}AJL

fxXXuM^ OJttlO

The Christian Mission/ Vol. 8, No. 6, June, 1964

)dCAi^

Page 5

ASSAM INDIA MISSION, CHURCHES OF CHRIST

I This mission is mainly an effort to evange lize and to train brethren, from among the people in this country, to take the place of
leadership in the local churches. It also tries to get each church member to think on the
seiousness of the task and thus become better stewards of their time and talents.

Hills in 1951 there were nine congregations

throi^hout the hills. At liie present time, in

1964, there are close to thirty churches
among the Khasi brethren. The total mem bership of all the churches comes to around
two thousand.

\^'

The Christian Day School of the mission

It has grown from 40

There is a Christian Day School in connec

tion with the mission and any school child can get training up to high school standard in this school. It is good to see the fruits from this effort. Many of the students have reached the place where they are ready to take over much of the leadership in the churches. Some are now leaders of resixjnsibility in their commu
nity,

was started in 1952.

in 1952 to more than 200 students in 1964.

The teachers are well qualified Khasi Chris tians. Classes are tai^ht regularly in Bible
and Christian Doctrine.

There is a pressing need for trained

people to be able to preach to their own tribe.

i-

The Khasi Bible Training School is a very

important function of this mission. At the

present time there are twenty young boys and girls studying to prepare themselves for ser vice in the Lord's Kingdom out here. Some have already passed through this school and are now out on their own, strengthening chur ches and bringing souls to Christ.
Missionary personel at present includes
David H. and J. Lois Rees and Archie and

To fullfil this need, the Khasi Bible Training School was started in Mawlai, Shillong. It was in the year 1951 when tiie first classes were held and they continued for two years. It was then decided to make it a twice a year
intensive course for two weeks each time. This continued until 1955 when classes were

started on a daily schedule again.

everscince.

The

school has been holding classes in this way

There has always been a dispensary
connected with the mission here in the Khasi

Marguerite Fairbrother. We are both still fortunate enoi:^h to have our families with us
out here. Ben Schiller was the first to make a visit

Hills. Many have foimd healing for the body and were thus brought into contact with the "Great Physician" who, brings healing to
their souls as well as to their bodies.

among the churches here in the Khasi Hills. At the time he made that visit, he was work
ing with the Church of Christ Mission in Bilas-

-^ur. Through Ben's efforts, others came. In 1950 when Edgar and Mabel Nichols were forced out of Tibet, this family came to

Philip Ho has been director of the dispen sary since the Nichols left in 1953. Philip is now in the United States taking further studies. We hope that Philip will soon be able to rejoin the work here.
A SPIRIT OF POWER

the Khasi Hills in Assam as refugees.

They

tried to settle down and work here, but the

There are 25 miles which must be covered

government of India only let them stay two years and a half. They were forced to go to
other fields of labor.

by foot to reach an area of the Khasi Hills

where two new churches have been started

In 1951 Archie and Marguerite Fairbrother

came out to work with the Khasi brethren.

in the last year. People of the area are sur prised that a church could be started there. For many years the sectarian Christians
have tried to reach this area and could make

They have been with this work since that time. It was in that year that the mission took on the
name which it now bears.

no progress. Nof in just one year, two vil

lages of this area have church services every Lord's Day. Twenty five have been buried with their Lord in baptism and have started
a new life in Christ. Direst Sohklet, the preacher with concern for this particular area, has worked hard to make the message (continued)

In the year 1953 David H. and J. Lois Rees

came out to the Khasi Hills after having worked

in China and Burma for one term of service.

They were not allowed back into Burma and

thus came here to continue to serve the Master. When the Fairbrothers arrived in the Khasi

Page 6

The Christian Mission, Vol. 8, No. 6, June, 1964

(continued from previous p^ge)

of Christ understandable to these people both in song and in preaching from the pulpit. But
those who live in that area admit that this
will be able to reach for Christ.

Increased living link for the four high school children of the two families: Emrys
and Warren Rees, Marilois and Jewel Fairbrother.

must be the power of Christ working through the lives of His servants. Now, each member

there is praying for another to come in faith

in Christ.

This is only one of the many areas here in the Khasi Hills where the power of the Spirit

Assam India Mission, Church of Christ

of God is working, and many are coming to a clearer knowledge of His Word. This should suffice in showing that work here is moving forward and souls are coming to Christ.
GOALS

Mawlai, Nonglum Shillong, Assam, India

Forwarding Agents:
For Fairbrothers Mrs. Lawrence Rasmussen

A strong church in the Garikhana area of Shillong, with their own building. Churches which are strong enough to go
ahead on their own initiative
NEEDS

Route 2, Box 44

Gillett, Wisconsin 54124

For Reeses

Mrs. Ray Horton

1825 Lisa Lane

$8000 for a building in Garikhana. The GaaiKh^a cEufch~wilI^y 13H^T5a^ since they
will then be free of their present monthly rent
payments.

Wichita, Kansas

$700 for repair of our 14 year old jeep. This is necessary since we were not able to buy a new one while on furlough in 1963. $1,000 a month above living link of both
missionary families as the barest minimum

of funds for mission expenses. Remember,

the more funds on hand, the more villages we

Mr. and Mrs. Archie Fairbrother

Christian Missionaries associated with David H. and J. Lois Rees

ASSAM INDIA MISSION CHURCHES OF CHRIST

Mawlai, Shillong, Assam, India

AUGUST 1964 Funds which we received while

WHERE IS THE JEEP?

SINCE THE ACCIDENT we had

on the 2nd of May this year, our jeep has been laid up for repairs. At the present time we are using the
jeep station wagon which the Reeses have. It is taking care of the needs
of both families.

on furlough, designated for the jeep

or the purchase of a new one, came

to $95. This was used up for tires and repairs before the accident. We had to keep the jeep going as best
we could.

What will happen if we do not

Money has not come in to get the jeep out of hock, even if it were completely repaired. Since the acci

get the jeep soon? It will certainly wdk a hardship on all phases of the work here. We will not be able to go
to many of the villages where we

dent there had been given by the end of June exactly $98.50 for this pur
pose. I will admit that this is almost

need to go. It will be especially hard when David Rees gets back from his short furlough in the States
and Canada. Archie Fairbrother

enough to pay for one seventh of the

total cost of repairs. We trust that

contributions were better in July.

Marguerite and I have each had to give $50 per month from our livinglink to keep the work going here. We also gave a tithe of the portion which was left after personal expen ses were paid in the States and the
$50 deducted. That means that we

SINCE OUR RETURN here.

MEETING EXPENSES

have been giving $58 each for the

work here, from our own salaries

a total of $116 per month from our family to keep things going as they
are.

We have been willing to do our share of giving, as well as working

The F airbrother jeep j ammed into the hillside near Puryiang in wder to avoid collision with a lumber truck, May
2, 1964v

for the Lord here. We feel that our lives have been blessed because of our service here and we have been

happy. However, brethren, is this

all you think of our labors here? You who ore helping us in service for Christ here know what you want. If we do not fit the picture, we will gracefully step down and let others mere wise take up from here. (Sitting at one of our typical meals this evening, I thought: "This meal might
shock some of our friends in the

will be better off. For the last four

months our

total contributions {livinglink and

mission funds) have fallen far be low $1,000 per month. To make the work move smoothly, we should have

States.") To meet travel expenses back

here we had to borrow on insurance

$1,000 per month just for mission funds and then the livinglink besides this. What is your response to this? Do you agree or do you feel that
the Lord's work should be cut short

policies. At the present time we are paying that back. Slowly, slowly
this should be taken care of and we

in these troubled days? There is so much teaching to do. May the Lord guide you as you consider these mciters concerning His Kingdom.
Archie Fairbrother

NOTES FROM THE KHASI BIBLE TRAINING SCHOOL "Oh, Sister Fair, when did you get home?" Herdin asked with a welcoming smile as I stepped out the back door on my way to Old Testament class early Tuesday
morning.

"On Sunday evening, Herdin. How did you get along with junior church while I was gone?"

"Very well. Ribar and Alpha

were so much help; and, of course, with Kong Beau's supervision noth ing could go very wrong!" She

turned to join Alpha on their way to

Christian doctrine class.

Later that morning in teaching" methods class I had a better oppor tunity to find out how the students got along while Lois Rees and I were up at Mussocrie she to visit her children at Woodstock School, and I to enroll our two eldest, Marilois and Jewel in high school there. As I asked for reports from my

-I
Sludentsof the Khasi Bible Training School and Christians of Puryiangwork* ing on a road up to the church. David Rees (back to camera) is supervising the job.

class. Alpha smiled shyly, "I got along all right, but it was Ribar
who knew how to handle the chil dren."

children in Umthlong liked it sowell that they begged me to tell it again,

so I did the next week."

Ribar grinned, "I remember how

I was when I was in the class, so I knew how to handle the boys when

"I notice you kept the attend ance right up in the 90's, too, while I was gone," I smiled. Rosesing, nicknamed "Zacchaeus" by his classmates, gave
an enthusiastic report about using flannelgraph to tell Bible stories in his home village where there is
no church. "The children crowded

they were noisy. Kong Alpha did the teaching." Herdin gave a report on the flannelgraph story she had taught both at Mawlai and Umthlong. "The

around so close," he laughed, "that

the Press

STOP
This week I received a letter

for later news

by David Rees

ABOUT THE GARIKHANA CHURCH

from Lois on the wonderful oppor tunity presented for our considera tion regarding the property for the Gorikhana church. Passing through Joliet on my way north to Canada,
Mission Services informed me that

prevent the necessary growth; to keepon paying high rent meant there was no possibility of the struggling group ever having its own building.
This has caused much heartache for the church and the missionaries.

The Reeses and Fairbrothers, hav

Archie had material ready for press. Through the courtesy of the staff of
Mission Services, we were able to

ing already cut into their own livinglink funds for practically every project in the Khasi Hills, could
not assist in this vital matter.

hold up the press for further infor

mation which will clarify the posi
tion of this church.

The

Gorikhana

church

was

started about seven years ago by a group from the Mawlai congregation that lived within the city limits. We had no church within Shillong, a

A church located in the uptown area means reaching the educated class and students of a few high schools. The building could be used

as a reading center and a place for

other activities. The location which was rented was valueless for these

city which now has a population of

about 150,000; so a room was rented

purposes as it was a storage build ing and not in a Khasi residential

area. It was on the main road with

in a building which was under con

struction at the time. As the build

ing went up, so did the rent. This

meant that the church also went

traffic (mostly trucks) operating on the Lord's Day and creating a dis
turbance.

"up" into another story. The process was repeated as another story was added to the building. Fortunately,
as the church had to meet nearer

the sky, we were able to bring the

rent down to earth. BUT even this

did not prove economical for the future of the work. In the beginning the mission paid the rent. As the membership increased, the church assumed the responsibility; but the burden of keeping up with the rent prevented the church from having a building fund. There seemed to be no way out of the dilemma. To go back to meeting in a house would

Here is the problem in this won derful opportunity. To wait for funds earmarked for this purpose may again destroy the chances of pur chasing. The stcffy would only be repeated again as the months and the years rolled by. Your mission aries are heartsick over lost oppor tunities because of a shortage in missionary personnel as well as the acute distress created by "insuffi cient funds." Why should the Lcrd's
work suffer? The missionaries know

their needs, but how sad is the story when the missionaries are

so short on funds that they cannot

even pay to advertise. It appears strange that missionaries should have to advertise as if they were in
some competitive business, but

experience has taught the Assam

missionaries a hard lesson.

Experience, however, has also

shown the missionaries that when

a task has to be done, they had better get moving no matter what the
cost to themselves in health, an

guish or financial security. Lois Rees happened to have some funds on hand in Shillong it was pas sage money for furlough. She is planning on returning next June with two of her children, Emrys and Lois Kathleen. Does her giving this money towards the Garikhana church mean that they cannot come home for furlough?
This is a step in faith. From

past experience she should have learned that once a missionary

uses personal, livinglink or any other funds in mission work, it is not easy to reclaim. The Reeses
David Rees

ABOUT THE SCHOOL

Archie has mentioned the

put into the work $600 taken from their children's trust fund given by
relatives. This was for an emer

gency about nine years ago to pur chase the Life of Christ Visualized

in Khasi. Only $50 of this has been

returned to the trust fund. Does the

present use of personal funds mean that Lois' furlough will be delayed? This depends on the Lord's will
and the interest of the churches at home. The church will be built. That

additional expense involved in oper ating a high school; but one of the requirements is that we build on to our present plant. The Reeses built the present building under great hardship. They did not give from any savings or trust fund, because they had none left to give. The building was built by taking "taking" things off the table; such things as milk, butter and other
necessities. How will we build the

is the important thing. But the mis

sionaries would like to feel that

new addition to care for the pro

there has not arisen "another king who knew not Joseph." Please designate for which project funds
are intended.

posed high school? We have not decided yet. That problem will be
faced when David returns and starts

the building program in December.

Forwarding Agent for the Reeses:

West Side Christian Church

Douglas and Glen

Wichita, Kansas

Emrys, Warren and Lois Kathleen Rees

PLANS FOR FURLOUGH The Lord willing, Lois will return to the States after Emrys graduates from high school next June L Warren will not be graduat ing until 1966, so present plans
are that Warren will come back with David in 1986 when he comes back
months old when we went to China.

He has been back for two furloughs

since. Warren will be 18 when he returns in 1966. He was born in China and has been in the States

on only two occasions. Lois Kath

leen will be 13 when she returns

for his regular furlough. The Reeses

do not believe in short terms. The

next year. She has been back to her native land only once since she
went to the Khasi Hills. This is the

present return of David was neces sitated by his physical condition a few months ago. Emrys was six

way missionary children get the

language.

REPORT FROM MAYO CLINfC After a thorough checkup, the doctors found nothing organically wrong with David Rees. The doc tors simply informed him he was overworking and should ease up. His reply to them was that all he had to do was to return to Shillong and "kill" his wife. In other words, if David eases up, then it means
all the more work for Lois. She is

sented. Some adverse propaganda has been going around that India is
closed to missionaries. This has

brought on a lethargy in giving on

the part of many former supporters.

Also it has caused a lackof interest in volunteers. Doctors are welcomed

in Assam. There are other oppor tunities opening up. One major factor in the present missionary position
is that citizens of the Commonwealth are still able to enter. Some Ameri

already under an extremely heavy

load. Is there an answer? Yes! The

way into India is not entirely closed if one uses the opportunities pre

cans now possess Canadian citizen ship. Other churches are seeing in this an answer to some problems.

The Americans could possibly get

support from former local churches with which they have been con
nected. Canadians sometimes have

difficulty in getting support from U.S. churches, if they are not well
known. The American with Canadian

citizenship solves the problems of support and entrance into Common

wealth countries.

STUDENT EXCHANGE

Have we ever investigated the possibility of getting some of our better-educated, native preachers,
who are trying to gain high school training in India, exchanged with some outstanding American high school boys? We have one Khasi boy whom we would like to have
come to the States under this

Lois Rees and Bibie Students

scheme. In return a thoroughly Christian, American, high school boy could live among the Khasi

people. He would learn how to be come a missionary through practical training. No, friends, we have not yet explored all the possibilities of serving the Lord in India, The way is not closed.

I could hardly have room to put the

figures on the board!" Perhaps it was what Rosewell did that pleased me the most, al though he didn't mention it himself.
I learned of it later from a different

"How many times I've heard that!" I thought 'If we just had a school' at Smit, at Lyngkherdem,
at Mawlong . . . But Experience was speaking

source. He said simply, "I enjoyed

teaching Bible stories to the chil

again. "And if my mother and the rest of my family would come to

Christ, then I would not feel so
alone in the battle for truth."

dren at Smit. They are so interes

ted!" He didn't tell me that he took

all the Sunday school leaflets he has saved through the years of

attending junior church his prizes

for good attendance and distri buted them to the village children his last Sunday there.

She rose suddenly, "I must go now and prepare for the trip home." Holding out her hand to me she smiled brightly to hide the tears. "Pray for my mother. Sister Fair,
and for the church."

"I will, and I'll be praying for you too. Experience." Marguerite Fairbrother
SPECIAL NEED! The Garikhana Church of Christ

Footsteps were
the hall toward the

coming down
schoolroom.

Ellen glanced up from her fractions and Charles from his multiplication
tables,as I rose to answer the door.

needs funds for a building. They

are not expecting money as a gift. They will willingly pay back funds loaned for the building. If you give to the mission for this project, they will payback the amount to the mis
sion. Thus the funds can be used

"Oh, Kong Experience, good

morning! When did you come back?"
"Khublei, Sister Fair, I came

last night, but only to tell you goodby. I am leaving early in the morning and will probably not be back again this year."

again.

"Is your mother so ill then?"

"Yes, she was wdse than I expected and insists she cannot get along without me any more."

Opportunity is knocking at the present time. They are offered a building at less than half of what it is valued. If they act quickly, they can get it. Will you help?

"You are dropping out of the

Bible Training School, then?"
"Yes, I think I better, as I do not know how long I must care for my mother." Experience is from the village of Mawlong, overlooking the Pak
istan border. She is a member of

the very small church there, and the only Christian in her family. Dismissing my "school" tem porarily, I walked downstairs with Experience and visited with her and
her cousin a few minutes. We discussed the condition of the church there.

"It is so small and weak,* Experience mused, sadly. "I think if we had a school it would streng
then the church."

Mrs, Fairbrother has just inspected "Midlands," the girls* dorm for Wood stock High School, and is satisfied fur
Marilois and Jewel to live there.

START A HIGH SCHOOL?

The inspector of schools for
this area came to see me and he

a time. Thus, it will be four years

from the time we start until we have

a full-fledged high school. It will

talked for a long time about our school. He has given it government recognition from the beginning of this school year. He was pleased
with the results students here. he found in the

take an addition ofat least $250 per month, for each year of the high
school classes. This means that at

the end of the four-year period we wouldneed at least $1,000 per month
more than we are getting at the present time. It is a great responsi
bility of lives and material. Are we
going to count it worth the effort?

He went on to express his wish

that we would start a high school in this area. He was willing to give
his support to such an endeavor on
our part.

We are willing - if you see fit to

advance with us. Archie Fairbrother

A high school is so involved

that we do not know if we want to

get into it. There would be so much more expense than we are now bear ing for the middle English school we now operate. However, it can be done if you brethren feel that it
should be done in the name of Christ

and His church. In one way, it is a challenge to see what we can do to offset the teaching of Communism. The message of Christ will be taught, we have stressed that in every phase of school work we have attempted here. We do not want to make it a government-controlled school; but we do expect govern
ment recognition.

We will wait for your response to this idea befcre we go ahead with any plans. If we do start a high school, it will be one year at

At Landour, Mussoorie Marilois

and Jewel Fairbrother with the younger

daughters of Bernel and Joan Getter

(and a neighbor girl) and Rodney Rash,

youngest son of Tom and Leota Rash.

FORWARDING ADDRESS Mrs. L. Rasmussen

Route 2, Box 44 Gillette, Wisconsin

MISSION SERVICES BOX 968

JOLIET, ILLINOIS 60434

Return Requested

help from a friend? Don't you both speak and write your thanks? Don't you usu ally want to express appreciation with a gift? Aren't you ready, whenever the op
portunity presents itself, to tell others of your good fortune? Don't you feel con strained to help someone else as you have been helped? When you do, you demon strate your gratitude. So it is with the Christian! He expresses

THANKS

BE TO

this thanksgiving in these same simple,

natural ways.

He worships regularly at the Lord's Tableand there gives thanks to his Bene
factor.

He gives back to God as he can in love

and thought, time, tithes, and oflFerings and so is a good steward.

He witnesses to Others about the bless

ing he has receivedand so is a personal

evangelist.
He shares of himself with othersand

so is a servant, helping them as he has been helped.

' "Thanks be to Godl"

Say it . . . sing it . . . demonstrate it every day!

OCT 30 196
First Christian Church 1102 Cedar Street

Michigan City, Ind. 46360

46219

Printed !n U.S.A. 5/64

"Thanks be to God!"

That is the authentic, genuine, basic note in Christianitythanksgiving. Noth ing is more characteristic of our faith than
that.

15:57) "Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph." (II Cor. 2: 14) " Thanks be to God for his inexpress

Look at it this way.

What is the one constant, central, com

ible gift!" (II Cor. 9:15) "I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers." (Philemon 4) "Give thanks in all circumstances." (I Thess. 5:18)
In All Circumstances?

mon act of Christian worship? It is the Lord's Supper, observed regularly by all Christians for more than 1900 years.
Now, common to all four of the New
Testament accounts of the institution of

It is perhaps easy to give thanks in nor

mal circumstances, but what about the unusual times, the times when we have
too much or too little? When we are ex

the Lord's Supper (Matt. 26; Mark 14; Luke 22 and I Cor. 11) is one interesting clause: "when he had given thanks . . ." In the original Greek, this verb is a form of eucharisteo, "to give thanks." The im portance of this word to the act of com mon Christian worship led the early church by the beginning of the second century to refer to communion as "the
Eucharist." Communion Is Central

tremely fortunate and successful, it is all too easy to forget that our blessings come from God and the help of others. When

we are afflicted, in the midst of depriva tion, hardship or misfortune, it is some times difficult to see anything for which to be grateful. Yet the Christian is one who gives
thanks to God "in all circumstances" sim

ply because the focus and center of his faith and life is Christ. From Christ, he

Thus, central in Christianity is com munion; central in communion is thanks giving; therefore, central to Christianity is thanksgiving. Ours is a religion of grati tude and this is the proper, necessary,
normal attitude for a Christian.

learns the nature of God who in all things "works for good with those who love' him." In Christ, he experiences a wonder ful blessingforgiveness, guidance and strength here, and joy and peace here
after.

Gratitude, even in difficult times, is a

How often, for instance, the Apostle Paul speaks of the giving of thanks: "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Rom. 7:25) "Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory." (I Cor.

characteristic of the genuine Christian.

Demonstrate Gratitude

How do you show your appreciation when you receive some special favor or

ioi
DECEMBER 1964

Oij tilt Txoct

oi tit CiJuAtmai Sz-oAoru
ijOunA tbtiat| cuuL tA^craj ctatj
lour} unit tiir. c^Tuinn uroA/ Hrchie and Marguerite
Fairbrother

?HIRTEEN years ago Archie and

Marguerite Fairbrother and

NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
by the Fairbrothers and Reeses in the two

little daughters, Jewel and Marilois, landed in Calcutta, headed for the unknown jungles of Assam, and specifi cally, for the Khasi Hills, where they had been called to help strengthen nine indigenous churches and encourage the spreading of the Gospel throughout the Khasi Hills and beyond. Eight members of the Fairbrother family landed in Bombay a year ago, re turning for their third term of service in Assam. This year has seen six new churches established, primarily through the efforts of preachers trained jointly

Khasi Bible Training School. This brings a total of 34 churches endeavoring to follow the New Testament pattern, not only among the Khasis, but reaching out
to the Garo and Mikir tribes.

Pray

with

your missionaries that

been reached with the

these who have

Gospel message will reach beyond, as other November anniversaries roll around, to other tribes to the east and north,

"having eternal good tidings to proclaim

unto them that dwell on the earth, and

to every nation and tribe and tongue and people." (Rev. 14:6).

TEACHERS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST MIDDLE ENGLISH SCHOOL

EFORE [ introduce our teachers to

you I'd like you to know that in-

^
ter).

stead of using such terms as Mr.,

Mrs., or Miss, the Khasis address one another as Bah (Brother) or Kong (Sis The present Middle English School was started by Edgar Nichols in 1951 as a Primary School with only Classes A, B, and B-Heh, taught by Mrs. Beauty Basaiamott. Kong Beau, who was just 20 when she started teaching has been with the school ever since. She had just
taken time out for the birth of her sev
enth child fifth son when the school

pictures were taken. Kong Las was our language teacher

when we first came to the Khasi Hills

in

1951. She also served as an inter Five of our six teachers posed for their picture after all the classes had

preter tn women's and children's classes. In 1952 she accepted the position of headmistress of die Middle English School, which was just being established.

Kong Las is also a mother of two boys and four girls but she looks as young
as her picture shows her. In 1957 Kong Silo joined the staff of the Primary School. She is Kong Beau's cousin, and both of them have contributed much to the success of the school. Kong

had their turns. Standing in front are Mrs. Siloris Kharkongor and Mrs. Laslydian Lyngdoh. Mrs. Lyngdoh, better known to all of us as *Kong Las,* is the Heodmistress of the school. Behind, left to right, are Eweston Dkhar7 Odds Chyne, and Dishing Sohkhlet. Mr. Dkhar, better knov/n as Bah Wes, is Assistant
Headmaster.

Silo married a young evangelist in I960, and they have two fine little boys.
Bah Wes came to the Middle English
School in 1958 &s assistant headmaster.

He has continued with his college work, and is now working on his master's de

together we look forward to increased opportunities of service as we work toward the expansion of the Middle English School into a high school.

gree. His thesis, which he must write in English, is on the history of educa
tion in the Khasi Hills. On the side, he

is

compiling

an

anthology

of

Khasi

folklore.

The next addition to the faculty of the school was Bah Odas, who has been here since 1959. Recently, he has started

teaching in a literacy program for older illiterates three nights a week. He also
teaches a class of older women each

Sunday morning at the Mawlai Church of

Christ. Of the three men teachers he is

the only one who is married. This year Bah Dishing joined the staff of the Middle English School. He is also continuing his college work at night school, in addition to which he preaches at Nongpoh each Sunday.
God has indeed blessed us in these

These tiny tots, in pre-kindergarten which is called Class A, come to school from 7:30 till 10:00 each morning.

FORWARDING ADDRESS Mrs. L. Rasmussen

Route 2, Box 44 Gillette, Wisconsin

dedicated young Christian teachers, and

4
This is Class B, or kindergarten. They also come to school from 7:30 to

10:00, and learn to count using pebbles. Theylearnthe alphabetand start reading.

These are the advanced kindergar teners, or Class 3-Hell (Khosi word meaning "big"). They can read a little and are learning to write, and they also learn the multiplication tables. All three
oi these classes are in the 7:30 10:00

These

children

come

to

school at

Here

is

Class

II.

Do some

of the

10:00 just as their little brothers and sisters ore going home. This is Class I,
and their work is a little more odvanced

boys look older than the majority of their classmates? The two boys at the
left end of the back row are in their

than our first graders do.

teens; but they just didn't have a chance to go to school when they were younger.

ll
In Class III there is quite a wide
age range too. These children must
Most
have now

of

the

children
in the

in

Class

IV

been

mission

school

start learning a

second language; and

for almost seven years.

since this is a Middle English School,

their second language is English.

All the children in Classes I-VI are gathered here on the edge of the school ground. There are 280 children registered in the school this year. That includes the little ones who come earlier. T^is is the largest school in Mawlai.

FUNDS FOR JEEP $1,247.20

SPHCIAL NEIiD for repair of , y our jeep has been met! You, Chris tian friends, have been very responsive to this need. We give our thanks to God for your faith. The total amount received for this special need was $1,247.20. This just includes those who gave with
a definite statement that it was for the

jeep. There were many others who gave with the idea of using the funds where they were most needed. We found that the jeep body was so terribly eaten out by rust that the major part of the work is to repair the body. 1 do not know exactly what the final bill will be, thoufji 1 know we will soon be faced with it. However, we are confident
that there arc funds to meet the need.

Many children drop out of school after completing Class IV. Classes V and VI combine for their picture, here. These are the young people who are
anxious for us to start a high school so

they won't have to go clear into town to

continue their education.

The Christian Church in Mt.Pulaski, Illinois, made a special effort and gave an extra $400 for the purchase of a
trailer. We now have the trailer in our

ssssssssssss

Your concern and sacrificial giving has been wonderful. We pray that this will help us feel closer to you and you
will feel closer to us. The Lord's work will then continue to move forward.

possession. Tliank You! The total cost

of the trailer was $403.90.

MISSION SERVICES BOX 968

JOLIET, ILLINOIS 60434

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