The Following letter was written Russell iiiorse, who with his son,

Chinese Tibet to Mrs. Russel korse

by

Eugene, were at the new station Ta-da,

and the other children at Tea-Chii

Ta-da, Qctober(^rd,1959
tiondaj, Mid-day
Dearest Beloved Gertrude

and Family:

Both Eugene and I are well, work

ing hcird and happilj both day and night to make the most of our time "here, ky whole soul praises tne Lord

i^ain and again that prt^ers have

t>%en answered so I could make both

th'bse preaching tours this >ear on th^ Salwin, for surelj we have seen
cou^itless benefits to these heart-

hungi^ congregations. Local food is

much mure difficult to get this year than I have seen it before, so what you sent us has been a ver> decided TONIC, ^ruly you are a jewel as a

helpmnte, and my heart ;oe& out +c

you "l.ccfeuse of thfc-

burdens

so gallantly are bearing

there in Hi^ Grace.

Pu-sa arrived last Thursday evening with your letter and supplies, but we

have hien so v<;rj' busy ever since that

I haven't gotten to write anything. The watermelon i/as a delightful sur

prise to us, as we hadn't even expected' there would be any remaining 30 late, ;,ctthis one'was perfeaoly

ripe and delieious. We shared our joy with six of our loyal Lisu Evangel
ists, and were thej tickled! None of
them had even aeen a watermelon be

fore, and this was our way of intro

ducing the big idea on the Salwin,

All the seeds were carefully saved and divided among them for planting next 5'ear, and you can be sure they

will look forward to more next year,

and 30 can we, for these brethren are

sure to shere with us. Did you folk

get to eat several after v;e left Ye&

Chi? If so, I hope you saved the seeds

of the beet for next year,51;, so many

poor Christians want seeds. All the

other things came 0 .K. , and the wal

nut candy was even better than the

peanut kind. Do you want me to buy "soft walnuts" at Tabalo? So glad

you sent me the verj heartening let ters from mother, also the several

from other friends. We are encourag

ed to hear of the reconsecrations at

^ea Chi, the new meetings at L.C.H. house, and especially that L.C.H,
seems to have a change of heE.rt. I heartily re^et, for his sake that

he didn't come on this trip, for he

would get a vision that should nev

er leave him, as both Robert tind

Eugene have done. And Robert, both

I and the native Christians miss you, and I often remember '..ii'.t a great help
and comfort you were on that summer

campaign. I'he Lord surely- has need of

you here as well as there. I thank you
so much for the international and loCil news. It seems to be "not too

threatening" yet so far as our being able to stay on is concerened. Hold the fort, for this is God's war. It
seems that our adversaries are hav

ing too niuch trouble

among themselves

just now to bother us much. The Judge ment Day is coming upon all. Pu-hsi
is still here helping us, and doing fine . -also Adeh the Lisu boy is quite 0,K, Hearty things to Isabel for writing those letters for us. We'll try to buy some peanuts for her too,

^but haven't

any yet even for ourselves.

I'm so ver^' thankful that the consul is

getting the radio batteries through for us, and that be can get necessary prohibited imports for us. I forget
whether the two boxes of groceries are

for toaxey or Iviorses.

I return the con--

sul's letter herewith for careful filinj;,,

Everiuk^.same day. Now the workers have gone home. Our brilliant weather is becoming cloudier each day, so I expect it is preparing for the rain within several days, which will mean
snowfall on the i.._,untcin -Jlivides, so we

will really send Pu-sa to you in the morning while the pass is open. He is an energetic and intelligent worker. The building site is now practically finished, also toflay we dug a nicely

ft

graded switchback path up to it,nd

had most of the brush and weeds

cleared off east of the Chapel leaving only the pine trees, pre

paratory to planting some small fruit

trees when such can be carried over from Yea Chi and Tobalo. Also some

workers have been getting both hard

wood and bamboo poles (good for SO years or more) for the house frame
work. It is very interesting and in
structive to us who have never before

helped build a bamboo and thatch house," and Eugene is learning mtich in
addition to Lisu language. Gertrude, we cantbank God for our boys whom we

see steadily growing in the Lord's

ministry to these dear ones for whom
He died to redeem. Their proper pre

Grace and in preparation for greater ^

paration is just as truly a" part of
oui' missionary work as is the train

ing of" native preachers.

We praise God for a gloriuus Lord's

Day yesterday. One hundred fifty-seven Christians present from twenty villiages, without any special Rally Day. I preached at least an hour on "The Church of Christ" (^lathew 16),
and all the hearts of all seemed mov
ed in new consecration. Then v/e had

another -flifefeting of, at least an hour,

over which I'presided to "set the

Church in order" real3j for the first time electing elders and deacons for

next year, establishing a definite territory and membership roll for this congregation, and arranging to def initely call one pastor for the next year, also get tiore definite material support from the local membership. Also each day I treaty number of sick people
of whom I wish I could tell you more.

Well, God is good. We don't expect to leave here befor Nov. 1st, probablyIf.ter.. if work on the house demands it, or if the
Consul's letter doesn't come bj this

next messenger (due Wed. or Thurs. nextl) As we are building a Lisu-typ<6 house (bamboo and thatch) just now,
the local officials have seeminglj de
cided not to obstruct our work for

the present at least, although the Chiitwan here got a letter from the

magistrate saying that our lease would

have to be re-written and go tlircugh a lot of red tape before he would con sider it valid. However, he didn't

deny either the owner's title or our right to lease from him, and I. believe
the rest is just bluffing. At any rate,

no doubt all will be O.K. ^yentiially,

as two elders of the church haye un

disputed title to the land. I had two good visits with the local Chiitwan
and his "attitude seems decidely friend ly and reasonable now. Now for the list of things to send
us:

1. The latest news, important letters,

"North China Herald."

2. Cup cakes perhaps loaf of bread,too. S.^ozen or more good pears if plent
iful.

4, 25-30 packages of tea to divide with seven or eight Salwin evangelists for
next winter.

5. Three cloth-bound Lisu "Hymns of Praise" for leading evangelists over here, will sell to them at half price. 7. Robert, please carefully dig and give moist packing to 10 small year

ling graprevines which you will find

along the east border of the west garden, below the irrigation ditch. The ones seuth .of where the water comes in arePierce, those north are Concord,

i want 5 of each kind bubyou need not

send the largest vines. Perhaps the carrier should moisten the packing .' once again on his trip. 8. Robert, perhaps you remember I have some young pomegranates started from cuttings in the middle of grape rows in L.CiiH. garden. Please, tlsi send all of those packed damply with the grapevines so any won't di'y out on the trip.
October g4th early [Ries. A.M. The

sl^ has become all cloudy,and there was a small rain, so will speed PU'-sa to you with these things before trav eling become too bad. Well, we have

"made hay while the sun shines," and

if we must rest now during inclement weather that will be welcome, also we
can still have our dailj-- witness for the Lord in services here, and can wori;

on Lisu language stud i'ts, sermon prep

aration, and have more quiet comuiunion with Him. We will not staj over here

too long and get snow-bound av.ay from

jou, but I am looking for a great clearing and brightening (and dool-

ingl) of the weather after first snowj

so I believe we needn't worr;y about

getting back to Yea Chi in Novemember. Praj for usi!!

It would be fine if some of >ou

could take the organ to Tobalo for a
week or two of music classes. If

others can't, perhaps Isabel would like to. All our Lisu congregations
need a "minister of music" ver> muc}4. Take care of yourselves,for the work

can't go on without the missionaries,

and for His sake we must "sell our

livtas dearly as possible." God iS

with us, while we abide in His will.

Lovingly yours, steadily

and forever,
Russell,

From Gertrude Morse:

Sept. 6,1959 Russell is not very well.

' is so thin that he looks like an

old man. His hair is quiet grey also. There is something working on him

eating up his rod blood

he eats

well most of the time, but it does

not live him any flesh or strength. I have bought alot of Enelish wal
nuts so we can use them for meat if we need to. Because the value of money

has dropped to almost one-fifth what it was, everthing is vei^ expensive

and we almost never get anj fresh meat, however, we have chicken once
a week and some por'-L Nov. 1. 1959 Russell and Itu^eae

have been gone since the last of

September**have been gone over the | pass to the Salwin over a month. | Tht.y are busy but happy their letters
say.. I have been real busy since

Russell left. Ijwrote 50 letters

for the mission, teach Liaverne, at
tend to the mission business,fe,ive

out medicine, teach and lead and

supervise the service^. We have made

fibout 40 bushes of wheat into flour.

K-^-^Kussell gives me needles of Iron and liver, so I am in a much

better condidtion than I have been,

(from Sept*. E6 letter).

Pray- for Russell's health. With
love from all of us to all#

"Gertrude Morse.

J. Russel Morse,
TIBETAN LISULAMD CHORCHES OF CHRIST

Yea Chi, Yunnan, West China. "Where China, Tihet, and Burma meet"

December 11, 1939, My Beloved Mother and Home Folks, ONIY;Hiis letter is not to be published, because I am so rushed these days that I cEtn't eacpect to vnrite a good letter, but hope to do so later in the week for our two living-link churches and will send you a carbon copy of that. Now for over two weeks I have been home from the Salwin Preaching Expedition, and this is the first letter to the U.S.A. However, in Gertrude's let ter vftiich was sent you a week or so ago, I enclosed a few pictures v^ich were taken
last September, Did you get them? Our hearts are filled with praise to God for all the answered prayers of this

past year. Truly, His strength has been made perfect in our weakness, and again and again victory has been won whore humanly speaking there was only perplexity and trembling. Glory to His precious Namel VJhile friends prayed across the ocean, God worked His wonders here, and we felt His lifting power long before the letters came to tell us tho precious response to our "Appeal for Earnest Prayer", From now on, all our plans and work will be more than ever grounded in prayer, for after all what

we want is NOT OHAT PEOPLE SHALL SEE

WORK. BUT THAT TEIEY SHALL SEE ^

WORK,

have marvelled again and again at how that painful lump in my left breast seemingly

melted away, how readily Gertrude's eyes recovered whon I followed the Lord's lead

ing about the remedy I should use {one I had never tried before), how I was enabled
to make both the Summer and Autumn Preaching Expeditions among the Salwin Valley

Christians ^being away each time even longer than in former years), how tho Lord as
well as myself steadied these scattered congregations in a year of war conscription, bitter taxation, and semi-famine. Although at the end of 1939 we look ahead at almost staggering problems and dangerous possibilities for 1940, wo take heart by recounting His Providence in the past. As for our enomios and critics, who can curse what God has blessed so manifestly as He has this undertaking, or as Paul said

"IflJod be for us who dan be against us?" (withstand). But, judging from the en couraging letters we have received, God has raised up a,wealth of friends for us, true friends, the kind who v;ill PRAY for us. We have been rejoiced to see tho threat
ened border warfare between Yea Chi king and the Ahdong Tibetans mediated and "talked down" for the present. As regards 1939 for the four children, this year has also been one of protection and progress, physically, mentally, spiritually, and in the practical application of their growing powers to useful work. How they have grown! They will make their parents seem like DWARFS in more ways than one, but I

hope they will remember that they have climbed up on our shoulders, oven as we have
stood on yours. Althou^ the 3 boys progress in studies has seemed much slower than if they had been in a regular school, yet they have really MASTERED their studies and at the same time have gotten practical abilities in the problems of this field. I got well acquainted with Robert as he was my right-hand man on the Summer Expedit ion, and with Eugene vdio acconrpanied me for 2 months this Autumn in the Salwin. Be lieve me, those boys have fine stuff in them, and it's comforting to think that their
hands will be ready to carry the torch of Salvation in Christ ere Gertrude and I must lay it down. I'm sorry that Robert's diary of about 90-pages from that trip hasn't been copied yet, but I'll get him to do it yet, and also put in some snap shots for illustration. Same for Eugene's diary of the Autumn trip. They have both made fine progress in Lisu language and accordian-playing ability, during these tours. And I'm glad to say that both of them conducted themselves as true Christian gentlemen and won the respect of tho congregations. As for Laverne, I'm very happy,

too, for he is a good combination of student and worker, oven at his lO-ycars. This last ten days I've seen lots of him, vdiile we've sent Gertrude away among the Lisu congregations, and I've stayed by this "base station" and among other chorea listen
ed to Laveme's recitations. Hiat little lad is surely storing his head full of KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING. Ho is a real worker too, and takes responsibilities well. One remarkable thing about him is that he never lets a day pass without read-

-2-

iiig a chapter or inoro in the Bible, without having to be urgod or even reminded about it, and since I've cone home ho comes to me each evening and talks it over with me "lino upon line and precept upon precept", Ho*s thorough at his under

takings, in fact some time ago Miss Maxoy made the remark that "all tho Morse boys have one-track minds". Well, that may turn out for tho bust if all wo Morse boys
can just keep our minds on THE RIQiT TRACK, as I believe they are now. If tho new

World War prevents their returning to U. S. A. for another two years or so, and if
we have to continue improvising education and training for thorn, they surely will have A UNIQUE EDUCATION, Whatever else it nay lack, they will be much bettor pre pared for IHIS field and work, than vAiich I know none more needy or challenging
on earth, Robert's genius at foreign languages is illustrated by the way ho is picking up the Chinese writing, most difficult on earth so far as I know. Several

days ago I found him writing a letter to a Chinese friond in Yxmnanfu {Kunming), and was so astounded at his facility in it that I afterwards asked him to copy the

of the 3-page letter, as to include the socond sheet would make this letter pay
someone.

letter for you, and ho gladly did so FOR SAKE OF PRACTICE.

Herewith tho first shoot

excess postage. Maybe I'll send you tho remaining page next time, to divide with
Well, but not-so-good, "the groat tribulation" of another World War has start ed, much as wo expected ever since 1935. Wo can only follow our motto of "watch and pray, and work vAiile it's day". We're sorry to be "in tho dark" with NO RADIO

BATTERIES and no prospect of being able to got any until perhaps in March when
Harold Taylor may return here for avitoile.

Although our whole field has become more and more affected by the war develop
ments, in 1939 wo havon't merely beon ablo to hold tho fort as we had rather ex pected, -numerous very satisfactory advances have beon made, BIFTT new converts have

boon baptized into Christ, four congregations which previously had no chapels have

lod Sukin), but have had to contend with some local Chinese, opposition about it, and just recently had our lease approved by the Government. A great victory indeed, es
pecially because meam^diilo Eugene and I had procoedod with building a bamboo-and-

built them with part help by the Mission, great progress has been made in developing the Tobalo place for future occupancy as a Mission station. In the suiomer we got a 30-yoar lease-for a new station on tho Salwin at Ta-da near Hsuan Ewa (formerly cal-

thatch Mission House on it, and tho nur/iorous Christian families roundabout (no Christians whatever there six years ago) wore greatly encouraged. Well, there's been lots else besides that I can't take time to enumerate.. But must tell one thing
more,-Gertrude has just come back from a^lS-day trip visiting Tobalo, Dratsiolo and

Washilogai congregations, during which she preached 14 times besides climbing those

steep narrow trails over tho high cold mountains. Fortunately tho weather was
clear, and no rain or snow, else she just couldn't. She's a jewel for the Lord.
Must close now. Your prayers have helped us so nuch.;<'^ie' Bamboo and thatchod housewas built so the Morse family could live in that district for six months next summer, aa there are twenty congregations in the valley. This arrangement would

make it possible for the Churches to visit tho Evangelists, instead of tho Morses
visiting the Churches, thereby saving time and climbing those terrible mountains.

Mother Morse