N

The Christian Mission, Vol. 10, No. 4, April, 1966

Page 5

ASSAM INDIA MISSION, CHURCHES OF CHRIST

The churches in the Khasi Hills of Assam,

India were started thirty three years ago by the people themselves. In 1949 Ben Schiller
made a visit here in the Khasi Hills and it was

I recognized the disease as impetigo. As I gently washed his scaip and ears with
a disinfectant I asked his mother what she fed him.

through him that they asked for missionaries

to come and work with them.

Edgar Nichols had to flee from the com

munists on the border of China and Tibet.

Mr, and Mrs. Edgar Nichols walked across

Tibet into India and there found the Khasi tri

bal people looking for someone to lead them in the teaching of the New Testament, so that churches could be established according to
that pattern which came from God. The Nichols

hoped to be able to work here among the Khasis, but were only allowed by the government of
India to stay for two and a half years. The reason given by the government of India was

"I give him milk whenever I can get any, but most of the time we have only plain tea. " Then she went on to explain that she must go to work each day and she leaves the baby with her 11 year old niece. "Can you bring him here for treatment each day before you go to work?" I asked, as I gave her a small jar of milk into which I had mixed a tonic for the baby. With profuse thanks she accepted the milk for him and promised to come each day. About two weeks later we agreed that
the little fellow was cured. His little cheeks

that the Nichols were refugees and were thus

not allowed to stay in India for work.
In 1951 while the Nichols were still in the

Khasi Hills, the Fairbrother family came out to join in the work among the churches of Christ in Assam. They have been with the
work ever since that time.

were filled out, and he was as lively and bouncy as our baby. He was laughing as we said goody-by and I gave his mother a tin of baby milk to keep

him lively and growing.

"You have been a life-saver to us," his

mother said.
otherwise."

"Thank you for everything.

In the year 1953, David and Lois Rees

I'll see you at church even if we don't meet

came to help in the work among the Khasis. They chose this field of labor after not being
allowed to return to Burma or China.

In the past fifteen years more than 30

churches have been established here in the

"Yes, " I thought, "it is good to be able to help the poor and underprivileged find a better life here, but a far greater blessing
to see them find the abundant life Jesus pro
mised to those who follow Him!"
GOALS

Khasi Hills. Many of these churches are do ing all they can to start other churches in
their areas.

LIFE IN ABUNDANCE

Develop the elementary school to high school one year at a time. This year we

He was so tiny I could hardly believe it when they told me he was six months old the age of our own plump lively baby. Unlike most

have proceeded to the first year of high

school. This is a test to see of those who

support the work here wish to have it.

If

Khasi babies, he was not frightened by our

strange white faces. He smiled at once when I smiled at him; and when I held out my hands,

he came right to me=

His mother took off his bonnet and I was

they wish to have this school, we will know by the increase of funds for that purpose. We make no goal as to the number of churches which we expect to start in a year.
There has been one church started in the

horrified by the ugly, scabby sores all over

his scalp. "How long has he had these sores?" I
asked.

month of January.

We know of further op-

portunities open to use, but must have funds

and personnel to accomplish more in this

area.

"For several weeks," she answered, "but

they didn't seem to bother him til they spread to his ears. Now he can't sleep at night, so I brought him to see if you can do anything for
him."

(continued on next page)

Page 6

The Christian Mission, Vol. 10, No. 4, April, 1966

(continued from previous page)

NEEDS

Additions need to be made on the present

else the victory will be of the devil and his

building to meet with the increased enroll ment. The elementary Christian Day School has started a new school year the middle of
February and the classes are filled beyond capacity. We need more room immediately. The space needed for classrooms will come to about $6000 to build. If we plan definitely

cohorts. Communism spares nothing to

win what will we do? The Gospel of Christ
can be victorious but it will take dedicated

service by all who claim a share in His Kingdom.

for a high school, there is the need for a building there.

We need to vacate our office so that Philip Ho can expand his dispensary when he arrives
back here. We will have to build a small

Archie and Marguerite Fairbrother Mawlai, Syllai Ka Riah Shillong 8, Assam, India

Forwarding Agent;
Mrs. Lawrence Rasmussen

office by itself.

This will come to about $600.

By this method Philip can move into our pre sent office which is a part of his house5 and

Route 2, Box 44 Gillett, Wisconsin 54124

do his medical work more efficiently.

It all boils down to this: we advance or

OfH leiien^
ABOUT THE FAIRBROTHERS
Dear Christian Friend:

If you can get TJie Church Abroad, written ty Lora Banks Harrison, I96O Revision, you will find a very good summary of the work in Assam, India (available at Mission
Services).

4 General information about Assam should be in any encyclopedia.

I shall try to

give you some specific information about the problems of the missionaries.

/ The majority of the people in the hills around Shillong are Khasis. Their reli ef gion is a form of spirit worship. They believe in one god, but in many spirits,
i They also believe in blood sacrifice. It doesn't take much blood just a few drops are enough. Sometimes a rooster or some other animal will do. But sometimes human
blood is desired. , Khasi Hills, Of course, no man will give even a small amount of his blood be
That is the cause of the occasional blood-killing in the

cause then an evil spirit could enter through the cut; so the only way to get some of
his blood is to kill him.

The missionaries teach the people that God no longer requires blood sacrifices. His Son, Jesus, was sent into the world to make the supreme sacrifice-for all men for
all time. This He did when He was crucified. But He rose again and ascended into

heaven, assuring us of our resurrection and eternal life,

in Him and to obey Him, He will save us from our sins.

Jesus asks us to believe

This teaching isn't too difficult since the people already believe in one^god";

but belief in spirits is hard to stamp out. It is like the belief in superstitions in this country, only stronger and more influential. ^ t)arn was remodeled as a dormitory and classrooms for the India Bible Institute. Classes are conducted in English because there are so many languages in India that one common language had to be found so students from all parts of India could learn, '

Also, the college material is written in English and is not available in its entirety
in native languages. The students from this college should have an education equiva lent to that of the Bible college students in the United States,
One member of the faculty is a native. The object is to teach the natives to be

independent leaders so that they can go on by themselves without outside help. This would be especially necessary in case the foreign missionaries were required to leave
India. As the natives become qualified, they will be used as instructors in the col lege to teach others to be Christian leaders to lead their local flocks and to evan

gelize new places.

(The school is now a correspondence school,)

As you know from your reading, cows are sacred in India, Though the Khasis don't believe this, the cows are protected in Assam, There is a home for aged cows. It is
a beautiful white building. But any old cow found wandering may be used for beef if it is 14 years old. The Khasis demand the right to do this, in spite of what the Hindus say. Imagine how tender it must be.'
Living has a few problems. Cooking is done on a charcoal stove. Usually a native does this so the missionaries will be free for their work; but Marguerite tried

to make a pie.

The flour does not handle easily and is sort of grayish in color.
The result was

She

decided to use cherries as a filling.

Since no fresh or plain, canned cherries were

available, she tried using candied cherries from the local market.

f
Page 2

horrible.

Meat is also a problem.

Beef comes from 1^-year-old cows.

Rice is a

staple food.

Since the Fairbrothers like rice, this is no hardship for them.

During the rainy season they have to cope with humidity. They find mildew or mold on books. They even feel it is necessary to scrape it out of their toothbrushes before using themj Salt becomes liquid and is poured out like water. Clothes that are washed are slow to dry. Sometimes they don't dry until they are ironed, then they get damp again from the air. As a result they have a mildewy odor. Rain comes

down in sheets.

A picture of this might be seen in "Life" magazine for September 8,

1961 page 67 and 68. Of course, the entire article is about the monsoon; but if you use it, please remember that it is about a part of India that also gets very dry, Assam does not get so dry. It is the wettest spot in the world and doesn't get as
hot or as dry as the rest of India.
ARCHIE AND MARGUERITE FAIRBROTHER MISSIONARIES TO INDIA

by Lucy E. Rasmussen

I am Archie Fairbrother's sister,

C. A. (Archie) and Lucile Fairbrother were

our parents,

Archie, the third child and the only boy, was born on June 24, 1923 in
In 1925 the family moved to a farm about four-and-a-half

Oconto Falls, Wisconsin,

miles from the city of Oconto.

J Archie grew up on the farm.

Lucy Ellen and Jean were his older sisters.

In I926,

another sister, Clara, was added to the family,

He had a rather lonely life as a boy because there

were no boys who lived nearby. His friends lived in town or near town. But he was kept busy on the farm and also by trying to hold his own among three girls,
Since"there was no Christian Church in Oconto, all of the instruction we got in the truths about the New Testament church came mostly from our mother. She was the

only one in the family who was a Christian.

was through Mother's efforts than none of us(^became Presbyterians 01^ joined any ^othei^
sect.

around Oconto. Most of the time, though, we attended the Presbyterian church,^It

We attended different churches in and

Grandmother and Grandfather Ferguson knew many ministers from Illinois, Some of them visited on the Ferguson farm in Marinette County, I remember Bro. Bennett, Bro. Small, Bro. Brown, Bro. Milton, Bro. S. S. Lappin and others. Some of these held meetings, I wanted to be baptized during one of the meetings held by Bro, Bennett,
Grandmother wouldn't allow it since Mother wasn't there.
and uncle.

But, in 1930, when I was

12|- years old I was baptized in Kenosha by Bro, Hayes while I was visiting my aunt
While I was in high school, we got an automobile. With this we began going to church in Green Bay. Our mother had always hoped that we could contact some Chris
tians near us. I don't know how she got the information, but she heard about a preach-

ing convention in Green Bay the summer of 1930. She and I attended it, going by bus. This contact proved to be valuable to our family.
The convention and our following visits to Green Bay, resulted in Bro, Phil Martell's a lay minister reaching out from Green Bay and going into Marinette to preach. Since we had friends there, we attended quite often. It was at Marinette that Archie and Jean decided to accept the Lord and be baptized. One Sunday, Father was baptized in the Oconto River by Bro, Martell. Thus, all but Clara had now accept ed. This she did one Sunday in Amberg, Wisconsin, when a Christian from Milwaukee
was up there preaching.

Page 3

'Archie graduated from the Oconto High School in 19^2 He played the flute in
the high school band and participated in competitive sports. During football season, he injured his knee. An operation was performed, but his knee is still stiff and at times it sx^^ells, paining him a great deal.

v/ When working in ^iadison,'-v'isconsin, he began attending the Christian church there

and also became acquainted with a body of Christians. The HcKitrick family was one such Christian family. He decided he wanted to be a minister. As a result, he en

rolled in Johnson Bible College.

ferred there.

After Lincoln Bible Institute opened, he trans

They were mar

While attending this college, he met Marguerite Bare,

ried on Good Friday in March 19^8,

For a year after his marriage, Archie ministered to the church in Chambersburg, f Illinois. During his second year there, he returned to Lincoln to finish his school ing, Marguerite also attended school with him. They kept up their work in Chambersburg at the same time. They both graduated in 1950.

Marguerite, the older daughter of Dr, and Mrs, N. H, Bare (former missionaries
J to Tibet)5 was born in China on the Tibetan border. She grew up there until she was 1^ years old. Then, because of World War II, the family returned to the United States
to live. Marguerite received her high school and college education'in the States. (I don't know much about her life. This is due to the fact that the Fairbrothers are

gone from the States most of the time.)

Marilois, the oldest Fairbrother child, was born January 19^9* Jewel was born August 1950. Archie and Marguerite left the first time for India in October 1951
Ellen was born in India in November 1952. In 195^ Marguerite was ill. The doctors ordered her to come back to the States. They arrived back in November, In January 1955) Charles was born in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin. Now followed a time in which they had trouble getting visas for returning to

, India.

Finally, in 1957s the visas were granted.

They flew back in July of that year.

In November 1957j Kenneth was born.

Then, November I96O, Jean was born.

Incidentally,

every child born in India was born in November,

Their last furlough was in 1962, They arrived in the States in August and rented a place in Zion, Illinois, where they lived for a year. There they attended the Zion . Christian Church when they weren't on the road, and the children attended the public
school.

In August 1963, they moved to Michigan City, Indiana, where they lived until they -left for India in October I963# This paper was written to give you some idea about Archie Fairbrother and the background from which he came, I hope it has increased your understanding of him and
his family.

You may wonder about the education of the children. Marguerite teaches them, using lessons sent out by the Calvert School in Baltimore, Maryland. Marilois and Jewel are attending a boarding school in Woodstock, We don^t all realize how difficult and expensive it is for missionaries to
educate their children. We are fortunate here in the States, V/e can send our chil

dren to a public school.

education.

So you see that some of the expense missionaries have is

Page k

Following is a budgeting plan that Archie made out during the summer of I963.
These are necessary expenses even while on furlough.
be used there# This plan is for a year.

The money is sent to India to

Christian Day School and Evangelism (their share) . . Property Upkeep Office Supplies and Postage ....
Designated Mission Funds Medicine for Mission Dispensary New Building (expansion) Help for Churches Missionary Evangelistic Trip Expense
Printing

Car Expense

2,526.36 ^80,00 360.00

800.00 360.00

6OO.OO

.
.

1,000.00
1,000.00 6OO.OO 200,00

Telephone . . . . . . . .
Repatriation Fund Promotional (including postage) Postage and Stationery in the States
Mission Share of Insurance

63.16
800.00 450.00 40.00
I3O.9O

Missionaries' Personal Funds Missionary Children's Personal Funds

3>600.00 2.2S0.00

TOTAL

$15,249,42

Total per month

--r

$ 1,270.79
^ _ . ... . .

There is also a cost of $60,00 per month for nine months for each child who goes
away to-scl:^o!U
-'T

'

I hope that this will all be interesting to you and that you will enjoy your
mission study.

Written April 1964

June 1966

Marguerite Fairbrolhcrwith Class VII of the Church ofChrisi Proceeding High School. Sometimes these young people wonder if ihcy have taken loo
great a chance on the success of the new high school. When we go lor licid

trips or study slides through the microscope they are glad they have taken the chance. "We wouldn't get to do this if we had gone lo Sacred Heartor
Government High School!"

Church of Christ Proceeding High School, an arm of the work being done
by the Assam India Wission Churches of Christ, Mawiai, Shillong, Assam, India, is in full swing of activity even though it is only in its first year of existence. There is only one class (the first year) in the high school at the
(Conlinucd on pa^e 2)

present time and each year a new the writing of this newsletter, the will be added until the full exact total on hand is not known by four years has been included in the us. We do know that financial help school. Marguerite Fairbrother is one is still needed and will be much of the teachers of this new high appreciated. The Khasi Bible training school school in Mawlai, teaching two sub jects English and science. There is finishing up subjects which David are eleven students in this high Rees is teaching and wants to com school for the first year. They are plete before he goes on furlough in good scholars and we expect their July. Around the first of July they
class

will be taking classes taught by Archie Fairbrother. These young men Here is an opportunity to prepare and ladies are beginning to have a young people to go out into the world lot of influence among the brethren with a good background in Christian in the Khasi Hills. We certainly feel teaching. By giving for this, you are that this school is well worth the doing a much needed task of preparing trouble you take to pray for it, as Christian leaders for the years ahead. well as the money you invest in it. Dishington Sohkhlet married A two-story addition is under Rophina Lyngdoh on the 19th of construction to add classroom space April, 1966. Dishington is one of the to our Christian day school building. This addition was needed whether we teachers in our Christian day school proceeded to high school or not. The and Rophina is one of the young
enthusiasm

out

for the school to reach to other smdents in the area.

new addition is 20 feet by 28 feet ladies who was trained in the Khasi and will be a great help in classroom Bible Training School. We pray that space for the elementary school where this young couple will have a long there are now 340 students. The cost and happy life together. for building this addition will come to more than $2,000. We haveborrowed

to get it under construction; will you help to keep us above water fin
ancially?
Garikhana Church of Christ has

moved ahead by faith as they made the down payment on the land which will add greatly to the small plot which they purchased before. When the final papers have been processed, they will then be able to think on ways and means of constructing a building. The building will probably be in the future yet, because the purchase of the land has drained the church funds dry. They thank each individual and church or organization which has given to help them. They

,1

still have about $1,600 to pay before

the final papers can be granted to them. Part of this is on hand; but at

Dishington Sohkhlet and Rophina Lyngdoh, married at Nongpoh, April

19, 1966.

David Rees will leave India after

Warren Rees, the Reeses' second son,

My Sister,

graduates from high school on the Dr. Bare 20th of July. This will be the year of David's furlough. Be sure and hear It was a shock to all of us to him speak if you have a chance to receive word of the sudden death of be near where he is speaking. my only sister in February 1966. Her passing was, indeed, a Lois Rees arrived back in India in June 19^6, after completing a personal loss; but it was a greater successful year in the U.S.A. Lois loss to this world which is so short is leaving their daughter, Lois of good Christian doctors. It was a
Kathleen in the States for another come back to India when her father comes back next year.

loss to our work, too. We sorely miss

year of school. Lois Kathleen will her prayer and financial support.
us which has come to

But Maribel left something with

sustain us

even
course on elders and deacons each

in the moments of deepest

Archie Fairbrother is teaching a grief. She had the rare ability of sensing a tense situation and saying Sunday at the Garikhana Church of just the right thing at the right moment Christ. The brethren here are most to ease the tension immediately. anxious to set things straight in the Often in the past few months, one or church and then to move forward in another of her terse, witty sayings ha s suddenly come to my mind bringing service for the Lord. a smile through the tears. It makes The Mawlai Church of Christ me want to say, "Thank you, Maribel!" held a very successful preaching And we all look forward to seeing her rally on April 29 to May 1. There again. were about 300 who came from the Marguerite Fairbrother
other churches in the area to attend

this meeting for the full three days. The church buildingwas full for each session and spirits were high.
It looks like this is a good year for service in the kingdom of our
Lord here in the Khasi Hills. We

continue to pray for God's guidance and trust that you are also praying
with us in this most important matter.

May God bless you in your service

for Him.

Archie Fairbrother

FORWARDING ADDRESS
Mrs. L. Rasmussen

Marilois, Jewel, and Ellen Fairbrother, .students at Wood

stock School. We have left our work in the Khasi Hills for a

Route 2, Box 44

Gillette, Wisconsii^ 54124

brief vi.sit with our girls in

Landour.

KluiU

How can you leave us like this?"

"I won't be long. I'll just go and

eat a little of the mustard and come

right back." "No. I know you will never return. As soon as you leave you will forget All the creatures and mankind us just as you have forgetten your convened again to chose another original purpose in coming here. You mediator to bring their plea to the will never come back!" Sun to shine again, after the NightBut the Peacock would not listen. hawk's unsuccessful meeting with
the Sun.

Down

to

the fields

of

mustard he

This time the Peacock was chosen

because of his beauty and impressive

bearing. When the Peacock entered the Cave of Perpetual Gloom to stand
before her, the Sun was smitten by

flew. He gorged himself on the mustard until he was unable to fly. And the Sun, looking down from the Cave of Perpetual Gloom, wept bitter tears which fell upon the Peacock's
tail and left their marks forever.

his beauty. Her charm and hospitality swept him off his feet; and he, too, forgot his purpose in coming to the
Sun. The Sun and the Peacock were

Marguerite Fairbrother
Zip Codes will be required by the Post Office on all publications by the end of this year. If your address below does not have a zip code, fill out and send the form below to
Mission Services TODAY.

married and lived happily together for a number of years. One day the Peacock, looking
down from the mouth of the cave saw

the bright yellow fields of mustard in full bloom. He became so hungry for
the mustard which was one of his

Assam Messenger Mailing List

Name
Address

favorite foods, that he wanted to fly right down to the earth again. The Sun begged him not to leave.
"Think of me and the children!

City
ZIP CODE

.State

MISSION SERVICES

BOX 968 JOLIET, ILLINOIS 60434

Xh I

Return Requested

^er
Mr. and Mrs. Archie Fairbrother
Christian Missionaries associated with David, H. and J. Lois Rees

ASSAM INDIA MISSION CHURCHES OF CHRIST

Mawlai, Syllaikariah, Shillong 8, Assam, India

September 1966

d
Dear Friends in Christ ^

School have spent^mu<^^^fT^ei?tim^^j^itih^yillages the last two months

churches in the Kh^iTiniUs. TheH^^^g men'of the Khasi Bible Training

The summer monty^^ye'p^^^^inif^'^fiurry of adtivity here among the

(June and July). In the month of August we'had them come back here for
more classes. This is, after all, the time when schools here are in full swing.

The addition to our Christian day school is finished and being used for
classes. The total cost of the addition is a little different than what we

said at the beginning. In dollars it will be cheaper because of the recent change in the value of the Indian rupee. I will try to get the new cost of the addition figured out and give it to you in the next edition of the Assam
Messenger.

The Garikhana Church of Christ is able to use the property which they are buying, even though the present owner does not want the total amount of the purchase price yec. He wants the money just before he leaves here in the month of October, so that he won't have to keep it on his person for a very long time. However, the brethren in the Garikhana area are pleased to
be able to use the house for their services.

David Rees is now in the U.S.A. and will be contacting churches and other friends in connection with the work here. If you can get a chance to hear him, please don't miss it. Lois Rees is in India at this time and will soon be back here in Shillong. In fact, she will be here in Shillong long before you will receive this letter.

Last March we borrowed $1,000.00 to give the work here a boost at a time when special funds were needed desperately for projects at that time. Thus far we have not been able to pay back this loan. We do want to put our every effort into payment of this loan and trust that you will be behind us in this. The original idea behind the loan was to have money for payment on the property which the Garikhana church was buying. It turned out that we did not have to use it for that, so we used it for the building of the
addition to our school.

We pray constantly for the brethren who are working with us here by giving so that this work continues. Brethren, the Gospel is being preached; souls are coming to Christ; and from this, we say that the churches are growing in numbers as well as in faith. Please pray with us for the work of
the Lord here.

Sincerely in Christ,
Archie Fairbrother

Once more it was necessary to send an emissary to^the Sun. This

time it was even more difficult to

find a candidate. The jungle cock was suggested for his clear, loud voice, but he quickly objected with
great embarrassment.

could appease the Sun and cause hereto come out of hiding to smile again upon the Earth. To prove the sincerity of his ringing words, he picked up a sword and slit his throat. The Sun was deeply moved with
the cock's noble offer and his wil

"How can I appear before the

Sun in my nakedness?"* All the other birds gathered around him,

lingness to die so that his fellow creatures might live. She quickly
stauched the flow of blood, and with

excitedly
feathers.

offering

some

of their

"If that is your only objection," they urged, "we will gladly share our feathers with you!"
In no time at all the cock was

a smile of dazzling brilliance she told him, "I will forgive mankind for his sin because of your blood; but you must bear the stain of it forever on your breast as a constant
reminder to man.**

completely covered in a great variety

of feathers of all sizes and colors.

"As for your plea that I shall

shine again, I have heard that. When

ever I hear you call I will come out
and shine."
The cock flew back to Earth

Valiantly he flew off to the Cave of Perpetual Gloom. There, in com plete humility he poured out his message from the inhabitants of Earth. Earnestly he concluded with
the offer of his own. life if his blood

with the bright bloodstains fresh on his breast and gave the waiting crea{Continued on page 4)

Woodstock So ih a dinner and

stumes. Left to

injabi suit, and

Spring Concert of the Woodstock High School choir. Marilois Fairbrother is fourth from the right in the second row. Jewel Fairbrolher,
sixth from the left in the front row.

KHASI MYTHOLOGY (Continued from page 2)

tures his message from the Sun. At
There are still featherless wild

dawn the next morning his call rang

out loud and clear. In the east a

chickens in the jungles of Burma.

**The Khasis still sacrifice

light began to glow. Ail creation waited breathlessly. Again and once again came the cock's ringing cry. And suddenly above the hilltops appeared the glowing face of the Sun.

roosters,
illnesses.

especially

for

certain

Marguerite Fairbrother

FORWARDING ADDRESS

Mrs. L. Rasmussen

Route 2, Box 44

Gillette, Wisconsin 54124

9
"When will Daddy and Mama leave us up here al school?"
Charles and Kenneth Fairbrolher

Zip Codes will be required by the Post Office on all publications by the end of this year. If your address below does iiQl have a zip code, fill out and send the form below to
Mission Services TODAY.

Assam Messenger Mailing List

Name Address

at the gate of Belle Vue where we rent an apartment for the months we spend at Mussoorie lo be with our girls.

City
ZIP CODE

State

MISSION SERVICES BOX 368

JOLIET, ILLINOIS 60434