roland william jean 1995 india

8/11/2019 Roland William Jean 1995 India

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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


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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, ^


3/8

>

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.


4/8

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


5/8

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


6/8

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,


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


8/8

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

roland william jean 1995 india

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