Field Address:

Alan and Janet Bemo

Box 22384

Taipei 100, Taiwan

rfi.K fiAST

Forwarding Agent:
Mrs. Sandi Gant
R. R. 1. Box 333

CKUSAOeK

Dear Christian Friends,

Fort Gibson. Okla.

74434

cciv /q-7tv

We wish you a blessed Christmas this year

as we rejoice in the Christ who came so
long ago to save the world. At the same
time let us mourn over the millions who

have not heard this good news yet!

We have some real exciting news to tell
you in this issue of the FAR EAST
CRUSADER. We are now making final
plans to go back to Taiwan early. The Lord
willing we will be returning to Taiwan on
January 13th, 1974. We have made these
early plans for several reasons. The most
important is that we really believe that
Jesus is coming back soon. As we see
prophecies being fulfilled in the middle
East we keep thinking of the Christians in Taiwan who need to be warned to be watchful. We think of the
millions without Christ! Another reason for wanting to go back early is that we feel that Taiwan is the
place we can be the most effective for the Lord. Just after we made this decision Mr. Kissinger went to
Peking. As he came back to America he said, when asked what his conference with jChou En Lai was ail

about, "The United States is definitely planning to expand diplomatic relatioas with Peking. When we
heard this we were even more happy we were going back early. If this happens it will get more and more
difficult for Americans to go to the Republic of China. Right now we are waiting for our visas to get back
and we would like for you to pray with us that we will get them soon. We have received several letters
from folk in Taiwan wanting us to return early too. Probably most outstanding is a letter from the preacher
i used to work with, Mr. Lwo, telling of how the eider of the congregation where we worked had passed
away. We do hope to be able to encourage and help this congregation when we get back, but we do not
want to work there full time if they have been able to get along for the last nine months without us, we
hope they can continue to be indigenous!

Beth is out of school on January 11th. it just so happens that there is a special club flight (of which we
are members) leaving San Francisco for taipei on January 13th. Then the Spring term will start in Taipei
on January 25th. We thank God for how these things work out. We are also thankful to the Muskogee
Christian Church which permitted me to resign as youth minister to get ready to go back to Taiwan earlier.
Also Ozark Bible College was able to get someone else to take my teaching job there.
Since we wrote last we have really been busy. We have been able to squeeze in all the speaking dates into
these last few weeks before we leave. It seems that God has taken care of so many of our special needs
during these months of furlough. We have collected a good amount of teaching material to use as we have
visited with ministers over the country. We have learned to praise the Lord In fair weather and foul and

with the help of Pauline Maxey (Janet's Aunt), Merlin R. Carothers (author of Prison to Praise), and the
blessed Holy Spirit. The National Missionary Convention was so helpful through fellowship with old
friends (like Lanny and Pat Maddux) and by helping solve some problems of the relation between a
missionary and his supporting churches. Definitely, our week in Chicago attending the Institute of Basic
Youth Conflicts was the highlight of our furlough. It was so helpful . . . . I can't adequately describe it

here but to say that I learned more about the Bible and myself in this week than ever before. It is definitely
worth the $45 tuition it's worth $10,000 no its priceless because it Is the study and application of
GOD'S WORD. God helped us greatly by Christian friends like Richard and Roxann Weiland who put us up
for the entire week and watched Becky and Jonnie as we attended the sessions, even though they had

never known us up until thirty minutes before the first classes started on Monday night. I could spend the
whole newsletter writing about this but I do have other things that need to be said. If you are interested in
hearing more about these Institutes please write to. We have some schedules of institutes in 1974.
Recent news from Taiwan is of deep interest to us. Alan Lwo, my co-worker in Taiwan, tells us of him and
his girl friend breaking up. Mark Chen and Julia Ling, who used to work with us in the office there have
written of their plans to get married earlier (January 20th) and are happy that we will be able to be there for
the wedding. Thomas Lwo, who is now preaching at the church we were instrumental in establishing,
writes that all the Christians in the mother church and the new church are happy about our early return.
Another church writes and asks us to plan to help them In teaching while we are there.
Following Is pur schedule from now till our departure date. Of course some of this will already be past by
the time you get this. Of that which isn't, we must remember that it will only be done IF THE LORD
WILLS.
Sun., Dec. 16 A.M.
Sun., Dec. 23 A.M. and P.M.
Thurs., Dec. 27 A.M. and P.M.
Fri., Dec. 28 A.M. and P.M.
Sun., Dec. 30 A.M. and P.M.
Mon., Dec. 31 P.M.
Sun., Jan. 6 A.M. and P.M.
Sun., Jan. 13

Miami, Oklahoma
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Louisville, Kentucky
Lincoln, Illinois

Sooner S. S. Class
First Christian Church

Family reunion
Bud and Lois Clapp

Muskogee,* Oklahoma

East Point Christian Church

Houston, Texas
St. Joseph, Missouri
San Francisco, California

Judy and Don Clark

Central Christian Church

Depart for Taiwan

Please look forward to hearing from us In January. We hope to be telling you about the answer to your
prayers concerning the visas. Please pray that God's will be done in ALL things.
Praying and Praising,

Alan D. Bemo

P.S. To help us get our mailing list up to date before we leave could you please fill in the enclosed card
today and mail It. From these we will make a new mailing list.

N.^n-Pratlt

..rganation

BULK EAT
Alan & Janet Bemo

. i

U.S. i-OSTAG-

2120 Hayes
Muskogee, Okla. 74401

PAID
St.(Hb3CD Okia.
PennitNo. 8

I >7
'on,

kJ <a^

Alan & Jsuiet Bemo

#5-1, Lane 161

Hsin Sheng SRd,,Sec,l

Taipei 106, Taiwan

rAK fiAST
CRUSAaCB

Forwarding Agent
Sandi Gant

R.R. 1, Box 333

Fort Gitson, Okla,

7^434

March, April, 197^

Dear Christian Friends,

I am really sorry about the breakdown in communications lately. There have been several things
involved which have caused the newsletters to be late but I think these problems are about
all solved now.

These last couple of months have been filled .with several disappointments as well as joys.
We must often remember the Holy Spirit's command to "give thanks in all circumstances," and
. .know that in everything God works for good .with those who love him, who are called

according to his purpose,"

I will try to write about the events as objectively as possible.

On March 6th we had a very pleasant day as we went to Lwo-Tung to visit t|e Skile^and attend
the ground-breaking^ ceremony of the orphanage they are starting soon,

into this work is no question.

We have seen this evidence many times,

Tha'^t--fiodJ?ds led them

God spent a lot of

time preparing them for this work with various trials so they would have the patience for this

(James 1:2-^),

I know from their

hour

a day point-of-view things still seem to be

going slow but from our bird's-eye point of view we praise God at the progress:

March 6th

ground-'breaking.L_April 20gi. building stated;,,April^2^j^ building license.finally completed.

Red tape has been the'niain problem. The Lord willing the building should be completed in

^September, In the meantime they axe very busy with two worship services and a Sunday School
class on Sunday, a Thursday night cottage meeting in a Chinese family's home, and a Bible

Iclass for the children in the community on Saturday,

Besides these things Ted has to be

''running around everyday doing things for the orphanage,

_ Mrs,_ Haxry Poll, who had been staying with Mom for several months had to return to the States

'^ earlier "Ih'an planned because of her daughter-in-law's illness. She left on March 10th and
we sure miss her.

We spent the week-end of the 17th with Chuck &. Molly Johnston, We hadn't been able to visit
too much since we returned, I was able to see Chuck teaching some Christian students there
the Survey of the Bible course. He is teaching thirty students in three different
classes a

week,

"

We have also been priviledged to have the Skiles' and Johnstons stay in our home lately.

Also on March _3lBt we had

a special visitor,

A Christian businessman, Norm^_.Moble. spent

the whole Sunday with us. We so appreciated his interest in the Lord's work. His Chinese
contacts couldn't understand how he could "waste" a whole day when he could be making money.
Here is an example we all need of seeking first God's kingdom,
were finally able to get the Training for Service book, Survey of the Bible, back from

the printer on^prjjL^^nd, , The ll^^.^^nese copies cost almost U,Sj5_^80p_j^ We are able to use
these

books ourselves as well

them in our bookstore.

The books came out just in time for the starting of the Restorati^m Bible Institute which had

its opening exercises on_^pril 4th.

I have discussed this before.

Two Chinese preachers and

myself planned to teach the Bible on a college level in the evenings to faithful Christians
who would teach
others also (II Tim,2:2), None of us receive a special salary for this

and we are using the Fu Hsipg Ghur.ch._apartment for .pur classroom.

ppening exercises and that night we had 12 students enrolled.

hoped for.

We..bad_(fp.~people at the ^

This was about what we had

However, two weeks later we"Ti"ad".^i]a3L.threifaithful students left.

praise the Lord, though, because

best student any of us have ever had.

We still

of. these ..boys plan to, be preachers and the other is the

'W. WMM^m!t't>'^

and Ted Skiles,

Chuck Johnston

teciching the
Survey of the
Bible course
.

in Chun/5 Li

T""*:

Visitor Norman

getting used

Nobal

to two extra
feet on a

r-

Chuirch outing

Some of the folks

at the Tai Shan
Church, Student
preacher on far
left, Mr, Lee

r tf

3rd from left.

"librarian" Alan

Lwo at the library

of the Restoration
Bible Institute

Janet with English Bible

class students

Beth's birthday party

Julia with Chinese typewriter*

real hunt & peck
5000 characters

In our last newsletter I mentioned the new Church at Tai Sheui (Tarzan).

We were hoping to

be able to workthere but when brother Lwo went there on February 17th he discovered that a
student preacher from Bible College with a Presbyterian background had alresuiy announced

that the President of their Seminary would come on Easter Sunday and "baptise" (sprinkle) any
who desired sucho When it was my time to preach on March 10th I preached a sermon on "The
mestning of Baptism." Still they didn't understand so Mr. Lwo and I went over later and

talked to them about it. They had still decided to go along with this doctrine so on April
loth Mark Chen, who works for us, and I went there by cycle with some intensive teaching
material to study the meaning of baptism with the leaders of the Chiirch, Mr. & Mrs. Lee.

^ They decided that immersion was the scriptural mode of baptism and decided that if we could
take the portable baptistry over on Saturday that they would be immersed the next day, Easter

Sunday.

However Friday ni^t they csdled to tell us they had ch^ged

because

V,others^n-tl^ jChurch were of tbe .|tesbyj;.8irl.^;^bU5kgro

(

blow and we were

not only sa^l*or their ssikes but were filled with feelings of guilt as to whether we had done
all we could have done to teach them.

That day we caune back from Tai Shaui on the cycle we did so with great joy in our hearts from
what we thought to be a great victory for the Lcrd. Nark & I had prayed with our wives
before leaving the office that afternoon emd after the call we stopped by the roadside to
thank the Lord. About twentyminut^,..later, after we had entered Taipei City, I was lying on

the street with a broken leg. I had made an. ill^i^^Jfcrt;^^

front of another motor
cycle which was speeding. I got a direct hiT dh the left leg but because the calf muscle
took most of the blow I only had a simple fracture of the tibia. The first thought I had
after I came to my senses was "Praise the Lord!" I realized I had a broken leg right away

and then checked to see how the others were.

me, nor the fellow who had hit us were hurt.

Somehoji.Jigi;to^^a^, who was sitting behind

We all got a^ambulj^ct^

and they weg^ rele^ed in mlnu'^s. I continue to praise God1[n that this has given me some
unique opportunities to witness and I haven't had to_miss a teaching or preaching appoint

ment yet, even though to date lJLye~ljad^tOsha,Ye the^a^rCh?^

off by July.

many walking on crutches because of having no toes.

This cast should be

An April 28th I was even able to preacK at a leprosarium where there were
I am blessed.

who was seven on April 18th had her party on the 19th because, being a Friday, it was

"^^bre convenient.

Janet made her a casj^le^ake and six little schoolmates came to share it

and the fun with her.

her first baby tooth.

That ssune day^^ecky^ who is now. five years and three months old, lost
I don't have'^'^uch'^news abou"^ Jonnie"? but that he seems to be the most

excited of us all for thfiyQaM--^by who should arrive

A new Church work is starting now due to the fact that we had to break relations with the
presLCher who is preaching at the Shih Ling Church of Christ. I know that some of you have
been praying about this and ought to know that because Mr. Jyang had made nearly all of the
former members feel unwelcome there they had all stopped going to Church there. We didn't
//want to see them scattered so we invited them to meet here on Sunday mornings for the Lord's

I supper and discussion of God's word. We thank you for your prayers,though, because this
( separation of services has been accomplished without resentments. We have agreed to help
'^Hhe Church in Shih Ling out flaaociallyt if necessary, f q s l a ^
Mr^ Jyang plans to take a teaching job in Shift' Xing to be able To keep the Church from

closing there.

Thejfi^t meeting~in~jw^.;^y^^.WM on Apjil 28th with

hope you will continue to pray for these two Torks.

IPiri^ ^

We

-<

^iHejcjasses have been going well^^^ JaneTis teaching one on Sunday afternoon

and I now ha.y^'i^^ At first Janet had a few studerfEs who stu<Ked~around the dining^?oom
table buTTiow there are too many for this.

Tfte

1 ft^<l Q"

.lisfti grew

students so we have split it into two nights ,XMQsday and WednesdS^. We praise the Lord
that in March we had a baptism after class one night.
Now, Mark and Julia Chen who work in the office here with us are working on some filrastrp

lessonl**^!fflc!'^u^^*ax^cKD.4reii... Also we are working on the teaciu^jiat^

next semester of the Bible Institute.

for the

I will be teaching the book of Acts'next semester.

Lately I have done a little tetter on letter writing tecause of this leg.

We hope to
hear from you hut please don't wait till you get a broken leg. I have heard from several
of you that you are buying motor-cycles tecause of the gasoline shortage. JUst let us a 11
not forget what someone told me a few weeks agoi "There are two kinds of motorcycle
drivers those who have had an accident and those who are going to have."

I especially need your prayers. I don't mind telling you that I get frustrated sometimes
wondering how I can serve the Lord in a greater way. I'm sure you too sometimes wonder if

you are really using the gifts God gave you

if you are really doing that which God wants

you to do. Let's keep our armour on and hold up one another in prayer.
May God bless and keep you.

Praying & Praising,

(pUyvAlan D. Bemo

Mrs. Sandi Gsuit

R. R. 1, Box 333

NON-PROFIT

Port Gibson,

Oklahoma

organization

77^3^

U,S. Postage
1,8^ Paid
Ft* Gibson, Okia*

Return Requested

77^3*^
Permit No. 3

W.E. MCGILVERY
RESEARCH DEPT.
P.O. BOX 177

KEMPTON,

IND. 46049

Gleanings

( May 31, 7^^+ WI^I)

Alan and Mrs. Janet Bemo,

#5^11 leme 161, Hsin

Sheng S Rd., Sec- 1, Taipei 106,

(106)

Taiwan report a motor cycle accident.

Alan and his rider Mark Chen were hit,

Alan's broken' leg was the only injury to the

three men involved.

Alan, expects

the cast to be removed by July.

He carrys on his xirork in Bible classes

and "preaching each week.

Alan passes

along a bit of Taiwan phil&sophy:" There

are two kinds of motor<^cle drivers those who hnve had an accident and those

who are going to have."

The forwarding agent for the Bemos

is: Sandi Gant, R.R. 3., Box 353,
Fort Gibson, Okla.

'2 0
Missionary:
Aion & Janet Bemo

Number 1, Lane 157

Hsin Sheng S.Rd., Sec. 1

Taipei 106, Taiwan

FAR fiAST
cttusAaett

Forwarding Agent:
Mrs. Sandi Gont
R.R. 1. Box 333

Fort Gibson, Okla.

74434

i4ay & Jvine Report, 197^

Dear Christian Friends,

This last Sunday, June 30th, 1 had one of the greatest
Joys of ay life - I^tas ahle to baptize my oldest daughter,

Beth, who is now 7i years old*

I have often wondered vhen a

child was old enough to be baptized, especially since I

j jHraBBBiS!
was baptized at 8 years of age but later was re-baptlzed because I didn't feel like I had really accepted Christ the
r'
^ V'"
first time* Often I have been asked by people here about
E ^ 1 #
children being baptized and I have always taught that a per- 1
T 1 f 'l
son must be old enough to not only have faith in Jesus, and
,J S j
y*^ repent of their sins, but they must also have a feeling of

guilt for their sins.

Those at Pentecost were not told to be

baptized until they were "pricked in their hearts." I feel

^^9

IfU

V-w.-

i j'

JL. j|

that instead of teaching people baptism, we should show them ^^31 i jji

they are bound hopelessly for hell on their own and tell them
of baptism only when thev ask "What shall we do?" On Thurs-

day morning, June 27th, Beth came to the office and said,

,,

- !tW
%

"Baddy, I want to be baptized*" I was really surprised since

we had not often discussed the subject in the children's devotions. 1 put aside my work and asked her why* She said,
"Because I love God*"

1 told her that I didn't think she

needed to be baptized until she was convicted of sin - until

11 mm

she felt bad and maybe couldn't sleep well because she had

uplffflTi

f!f/iVJj'I

sinned* Her eyes filled with tears as she said, "Baddy, that
is the way 1 feel every time I do something bad." I held her

in my arms and a real burden grew up inside of me*

Bespite

the Biblical example of baptism "the same hour of the night",

..

u 4.u9

n ^

Taking Beth's
Confession*
"tn s Confession*

we set the time for baptism for the following Sunday morning*

Then each day, Beth and 1 spent some time studying the scriptures together concerning baptism* At the tine she was baptized I was really chocked up with emotion*

She also had her

first Lord's Supper just after he;r^baptism.

Equally important, there wef^two other young ladies bap-

jtized. in June - both around 23 years^ old*

One was a friend

of Janet's former En^ish student of a year and a half ago*

Sometimes the seed we sow will not produce growth for months

or years* But I remember how hard Janet used to work with

1E~

iHj^R

that English Bible class and then she would say, as I often

do, "Is it getting across? 1 wonder if I am really accomplishing anything?" But God has promised that those "that sow in
tears shall reap in Joy****" Janet's former student brought
this girl, Hiss Chwang, a fellow student nurse she had won to

the Lord, by on June 6th, saying she wanted to be baptized*

He spent about an hour that day studying the scriptures to-

} r

Baptism
^Angel Ge'sdaptism

gether and she was baptized the following Sunday, the 9th.
That day as we baptized her, another girl, Angel Ge, who was there and has been coming to

services faithfully and who had said she was baptized, had a very surprised look on her

face* Mark Chen noticed the look and asked her, "Here you only sprinkled?" She said, "yes

and later as we discussed this with her, she decided she, too, should be immersed but first

wanted to talk with her mom, who was a Christian, about it.

When she talked to her mom a-

bout it she found that her mom had been iramexsed, too, on the mainland. (Taiwan has a very
hard core of Presbyterianism and many here have never known that baptism is anything but

sprinkling). Because of illness she had to put off the time until the 30th, when Beth was
baptized* She has had a broken back so both Brother Lwo and myself together had to baptize

her. He praise God for the. three.-soxilsthat God led to obey Christ in baptism in June* ^
I purposely didn't write last month because it didn't seem that there was enough news
to merit a newsletter. Besides the daily routine of studying for classes, preparing ser
mons, preaching, teaching and calling, it seems that there was little which happened* Of

course ^et's_29th birthday was fun for us all. (She probably won't let me telL you how
old she is next time), Horn had a surprise party for her with English and Chinese friends,
and Beth and I made a cherry pie for her that evening which is a real treat here* Also I
bad to go to the hospital on the 18th to have my fourth cast put on* It
been five
weeks since the accident and since the bone had still not set, I went to see a Chinese

specialist* From this time on my leg started getting better.

much longer I would have needed surgery*

He said if it had gone on

Church services in our home went well in May as we averaged

10^ each Sunday
and shared with each other on these subjects! Elders &Deacons, Christ s Body, What Is

'Ml
V-

.yr

^z

y::
Church Service in our home

Angel and Beth partaking Lord's Supper

Ituth?, and The Spirit of Truth.

June was a little fuller month.

, ^

m,..

On June 1st the Church here had a going away party for the Johnston s. This was a

great chance for us all to get together and ha;ve a good time. It was completely jlanned
by the Chinese brethren. They had a Bar B. Q., a song fest, a Koody Science film, devo

tion, and then played games. About fourty were there and we decided to try to have a gettogether like this every couple of months, ^e outing was held in the yard of one of the

believers and while there Jonnle got stung on the nose by a yellow-jacket.

It scared us a

little but soon he was feeling better although he really had a swollen nose for a few days.
Also on the 1st, Beth and Becky went to Lwo Tung to stay with the Sklles for a week.
It was Mark Sklle's birthday and this was a good chance for the kids to visit.

Mark Chen, a member of the Church which meets in our home, and I went to Shih-Ling on
June 3rd, to take some of the Church's offerings to help the Shih-Ling Church. You will

remember that in the last newsletter I told you how, even though we couldn't work with Mr.

Jang, the preacher there, that we would continue to help the Church there financially till
July. Mr. Jang has a supervisor job now in a factory which will start in August. He wants
to continue with the Church work, too. The Church in our home, decided to use the rest of
their offerings to send down to Lwo Dung to help with the orphanage building there.

^We.saw .the__Johnston's off at the airport on June 7th and then on the 8th we went by

train to Lwo Tung to visit the Skiles and pick up our girls.

I was really happy to be able to get the'c^'t off my leg Cn the I7th. After the doct~br examined an"Xray^taken that dajr he saidr^he was-going to -take-^e--cast off but-I- wculd have to be very careful because the break was mending slow. 1 would still have to use the
crutches and not put any weight on my left leg for two more months. Janet had gone with me
to the hospital and since we were out we went to ceill on a couple of people. As soon as
we got home that evening I took a hot bath and scratched, and scratched and scratched
ahhh!

At first the knee joint was pretty stiff but now everything is doing fine.

We paid off all the doctor bills at the beginning of June.

months in advance rent was due.

Two days later our six

Then a week later the boy who had hit me came over with the

repair bill for his damaged motorcycle. So this past month has had its shsore of expenses
but we praise God that He has provided just in time for everv need. Sometimes it is breathtakln^y close but He always provides. We especially want to thank the Stronghurst, Illi
nois Church for their special offering for our extra doctor bills.
I again had the opportunity to preach at the Church of the Lepers on the 23rd. Then
the Skiles came for a three day visit on the 27th. They came up to meet Mark, their son,
who had been in camp. They also had their lith wedding anniversary while here.
June 30th marked the last day of classes for the 1st semester of the Bible Institute.

I gave Calvin Lai, my only student this semester, his final exam that evening.

He made 87^

on a test that took Xj hours to take. He has been an inspiration to.me. We are making
plans for our next semester now. I plan to be teaching a course called "To. .the Ends .of .the

S^rth" which will be a study of the Acts of the Apostles.

along with our present three,
week I ran -into a ncripture--whlch-was

We hope to have some new students

lot of help, to-met?-Th -thou^td -of-the -

diligent lead only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want." Pr. 21j5.
I sometimes want everything to happen right now and if it doesn't I get impatient. We must
all work diligently and trust the Lord of the harvest to bring the harvest to ripen in His
own good tine.

Please continue to pray diligently for the work here.

A new slide program is available now on cur work. Heaise contact Sandl Gant if you
are interested.

Her address Is on this letterhead.

Praying and Praising,

Return Requestedi

AU.So Postage
1.7p Paid
Las Cruces, N. Mex,

Alan D. Bemo

M/M Norman Malm

2710 Huntington
Las Graces, New Mexico

88001

Permit No. 247

88001
W.E.

MCGILVERY

RESEARCH DEPT.
P.O.

BOX

KEMPTQN,

jyi 2 91974

177

IND.

46049

Field Address:

Forwarding Agent:

Alan & Janet Bemo

Mrs. Sandi Gant

) Lane 16l
Hsin Sheng S.Rd,Sec,1

Taipei 106, Taiwan

FAR fiAST
cKusAaerc

RoR. 1, Box 333

FtGibson,Okla.
7hh3h

July, August, 197k

Dear Christian Friends,

The big news this issue is the baby boy God gave us on August l6th.

Janet

woke me up about 3:00 AM on that Friday morning by saying "are you very

sleepy?" Five minutes Later I woke up .again and asked her "why," with a

JJL>

pretty good idea what the answer would be. Ten minutes later I was out
trying to find a taxi,. We got to the hospital a few minutes later and by

6:20 AM we had a new baby boy.

Janet had given birth to a healthy 9 pound ^ ounce boy

almost the same weight as Jonathan was. This wa^si?i3g::3SI^?es'S^

able to be by her side all the time.

t has had and I was

We named;4iim Nathan Warren BejA,-' Nathan because we

pray that he will be as brave a spokesman for(G6d'as'"Nat:?ran

'Old Testament was, and
Warren because we hope he will be as much a pioheer 'fW'^KrTst' as his grandfather, Janet's
father, Warren Dittemore was who died in Mainland China of typhoid when Janet was just a
baby.

It is also appropriate that the name Nathan is Hebrew for '^'gift" since God gave him to us

the day before our tenth wedding anniversary August T7th. ^,That morning, after knowing
that Janet was feeling up to it, I called the doctor and- asked for permission to take my
wife out for dinner. So, much to the dismay of the nurses, 36 hours after Janet had given
birth to our new son, Janet and I got all dolled up and went out to eat.

About two hours

and a scrumptious meal later we were back in the hospital room where I "stowed away" waiting
for baby-feeding time.

That night I got to hold Nathan for the first time.

It's amazing

_what can happen^in. t.en.years the mission field, four children, joys and heartaches
all shared ;d.th the wonderful woTian God gave me.
July started off with a "bang" with the Uth.

We all attended the annual celebration which

is held on the Taipei American School campus each year.

We arrived at about 2:00 PM and

promptly started stuffing on hot dogs, pop-corn, & pop-sides while we took the kids on
horseback rides, watched cartoons, and saw a fire department demonstration. Beth and I

(I was still on crutches at the time) won second prize in a water baJJoon throwing contest
and thereby won about $20 in money and loot. Of course the day was finished off with a big
display of fireworks.

We had no camp this summer because of several complications (I wasn't able to

crutches until August 12th) but our family did get to make a four-day trip to
brethren toirard the South. Janet was great with child and I had to carry our
back-pack while using crutches. We were quite a sight as we arrived in Chang

train station.

get off the

visit some
things in a
Hwa at the
Luke Ling, a faithful Christian who used to live in Taipei, met us and that

night we 3iad a delicious meal in his mone.

He was married while we were in the States last

year and they had had a baby boy about three weeks prior to o\ir visiting them. After the
meal we had a Bible lesson which I taught in Mandarin and Luke translated into Taiwanese
for his mother who lives with them.

I'm sure that there will be no harvest there because

each time a truth was mentioned, such as man's sin or Jesus' death for our salvation, she
laughed.

The next day we went to Puli where Philip now lives and works as manager in his a^ont's

Maternity Hospital. He is the young man who is a member of our congregation in Taipei
but had to give up his job here because of being unjustly convicted of manslaughter (we

have mentioned this incident before).

While in Puli we stayed in a Japanese style house on

the premises of the hospital where we slept pn mats.

During the two days we went swimming

and picnicing and visited a lot with Philip# Then on Wednesday night, our last night there,
we had a Bible study time# Philip, his aunt, and two nurses attended. After part of the Bible
Study I'lrs. Lyou said, "I have only heard the teaching of the Bible once before when I attended
a funeral in a church building. The preacher said, 'all people must die but Christians don't
have to be afraid of death.' " She also said, "I have always believed that if a person does
good things he can go to heaven but I never have felt like I could do enough good to get
there."

Here was an earnest and truthful heart.

The seed was sown that night as we went on

to tell her of righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ, and we feel that it has a very good
chance of a God-given increase.

Jennie's iith birthday came on the 30th of July and he had a small party with some of his friends
Our children are growing up fast it seems. He will start Chinese Nursery School, Sept. 10th,

and Beth and Becky have already staxted to Bethany Christian School on August 26th, Beth is
Second Grade and Becky in Kindergarten,

Church services have been up and down attendance

snd down

emotionally. However, God has shown me^recentiy^^irfiaj_an egotist I reallySo much of the

time I have been busy building my oim littld ^^gdom in idiich I am

people don't

attend Church or aren't overly friendly to

This makes it much
more clear why God has not been able to work in my life more I cannot have two masters.
Because of this I have also been left incapable of caring for others I'm too busy feeling
hurt for me. I don't mind admitting this to you because I have an idea that you probably have
the same tendencies and I know I need your prayers. "Confess your sins one to another."
Actually, as I write this I feel, somehow, a wonderful sense of deliverance and peace.

Our highest attendance (please, lets praise King Jesus for this paragraph) was on August 25th
when there were 20 present 18 of them were part of the Body.

On September 1st there were

the same number exactly, even though three of the young men were attending a test. Two girls.
Misty Lee and Catherine Ywan (the fiancee of one of our Christian boys) were baptized that
morning. They have been attending English Bible classes ever since we arrived 8 months ago.
In the afternoon, after their test, the young men then came for a Communion Service. The
Church has sent ^63 to the orphanage in Lwo Tung and $50 to starving people in India in
August, which really thrills us.

On August 30, my birthdj^, I had a little birtliday party at the breakfast table with my
family. That afternoph??^^^nb^t_q,^^t airport t o f who was returning after

a year's furlough, and Vera Benson|^'^ho is coming out for the first time to work with the

Skiles in Lwo Tung.

al1 the foreigners had a welcome and biilhday cake and then '

at 7:00 PM the Chinese brethren aO came with another cake and a party till 10:00.

I-tihank,.God -for tb^:ec-^3^ypa^.an

What a day!

greatest part has been that of serving Jeusus.

I pray

for a few more' td""gbive HdjirTh'."""'

Please i^rite to us anytime.

We will enjby the correspondence.

In the meantime we thank God

for j'^our faith, and therefore your love andNhope, and the fruit you bear.

<5^

Praying & Praising,

-v>3
'"7
Alan D. Bemo

Nathan Warren

36 hours old

911)8.3i oz.
21 inches long

Mother
and Child

doing well

Gowhoy Jonnie
on his "birthday

Alan & Janet

on their lOth

wedding
anniversary

Brother Philip helps the

back-pack on arrival

Beth, Becky,& Jonnie with

Dr. Luke

P-.. ^
w-

'M
n

--#1

Iti
m

a waterfall where we had

a picnic

Forwarding Agent;

Field Address:
Alan & Janet Beno

^5-1j Lane l6l

Hsin Sheng S.Rd,,Sec,1

Taipei 106, Taiwan

Mrs. Sandi Gant

rAR CAST
CRUSAaCR

R.R. 1, Box 333

Ft.Gibson,Okla.
Ihk^h

1.

Septenber to Eecember, 197^

L >v

9.
%
-J 1.

Dear Friends,
This is the week after Christmas.

For the first time ir. a long time I feel like I can

relax a little today. Sven so, when I cajne downstairs to write to you this morning, I
found that I had to fill out a couple of orders for the bookstore first.
Since I haven't written for 4- months it is kind'of hard to tell you all that has happened in
that length of time but I think I can sum most of the important things up with one word: ser

vice. The most rewarding experiences we have encountered lately have come in serving others.

Back in September our concern over those who write in from Kom's (Isabel Dittemore) radio
program grew till we decided to try to do something about it. Mom always sends booklets and
a Bible correspondence course to those who want it and a couple of times people have sent
money to ask her to buy them a Bible. But the need for personal contact with these was
growing and in September we had alvDut thirty letters from people we wanted to call on. We
brought this matter before the congregation one Sunday morning, so the brethren divided into
twos and each team took two cards with these prospect's names and addresses on them. We
trained as to what personal testimony we wanted to give them and what scriptures to read in
what situations. We had the usual problems: People were not home, had moved, or were not
interested. Sometimes we couldn't even find the address. But, as always, there were rewards.

Some are coming to Church services and the English Bible classes as a result.

The most

satisfying, however, is the contact made with Mr. Yu.(pronounced as the yo of yo-yo)
He is the 28 year old son of blind parents of which only his 30 year old mother is living.
She has adopted two younger children and supports her family by renting out two rooms in
their home and doing massage work in the evenings. Because of his handicap caused by cere
bral palsy he has been confined to a small damp room all his life with little more to do but
answer the phone for his mom's work and listen to the radio. Thus he heard Mom's radio
program. He listens every day and his only complaint is that it is too short. He wrote in

(he asked his younger brother to write for him) for a free coloring book offered and Mark &
Andy went to call on him. He was so happy to see someone and so destitute for spiritual
knowledge that we decided to go see him every week, V.'e left a modern-day translation of the
gospel of John with him and taught him Bible stories the first two weeks. We also taught him
to sing"Jesus loves Me." When we went back the second week we found him lovingly holding the
gospel. We asked him if he had read any of it and he told us then that he couldn't read
he has never gone to any kind of training institution. During the week we pondered this
problem, Everyone ought to be able to have a Bible he can read anytime he wants too. We
finally came up with the idea of buying him some childre-n's Bible picture story books which
we could use to teach him the Bible and which he could look at any time he wanted to

remember what he had been taught.

and

After buying two of these books -- the first about the

birth of Jesus and the second about Jesus' healing ministry he gave us money and said he
wanted to nay for these and buy some more. We finished the first two books and last Friday

studied a picture lesson we put together on Christ's death for us, (it seemed very strange
to us that in two Christian bookstores we could not find one picture story book of the cruci-

finon ^f Jesus) This week we will teach him God's plan for his life. Please pray for Mr.Yu.
I have never seen such spiritual stairvation ar.d huriger for God's word. This man is just as

intelligent as you or I (maybe even more so) but has just never ceen given a chance to learn
anything. Someone has taught him to smoke sometime or another. Are we not indebted to teach

him of Him who gave us the breath of life and offers eternal life? He has faix-h in God already.

One day we talked to him about going to the doctor for a check-up but both he and his mother
said that it was hopeless and too much trouble. ,
dropp'Sd the subject and went on with

the story of how Jesus healed a blind man. After the .--tory Kark asked him. Do jou telieve
this story, Kr. Yu?" He answered, "Yes, I do." Hark continued. Do you believe He will help
you'" Again Hr. Yu answered in the affirmative. I said, "Hr. Yu, you just said you thought
it would be too much trouble to get in a taxi and go to Taipei to see the doctor. h^ if
you heard that Jesus was in Taipei what would you think? Would you ink it would too

much trouble to go see Him?" Ahappy smile came over his twisted face_^d he ^swered. No,,

no, I would go sie him." I said, "Jesus is not in Taipei now but we will
day after we die. Just as the blind man and heard about Jesus and had to wait for his chance

tfs^elesus we Cili have to wait, but if we i>elieve in Him He wiil give__us a perfect body

and take us all to heaven where there will never be a heartache or tear. He happily n^ded

in return. Now that he believes we are anxious to go on to tell him about Acts 2:38. Two
weeks ago we did talk him into going to see the doctor if we paid the bills. I Had
appointLnts and the first was at the eye-doctor. When the doctor
ac^ute oontunctivitis and severe near sightedness, he asxedhow long he had been that way.
The doctor stared in disbelief when he was told that Mr. Yu had pver seen an eye-doc^r.
The doctor gave him medicine for the conjunctivites and a prescription for glasses. When I

to prthe bill he said, "I can't charge for a patient like this." Next went to

see a missionary doctor about his other problems. He had been to a doctor previously about

a bleedine ulcer but his family ruled out surgery by saying, "With his lep like that why
bother.'' "as his twisted and crossed legs ?(ere examined we were all opphppd with compas
sion and all prayed that God would heal him. The doctor said he could be helped pa

specialist in corrective surgery for spastics is due to be in tow. from down south^any day

now. He is interested in going to see Mr. Yu to see exactly what can be done. Again,

although we started to pay the bill, the doctp would not accept payment. As it turned out

fir. Yu's younger brother paid half of the taxi bill too.

AS we go and tell Mr. Yu about the Lord others in the family and community are ^so becoming
interefLrif nit m^ved, by the message of Christ as wll as the love of Cteist ^n o^ he^ts
for this one that everyone has written off. For example his mother has asked if Cteistpns
could worship their ancestors. We told them absolutely noti Then pe pungp brother pid
us his mother had said that because of this he could not become a Chripian bepuse He was

the only "whole" son she had and it was necessary for him to carry on the fpUy worship of
the ancestors. On the other hand, it did not matter if Mr. Yu becpe a Chpstip or not. On

one hand we praise the Lord for such is the kingdom of God. He (uod) hap anpnted me (Jesus)

to preach the gospel to the poorj he hath sent me to Heal the ppephearted, to ppac
deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, p set at liberty them that
are bruised." (Luke k,lQ) I believe that Jesus wants to help, more than any others, those
whom others have counted worthless. On the other hand we feel sorry because we see a real
interest growing in the younger brother from the seed of the gospel.

It so happens that there are three other blind people living in the same lane with the Yus.
They all do the-same kind of work and have formed a small union there to help^ one anotpr.

I stood spellbound one day as I watched one of these ~ a man -- spep pe wapwy in fpn
ment was clean yet. All of these neighbors know of our coming and we ^e now pYpg to

of his house. He did a better job than I would have as he used a foot to feel if the pave

arrange a meeting with all of them. Please pray with us lor this. It just might be that Mr.
Yu, the least in the community, might be the key or door tq the whole.

Another opcortunity for service was brought to us during the Christmas season. Our littp

Body of believers had prepared a thirty minute Christmas program and ^s abp to pp it on
twice. The program included twelve actors presenting the testpony of pepherp, Josph,
Mary, wise men, a healed crip-le woman, etc. Each actor pve peir testimony p frop of
one of the four tableaus which Alan Lwo and I stayed up till midpght severp pmes to make.
We nut the program on once at the Chang Chwun Church on Gunday night, Dec. 2Znd. p
Christmas eve about thirty people met here at our house to divpe into po groups to go

caroling. One group went to a rest home and the group I was wph went p a pppap 0^
group SEUig two songs, passed out booklets with the Christmas s op in i , p

^duLly to patients in twelve different rooms. We were really pred but happy whp we
got back to the house about 9:30 for refreshments ap pchange of gifts. Janp pd 1

st-ved UP t'n 'i-30 A" getting gifts ready for the lamily, kathan woxe up a. 5:30 pr

"toelkfast "'and'the kiL woke the whole household up at 6:30 to open presents.
gtnfwS^'airope'ned'itd
breakfast f-

again to all go to the leppuprium p t wph ^he^"^etpenpo^pu^ _

program on for the second time.

It was re^.'.xy

After

Thanks{?:i.vjr.,''
a t new

Orphana^'-^
building

Xark

teaching
Xr.

Yu

with

pictures

Since I've written last we have had two opportun

ities to get together with our American friends.
We Americans here in Taipei went together and

rented a bus to go to Lwo Tung for Thanksgiving . .

with the Skiles'.

We ate too much, witnessed

Alexis Bell's baptism, and saw the almost finished

Orphanage building. Then on Sunday afternoon,
December 22nd we all gathered at the Bell's house
for a Christmas party.

iM

Some more good news is that the Lord gave Mark and
Julia Chen, our Chinese co-workers, a fine baby boy
on November l^th.

Julia took off a month from work,

as is Chinese custom, but is now back on the job.

Nathan and his new buddy, J ames Chen

It is good to have her back.

Well, I haven't been able to tell you all that

happened lately but I do believe these 2ire the most
important. Life goes on as usual sermons,

prayers, teachings, heartaiches, tears, joys, and

fear, successes and failures. We have some great

plans for the future.

I will really try to write

more often and tell you of what we're doing, rather

that what we're dreaming about.

We hope you have had a merry Christmas and will have m|El
a great new year with the Lord Jesus Christ, I must
say that 197^ has been the hardest year of my life.
Of course that doesn't count those years of being

lost in sin but, thank God, I can forget all thati

The day
The
da after Christmas

Still we feel closer to Christ than ever before,, as

we have had to lean harder on Him,

We praise Him

that a new Church work has been started this year, keeping

sheep from being scattered* The five who have been baptized
are precious. We are thankful for the new son the Lord hy.s
given us. We look forward to this year of 1975 saying "to
live is Christ but to die is gain."

Praying & Praising,

Alan D. Bemo

Alan, Jennie, and Nathan