Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2004 10:46 AM
Subject: Fwd: Memories Bible Schools, India
Another good story from Art--how NOT to give wisely--but mostly a cute story! Roger & Susan
Arthur Sanford <arthalie@webtv.net> wrote:
Subject: Memories Bible Schools, Hatigarh, India
following last weeks memories of those village Bible schools --one more: first want to share that those schools did lead a lot of boys and girls
to accept the Lord Jesus, so they were a blessing. But in some we missionaries learned a lot too. One of the things about being a missionary is there is a real desire to just give and give, and sometimes we did it without really looking into the total situation as that one in Hatigarh. The missionaries there were the Osgoods—great couple and great friends so we went out a few days ahead of the school just to visit and get everything ready and to make a few more booklets since they had a good mimeograph. The day came and the kids started coming from all around --the Church was sort of in the center of the village so kids came from all sides. Then one came from what we in USA would call "the other side of the tracks" obviously from one of the poorer families. The poor girl had scarcely any thing on. Missionary Jane immediately went to her, put her own sweater around the girl and took her to that room where they kept the "missionary barrels" (those boxes of clothes, etc that USA Churches sent to us)" Well in those boxes there were many good dresses that would have fitted this girl, and with which she would have been really happy, But Missionary Jane felt really sorry for her, and wanted her to have something really nice, so got out one of the most beautiful dresses(a real dress up dress in any place) and it fitted the girl so she came back dressed in something finer than any other girl had or maybe ever seen. Wow that day there were what we call "green eyed girls" was fluiny to see that girl: when they sat on the floor or on the ground to do their booklets, that dress did not touch floor or ground --she sat on the ground but that dress was up around her middle and off any dirt..Well that day passed and then the next morning: me oh my: seemed like every girl had thought if that is what it takes to get a dress like that I can go as she did. There they came with as ittle as possible on and some less than that. Missionary Jane took one look and let out a scream and ran at them yelling for them to go home and get some clothes on. We could hear some "but memsahib’s, but to no avail, so back they went, got dressed, and came to school Well, out of that we missionaries talked about it, and learned that it is well to give, but to be thoughtful and wise in giving…still good to remember.
the ex missionary me
8/5/2004