IT WAS IN THE BEAUTIFUL Methodist hospital at Wuhu, overlooking far reaches of the Yangtze, that little Helen Priscilla made her appearance on September 11, 1934. She was a lovely baby from the first. Her father, who had been warned not to expect too much of a newborn infant, wrote in delighted surprise:
But you should see our daughter! She really is the cutest little thing... and would do for any baby show, as far as good looks are concerned, right now.
Betty’s first letter to the home folks in Paterson was written a few weeks later:
The baby looks like John, nearly everybody says. She has his mouth and chin. Her eyes are a deep blue and very big, and her face is so sweet and round! She has a lot of dark hair that is actually curly when damp. We cannot say she never cries... but during the night she sleeps soundly from 10 P.M. to 6 A.M.—and most of the time from 6 A.M. to 10 P.M.
When little Helen was three weeks old, she had a visit from her grandmother, who came all the way from Tsinan to welcome her arrival. Mrs. Scott stayed until Betty was quite herself again and able to take care of the little one. With all the solicitude of a young mother, she wrote on being left in charge:
Baby weighs 9 pounds and 3 ounces today. It is a real joy to take care of her. I am always wondering if she is too warm or too cold, and running around to feel her hands and feet. She won’t keep her arms under the covers, so I slip on an extra knitted jacket, backside front. Last evening she howled and kicked so hard that I am afraid it was temper. For the minute anyone picks her up she is as placid and serene as can be, with a slightly reproachful expression, as much as to say, “Why didn’t you come sooner?” So we shall have to be very strict with her!
By this time John was back in the Tsingteh district.
I knew he was champing his bit [Betty continued] to go and see the Christians, to find out about conditions and to go evangelizing during this beautiful fall weather.
It was a joy to be with the Wangs again at Miaosheo, though he found that the long, hot summer had resulted in widespread destruction of the crops. Mrs. Wang’s welcome was as loving as ever. A glimpse into this home is afforded in one of John’s earlier letters:
At Miaosheo I stayed again with dear old Mrs. Wang, of whom I have written before. . . . Her husband was a real man of God. Once or twice a month he would go to Child to attend the services. Having over twenty miles to walk, he would start on Saturday, stay all Sunday and come back again on Monday. He would do this even in rice-planting time, when things were at their busiest. The home is one of the great old mansions in that part of the country, now worth very little, because during the Taiping Rebellion the population was so largely destroyed. When I am with Mrs. Wang, I am truly in clover, for she keeps the place very clean and cooks excellent meals. She knows what the foreigner likes and what is good for him, and just hovers over you like the dear old grandmother she is.
After the Li home with all its squabbles, it was delightful to see Mrs. Wang and, her daughter-in-law together. The way the younger woman ran off to fetch a wrap, when it grew cool one evening, and threw it around the older one, spoke volumes for mutual love and respect... I have happy memories of the times of family worship with them all. How they listened as we went through Psalms 22:2323Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. (Psalm 22:23), and 24, and as we studied the subject of the Lord’s second coming!
Besides visiting the church members I had some good times on the street in Miaosheo, distributing tracts, selling Gospels and witnessing for the Lord. What a wonderful Gospel we have!
John was joined by Mr. E. A. Kohfield on this journey, leaving Betty and little Heie1 in Wuhu, and the object they had in view was twofold, They were planning a united forward movement in the evangelization of their fields, Mr. Kohfield’s being the nearest Mission station to Tsingteh on the south, and they were also making careful inquiries as to the communist situation and the condition of the crops. Large numbers of soldiers had coma into the district, government troops sent to protect southern Anhwei from communist forces, dislodged from their strongholds in the neighboring province. But the presence of the regular troops aggravated the semi-famine conditions and caused a great deal of unrest. Mr. Kohfield was as eager to return to the work in Tunki as John was to occupy Tsingteh, but Mr. W. J. Hanna (the China Inland Mission superintendent in Anhwei) had requested them first of all to find out on the spot whether it was reasonably safe to do so.
We made careful inquiries all along the way to Kinghsien [Mr. Kohfield stated] and while local disturbances were reported, there was not any danger, it appeared, of communist advances. From Kinghsien we went as far as Miaosheo, arriving there on October 24. Here also there were no reports of danger concerning communist activities. On October 25 we arrived at Tsingteh, the station to which Mr. and Mrs. Stam had been appointed. A short time after our arrival we went together to call on the District Magistrate, Mr. Peng. His first words to Mr. Stain were that he should not come immediately to Tsingteh. During the conversation, however, he stated that the district was perfectly quiet, and that he could safely bring iris family. He also assured the Stams protection in case of danger.
Of this same interview Mr. Hanna wrote:
Mr. Stam reported to me that while there was some banditry and thieving in the Miaosheo area, owing to the drought and shortage of food, they found the district otherwise peaceful. He told me that the Magistrate’s first remark was that there were small local bandits in the district, and that when he replied, “Then we had better not come down for awhile,” the Magistrate agreed. Mr. Stam then said something about not wanting to risk a meeting with communists, to which Mr. Peng emphatically answered, “Oh, no, not There is no danger of communists here. As far as that is concerned, you may come at once and bring your family. I will guarantee your safety, and if there should be any trouble you can come to my yamen.”
Of their further investigations, Mr. Kohfield continued:
Upon arrival at Tunki on the twenty-seventh, among the first persons we met was the District Magistrate, Mr. Lo, who at once informed us that there would be no further trouble and that we could safely return.... The whole of the information that we gathered from these officials was to the same effect, that it would be safe for us to return to the district, and we were given much assurance of protection.
John was not only cautious in his movements, he was truly prayerful, and had now a precious wife and child to think of as well as the work. It was not lightly therefore that he came to the same conclusion as Mr. Kohfield did, that there was no sufficient reason why they should not take up their work again in southern Anhwei. This course Mr. Hanna approved, but not before he had visited the district in person.
It is certainly true today of missionary work in China, “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regarded’ the clouds shall not reap.” The whole vast land is passing through a period of profound transition and unrest. If we wait till all is peaceful, how shall the present suffering generation hear the Gospel? We have our unalterable commission from Him who gave His life for us—Matthew 28:18-2018And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18‑20). The words of a great military leader in this connection give us the true perspective: “Look to your marching orders! How do they read?”
It was with joy therefore that John and Betty looked forward to the next step.
I know you will be praying for us as we go to Tsingteh [he wrote to his home circle]. The Lord has wonderfully answered prayer on several points. We have a cook who promises well, and the little, one-eyed woman is turning out to be a fine helper for Betty, very efficient and pleasant. She has lust surprised us by bringing two pairs of the most beautifully embroidered little shoes for the baby. With you could see them!
Pray that the Lord may be preparing souls in Tsingteh, and that we may take opportunity given us and may be bold for our God. Pray for Mr. Lo, as he moves to Miaosheo. His wife is inclined to be the fearful side. Pray that both they and may know the truth of that word: “God not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Praise God for such a Gospel as we have to make known! Keep on praying. On our trip Kohfield and I remarked, again and again, how the Lord was undertaking for us and causing all things to work out just right.
Before they left Wuhu, an incident occurred that shows much of the heart attitude la young couple at this time. No one knew anything about it. It has only been revealed by an entry in Betty’s diary, found since their promotion.
John and I burned $37.50 (Mex.) in stamps, to make up for cheating the Chinese Government Post Office (not meaning to) by enclosing letters to the United States in home letters, with United States stamps.
It was of course much less expensive to enclose letters to be posted in the States, with American stamps, than to put the full Chinese postage on every one, and for some time the Stains did not know that this was contrary to government regulations. As soon as they realized it, however, they determined to repay this full sum by burning the equivalent in Chinese stamps. A straw shows which way the current runs, and this unknown act of reparation is eloquent of their desire and purpose to be fully right with God in every detail of life, On the way to Tsingteh, the Stams had the joy of introducing little Helen to their friends at Süancheng.
Well, here we are [John wrote] at our old stamping ground, and enjoying ourselves hugely. All our stuff is packed and ready to be bumped on its way to Tsingteh by wheelbarrow, some seventy English miles.
Right now, we are having a short-term Bible school in Süancheng, and the Lord is blessing. I have much enjoyed some of the sessions taken by Chinese teachers. Miss Jean Yao was very good on the tabernacle; Miss Kiang too, on Hebrews.
As this was their last touch with fellow missionaries and Chinese Christian leaders, it is of no little interest to see the place that John and Betty had in their affections. A letter from Mrs. G. A. Birch, of Süancheng, with whom they were staying on this visit, gives just the details one could wish.
Dear Betty and John, their memories are very fragrant. We can thank God on every remembrance of them, for they were so full of the love of Christ and their lives shone with His presence. It was a privilege to have Them share our home for the months they were with us.
Betty was so sweet and always happy! She had a lovely character. No wonder John fell in love with her. Our little two-year-old David took to her at once. Aunt Betty was his ideal, If she were absent, he always wanted to know where she was. All of his baby interests he confided to Aunt Betty. He knows now that his dear Aunt Betty and Uncle John are in Heaven with the Lord Jesus, and that they are very happy there. When he heard that, he wanted the Lord Jesus to come and take him to Heaven too. David is little Helen’s ardent admirer.
Betty was lovely with the Chinese. Not being very strong, she did not go out a great deal, but when women and girls came to see her, they were sure of a warm welcome. They liked Betty. The girl students asked after her, long after she had left Süancheng.
John was one of the finest Christian men we have ever met. It was a privilege to have his fellowship in the work. The Chinese were especially fond of him. Everyone, young and old, Christian or heathen, liked him. The Christians thought he would become an ideal missionary, because first of all, he was full of the love of Christ, and second, he loved the Chinese so well. He was interested in their daily lives, and was ready to help whenever he could. He always made people feel that he had time for them and wanted them. John was very faithful in making the Gospel known and also in helping the Christians, whenever he could.
We were so glad to have them with us for nine days when they were on their way to Tsingteh this autumn. When they arrived, the short-term Bible school was still in session, and all the Christians from country and city were so glad to see Betty and John again. John proudly carried Helen Priscilla over the chapel to show her off to the Chinese friends.
That Sunday when Betty and John were with us, we had a Chinese service, led by Rev. H. A, Weller, of Anking, when little Helen and our baby John were dedicated to the Lord... John carried Helen, and held her until Mr. Weller took her in his arms. Then Mr. Weller gave her to Betty. She behaved perfectly and looked so sweet in her little pink bonnet. It was a beautiful service.
It was lovely to have a few days with Betty again. I enjoyed that very much. She was a sweet practical mother. I liked to see her taking care of Baby Helen. Dear, dear Betty, she was pure gold, perfectly lovely, gentle, and sweet.
Of that dedication service John himself wrote:
It was very impressive and very blessed. Both babies behaved wonderfully, our little Helen quite enjoying herself when she was awake, doing nothing. Mr. Weller prayed that she might be like Priscilla of old—a help to the church, ministering to the saints.... Her Chinese name, Ai-lien, means Love Link. She surely is a darling.