,..

,-9 1984

CHIANGMA

iBento^s Soj.ournlnaA in Tjkailand

"By faith they sojournecJ in the land....
looking forward to a city which has foundations,
whose builder and maker is God."
HEB.

11:8-10

Alan and Janet Bemo

Forwarding Agent:
Linda Goerke

Box 180

R.R. 1,

Chiangmai. Thailand

King City. Missouri 64463

April 1984
Dear Co-Workers,

I am starting to write this letter to you from an open hallway In our house in Piang Luang. It is 6:00 a.m. and
the sun is just getting ready to come up. Chickens are pecking around and a little fire is going in the back yard. In
front of our house the village of Chinese and Shan spreads out among tall clumps of bamboo and towards the back of
the house we look out across paddy fields to the mountains which mark the Burmese border. We moved in here about
a week before Resurrection Sunday and on that day we had our first Sunday service in our house. Also, to celebrate
Easter and our moving into a new house we put on a Chinese feast and invited all the Church members, some village
dignitaries, and some Karen tribal Christians to attend. We had around 130 people who attended this meal.
We have spent almost $6,000 on this house. We praise God for the way He has provided. Right now it has
a dirt floor. We are content with that, but the Lord has seen fit to provide us with better. The Christians here in the

village decided they were going to put a cement floor in for us. They bought the sand, rocks, and cement. They also
arranged for a mason to come and do the work but found that they didn't have enought money to do the whole job
after all. But it so happended that the preacher of a Church in Autralia had visited us back during the first of January.
He didn't even get to come to Piang Luang but he heard us talking about our house. When he came back through
on another trip he brought an offering of $200 - almost exactly making up what was lacking. So we are going to have
a nice floor! Thank you Lord! Work is to begin this week.
Of the different places we worked here in Northern Thailand while we were on our first term, we felt that Piang
Luang was the most needy, but also the hardest. We felt we should move here but dreaded it in a way. Now that
we are here we see that God certainly has kept His promises to us: "My Word will not be ineffective." God has pro
vided us with a lot of good co-workers. We have one Chinese intern who has come to work with us for a year Hsiong Fu Man. He Is a graduate of a Baptist Bible College in Bangkok. Another intern, Ti Ni, who is a Karen,
and a graduate from Chiangmai Bible Institute, is having good response in three Karen villages near here. Also, here
for semester break are three other students from that school. Two of them are former Timothys from this village from
when we lived here before. All together we have 13 meetings a week. Janet teaches three of these which are Bible
literacy classes for women. Five are Children's meetings and four are adult Bible studies. We have teenage meetings
on Saturday nights. On May 6th there were 16 baptisms. We were able to have three hours of special instruction for
these before they were baptised. Three families have come to us saying, "We want to become Christians," in the last
two weeks. Our living room is approximately 18 by 30 feet. Meetings in this room have been packed - we haven't
had enough chairs. I would say that yesterday ( May 13) that there were at least 40 adults attending service and pro

bably 30 children at the Bible study time. Those who have said they want to be Christians do not necessarily believe
that Jesus is the Resurrected Savior and Lord. They need to be taught and baptised yet. So we are praising God for
all He is doing and the ministry He has given us here!
We have made several trips to Mipo lately to help the people market their peaches. I have not kept records
but I believe there have been about $500 worth of fruit come out of Mipo this year and this has mostly been from two
families. This is a big part of their income now. We are now making plans to move over there for a few months the
beginning of next year to set up a much needed processing plant for the fruits and vegetables which are becoming
plentiful there. This plan has a great big "if the Lord wills" Attached to it.
Several sick people have been cared for lately. A girl, A Ying, has had her foot operated on to correct a de
formity caused by steppong in a fire when she was two. A Sz Pha had corrective surgery for serious club feet. We
took Lwo Hsiau Fu to the hospital with a ruptured appendix. Just before he went into the operating room he said,
"Preacher pray for me. I'm afraid 1 won't make it. 1 want to become a Christian". His wife and daughter are among
the ones who were baptised recently but he is still in the hospital. I am due to take another daughter, Sheng Mei
to get her cleft pallet fixed tomorrow and bring the father back from Chiangmai. Another Christian fell in the field a
couple of weeks ago and pierced his hand through with a chared stob. It became badly infected and required surgery
to save it. Just now a Christian lady came in asking for first aid materials for her husband who is a few hours walk
from here. He fell on a piece of steel and cut his arm to the bone. Sometimes thedb kind of problems become burden
some but it is through things like this that people come to know the Savior.
We have had some wonderful experiences with interns from the States over the last few months. Betty
Thomas came to teach our children for several months. Later they were taufht by Jo Sheeley, Jennifer Smith,
and now Joan Waters. Rich and Jo Sheeley came over to help people learn to raise fish as a suppliment to their
diet and to their income. He has worked on four fish ponds and has given a lot of teaching to some who have al
ready had ponds. Jo had to return early because of her father's illness. By the end of this month all will have re
turned to the U.S. and their respective schools and work. We really have appreciated their stay here.
Do you remember Paul Lang and Cathy Carlile who were interns here two years ago? Now they are husband
and wife and have a little girl named Anna. They have just recently returned as missionaries and are now studying
Thai in Bangkok before coming up here to work.

We have had visitors lately. Scott and Debbie Marcum; Ted and Beverly Skiles and their son. Greg came for
a 10 day visit from Taiwan. We have been hoping some of our beloved missionary friends from Taiwan, where we
used to work, could come over and visit us. It was a blessing! But on just the second day they were here. Ted was
on a trip with Robert Morse when they were involved in a serious car accident. Ted was injured worst of all. barely
escaping death. He suffered a fractured skull and at last word is still suffering from a loss of hearing and balance.
His spiritual life is stronger than ever though. Let's pray that God will completely heal his body that he may have
many years of faithful service to our Lord.
By the time you get this letter our daughters. Beth & Becky, in high school in Taiwan, should have arrived
back home here. They are due to arrive on May 27th. It has been hard for the kids to be so far away - especially
when they have problems of various sorts. Though not a problem it would be nice to be around when they start to
date. Jonnie is planning on going to a boarding school in Dalat. Malaysia. So. next August it looks like three of our
six children will be far away to school. Please pray for these hard times of separation for all of us.
An inspirational thought to us lately is that members of three families have recently confessed Christ not be
cause of sermons, calls, or tracts, but because our children made friends and played with their children. They often
go to their houses and sometimes eat with them. Their kids come over here all the time. Our children love it here,
and love their friends here. This proves to us again that the main avenue of service for a missionary is to appreciate
and love the people of another culture. Love them into the Kingdom!

We attribute all successes to the Lord God of Israel. We are sure that your prayers have channeled much
of that blessing to us. Please keep praying and thanking God for what He is doing.
Yours in Jesus,

The Lord adds to this church almost weeklif

First Sunday worship rif Bemo's new house

Sarah babysitting Rachel

Formosa Christian Mission

Non-Profit Organization

^ Mrs. Linda Goerke

R.R. 1
Box 115

U.S.

P03TAGK

PAID

King City, Mo, 64463

King City, Mo, 64463

PERMIT

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

fiSSN. M

KNUXVILLE TM 37301

No, 4

OCT 11 1984
CHIANCM&I

^ T)lte (^emo^d SoJ^ournin^d In Tjhailand

"By faith they sojourned In the land
looking forward to a city which has foundations,
whose builder and maker is God."
HEB.

Alan and Janet Bemo

Box 180

Forwarding Agent:
Linda Goerke
R.R. 1.

Chiangmai. Thailand

King City, Missouri 64463

June, July & August, 1984

Dear Co-Workers,

Our family has shrunk from eight to five in the last few days. Beth and Becky were here for the summer break but just
left a few days ago to go back to school in Taiwan. Before they left we all made a train/bus trip down to Penang, Malaysia
to see the school where Jonathan will be going to high school. It is a real nice campus right on the beach and the staff
are all dedicated Christians who love the Lord and the students very much. Even though the kids are in good schools
we still feel an empty place in our lives without them. All three of them were a big help in the mission work this summer
too. We appreciate you remembering them in your prayers. Their addresses: Beth & Becky Bemo, ^Morrison Academy,
Box 27-24, Taichung 400, Taiwan, ROC. Jonathan Bemo, ^Dalat School, Sandy Croft, Tanjong, Bungah, Penang,
Malaysia.

Our house in Piang Luang is finished now. Well, is a house ever finished? But it is mostly done. It has a cement floor
now and flowers growing all around. It is comfortable and always a place good to get back too. Our work used to be
centered around Chiangmai but now Piang Luang. A weekly schedule is something like this: Sunday - morning SS classes
and adult services and evening children and adult teaching at the nearby village of Hwei Hai. Monday - I teach two hours
of Bible to five Timothys (actually 4 Timothys and 1 Timothiess). This is done 6 days a week. Janet teaches an English
class in the village school (4 days a week). Tuesday - same and a Bible class at "New Village." Janet teaches a Bible
literacy there too. Wednesday - Bible class at Tang Village, Karen Village, and Lisu Village (we divide up for this night).
Thursday - Bible class at Ju village. Friday - family night. Saturday - calling and youth meeting. There is always a lot
to do besides these scheduled events. People come for advice, prayer, or help of some kind or other. People have been
coming every week wanting to become Christians. We have been going to Karen villages because we have a co-worker
who is a Karen and there are two villages of this tribe which have never heard the gospel before. There is also a Lisu
village close to us where there are Christians but no preacher. Once a Lisu came asking for us to go to another village
where people were wanting someone to come to baptise them. I went and 9 were baptised. Each time we have had occasion
to go to Lisu village we keep in touch with Eugene Morse because he is mainly doing Lisu work and these villages have
all been evangelised by him and his co-workers. Our main work is among the Chinese but once in a while we feel the call
to go to others also. Lately we have been doing less agricultural work but are now starting to help another family in Piangluang
who has decided to stop growing opium.

The most wonderful experience is being able to disciple these five people every day. Three of them are Piang Luang
Christians and two of these are recent converts. Two are working with us for one year on an internship. They have
studied the Bible for two and three years in a Bible College so already know a lot about the Bible but I am teaching them
how to disciple others. We have just recently divided the S.S. classes into three groups and are teaching four local young
adult Christians to teach these classes.

In June the first and so far only Christian among the Northern Thais died. Some of you may remember Pho Noi Dok.
He is the man who had been waiting for years for someone to come to tell him about the Lord. So we had the first

Christian funeral in his village. People really turned out for this event and if afforded us the best opportunity ever to
preach in that village. This reminds me - Paul & Cathi Lang and their little daughter Anna are planning on moving up
to that area to work with the Thais at the end of this year.

One of our biggest joys lately has been seeing three children get helped. Sheng Mei is back home after her second operation
on her cleft lip and pallet. A Ying is back home after corrective surgery on her burned foot. And now we just got A Sz
out of the hospital today and are taking him home tonight. He has been in the hospital for six months getting surgery
and therapy for his severe club feet.

All of us have been well . . . except that Sarah fell off a swing last month and broke her arm. She had it in a cast for a
month and is now in a splint for a couple of weeks more. It has healed nicely.

We have some prayer requests. Please pray for our safety. There has been some fighting around our village. Also, please
pray for the new Christians. They are so weak. One man is a hard opium addict and needs the power of God to get off.
Pray for our Children and us as they are far from home. Pray faithfully for Janet as she takes on the responsibility of
teaching Nathan and Sarah. Nathan is in 5th grade and Sarah is in second. Daily lets praise God for the wonderful
things He is doing here.

Yours In Jesus,

The Bemo Family

Burial of Pho Noi Dok

Non-Profit Organization
U.S. POSTAGF

Formosa Christian Mission

% Mrs, Linda Goerke

R.R, 1
Box 115

PAID

King City, Mo. 64463

King City, Mo, 6d463

PERMIT

ADDRESS CORRSGTION REQUESTED

fllSSION SERVICES HS3H.
2427
KHO:^'-;VILLE TW 3751131

No. 4

SEP 1^
CHIANGMAI

1984

TJfie (^emo^A Soj-ourning.d in T)ltailand

"By faith they sojourned in the land
looking forward to a city which has foundations,
whose builder and maker is God."
HEB.

11:8-10

Forwarding Agent:
Alan and Janet Bemo
Box 180

Chiangmai. Thailand

Linda Goerke

R.R. 1.
King City. Missouri

64463

August 10, 1984

Dear Co-Workers.

Recently we have been warned that our lives may be endangered in the near future because of the places we work.
This Chinese Christian informer asked to be kept anonymous but ended his two hour warning with, "Don't forget my
warning. It could happen next week, next month, or six months from now." I am writing this special letter so that you
can understand what is going on here.

Our informant told us that Robert Morse, Daniel Kalnin, Tom Love and myself were known to be D.E.A. (Drug
Enforcement Agency) agents. This U.S. agency is putting a lot of pressure on the Thai government to clamp down on
opium and heroine production in this area. It is interesting that people who deal in drugs ''know" this since we of course
aren't agents. This is not a recent misconception at all. Since any of us made our first trip into the areas along the border
and Chinese, Lahu, Lisu, or some other area language came out of our mouths people were "sure" we were spies. We
have probably been watched and checked up on by at least four government agencies. All of us have heard rumors like
this from the first. It is an occupational hazard. Though rumors cannot always be believed we believe there is an increase
of danger now.

Talking specifically about the Piang Luang area where we live, there have been four things happen lately which
have caused unrest: (1) Heroine factories and opium fields were bombed in February of 1984, (2) in July a raid was
made on one part of our village in which 7 men were arrested, 2 Kilos of unrefined heroine was captured and several
guns were confiscated, (3) several hundred Kilos of heroine were handed over and burned near our village, and (4) there
is fighting between big drug controlling factions just a few hours walk from our village. The raid was led by an American
DEA agent. The other things probably happened because of DEA pressure too.
Some people think we are DEA spies living in the village keeping an eye on drug activities. What people? Local
drug "businessmen." We are in no danger from the Thai governement, Burmeese government or even the local Chinese
leadership. As the Chinese commander said when someone suggested that we might be spies, "He is not a spy. No spy
would move here, build a house, bring his wife and babies here and plant flowers." Our only danger would be from a

big dealer wanting to get even or get back.

What danger? We have heard from reliable sources that there is going to be more activity in the Piang Luang area.
If a big shipment were captured or if a kingpin were killed we could get killed for revenge. If a big man were captured
we could get kidnapped for trading purposes. This has been done successfully by an opium warlord since we have been
in Thailand.

It has been over a month since we received this warning and we have been living in Piang Luang most of this time.
It has been very peaceful, and we feel very safe. We have seen people continue to come to the Lord. Just last week two
families expressed a desire to become Christians, a girl, a young man, and an opium addict made decisions, and a man
was baptised last Sunday. We believe that God has His most fertile ground where there is conflict and the devil causes
conflict where he is most threatened.

Our attitude toward these things: We believe that much of what we have heard is just talk. However we believe
there is a possibility of danger. Even so we are not afraid. We plan on continuing to work in Piang Luang. Just in case,
we are making certain precautions: (1) The children must tell us at all times where they are going, (2) We all will return
home immediately at the sound of any gunfire or the presence of many soldiers so we can be together. (3) No one goes
out at night unless in a group, (4) Our vehicle is kept in readiness at all times, (5) I do not go to Chiangmai for business
and leave the family in the village, and (6) We will leave the village if it looks like life might be indeed endangered.

We are not afraid in the least and will not let fear rule our lives. We came to the mission field to give our lives

for Jesus Christ and it is up to Him whether that is to be used in life or death. Jesus said, "Do not be afraid of the one
who can destroy both soul and body in hell." So the most dangerous place to be in the world is out of God's will because
of the fear of mere man. The safest place to be is in the center of God's will, no matter what man would do to us.
We do appreciate your prayers. We are not wanting to unduly cause alarm. We are not alarmed. But we do

believe in the power of God and believe that if there is a serious danger that He can put a protective spiritual force
around us.

Yours In Jesus,

The Bemo Family

Alan & Janet Bemo

Non-profit Organization

Formosa Christian Mission

% Mrs. Linda Goerke

R.R. 1

U.S. POSTAGE

Box 115

PAID

King City, Mo. 64463

King City, Mo. 6^63

PERMIT

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

00

l''1l0b'IQN SERVICES RSSMm i'l

BOX 242?

KHOXVILLE TH 373BI

No. 4

JAM 14 m'
CHIANGMAI

ZJke (^emo^3 SoiournLng.d in ZJttailand

'By faith they sojourned In the land....
looking forward to a city which has foundations,
whose builder and maker Is God."
HEB. 11:8-10

Forwarding Agent:
Alan and Janet Bemo

Linda Goerke

Box 180

R.R. 1,
King City, Missouri 64463

Chiangmal, Thailand

September - December 1984

Dear Co-Workers,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Piang Luang, Thailand. Our Chirstmas looks like it will be a little more
hectic than usual with many friends and relatives coming right at Christmas time. Janet will be staying in Chiangmai
while I will be in Piang Luang and another village having Christmas Conventions. Jonathan is due to arrive on the 19th,
Beth and Becky on the 22nd, and Mrs. Dittemore on the 24th. Also some new missionaries, the Sandy Sandells, will be
arriving before Christmas. Our family will probably open gifts on the 27th. Our hearts are filled with joy, as I am sure yours
are, knowing that Jesus came to save us and it is Him that we are remembering.
We haven't written for several months, as usual. Things have been quite busy during this time. A skimpy diary of some
events follows: Sept. 14 I was asked to drive to the front lines to pick up 4 land-mine victims. I did but only one was
alive when we got there. That one died before we got back to Piang Luang. He was just taken out of the Land Rover when
a Christian lady came up crying, saying that her sister was in a coma. Would I rush her to the hospital. We left soon but
she died 30 minutes from Chiangmai. Sept. 19 A Christian couple were married. Sept. 25 An elderly brother Chen
jumped from our pickup to retrieve his blown off cap only to fall and receive a concusion. He was in the hospital five days.
Oct. 3 A new member of the Church he just arrived looking for a job from another area. Oct. 4 Our teaching in one
village is hampered because of fighting and guards on the road. We had to stop going for about a month. Oct. 8 Doctor
day. I went to the doctor to check on some lower back pain I'd been having and Janet had a checkup because of a growth
on the back of her head. It turned out to be nothing important. While Janet was at the doctor, Nathan fell out of a tree
and broke his arm. Oct. 11 Paul and Cathi Lang, new missionaries to Thais in our area, came up again to show a Chris
tian film. Oct. 17 Janet and the kids went to town with the Langs and came back on a hired truck. The truck got stuck
because of terrible roads so Janet had to walk out for about five miles with Rachel on her back. Oct. 28 One man and

six women were baptised into Christ. 525 Baht was stolen off my desk. This adds to the list of stolen articles, blankets,
radio, saw, a gold chain, etc. A Mrs. Lee confesses her faith and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. Nov. 5 Three pick-ups got
caught with drugs for processing heroin. All vehicles and people are really checked thoroughly now. Nov. 9 Walter and
Jeanette Ridgley came to visit and look over the Thai villages where they plan to work with the Langs in this new field.
Nov. 17 An airplane dropped leaflets over Piang Luang warning people not to plant opium and that the military would
be destroying opium fields. We discovered a 60-year-old Shan Christian lady! Nov. 18 Brother Lee marries a non-Chris
tian girl but becoming a Christian was part of the "package deal." She confessed Christ during the wedding vows. Nov. 19
I drove to the front lines again to pick up some Chinese commanders. Nov. 25 Just after a trip to a Lisu village for
services and going through 4 check points, Sarah found a live grenade launcher round rolling around in the back of the
Land Rover. It must have been hidden under the seat by someone days earlier while going through a checkpoint to escape
detection. It would have been big trouble for us if found, especially since only our family was in the vehicle that day.

Before we go any further I would like to say that I hope no-one gets the idea that we are burdened or in turmoil.
Though we have been warned of possible danger, have had a few hardships, and do shed a few tears we are happy where
we are. In trying to tell the highlights and excitements of our lives I am afraid some might get the idea that our life is just
one big headache. Forgive me for this. Most of our lives are tranquil and even uneventful. Even when we have a few bad
things happen we say with the Apostle Paul, "Hard-pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in; bewildered, we are never
at our wits end;" (2 Cor. 4:8). I am not happy about broken arms and people dying but frankly I am glad to be in a place
where a grenade can be left in the truck or roads cause breakdowns because we are here in the Lord's service.

One of our greatest concerns right now are the Christian women whose husbands are not Christians. Four of these

ladies husbands are opium addicts. They are left with the job of providing for their families and terribly mistreated if they
don't provide for their husband's habit or complain about it. One lady came to us asking if we could "loan" her the money
to do some business. She said that sometimes she was so desperate she thought she would be better off dead. (One nonChristian woman killed herself and another tried in Piang Luang this year). We told her we couldn't but would like to talk
to her husband about it. We explained that the best answer for their situation would be for her husband to be converted
and follow the teachings of Jesus. With tears she said there would be nothing she would like better. She confessed that
her husband put her up to asking to borrow money from us and that actually she had money that her husband did not know

about. If he did he would have it smoked up in a few days. Just today we took a girl to prison in Chiangmai to visit her
father and brother caught with opium. She is glad they are there for short terms because they have been forced to get off
drugs while there. Some of these women would be much better off with no husbands. Lets pray for them that God will, be
cause of his great mercy, convert these men. If they are too hard-hearted to listen to the gospel that He will solve the prob
lem in other ways.

Also, please pray for four new villages we have heard about to the Southwest of Piang Luang. We are planning on
going up there with a little evangelistic team from Piang Luang to scout out and witness. This week just back from a
precious Thanksgiving Convention at Mipo. The Christians there are doing fine. Praise God!

We are anticipating, with God's blessings, a happy Christmas time and a good beginning of another year. We pray
the same for you and are looking forward to celebrating with all of you together in God's new Heaven and Earth.
Yours, preparing for That day,

Alan Bemo and family

Formosa Christian Mission

c/o Mrs. Linda Goerke

Non-Profit Organization
U.S. POSTAGE

R.R. 1, Box 115

King City, MO 64463

PAiD

King City, MO 64463

PERMiT NO. 4

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

JlslOH^SEKVlCES HS8N.
S>tuE TW 37901