[This is a circular letter sent to the friends and supporters
of the Kuhns to the United States to let them know about their activities. During
parts of World War II the missionaries were in effect from easy contact with
the United States because the conflict in China and the Pacific between the
Allied forces and the Japanese Imperial army and navy made lines of communication
very long and difficult. At the time of this writing, Isobel had earlier in
the year gave birth to her son Daniel. The Kuhn's daughter Kathryn had been
at the Chefoo school for missionary Children in north China and then was able
to sail to the United States.
In the circular below, Isobel Kuhn's own words are
in italics. Other comments are by Mary Zimmerman, who copied and sent
out Isobel's letters to her supporters in North America. Punctuation and spelling
has been maintained as far as possible as they were in the original letter.
Comments in brackets [] are by the archivist. The letter is in Collection 435,
Box 1, Folder 2.]
Dear Friends of the Kuhn Family:
During the month of October Isobel did not write a circular letter but she did
write a few lines to several folks, and some parts of that correspondence are
being passed on to you, for many of you wore especially concerned about them
over the period that this mail covers.
Mary K. Zimmerman
*****
Oak Flat, Oct. 4th., 1943. [Oak Flat was the Kuhn's mission station
in Yunnan province, China.]
Yesterday morning Charlie and I were so downcast with many trials that we
prayed for some joy to be given us, and a few hours later your letter was handed
to me, and the news that Rynna [nickname for the Kuhns' daughter Kathryn.
She had been captured by the Japanese army in 1942, along with other children
at Chefoo School, and had been recently released and sent to the United States.
the family was not reunited until 1944.] is on her way to America. Details
of her going wore in a letter from Bishop Houghton [director of the China
Inland Mission] which has never come, so I do not know anything more than
that she is supposed to be on her way, but it lifted a burden (how heavy it
has been the Lord only knows) from my heart, and your letter was an added joy,
an answer to prayer. It was your July l0th letter.
*****
Oct. 6th.
Never in the history of the Mission have we known such days. It now costs us
on the field more to live than you in America ut God IS supplying our needs,
and as each new rise in prices makes us gasp, some other token of a "rise" in
God's power to keep, makes us silent with wonder.
Prices are going up all the time; I feel like Noah may have in the days of the
Flood, only he was in the Ark and could not see the rise of waters. I. feel
as if we were on an open raft with all the terrifying swirl and rise daily confronting
us with the impossibility of going on, so to speak But praise God our raft is
the same Christ as Noah's Ark and so WO close our eyes to the storm and rest
our hearts on His faithfulness and power. There will be wonderful testimonies
to give to Him when this all over1 I feel sure.
November 6th, l943.
No. circular this time - I did not write any for October for several reasons,
one being that we have not been able to get mail in or out. The Post Office
at Six Treasuries did not function for some time - moved its base and we did
not know. This time, too, it is only a trial. You may never get this letter.
Orville Carlson is with us helping to teach in our November Bible School, and
when ho goes back to his station I will try to send a letter with him to be
mailed out in an easterly direction, The affair is not. finished yet, and would
rather wait to toll of God's deliverances, etc. until all is perfected.
Suffice it to say that we are all well up to date and still on our station,
though we can see where the enemy [Japanese army] is entrenched from
our breakfast table You will be able to tell from the newspapers more than we
ourselves know, doubtless, as no. news sheets or any mail has been able to get
to us since the enemy arrived. We are not thinking of evacuating for several
reasons, One is that the Lord has not seemed to lead that way; another that
having evacuated last year I know from sad experience what it can mean, and
that if we left the house here empty local thieves would inevitably help themselves
or soldiers of our own side come in and occupy which means the despoiling of
goods and with prices so. high, one could not afford to replace things and then
there is no place to go where it would not be hard for Danny. We have no tinned
milk at all so to travel s just about impossible. The Christians have arranged
a hiding place for us if things get very dangerous3 but our hearts are at peace
believing that God will take care of us. They have been so dear about it, taking
much time and trouble, and twice on rumors of danger they have left their field
work and come to carry our things for us to f1oo However we look constantly
to God for leading and have not gone yet. There would not be the opportunity
to sterilize Danny bottle and things out hiding in the woods. He drinks oats
milk.
At present the November Bible School is on with twelve students - the smallest
student body we have ever had since we opened Bible Schools here, but considering
the dangerous situation it is marvelous that we have any at all. No. one wants
to be away from their homes and loved ones these days until we see what way
events will turn. Dateh John was not able to roach us the enemy being between
hart and us, but all the other evangelists are here. Oh, Joseph who went to
Mark's village you know, has not been heard of for months, and doubtless could
not come without too much danger.
Our dear people are going through a time of much trial and it is a joy to be
able to stay with then and share it all. There are hundreds, if not more, Chinese
soldiers in the district now fronting the enemy and all these have to be fed
and crops were poor in many places this year. The Colonel is staying in Lucius'
beautiful new home. In Lucius' village one hundred of our men are staying and
they stay in the homes of the people.
*****
In a letter to Kathryn dated October 21st, Isobel wrote: Daddy should be
in Chungking [capital of the Republic of China during the latter part of
the war with Japan] these days, a he will be hearing of our danger and,
wondering about us. He hopes to be back here by Christmas time, and I think
he will. He knows back roads and trails by which he can come into us.
Mummy's heart is on the ocean these days trying to find and trace where our
girlie [Kathryn] is. I do not yet know when you were supposed to leave
Chefoo, so I do not know when you will reach America, Be sure and write us every
month.
*****
John Kuhn and David Harrison had plane reservations from Kunming to Chungking
for the C.I.M. Superintendents meeting,. but thse [sic] reservations wore cancelled
and so John went back to Lisuland earlier than he was expected, hence the closing
paragraph from Isobel's letter:
Nov. 7th.,1943.
Must quickly close - interruptions are constant, please forgive. Latest news....the
Japs have turned off in the opposite direction and are now some three days journey
away. Praise the Lord. Our greatest danger now will be from stay bands of soldiers
turned robbers.
And just as I sat down to write this news comes that John his on his way here,
will be in any time now. The Colonel has a wireless set [a radio that could
send and receive messages] and John sent the wire [message] through
him. Perhaps the mails will reopen now and I will he able to write again as
usual. If not however, do not worry; God, is with us, of that we have had abundant
tokens.
With much love, and to all the dear ones who pray,
Isobel Kuhn