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To;Nekoma State BankFax 001-913-222-2460; for JeanOelkers, 222-2810
Madras, India; March 21, 1995
Dear supporters andwell-wishers.
Our last letter told of our
Thanksgiving
and looked
forward
to
Christmas
and the
New
Year.
And
now
that year
is
nearly
a
fourth
gone.
And
already
many
things have
happened. Ruth Weesner now a doctor
came
to visit
her
parents at the Hope Rehabilitation
Center
at Christmas time and
was
able to give
physical
checkups
to all the children being
treated there. We saw her and had a good visit with her.
We didn t know it until later, but William had a special birthday present. The senior
minister
of
Westside Church in Wichita KS. has a son. Dyke, who is Youth Minister at 1st
Christian in Canton, Ohio,
wliich
has been a
faithful
supporter of our work and before that of
the Rothermel s work since 1926. Dyke and wife, Sarah Beth had a son Isaac Alexander
born on Dec. 24,1994. We are anxious to see him.
Since Christmas was on Sunday this year, and people here do not have all the
conveniences like timers to cook while away, and families do like to get together for a family
meal, it was decided to have Christmas church service begin a little before midnight on the
24th and go on into the early hours of the 25th, thus giving the first hours to worship and
fellowship and
leaving
the rest of the day for family activities. Since for the first time in India
we have telephone facilities at home we decided to contact our clilldrenon that day. Even
with all the modern equipment it took some time getting through. In fact we did not manage
to contact Mary Esther as she had moved and we did not have her new phone number, if she
1ms
a phone there. Henki had moved out and deserted her and James, and the in-laws asked
her to vacate the part of their house she was in for one of the other siblings to occupy.
Charles was surprised and delighted to hear our voices. They seem to be doing well,
and Dan is progressing nicely in his special class for hearing handicapped. David was also glad
to hear from us, and they seem to be happy and busy for the Lord. Ben dropped out
of
Bible
College to earn so that maybe he can continue another semester. Boomer is now full-time
youth minister at Mahomet and Angie is busy in nurses training. Then beforewe thought it
was timeto callArgentina, Paulcalledus and theyare alsowelland
busy.
Christmas evening Ignatiuses had a barbecueand buffet for studentswho could not go
homefor the holiday. Wewere also invited and had an enjoyable visit and delicious meal.
For the New Yearwe also had a worship service beginat the end of the old year and
continue into the
early
hours of the Lord s
day.
Thus people were
free
to
spend
the day
again
with family.
About the time our college classes resumed again, three visitors came from a
California church which supports the college. The two men, Jim and Ken were elders
of
that
church and Ken was accompanied by his wife, Shirley. After participating in church and
college activities, classes and meetings and visiting in homes
of
cliurch members for about a
week, they flew to Delhi, accompanied by Peter and Cathy and took a taxi to go to see the
Taj
Mahal
in
Agra.
It
seems
the taxi
driver
was in too much of a
hurry
and kept overtaking
and passing other vehicles on the road too narrow to do so safely. A few miles out of Delhi
they had a head-on collision with a truck. The driver of the taxi and Ken were both killed.
The ot he r four were
unconscious
when a GOO S M RIT N came and
loaded them
into
his vehicle and took them to a nearby hospital. Cathy regained consciousness during the drive
and was able to give the phone number to contact Peter s parents here in Madras. They
phoned us and we had the students notify whoever they could and we phoned those who had
phones and prayer chains were started at once. William took Peter s parents to the first
available plane to Delhi. Peter had a hairline fracture to his skull and his right ribs were
fractured, puncturing his lung. He was in critical shape. Cathy had multiple cuts and bruises
8/11/2019 Roland William Jean 1995 India
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which required stitches but no broken bones. Jim s face
was badly
smasi}ed with
multiple
fractures. Shirley s arms
were
badly
broken
and she was
completely
helpless. They
were all in
the hospital for
some
days
then Shirley accompanied by
a medical
person
was
flown home
to
California
along with Ken s body.
Jim
was also flown home after some time. Peter
and
Catliy
are now
home
but Peter is not
teacliing. Cathy
is teaching but still
needs
to be
careful.
The last
day
before the California
guests
left
Madras they attended
a
cottage
meeting
followed by
dinner in
one
of the homes.
Since
it
was
a
special occasion more chairs were
needed and William injured his back in the process and was incapacitated and has been
suffering much pain ever since. He is
getting
medication
and
physiotherapy treatments daily
now. For awliile he used dutches even to go to the batliroom and had most meals in bed. To
go to the hospital students carried him down the stairs to the car. Elden Weesner drove him in
his air-conditioned car Now he is ableto drive, and gets aroundwith a cane. Elden also took
over teaching
William s
class but William continued to provide the necessary, commentaries,
notes and tests. During all the time
of
Peter's accident and William's trouble we have been
MOST THANKFUL for the telephone. Jean's sciatica which started wliilewe were in the US
last, hasnot been
eliminated
but she is alsonowgetting treatment and is improving.
We were also thankful for the phone when on March 1 Paul phoned again from
Argentina to announce tliat their daughter, AmyMichelle, is to be married to an Argentine
young man, Oscar Edwardo Spinetti, on April 7th. Since Emrys Reeses planned to go for
another year's furlough and we had been asked to manage the leprosy work during their
absence, we did not think we could attend the wedding, although we had hoped to go for the
combinedNACC MissionaryConvention in Indianapolis. But when Reeses learned that we
hated to miss our only granddaughter's wedding, they started figuring ways for the hospital
work to be carried on in our absence for a longer time. So IF it can be arranged, and IF both
of
us are fit to travel, we still HOPE to attend the wedding.
On Feb.20th we received a notice from Kulpahar that DOLLY CHITWOOD, long
time friend and assoc ia te in the Kids Home the re had left them for her e ternal home We
know she will be much missed. But we also know that she was suffering and probably looked
forward the r es t a nd r ewar d wh ich awa it ed
her
Recently we had a letter from another friend, Ruth Lincoln, who had worked at first in
Kulpahar and because the climate there aggravated her health, she moved to Kerala. She is
mostly bedfast and must be very lonely but continues to try to be a good witness. A lady here
in Madras, Josephine Charles, who was recently immersed, has been diagnosed with terminal
cancer. She is suffering much pain, but has much concern that the rest
of
her family have not
been obedient in Christian immersion. They are from a denominational background. Please
pray for these friendOhose injured in the accident and their
families.
Nine students are .scheduled to graduate from Madras College
of
Evangelism in April.
Please pray for them and for new ones who will be admitted for the next term. Also pray for
the staffand for the construction
of
building facilities for the college. Ground has been broken
and the facilities are urgently needed.
Some good news is that we have witnessed several immersions recently. A young man
we have known since he was small. A lady probably in her 80s who has acute arthritis with
twisted toes, whom we take to church and home whenever possible. And a youngish couple.
These also need our prayers to grow and remain faithful. RememberJesus Christ, raised from
the dead, descended from David. This is (our) gospel. 2 Timothy 2:8
Our love and prayers to you, ^
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>
U-l
Madras, India; August 26,1995
Dear
friends,
After
four
months away, we returned to
Madras
on August 4th, nd were
glad
to
find that Peter and Cathy seem back
to
normal after Ihe terrible accident
we wrote
about
in
our March letter Josephine Charles
who
was
critical
with cancer when
we
left,
died
that
very night.
She
will besorely
missed,
but wecannot wish her back to her sufTeriug.
Reeses were able to work things out at
Ihe
hospital for us to be gone the four
months, so we were happy to attend our granddaughter, Amy Michelle s,
wedding
with
Eduardo
Spinetti, in
LaPlata,
Argentina
on
April 7th. The law
there is that
only
a civil
marriage performed by a governjnent official isvalid, sothe legal wedding at the court was
sol by
theauthoiilics ul 10.45 am. It
was
laining that morning ruid wc
had
1o
wait
outside
uulil
eailiei inairiages had been completed and tiie
small
room was vacant for us. The
ceremony
was inSpanish but wewere told that the lady ofnciating gavea good
talk
about
the sanctity of
marriage
before pronouncing them
husband
and wife, and having the
registers signed.
Couples who
wlsli
to
Imvc
a uhuich weddingplan thai later in the day, as
Ajiiy
did.
The
c hu rc h w ed di ng
was
at 9 p.m.. Ih e rain had ceased and murt
people
could be
accommodated
in
the
church. TE M members,
with whom
Paul and He len had
worked
in
Montevideo, had coijk; foi lite wedding and had parts in ihc service, preaching,
siiigitrg
a
solo, etc. After that many gathered at a rented du b building for tlie reception. Amy and Ed
spent the night in a local hotel, then the rest
of
the week at a resort on the beach.
We were Iwppy to woisliip with the congi egalion. Wiliiuin picached with Paul
translating into
Spaiiish.
We regret that
inissioii
support is not enough for die needs so
Paul and Helen have to spend time supplementing their income by teaching English, t
means they have to rush to get everything done and they arc exhausled. Bui God gives
them stiengUi, for wliich we are thankful It is also a
means of
contactingmore people.
From AigeuLiiia wc flew lu
Clu^
to their home for a visit, Next Paul s son, Jonathan, took us to Fittsfield to Gordon Smiths,
his other grandpa, where he is spending the
summer.
They had both been down for die
wedding also.) We were scheduled to go to Calilbinla lu visit liic Iwu accidcnl victims
there, and on to Hawaii to Pctei s FA, and Lee Turners in Seattle, but we were both
havingthe back and leg trouble and decided to cancel that trip, We went to La Crosse and
Bison and William had some Chiropractic treatments and was advised to consult a
neurosurgcun. We went to Wicliitafor that consultation, Tlie doctor examined each
of
us
and
adv ised exe rc ises and
traction
and r es t f or ea ch
He
fel t Wil liam
w ou ld n ot need
surgery as we had feared. But said Jean had a dislocated vertebra which might need
suigety if it did not improve with the other treatments We stayed in Bison most
of
the
time, but were also able to visit several
of
our supporting churches in the area.
8/11/2019 Roland William Jean 1995 India
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Beforethe NACC/NMC in Inditmapolis wevisited Charlesand family in Baltimore.
The
preacher
of the church
we attended
there
liad
roomed with WiUiara s dad while doing
graduotc work at Lincoln, Illinois. We also stopped n Virginia to
see
GuHcks and Mary
Esther s
FA, who had fallen and crushed her elbow,
We
also stopped in l^xington
and
visitedWilliam's brother Clyde and family. Then on for the convention.
It was wonderful to see and visit with so many friends and colleagues at the
convention. Also the sessions with great
singing
and sermons and the workshops and
meals
with
family
and friends. The
motel
where
we
stayed
had a wheelchair
which Jean
was
able
lu use (fiee uf
charge) during ilic entire
time. Tlfis
made
it
possible
for herto get
to many sessions she could not have
walked
to.
Next we returned to Gordon Smiths where we did our final packing and
preparation for the
next
part of the
journey. Gordon took
us to
David s near Lincoln.
David and
Glcnda
droveus to theChicago airport wherewe booked our luggage anddid
the pieliuiitiaiies. ARcrDavid dt Qlcnda Ictl, weweic luld uui higlit would be delayed two
hours, and we were given food tickets to tide us over for the delay.Whilewe were having
the fast food we were Informed that the flight had been CANCELED At the counter there
was a iaT riot as people cnmptained denvinded refimds, payment for paikitig. Iioiel
accomnKxlations, etc
William
patiently waited for a chance to speak to one of the gifts in
charge ard expressed his sympathyfor their trouble, which was, of course, not her fault.
Then he asked what he should do, and if there was puswbly a later lliglil the same day.
She took him away rtoiii llie excited crowd and looked up our computer info, and told him
she iiad found two seats on a flight scheduled two hours later. We were in Business class,
a real luxury
We missed our connecting flight from London to Brussels and could not inform
Mary Esther, but l waited and was there to meet us when we arrived. Henki was with
her li
had realized bow wrong
he had
bcctr
to leaveherand theyhad
patched
up
and he has moved in with her. His mothci liad a real ready for us in Oenk. Sire had loaned
her car for them to gel us in aa theirs is too small for so much luggage. Then wc went on
to Opglabbeek. Maiy
Eslltei
had fixed upherapartmentvery nicely and it is comfodablc.
We worshipped with the Oenk coiigiegation on Sunday, where most of Heiiki's
family (mother, siblings and iheii fainilies) attend, and make up the bulk of the
congregation. Mary Esihci had iiivilcd people from some of the other congregations to
come visit with us at home one evening. She had light refreshments and quite a group
came, mo.st ofwhom wehad met on olhci visits, and we had a nice evening of fellowship
MaryEstherhad had a hoarsevoice for a year or so, and the doctor thought it was
because
of
emotional stress. Finally she was checked by a si)ecialist who found a malignant
tumor on her thyiQid. had pressed the nerve on one side of her voice box and thus
paralyzed it. Both sides
of
the
IhyipiU
had to be removed. Surgery was done on March
\js
8/11/2019 Roland William Jean 1995 India
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29th.
ince
part ofthe affected tissue
was
not removed
she
had to have
radio-active
iodine
treatment
and
will
have to take thyroid through
life. t
is hoped
that
the
healthy
side of
the
larytoi
will gradually take over more duty. But
now
her voice is hoarse and distorted
and
weak.
There
is little hope
that
her voice will ever
be
noi mal
again.
She has always
enjoyed singing
not
only iit services
but
as she does
her housework
etc.
Now
she has to
be content with
whistling
the
tune
which she does beautifully even in
church.
She Still
tires
easily
but perhaps
now
with Henki
backto love
and
help
she
will
improve
quickly.
Grandson John
Mark
is in Oenk doing an internship in counseling
Ajfter
that he
expects
to
return Uj
Lincoln and
finish
his
study course. Grandson James was ntaiiied
to
Sylvie in June and has applied to join the Belgian pdice protection corp He
has
passed
the first lest required for it. Heand
Sylvic
were
away
with a
youth
groupin1lungary wticn
we
reached Belgium
but got backbefore we
left.
So wegot to visit some with theiu.
Cynthia tgnatius Peter s mother
and oneof
Reeses helpers
met us at the
Madras
airpoit and
biouglU
us
hoiitc.
Collegeclassesaie in lull swing with 28 students. Tlial iiisl
Sunday three former
graduates of the
college
were set apart ordained) bythe
laying
on of
hands, for the special work they are each doing. This was followed by a congregational
dinner. That Wednesday tlite
thatched-roof meeting place one these imw
congregatioits was inaugurated dedicated).
On Aug. 13, our second Sunday bock, Wiiliaiii stalled feding feverish and chilly
during the moriilng scivico. Allciwuds,
wlieii
we dmcked his temperature, he had fever
We thought it must be malaria, but the chillswere not as severe as cveiy lime he has had
malaria. He had been faithfully taking malaria prevention medicine. The next day at the
local hospital tests were done and malaria did not show up. We noticed a spot on his
ankle, presumably an insect bite, which had not healed but kept bothering
some.
Un
Saturday It had been bumped and bled some, and flies kept after It before he put on a
Band-Aid. The aiea around it had become red and his leg up to the knee was inflamed
Further tests showed no uilnaiy infection so dtvclois dccidetl this bite was the cause. He
was put on antibiotic medicationand ointment He was sixin on llie mendand is OKnow
We
needed
lo go to Verpedu to see how things were going
there
By
Wednesday
the 23nl, William was improved enoughto planto go So 4:30 amon Thursday we
headed
there and reached before their morning devotioiial at 9. We cliei.ked up on various aspects
the work and saw the changes that had been made in
staff working
areas and what
needs to be done further. Friday afternoon we remrned to Madras and had to drive
through torrential rain, which slowed us dowu to a crawl. TrafRc was also very heavy so
we didn tget home until dark.
The new college building has been started but progress is slow. It is in an area
where there is no good road to it, Villagers inliibil the progress by digging a deep ditch
ac ros s the dif t road tliat has to be used to bring materials and worke rs
t
the site. They
8/11/2019 Roland William Jean 1995 India
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demand a large sum of moncy(bfibe)to permit the use
of
the road. There are no policeto
provide safe passage, in fact they
might
also denund
money
if they v/erc consulted. But
we do look forward to the time the college will have its own building and some
of
the
problems willbe solved.
t
seems the weather everywhere weVe been has been unusual for the time and
place April in Argentina (southern hemisphere) is Fall, but it was not cold until after we
left.
May and June in
Kansas
is
usually
hot and dry, but everything was
beautifully
green
vdth flowers blooming. (It was not so good for the
farmers
with too much water to
harvest or work in fields.) But it was very plcasoiiL fui us. Even in Belgium the weather
was
unusual and a pleasant surprise. And since we have been back in
M^ras
there have
been several heavy
i aiiis
and other scaltered showers which arc unusual for this time
of
year, but have helpedus cool off sonic, lliuughheat rash still bothers. We hear and read
ofother places around the world where weather conditions seem unusual.
t
is laldftg time to adjust again to the beat, humidity, dusl (when it doesn t rain)
and mud (when it rains), the odors and
noise.
No
mallei
liow longwehave lived in India,
wc seem
to
have a
bi t
of ul tur l sIxicK each time we
lelum
It is so different
ffom
th e
beautiful condition of roads, yaids, public buildings etc in the USA. We are always
ashamed to
complnin
or feel soiiy fui ourselvesas wc see so
many
poor people with so
little and
some who
arc
severely crippled
yet have to workor they
could
noteat.
And
we
also have
to
remember that
our oid
and Savior, Jesus Christ, Icll his homefar more
beautiful and wonderful than any we have knownto come to this wicked earth to suffer
for us. And there were not even the modernconveniences
of
electricity,
fans
motoiiaed
vehicles, and all the luxuries we have to make life easier, We are thankful for all
our
blessings. And
for
all
oui
friends
and
supporters
who
help make everything
pleasant.
Our love to all, and prayers that God will keep you in His wonderful care.
In Christian Service,
8/11/2019 Roland William Jean 1995 India
7/8
Madras, India,December6,
1995
Dear friends in Christ,
Our last letter told of some unusually pleasant weather,
and
we continue to have very
unseasonable weather
much
ot the time. T
here
was
much
rain
before
time
for
the
monsoons,
then
some rain
at
the expected
time, followed by
a
dry monsoon.
We
have
had
plenty
of
ram
but
at
an
unusual time)
so
city
water
supply comes
daily
in
the
taps
lor
the
allotted
time.
Part
of
the time
the
street
out
front was
a river and thelota pond.
Most
of that
has
now
subsided.
We
have had
some
storm
warnings, but so far
there
have
not
been any very bad storms hit
Madras this
year.
Oilcn
wlicn there
is a lot of rain the electric wires are affected and wcarcwithout any
current for
various periods oftime. Sometimes the telephone
lines arc
aflected and we
have
no
phone
service
i hone service
here
at its
best is not very good
And
the changeable wcathei also
seems tobring
colds, cough and tummy upsets. All
ol
these
problems
have
reduced our efficiency
mgetting necessarv work done. William broke a piece offa
tooth
and
had
tomake several
trips
to
the dentist to have it repaired.
On
recent trips
to the liospital we have had long delays because of piled up traffic. Both
heavy
traffic and
much
rain
have
caused the roads to deteriorate faster than they can
be
repaired.
It
seems
our
Van and
Leprosy Hospital vehicles always have
something wrong
with
them and
need
repairs.
The
Hospital
water
filter
and generators and
pumps
need repeated attention and
new
parts. I lie computers get out oforder or get viruses.
Sometimes
it is
frustrating.
Then
again we remember how much better off we
arc
than
people
in
years
and
centuries gone
by, and
thank God for the conveniences and helps we do have.
Another friend has died here inMadras since our return. Her daughter and family with
whom slie
had lived for
years,
left her
with
her son
and migrated to
Australia.
I
he son and family
live in a distant part of town
and Mrs.
Miller could not travel back
and
forth
to visit her old
friends and attend the Church ofChrist. The doctor said she died of a broken heart. We attended
her funeral which was out past the airport where
her son lives.
Later
amemorial seivice was held
at the Church
of
Christ where more
of
her friends could attend. Mrs. Miller s son had broken a
leg
in
an
accident
some time ago
and
was
recently
in
the hospital for
a
follow-up
operation,
and
we also w en t t o
visit
hUn
there
Some months
agowewroteof an
elderly
lady. Ivy,
who had finally accepted Christ
and
been immersed. She has recently been verv
sick
andwe visited herwhile
she_was
in aiiother
hospital. She
has been discharged,
but
is
still very weak and sickly. She did make it
to
cliurcli
once since. Leonard Thompson s sister
has
brain cancer and is
in very
poor
condition and
often
falls when trying to beup, soisunable to
attend
church. We
visited
her
last
Sunday. Lfsha Rees s
father
is in the
hospital
and we visited
him, though he
was too
sedated
to know we were there.
Pleaseprayfor these invalids and their families.
Recently
the
government informed
us
that they would
no longer be
supplying
the
fuel
for
the
Leprosy Hospital vehicles which
they have been
supplying
for the clinics and
health
education
teams
who go on
their
daily
circuit. There
is
talk
of
having
leprosy
hospitals merge with general
hospitals,
and no
permits
are
being issued
for
new
leprosy
work.
The
HOPE which
many
feel
is
too
ambitious) is to eradicate leprosy by the year 2000.
The
All India
onventionof the hurches of
Christ/Christian
hurches
wa s held trom
September 30 to October 3 this year inKanpur. We were
still
having
much rain and
weknew
many places the roads would be impassable, and we want togo
by road
when we next go back up
north, so we did not attend. Instead we HOPE to be able to drive up to Bilaspur, Kanpur,
Kulpahar and possibly other places wherewe haveworked and/or haveformercoworkers or
students working, duringDecember and January. II wecan gel everything done that has to be
done in time we ll go in a couple ofweeks.
Peter andCathy s
FA^
Glen
Schell, is lierevisiting
them
and the CollegeandChurch for a
week. Hebroughta gift
from
the USChurch whosethreemembers were here early
tliis
year and
met with the accident enroute to see the Taj Mahal. This is toward a church building, as we meet
in the rented building theCollege uses for library, officeand classrooms. Now the facilities are
verycrowded most Lord s
Days.
It will begood to have an adequate building
someday.
Paul phoned from Argentina to giveus the
news
that
Amy
delivered a premature
baby
girl,
but beforehecould finish
giving
details wc werecut
oIT.
Many of the callswe get are wrong
numbers
and many
times
we
cannot
get through to
numbersright here
in
Madras. Later
wegot a
letter
giving
more details,
fhcy
were
unprepared
for
the
baby s
arrival; had
not
bought diapers,
and the baby
clothes
were still in
their packages,
unlaundered. Amy was having
problems
the day
before so called the doctor, but he said all was nonnal. But in the middle
of
the night Hubby,Ed,
wasn t convinced and tookher to the hospital. Shewas admitted and Ed phoned for
Helen
Paul
to
bring
clothes. They
look Amy s clothes
and were asked for the baby clothes, soHelen rushed
8/11/2019 Roland William Jean 1995 India
8/8
home, laundered Ihem and dried (hem on the heater while Paul liunted up an all-nighl drug store
for
necessary diapers. Before
they got
back
to the
hospital
the
baby, named
Victoria
Alexandra,
had already come andwaswrapped in borrowed blankets.
Ali
(as they call her)was too tiny to get
all the usual shots so will have to have them later. Mother, Baby, Daddy, Grandpa and Grandma
are doing
line.
So are these two brandnewGreat-grandparents (William and Jean).
When
two of our sons were born in India and also when Jean
was
born here all that
was
neccssaiw
was to notify the US consul andUS
citizenship
wasautomatic. Paul s
family assumed
all they would
have
to do
would
beto inform
their
US consul. But they
were
mistaken.
Ali s
father is Argentine
and
her mother, though
American, has not lived
in
the
US
for
two
full ycai s
since she was
14
years
of age. as required under
these conditions.
So there
was the
problem of
finding
out
what
to do and
how
Ali could become a citizen ofUS. Also thewiiole
family,
Paul,
Helen, Amy, Hd
Ali wanted
to visit family and supporters in the US. 1 iiey had a
really liard
time getting
visas for
Ed and Ali to do so.
But
finally they did get them and
were
scheduled to lly
from Buenos Aires on
about
December 4 for about three months in the US.
Mary Esther s letter
which reached
us on November 29 tells that licrvoicehasnot
improved but rather
had become worse,
so she hardly talks at all. One doctor had advised
therapy
twice
aweek
for
six inonlbs. That
means that
many
trips from Opgiabeek to Genk
and
back,
besides
whatever
the costof the treatment.
We
will
help finance
it.
She seems
to be pretty
discouraged. Please pray for her and her lamlly
in
all their needs.
On Jean s birthday ( fhanksgiving
Day)
we invited church friends for
an
evening of
thanksgiving. We
sang choruses,
Jean
told
of
many things
throiigliout her
life for
which
she
was
thankful,
and
related
Bible
truths that had iniluenced her
life and
conduct. We had prayer and
served
snacks (not
a
Turkey dinner).
In spite ofbad weather about
15
people
came.
The following Thursday
(traditional Thanksgiving)
wc invited three
American
young
people They are here in Madras working with children of leprosy parents,
AIDS
and
other such
unwanted
orneglected children.
They
attend our
services
quite oEen
though
are
under an
interdenominational
organization
called WORD MADE FLESH. We didn t
have turkey,
but
chicken and as many
of
the
usual
trimmings and menu
items
as were
available.
No cranberry
sauce.
Itis
unknown
here. But we had
a
good
meal
enjoyed
by
all, and
a
good
visit.
Two
are
from Nebraska and one from California.
We bad waited to
finish
this hoping to
be
able togoout to the new building site for the
College and report on progi
ess
there, but the vehicle
we
had
hoped would take us could not get
here
in
time. The
road
to
the
place is so terrible that only a 4-wheel-dnve
could make
it, so we
could not
go
We would
have
had
to
walk the last
two
miles there and back and we did not feel
up to that.
Instead of news of the new college building, we have
sad
news. Ivy, about whom we
wrote above, died at
1:45
p.m. on
December
5
oflivcr
trouble (she bad
iiad
a severe case of
hepatitis)
and
cardiac arrest.
The funeral
was
tliis morning and
though
she had
NO known
relatives in the country,
there were
quite a
number
of
the churcli
people present.
Some
ofher
friends
from
earlier
days,
when she
sang
in
an
interdenominational
clioir,
and
was
secretary
ofa
big
firm, attended
the
ccmeteiy
service. Among other tilings.
Ivy had
very
bad arthritis
with toes
twisted
and
overlapping. She
had
been
sulTering much
pain
for
some time,
and had
lapsed into a
coma
a few days ago.
So
once
again,
wc cannot wish our
Iriend back
to
the
suiTering ol
this
world, but arc so liappy that
she
did
not
wait too late, but had been obedient toChrist and turned
her
life
over to
flim.
She iiad
been
in
church
three
weeks
agoand had
begged
to be
taken
the
next week, but
was not really
in a condition to go. So
one
moic ofour friends has gone to her
eternal reward. And
again wc
are reminded
that wc
never
know
wlio
will
benext,
and when
we
ourselves
will have to give our account toourLord. Wc realize that wc must
be
ready all the
time, and work hard
to
win
others
who will
gotoaChristless
and
hopeless
grave
ifwcdo not
--ivam
-them.-
And
now
we must close by wishing you Season s Greetings. Tiuly,
Jesus
is the Reason for
this Season, because it was
Me
who came to be theatoning
sacrifice
for our
sins,
and not
only
for
ours but also for the sins
of
thewholeworld , 1John 4:10.
This
is
love:
not that we lovedGod,
but that lie loved us and sent his Son , 1 John 4:10.
I n the
Love of Christ our Savior,
William Jean
Roland
Dear Friends William
and
Jean posted the Chris tmas Newslet ter
from
India
in
plenty
of
timeDec.
7. However, the
l e t t e r
reached
Post
Office
Box 503
in
La Crosse,
Kansas
on Jan.
10 , 1996,
Please enjoy
the
bela ted Christmas
Tidings.
You may
send mail
direct ly
to
William
Jean.
Use
this
address:
WILLIAM ROLAND
POST
BAG
NO .
1207
MADRAS TN
6 4
I N D I A
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