cost more, but only about the equivalent of 400 Swedish kroner. In a surprisingly short period of time the deal went through and this big airy house was theirs. "Before we could not understand why God did not understand our prayers, and . . . not give us the house that we thought should be ours. Now we understood that God wanted us all this time to give us a bigger and more useful house," as Johan writes.

Now with a new home they started plans to remodel the house and make it more European in style with floors and real windows. The beautiful Chinese style roof with roof decorations would remain as it was.

[Note: to be placed in a later chapter]. Later the Rinells were able to buy an adjoining house. Together with the two house and adjoining yards they had a small compound. According to Lally Rinell: "The pictures on the Grandparents' home was part of a larger compound. They lived in the long Chinese buildning with pillars, that's where they had their bedroom, a living room, a study for Hedvig and one for John. In the smaller buildning with a veranda was a dining room. In that buildning there was also a guest room. In different periods of time these buildning were used for different purposes. When they had their five children I'm sure they needed more space. At times the guest room was used by newly arrived missionaries or by children from other missions that came to attent our little Swedish School in Jiaozhow.
In the compound there were more buildings, a small kitchen, a section for their goats and the mule that drew Farfar's cart, some living quarters for people that were employed etc. And a rather large garden where Farmor grew herbs, tomatos, peas, beans, strawberries, carrots and potatos. You know she was a country girl and knew how to grow things - especially those that were not easily available on the market." Email from Lally Rinell to Lennart Holmquist, May 30, 2009.]

The Birth of a Child

The time for the birth of their second child was drawing near. In March Hedvig and Johan Alfred, Egron and the ahmas traveled to Pingtu, a day's journey by mule, to be nearer Dr. Randle, their Southern Baptist missionary medical doctor and friend from the United States. Johan Alfred, however, had to return almost immediately to Kiaochow to supervise work on the house. He said good-bye to his family and left for Kiaohshien.

In Kiaohsien Johan Alfred continued supervising the work of bricklayers, wallpaper hangers, and five carpenters who among other projects, built the frames for the windows. [check this list in the original]. In preparation of their move into the house Johan Aldred also packed packed and supervised the moving.

The work on the house was coming along when someone in the head carpenter's family died. He naturally felt he felt he had to be with his family for a while. Seeing this as an opportunity all the carpenters decided they too wanted to go home for a few weeks vacation. There was not much to do to stop them. With no carpentry work being done on the new house, and the packing complete, Johan felt he should be with Hedvig and little Egron. He left Tuesday, April 2nd for Tsingtao/Pintu and arrived that evening. Hedvig and their friends were all well and full of energy. "That we all were happy to meet again doesn't need to be said."

Five days later on Tuesday morning April 7, 1896 Hedvig gave birth.

we . . . had that big happiness to have our 2nd son. A cute little being. His name is Oscar Henry. Everything went so wonderfully . . .. May the Lord make us (me) by [pressure???] boys the right way to the Lord Christ.

Dr. and Mrs. Randle gave the mother and child loving attention. They used all 'gunishon' taking care of mother and child, according to Johan Alfred. Hedvig's strength returned quickly. Johan's reaction to all of this, "God is good. Praise his name!" Little two year old Egron in the mean time was doing well, "a little stinker with a good heart and a strong will," according to Hedvig.

On Thursday, the 16 of April, Johan had to say good-bye to his family and return to Kiaochow. The workers were returning from their time off. To keep track of carpenters, bricklayers, painters and wallpaper hangers was at times not the easiest task. It was exhausting and sometime frustrating. It was also difficult working cross-culturally with the Chinese laborers - not the easiest thing for a westerner to do. "It is such that foreigners have tried this type of work [acting as a foreman] before in China and have no wish to try it again," Johan writes. However, all in all though things went well, even better than expected.

The Lindbergs too were expecting a child and were making ready to travel to Pintu to stay with the Randles to wait for the birth. Since the Rinells' home was not finished, they offered Johan their home at the mission station while they were gone. Fortunately, they did not have to stay in the J.E. Lindberg's first China house, which was Karl Vingren's home. This house according to Karl was "the most miserable mud hut a human being lived in." It was close to the river where flooding soaked the floors and walls. Donkeys and other animals shared the courtyard. From this one room Vingren and Lindberg ate, slept and preached. [This was 1893 and perhaps earlier].

Before Vingren returned to Sweden he and Lindberg rented another house very close to where the firist house was located. This new house was about the same size as the house first rented, but it was a somewhat better building. It consisted of three small rooms. The middle room served as a chapel or prayer room, and the other rooms a kitchen and residence. Vingren lay at night on the Chinese k'ang and Lindberg slept on an unhooked half door belonging to the property. They later found out the house had been a brothel. [This may be the new home purchased in 1901 - Find out if this is the case - maybe can tell if you know when Vingren left China].

Johan Alfred gratefully accepted the use of Lindberg's home and on, Monday, May 2 Johan was again in Pintu to bring his family back to Kiaochow. The following day was Sunday and "I had in the likeness of many other Sundays the privilege of preaching in the standing chapel." Apparently the chapel had no chairs or benches. The congregation stood during the entire sermon, not unlike what Martin Luther's congregation would have done in Germany in the 1400s.

On Monday the Rinell family began their journey home. The trip with a new born child and a little toddler took longer. They spent the night, probably, at an inn along the way and on Tuesday noon were received with open arms by their 'dearest' friends, the Lindbergs. On Wednesday morning the Lindbergs started on their journey to Pintu, and the Rinell family was alone together for the first time since the birth of Oscar.

For the next several weeks on weekdays, Johan continued to act as foreman supervising the refurbishing of their new house, and on Sundays he preached two times at their rented 'local' church, and occasionally on the streets or in the inns where he was gladly invited. Not many people were actually present at the services at "Siao-Kiao-Mau-Fu" [Small Kiaohsien Mau-Fu - perhaps the name of the small area in which he preached or perhaps the name of the chapel] or small home church as were during the two previous seasons. But the services were 'richly blessed' none-the-less according to Johan Alfred with many Chinese becoming Christians, which was no small accomplishment. Working during the week and preaching on Sundays was exhausting. "But God stood by me. So good to breathe easy with family surrounding [me] . . . [and] it was good to know that we were in the shadow of His angles' wings."

On June 12 came the joyful day. They were able to move into their new home at "Stora Flod Street" [verify the word 'Flod' is used for river] "Big River Street". Following Swedish tradition, they gave it a name. They called their home 'Sigoan'. Only later did they find out why they were able to buy the house for so surprising little money. Someone had hung himself in one of the rooms. The townpeople thought the house was haunted by the person's ghost.

Ghost or no ghost, they felt the house was a real blessing from God. "After living for . . . years on Chinese mud floors, we were able to walk on wooden floors, [and have a house with] wooden doors and windows. We felt like we moved into a Europen house. It is a real home." Quoting a Swedish saying Johan continues, '"Who doesn't set worth to a proper home.' If one feels that in one's Fatherland, one needs to feel the truth even more in a far off heathen land. We thank God that he has given us a house and not a hole to live in, and [we] pray that He in his grace will give us strength to serve him both in and out of the same [home].Oh God ! My heart wants to serve you in a non-bragging faith and love."

It was one thing to dress like the Chinese to identify with the people. It was another thing to actually live like most of the Chinese when one was accustomed to European standards. But besides being comfortable, this home would serve better as a base for working with the Chinese. The Rinell children, all of them born in Shantung, remember this home of their childhood as the happiest time in their lives. [Move last sentence to another chapter].

Soon after moving in something quite remarkable happened. The neighbors whom they thought to be hostile to their arrival started coming over with gifts of chickens, fish, sugar and pastries - over 180 pastries - on which were printed the character 'fu' or happiness. Included with the gift as was customary was the person's business card or personal card. No less then eleven local families were represented. In China when someone moved into a new home the neighbors welcome them into the neighborhood with presents. Whether these gifts were from those who had tried to keep them out of the neighborhood they did not know, but the actions of these many neighbors spoke louder than the previous apparent inhospitality. The Rinell family felt they were indeed being accepted among their neighbors.

In return the Rinells gave as was customary in China their own business card plus 200 cash in Chinese money, which was about 20 Swedish öre at the time. Again following Chinese etiquette Johan Alfred and Hedvig later had a large bread cake delivered to each family. Receiving these gifts, but needing to return gifts and money the Rinells thought rather funny. However, they enjoyed and appreciated these acts of friendship and what these gifts were meant to communicate.

The Rinells got word that the Mrs. Lindberg had given birth to a son, Signe, on June 22. Much had happened since they and the Lindbergs escaped the year before and whose "honeymoon" was on this flight for safety. Besides being safe, each family had added to their number, and the Rinell family had a new home.

Exactly a month later on July 22 the Lindberg family returned to Kiaohsien without mishap in travel and glad to be back home. It was a happy homecoming. The Rinells had sorely missed their friends. "That we ourselves were happy to have them again does not need to be mentioned. We are now two families on the [mission] station who can help and encourage each other in the work." They hoped for more laborers for the field, perhaps another pair of bachelors or another married couple because even with the Lindbergs, there was still too much work for them. "Oh, Lord, how long shall it wait before satan's entrenchments will be destroyed by evangelism, truth and love in this city?"

Life in China was not without its difficulties of course. In July Johan Alfred came down with malaria. This was not a difficult attack. He was up again in a few days.

Floods and Death

Johan Alfred writes in his dairy on July 29, 1896,

The night between Sunday and Monday morning the 28 and 29 July a rain weather night. A fierce downpour fell and the water rose very fast. As our present house lays high, perhaps the highest in the town, we weren't bothered at all by the water, but on other places in town it became a big disaster. On Monday I, adorned in long boots, walked to brother Lindberg's house. The road there showed a sorrowful sight. The water had in many place gone up 4-6 feet over the street. There was hardly a house between us and Lindberg's home, hardly a house where the water wasn't standing low or high up in the house. Even at Lindberg's had the water gone into the house and stood several thumbs up over the floor. In our gathering-local [the local meeting hall or chapel] was one of the inner walls down fallen. The organ lay crushed and the floor terribly damaged. The table lost its legs and the chairs lay fallen around. Everywhere around in town were hundreds not to say thousands of houses fallen. Many people had drowned or in other ways died. The disaster and pathetic conditions surpassed all explanation.

After the flooding the missionaries rebuilt. For the Wecko-Posten the Baptist weekly publication back home in Sweden Johan wrote:

The Chapel after repairs is now double as large as before. It lies on a heavily trafficked street. Outside a red paper glued on the wall announcing the meeting. Opposite the gate hangs a glass lamp with the words, "Kiang sju-t'ang" meaning Preaching Hall. A simple house stands inside of the courtyard. That is the Chapel. Inside there are a few simple benches. In front is a brick laid platform. On it stands a table, an organ, and a couple of stools. The walls are whitewashed. Above the platform on a piece of cloth was written in large Chinese characters the Christians beloved verse, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." On another wall was this inscription, "Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." All this was rather good in its simplicity.

Hedvig was doing better with her Chinese. She spoke with some Chinese women of the town who came to visit every day. Hedvig was terribly discouraged though that these women do not readily accept her God. In her despair she prays to God and felt comforted by him.

The Lord has though been near and comforting. Oh how sweet when he talks to our own heart. How wonderful to sort of cry at his breast. "Hear O Lord when I cry with my voice; have mercy also upon me and answer me." Be still my soul and listen to the answer: "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and wait I say, on the Lord." Where is a comforter like Him by God. And to be able to talk to him as to an intimate personal friend. Oh how happy I am, that I own him for myself. Oh Lord Jesus come and teach me, come and guide me.

For many weeks she continued to speak to these women about God, but their hearts seem to be hard and untouchable like stones. "Why don't they want to take Christ to themselves as their own friend," she writes.

Hedvig balanced running her home, speaking to the town's women about God and caring for her children. Egron seemed to want do the things that he is knows he is not supposed to do, like any normal three-year-old. But he is endearing with his cute expressions and his good heart. Oscar at four and a half months is calm, quick and a "very much loved little guy."

September 1 Hedvig reflects how that very day, ten years before, she entered Uppsala seminary in Sweden. Since that time she has a loving husband by her side, two sons who she calls "precious treasures" to watch over and care for and the thing she most longed for and continually prayed for - to preach the gospel to those who do not know God's love for them

Letter from Home

On August 19 Johan Alfred received a letter from his family. His father had passed away over two months before on June 28, the day of the floods in Kiaohsien. Both Johan Alfred and Hedvig feel the loss. From the first time that she had met Johan Alfred's father Hedvig was accepted with love and kindness. It was impossible not to love him in return according to Hedvig because everyone who came in contact with him loved him. "Loved he was in life, and missed in death," she writes. He had lived a simple life and to the outside world an uneventful one, but he was loved and respected by his family and his many friends.

His father had been sick for some time so the family in Sweden had anticipated his 'homecoming'. His sister Hannah writes from Sweden:

It is not more than four days ago since I wrote last. Then I said that Father was weak and that he soon would be gone. Now this has come to truth. He 'fell asleep' today (Sunday 28 of June) in the morning time a bit over 7 o'clock. We say that he fell asleep because he died so peacefully. . . . Before he has had severe pain during the last few days. But now he has surely forgotten it all. We feel very happy that we can say that he is home with the Lord. He has held secure with Him the whole time. He now can celebrate the sabbath with the Lord.

Johan Alfred says in his diary that he had not known before what being fatherless was like. "But now I can feel it. The missing of him is great. Even if the loss is big I don't want to complain. He is home with the Lord. My dear father cannot come to me but I will through God's grace [can] go to him . . . ".

Some days later John and Hedvig received a letter dated July 8, 1896 from John's sister Augusta.

Saturday the 4th of July we followed our dear father [as he was carried] to his last resting place. We were a bit over 30 people. The nearest relatives and neighbors were with. In all there were twelve carriers in the procession. Gustaf and August from Jordsfälle (my brother-in-laws) carried the casket according to father's own wishes . . . . Besides them also carried the body was Anborg from Grasestorp [sp?], Andersson from Rinna, Johan Johannesson from Höglund [sp?] and Mrs. Johannsson's husband from Ljungstorp. Father is buried to the side of brother August.

All possible honors and friendship was shown both to us and our old father. The casket top was overcrowded with wreaths. Some were even very expensive. More than half the road to the church was [decorated] with evergreens and [other] greenery. The burial ceremony was about 12 noon. After that we returned to the 'sad-house' where dinner, coffee and tea were taken. The next day the invitation was extended to all the torpare [small farmers] and some others were invited for coffee and sandwiches. Everyone seemed happy and grateful.

When Johan left Sweden for China his father had said that it would probably be the last time they would see each other. He had been right. Father and son would not see each other again until heaven. Now he had parted and Johan Alfred was grieved that he could not be there when he left this earth. "It was for me not given at his homecoming [to give] as much as a small flower."

Losing his father was not easy. They had been close as father and son and for his father he had love and respect. Johan writes:

Long after the grass wreaths have wilted shall the wreath which he has braided during his lifetime will be unharmed . . . of him can . . . be said, "he lives although he is dead.' Oh, farewell. We'll meet again. Dear Father sleep in peace! Gladly we would still have you among us for some time. But we do not wish you back because our Father has taken you home. Praise the Lord!

Wangtai

On Wednesday September 16 the entire Rinell family traveled Wangtai, 50 li south of Kiaohsien. Johan and Lindberg had been there many times before. On their last trip they had the luck to rent for a good price an annex to the heathen god's temple. Wangtai was a market center for thousands of people in surrounding areas and a fairly large community in its own right. Johan and Lindberg saw this as a good outpost for the mission. Now the family would see this new outpost. No foreign women or children had ever visited the town. Hundreds of Chinese women and children came to the house daily to see this spectacle. The missionaries took advantage of the crowds and spoke to them about the message of Jesus' love. Their humble response to the message was touching. They asked, "Is it possible that God can love us? We are so small and poor and unpretentious. Does he really think of us too?"

"God bless the people of Wangtai" Johan's writes in his diary.

Little Oscar

On August 26, Oscar became very ill with dysentery, with no doctors to help, and the house girl was sick at the same time. Everything seemed so dark Hedvig wrote. She was afraid they would loose little Oscar. But thankfully he recovered and eventually was doing well.

On December 1 they celebrated Oscar's name day. "You are a good little guy, just keep it up," Hedvig writes.

During the month fellow missionaries and friends, Dr. and Mrs. Hartwell, Captain O. Sullivan, and Mr. and Mrs. Sears visited. It was so good to see both them They had given so much to Hedvig and Johan Alfred.

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Footnotes