TRIBESomcTRAILS

THA/LAND
May, I960
. . for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase
unto God with Thy blood men of every tribe,
and tongue, and people, and nation."
Revelation 5:9b.
David and Delorls Filbeck
TRIBAL WORK
The Harry D. Schaefer family, tor INDIAN WORK
1
Tribes and Trails
in Thailand
May, 1960
Vol. 9, No, 1
Published twice yearly, in spring and
autumn, by undenominational Christian
missionaries laboring to establish in Thai -
land(Siam) self-supporting churches after
the New Testament pattern. Distributed
with the hope of gaining needed prayer
support for the Thailand work, of gett
ing more consecrated workers for this
and other fields, and of encouraging all
to greater effort in the spread of simple
undenominational Christianity through
out the world. Missionaries engaged in
this effort are presently located at two
centers in extreme Northern Thailand:
Talat Chiengkam, Changwat Chiengrai,
Thailand; and Pua, Nan Province, Thai
land .
Our Reporf fo You . . .
Our eyes have seen it! In Isaiah 66:18
God has promised, "I will gather all
nations and tongues; and they shall come,
and shall see my glory." As the Word
has gone forth and intercession gone up
for Thailand's tribes, we have been re
warded by seeing lives transformed by
Jesus Christ. In the confidence that Jesus
will some day be worshipped in each of
Thailand's tonnes, we submit this issue
as a report or what God has, thus far,
wrought in the land of tribes and trails.
May it result in increased prayer and
dedication to holding forth the Word to
those who have not heard.
THE DIVINE PATIENCE
"The way to God is slow and hard.
The climb is tortuous aU our life.
We'U build a tower: We'll by-pass God
And heaven we'll reach without this strife.'
But God looked down In pity deep
Upon the foolish sons of men.
And sent themforth in various ways,
And tongues, to learn of Him again.
"The Day shall come," thus saith my Lord,
"They sHaU again be sonsof God."
But men were hard, perverse and fools.
They left the truth, and took a Ue.
They made them forms of bird and beast
And bowed to Satan's host so sly.
Then God looked down in angered love.
And said, "We'll give them up for now,
For lust and sin and Satan's wiles
ShaU be their lot, to make them bow.
"The Day shall come," thus saith my Lord,
"TheysHall be called the sons of God."
A star shone bright, an angel sang
To herald a most timely birth.
Then wonders, signs, and love
Of Sinless Man spread o'er the earth.
Such love must surely draw them back I
A cross was raised on yonder hill!
Those wayward men again had spurnedI
The Sinless Man, entombed, was still.
"The day shall come," thus saith my Lord,
"They shall be called the sons of God."
But darkness must precede the dawn!
He rose, and loved, and gave command,
"Go forth and preach; I go to reign!
Go seek mine own in every land."
And so they went, who loved Uielr Lord,
To gather every tribe and tongue.
He drew them to the great white throne.
Their voices raise--Fm praise is sung!
"The Day has come," thus saith my Lord,
"These are the living sons of God."
Lois E. Callaway
Romans 9:26
New Workers
Friends of Thailand will rejoice in
answered prayer as two new families pre
pare to join the work. Mr. and Mrs. Harry
D. Schaefer need no introduction to the
brethren. Born in India and a veteran of
several years service there, Bro. Schaefer
is fluent in some of the principal Indian
dialects. In addition he is a trained psy
chologist and conducts Family Life and
Missionary Clinics in Churches. The
Schaefers plan to work amongThailand's
large untouched Indian population.They
hope to come to the field in September.
For bookings and information contact
them at 535 La Marina Drive, Santa
Barbara, California.
David and Deloris Filbeck are sched
uled to arrive inThailand in April. They
will probably spend some time at the
^nguage school in Bangkok before com
ing North for tribal work. Bro. Filbeck is
a graduate of Ozark Bible College and
has specialized in training for linguistic
and translation work. Mrs. Filbeck is a
^aduate nurse. Forwarding address for
the Filbecks is D. W. Peters, Crane, Mo.
Miss Dorothy Sterling, R. N. is now
living in Chiengmai studying the Thai
language preparatoryto engaging in trib-
al work. Her present address is c/o Chil
dren's Center, Box 38, Chiengmai, Thai
land.
Kliaiiiii
(The Khamu are a jungle tribe steep
ed in demon worship. Nevertheless, they
have been the most responsive of all
tribes to the gospel message. Donald
and Roberta Byers live among them and
are learning tfieir language. The Byers'
returned from furlough in the U. S. in
March 1960, and though they live in Nam
Mong their mailing address remains Pua,
Nan Province, Thailand.)
The Nam Mong congregation advan
ced in evangelistic spirit in 1959. Acon-
tribution was sent for typhoon victims in
Nagoya, Japan. The congregation was
instrumental in beginning the new chur
ches at Bang Sa andWang Pang. In Dec
ember Nam Mong sent an evangelistic
team to the upper Yao valley with the
result that many in that area have be
come interested" in the gospel.
In the rainy season of 1958 Mrs. Aw
became so concerned about her soul's
condition that she appeared on the verge
of a mental breakdown. Her husband fin
ally agreed to permit her to be baptized
and joined her in a public profession of
faith. However, under pressure of pagan
relatives, he went back into demon wor
ship and forbade his wife to attend church
services. Recently this couple has re
turned to the Lord and are now among
the most active and happy of the Nam
Mong Christians.
Headman In Bun of Wang Pang was
the first in his village to obey Christ.
Within a month he made a trip to the
distant villages of Huay Moi and Nam
Loo where his testimony for Christ has
awakened much interest. His consistent
Christian life has been instrumental in
winning others. The Wang Pang congre
gation has grown to 26 members since
June.
"If I'm ever crazy enough to become
a Christian, I give you permission to
club me over me head," was Daum's
angry reply to a neighbor who was trying
to lead him to Christ a few years ago.
The love of Christ preached and reveal
ed in transformed lives, broke through
the barriers. On February 28, Daum and
two of his friends were buried in baptism
in the waters of the beautiful Yao river.
siikI
(The Miao are a semi-migratory
tribe who live and grow opium in the
highlands of much of Southeast Asia.
They are a highly intelligent, but un
stable, people tightly bound in the trad
itions of ancestor worship and spiritism.
Garland and Dorothy Bare are engaged
in language study and evangelism of the
Miao near Pua. Nan Province.)
Mel Byers, left, visiting Miao village.
Tribes People Vlsifed
Bro. Kenneth Rideout of the Bangkok
Church of Christ accompanied Garland
Bare on a trip to the T'in and White Miao
tribes in Febmary. Although the evang
elists were warmly received by the tribes
men, there was very little interest shown
in the gospel.
Song Books Requested
During a song service at Pua, recent
ly, the missionaries looked up to see two
T'in tribesmen from the remote North
Bau region standing in the doorway."We
have a radio in our village," they ex
plained, "and we have heard these same
hymns on a broadcast from Manila. We
would like to buy a hymnal so we can
sing these hymns at home. Our village
has a school so we can read Thai books."
(The T'in language has never been re
duced to writing.) The next morning
one of the youths, Somboon, returned to
inquire further about the way of the Lord.
As he left he took some scripture portions
and tracts. And so the Word goes out to
a region visited by missionaries only once.
Report From Yao Tribe
Since 1952 ihe C. W. Callaway
familyhave lived and labored among
the Yao at Tzan Fu Ville. The Yao
are an opium growing tribe living at
highaltitudes.They are proud and un
responsive toward the gospel. Tzan Fu
Ville has no postoffice so mail to
Callaways must be addressed to Talat
Chiengkam, Chiengrai, Thailand.
Tzan Fu's Mother
"Did your father buy your wife for
Proud but miserable at heart the Yao you? How do Christians marry? What do
sorely need the Gospel, but are slow to you do at the funeral if you don't have
accept. devil worship?" With these and many
similar questions the Yao village head
man, TzanFu, sought to ascertain var
ious beliefs and practices of Christians.
Some favorite topics of conversation He had announced that his mother want-
among the Yao are opium, horses, and ed to become a Christian and had asked
hogs. Opium is by far the main topic, him to inquire as to what was involved.
Their animals and other valuables are This gave a welcome opportunity for
often valued as worth so much by weight Callaways to teach him the plan of sal-
of cmium. This past winter has been so vation, as well as to answer many of his
mild that the opium harvest has been questions.
quite small. Is God answering the pray- Laterhis mother received personal in-
ers of many for Thailand tribespeople by stmction from the missionaries. She pro
creating dissatisfaction with opium and fessed her faith in Christ and her resolve
thereby making it easier forihese people tohave no moreof devil worship. Through
to break away from opium's chains and the power of the Lord her addiction to
turn to Christ? Is there anything too hard opium smoking has been broken. Daily
forihe Lord? The Thai government offi- Callaways pray with her, and on Sundays
cially banned opium commerce and they worship with her in her home. She
smoking last year. Opium dens can no has beenvery weak with the disease beri-
longer operate legally. Most mountain beri. and she has allowed this and other
tribes still grow opium, butthey arefind- excuses to keepherfrom baptism. There
ing the price lower and it is increasingly is urgent need of prayer to the end that
difficult to market their crop. she be obedient in baptism and filled
In January 1959 Garland Bare and with faith.
C. W. Callaway visited the village of Many in Tzan Fu Yao village have
Wen Sue onThatch mountain in the Pua said that in the past few months that
district. This Yao headman listened they may someday become Christians
Opium
Laterhis mother received personal in-
ally clubbed to death. The report was said quite candidlyone day, "If Tzan Fu
that he had decided to heed the govern- becomes a Christian almost everybody
ment ban on opium planting and that " \
others, irked that he would not continue
with them in this, arranged for his mur
der. Was he also contemplating becom
ing a Christian? We can only wonder. a dangerous business. But disaster after
A Yao chieftain and a Yao merchant disaster may yet serve to open their eyes
were murdered in Nan province lastyear that they may more readily accept the
because of involvement in opium traffic, claims of Christ. When tney come to
Those who deal in opium know that it is Him their"sorrowshall beturned to joy."
ing a Christian? We can only wonder.
yet learned to think independently. Christ
can set their minds free!
Tzan Fu's Wife
"I do wish we could be Christians,"
said Tzan Fu's wife one day after hear
ing a gospel hymn in Yao. Tzan Fu re
plied, "We are going to be some day."
During the past few months this head
man has frequently served as language
teacher for Callaways and has helped
them in Bible translation. He has been
more receptive than everbefore to Chris
tian teaching. The Yao, however, are
especially given to procrastination. Op
ium addicts, such as Tzan Fu, are all
the more inclined to let life take its eas
iest course and put off good resolves for
"a more convenient season." The effec
tual fervent prayer of righteous men and
women can cause this headman to see
that "now is the day of salvation."
A Brother's Advice
Formerly attention has been called
to the strong interest in the Gospel on
the part of Lou Ling and her husband and
two children. They live in the village
of Sang Tsoy near a big opium field
area. The home has been quite open
for Christian teaching, and the whole
family seems keen to accept Christ in
to their lives. An older brother of Wen
Chang, the husband, has said they must
not become Christians until Tzan Fu or
others turn lest they meet persecution.
For the present they are yielding to the
brother's wishes.
Deafh Takes Gyim Sue
Our loving Savior with arms out
stretched is reaching todayto souls in the
most isolated sections of the earth. Many
are being redeemed from the clasp of
the enemy. Still thousands pass daily
over the precipice of deaih--beyond
reach of Cniist and His cross. Mention
has been made of the. welcome given to
the teaching of Christ on one occasion
by Gyim Sue of Ai Liang Yao village.
A silversmith and brother of the head
man there, he was always friendly. He
had obtained medicine from Callaways
for a heart condition. In January the
heart trouble claimed his life. He was
still beyond the reach of the Savior's
mercy--having not laid hold upon the
Thousands of Yao boys such as this
have never seen a car, have never been
inside of a school, have never heard of
Christ.
Mark's Gospel in Yao
The Gospel of Mark was recently
translated and several copies mimeo
graphed in the romanized Yao script by
O. M. F. missionaries. Callaways are
making a systematic revision of this ed
ition with the hope of attaining even
greater accuracy. They hope before
long to mimeograph the revised trans
lation, but will be using the adapted
Thai script. This should make for the
earlier reading of it by more Yao in the
area in which they serve than would the
romanized script.
Prayer offered in America can protect
missionaries in Thailand from unprofit
able interruptions that hinder the task.
Prayer can provide also the necessary
language help from the Yao people to
bring into existence in their language
the Bible, Christian hymns, and other
Christian literature.
proffered grace. His brother, Gyim
Mwang, headman of that village, has
listened attentively to the gospel mess
age. M^ he find the hope which Gyim
Sue has forever lost!
Christians on Way to Tung Daa
Jungle Trip
The middle of January 1960 a group
of 30 including Christians from Sope
Waan, the market area, and mission
aries Mel Byers, Imogene Williams, and
Dorothy Uhlig made the 19 mile trip to
Tung baa and spent the weekend with
the Christians there. A truck took the
group part way, but the last portion of
the trip was on foot over a jungle trail
that wound and twisted through the hills.
Dusk found the group at their destina
tion. Everyone had a quick bath in the
river, and then got out the cooked rice
and hot pepper sauce they had brought
along and quickly ate supper. After
visiting a bit everyone joined in a time
of singing and prayer before turning in
for the night. The women and girls
stretched out in the one and only room
of the house, and the boys and men
found places on the porch and in the rice
storage shed. A few of us slept at an
other house.
The following morning a stage was
erected for putting on the plays. Two
nights a pantomime on the birth of Christ
was presented with the help of some of
the local children. This was followed by
a play on the resurrection of Christ pre-
sented by the young people from Sope
Waan. There was a good crowd of local
people attending each night. Each morn
ing and evening informal services were
held and all the group learned newsongs
and joined together for a time of prayer
and Bible study. There was a real spirit
of fellowship and joy in the Lord, and
the local C*hristians were strengthened.
There were many opportunities of wit
nessing to non-christians, and we pray
that some of these will soon accept the
Lord.
Report From Lowland Tribes
(In the plains and valleys of North
Thailand live a number of tribes speak
ing Thai dialects and professing Budd
hism.These include the Lao,North Thai,
Shan, and Lu. On the Chiengkam plain
Melvert Byersand Misses Uhlig andWill-
iams regularly visit five or six Lu and
Thai villages where there are small
groups of believers. Largest of these is
the Sope Waan congregation. There are
a few Thai Christians in Nan Province
also, Denominational teaching is a sev
ere problem among them and much pray
er and teaching is needed to bring them
to a strong andfree stand in Christ. Add-
dress of Mel and June Byers, and Miss
Dorothy Uhlig is Talat Chiengkam.
Miss Imogene Williams is now on fur
lough. Her address is c/o J. V. Williams,
RFD 4, Hodgenville, Kentucky.)
Ya, with Imogene Williams
Undecided
Ya, a Laotion girl who married a
Chinese Christian and moved to Chieng
kam three years ago, still rejects the
Gospel. She has not only heard Christ's
message of salvation many times, but
was taught to read Thai so she could
read the Word herself. She continues to
say, "I don't understand well enough,"
but is showing no desire now to under
stand. She is sweet and friendly but seems
completely blinded by Satan as to her
need of a Saviour.
M
Nai Sang, New Christian
New Converts
Two men, Nai Sang and Nai Kam,
were baptized into Christ on January 9,
1960.
Nai Sang came across the borderfrom
Laos over two years ago and showed real
interest in the Gospel from his first days
in the village. Last year he married a
Christian widow in the village. She had
learned to read in our Bible-Literacy
Schools and taught Nai Sang to read af
ter they were married. He recently re
ceived a songbook for memorizing 50
verses of Scripture and is now learning
more to get a Bible. Few in the village
have enough money to pay 30 cents tor
a songbook, but can earn one by mem
orizing Bible verses. The Christians here
like to have their own songbooks to use
in the home as well as at church on Sun
day.
Nai Sang isn't responding very quick
ly to treatment for the disease of his
body, but is responding to the spiritual
treatment for his soul.
Liferacy School
"Christ Preeminent" was the theme
of the school held at Sope Waan during
the month of February. Studies from the
book of Colossians stressed the Lordship
of Christ in all avenues of the believer^
Ufe. The children and beginning adult
readers had classes in reading and writ
ing taught by Imogene Williams, and
Dorothy Uhlig. The advanced group had
a brief introduction to the teachings of
different denominations and cults in
Thailand taught by Mel Byers.
Nai Non--Once a Happy Christian
Slipping Backward
when the above picture was taken
Nai Non was strong in faith and zealous
in teaching his daughter Moon and others
of Jesus. He withstood persecution from
relatives and neighbors with patience and
prayed much for them. He witnessed to
his wife for three years before she enter
ed Christ. Great was his rejoicing when
she and, later, his oldest daughter were
baptized.
However, in the past six months he
seems to have grown cold and unconcern
ed for spiritual things. He sometimes
meets withChristians in the village where
he moved last year, but often doesn't,
and seldom comes in to meet with the
Christians in Chiengkam. Rumors say
that he plans to leave his familyand live
with a brother who is a strong Buddhist
and very opposed to Christianity.
Imogens Williams Home
Miss Imogene Williams arrived in the
United States for furlough on April 4. She
may be addressed at RFD #4, Hodgen-
ville, Kentucky for speaking dates and
camps after May 30.
SopeWn-^nYoung Pc: ;oleWith Mel Byers
Myfirst impressions of Thailand, be
ginning even at the airport upon arrival
in Bangkok six months ago, were of a
country whose people were blessed with
a sense of freedom, so in contrast to
those of surrounding countries. Both off
icials and the common people showed
sincere friendliness, helpfulness and lik
ing toward westemers. On first thought
this would seemto make Thailand a won
derful place to preach Christ unhindered.
In one sense it is, for among the be
liefs of these people, who, strangely e-
nough, have been able to live a lite of
freedom and self-government in contrast
to their neighboring countries, there is a
belief in religious freedom. Christian,
Buddhist or Moslem can preach what he
believes. The Thai listen politely and in
a friendly spirit, but do not change their
lives.
Thailand has been flooded with miss
ionaries since Communismbeganforcing
missionaries out of China. But the Thai
are still largely Buddhist. There is also
a strong underlying animism and fear of
spirits. They cling fearfully to their dem
on worship.
Here in Chiengmai the temple gongs
beat softly far into the night. People do
not venture out much at night because of
fear of spirits.
One thing diat amazes me continually
is the indifference of Lisu and Karen
tribes people in Thailand, while in Burma
they willwalk many days* journey to beg
for someone to come and teach them.
Having taught among the Lisu in Burma
and China since 1944, and found them so
eager, and their lives so changed by
Christ, the difference is a source of nag
gingwonderment. What makesthem dif
ferent from their fellow tribesmen?
I've heard some say that it is the opi
um here which binds tnem. Opium is an
economic crop in Thailand, raised only
in the mountains, and therefore, only by
tribespeople. To the tribesman wanting
to become a Christian, there comes the
double question of giving up the use of
opium himself, and also of not planting
it and thereby losing his way of making
a living.
A newMission called the "NewTribes
Mission" has recently begun workin Thai
land. Their aim is to reach only those
tribes which have never yet heard the
Gospel of Christ. Their ultimate purpose
is to reach all the untaught tribes of the
world in our generation. Thus could be
met the unfiimlled condition that before
Jesus returns, every tribe and kindred,
language and tongue must first hear the
Gospel. Much faim and courage, prayer
and sharing of our love for Christ with
others are needed to cany out this task
in our day. The power to do this does
not lie within any of us, but in Jesus
Christ working tnrough us.
What does it mean to you, person
ally that in our generation all the un
reached tribes of the earth could, yet,
hear of Christ, and His power to save
from bondage?
--Dorothy Sterling
Chiangmai, Thailand
TRIBES AND TRAILS IN THAILAND
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Ninth and Pine Streets
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Dorothy Uhlig, Missionary to Thailand
Non-Profit Org.
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IcPAID
Klamath Falls, Oregon
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