Brethren in Christ - GREETIKGSJ

III John 2

As we thank God and rejoice together in the Vietnam peace and the re
turning of many of our faithful service men, I likewise give thanks
for you and look forward to sharing with you in the joyous fellowship
of our returning "Soldiers of the Cross" in Taiwan.

In just about three months, Alan and Janet Bemo and their children
will be returning to America, the Lord willing, after five full years
of hard and faithful service for the Lord. They are surely getting
anxious to see ^11 of their many loved ones in Christ here in the

states and are looking forward to sharing more personally with you
their accomplishments and future plans in returning to the field.

To visit in j^'our homes and churches and keep the many speaking engage

ments they are scheduling will require some real planning and a good
means of transportation to meet these appointments.

In an exchange of letters and tape recordings with Alan and Janet

I*ve learned they are trusting that "the Lord will provide" and I am
confident that He will indeed. However, as the Lord usually uses Plis
people to accomplish His will in such things, then let us be used of

Him to have a dependable means of transportation ready or available

for them when they arrive - around the first of June.

With much evasive persuasion I finally got them to give me some idea
of what they had in mind along these lines. Their reply was that a
"70 or 71" model, low mileage, middle class car - possibly Ford or
Chevy - would be suitable.

This seems to be reasonable, and I am trusting that others of you will

agree and^want to share with me in making this hope a reality. Would
you like to make a pledge or send a special gift for this purpose?
Bo you have such an automobile or know of one that may be purchased

reasonably?

I have a I966 Oj.dsmobile station wagon that will be sold

or given as trade-in on the "BEMO BOGGY".

Whatever your x^ish or concern may be, please notify the Bemo^s for
warding agent .

She has graciously consented to take the added re

sponsibility of receiving your gifts and or suggestions.

Above all,

let's keep this for a surprise to tho Bemosi 3o don't "spill the .
beans" or "lee the cat out of the bag". Please send your prayerful

reply to Mrs, Gant as quickly as the Lord leads in this undertaking.

May our wonderful Lord continue to bless you and yours as you faith
fully serve Him,

Alan's Dad,

P.S,

Please designate these special gifts for "car" or "Bpmo Buggy" or in

some manner so i t can be kept in a separa-De fund.

Field Address:

rAK fiAST
CKUSAQCR

Forwarding Agent:
Mrs. Sandi Gant

R. R. 1. Box 333
Fort Gibson, Okla.
74434

Dear Christian Friends,

Mr. and Mrs. Dicky of Platfe Valley Bible College

theexcitement of their arrival quietened a little,

were going. She asked about the family of the

drowned boy and the Faith Promise Roily atShih

mrUL

'j|l^
New

Registrations

^
Becky clowning around

her 4th birthday.

Ling Church. As she talked I could tell that she

had read all of our newsletters and really knew
what was going on. I always hope that people read our newsletters and olways ask God's guidance, but at the same
time it is easy to write as in a diary rather than to personalities. That is why I alwoys try to hove certain people in mind

as I write. I thank God for you Mrs. Baker, Mrs. Walters and many others who have let us know that you ore reading and
caring.

One thing several people hove asked about is Mrs. Dittemore's eye. She hod eye trouble last September and we
asked you to pray about it. Well, priose the Lord, her eye is completely well and she did not require the loser treatment
that the doctor had suggested. She Is in the full swing of her work once again.

Jonuary always involves lots of activities such as financial reports and taxes both in the U.S. and Taiwan. One thing
which had to be done was the renewal of our alien registrations. This means new snapshots for Janet and me-l thought
Janet's was so pretty, I had to shore it with you.

On January 8th Becky became four years old. She hod seven Americans and four Chinese at her party and they
played "pin the tall on the rabbit." Beth drew a fat rabbit on a big white piece of paper on the wall. Becky had a good
time but was too shy to blow the candles out when the coke was brought in.

The day after Becky's birthday Mom's things arrived at her house which hod been shipped from the States. Chuck
Johnston and I helped uncrote things and were there till 2:30 the next morning installing an electric range and a
refrigerator with ice-maker.

A few hours later I was going on a camping trip with four other fellowS"Brother Lwo, the preacher at the Chang
Chwun Church, and three young people from the Fu ftsing Church. We went on three motorcycles and after a two hour

drive mode camp near a farm house of one of Brother Lwo's relatives. We held services where we sang, prayed, and
studied the scriptures together. The best time was around the campfire at night when the boys discussed personal
problems. The biggest topic of discussion was the problem of keeping their faith while serving in the military. Here,
every male mustserve in the armed servicesat least two years and these boys ore going in this summer. During the day
we went fishing and we were able to eat some of the fish we caught. It rained off and on the first two days and I had one
of my 24 hour headaches the second day but we still had a very good time.

Camping in bamboo forest.

Seven new brothers.

Notice fish on fishing line.

Both Beth and Becky got report cards in January. Becky's fr^m Chinese Kindergarten, said she did well in every way
except she was too shy. I remember when Beth got a sirtflior report when she was in the same kindergarten. This time
she got a report from English kindergarten of Bethany Christian School which said that she was learning everything
exceptionally fast but that she was "too uninhibited." Beth is the second tallest in her class, second only to a boy. Jonnie
seems to be a little slow in learning. He still climbs up on the motorcycle even though it has fallen on him four times and

likes to play with plugs even after getting shocked three times, not to mention the spankings. Well, we love them and
we thank God for them everyday. They are the best and we wouldn't trade them for anything.
The best news is that there were seven baptisms on the 28th. One of these was David Wei. a student of the English
Bible class I am teaching now. His immediate family were all Christians but they were content to let him remain
non-Christian to represent their family in Budhist worship of the clan. He, at 25, has made his own decision. Two others

were father and son named Ling whom Janet and 1had gone calling on the proceeding Friday night. We had prepared to
baptize these three after Church Sunday morning. That morning during Sunday school the Children asked Alan Lwo, the
S.S. teacher what the baptistry was for. He told them the plan of salvation and four of them made the decision to be
buried with Him in order to raise with Him with new life. Praise His name for all the new ones in Him!

Sofar our furlough plans are that we will leave Taipei on June 9th. During the month of June we plan to get settled in \

Muskogee, Oklahoma. We plan on being in Indiana the first week of July and in Illinois the second and third weeks. We ]
areplanning on attending o camp in Kansas City at the end of July and then on to Canada to visit friends before Beth's Jj
school starts.

>0,

Alan, Janet, Beth, Becky, & Jonnie Bemo

NON-PROFIT

Return Requested:

ORGANIZATION
Mrs. Sandi Gant

R. R. 1, Box 333
U.S. POSTAGE

Fort Gibson,

1.7c PAID

Oklahoma 77434

Ft. Gibson, Okla.

Wssloa Services
t-C.Bx 177

Kemptoji, Ind.
-460^,9

Permit No. 3

D j_i
Brethren
in Christ - GREFTINGSI

1 li

Iir John 2

rejoice tofobher in the Vietnam peace and the re-.

fon vn? an/1

service men, I likewis.e give thanks

of oJr
With you
in the joyous fellowship
our refnr.n^n
returning "Soldiers of the Cross"
in Taiwan.

will^be

mpnths, Alan and Janet Bemo and their children

of
and
America, the Lord willing, after five full years
aLio^ fn af
-'^'-ey are surely getting
statee and f f , ? their many loved ones in Christ here in the
their aonr.mni"?aw
sharing
personally
you
oraplishiiients and fnt^ureto plans
in more
returning
to the with
field.

nents^tLv"ara^Lwd?,^"^ churches and keep the many speaking engageSeans of LanL

some real planning and a g^d
ransportation to meet require
"chese nppointments.
l"ve"learned^Koafr

tape recordings with Alan and Janet

confiS fhaf la -f ^fUfting that "the Lord will provide" and I am

Deonlo tn ann "
hoKever, as the Lord usually uses His
hK hlvfrd^ii^d
"ill i
things, then let us be used of
for
I or them
rnem Ihel
when flal
they arrive
a^^^ - aro'ond transportation
the first of Jime.
ready or available

"70 0^71" Ldli

1 finally got them to'give me some idea

"ind along these lines, ihair reply was that a

Chevy - would b^suitable!'''

" f^-'^lt'ly ?ord oi'

reasonable, and I am trusting that others of you will

yfr!iK
tHaJ a'^^ri
wr
u
P-edge
reasorablv^

1"

^P a reality. Would

or send a special gift for thjs nuroose?

-'-utormDbile or know of one that may be purchased

ol
lwt^ as
na .1
Station wagon tLt will be sold
or given
traae-inaonli'^
the Wdsnobiio
"SEMO saCGY".

m^dinraSIt

=^^n .may be, please notify the Eemo's for-

suOTslbl!^?! af 'f " ? Sraciousxy consented to take the added rel-vl :

keol
your gifts,^.,pd
or su.ggestions.
Abovetheall.
1
1 ! ^ g-drgrl^
to
temosi
3o don-t "snill
. ,
renll

"

fSirmrilm!^

1 'Q.u.uCkiy as
^net.ie ijord
f, Picas.e
send your" prayerful
loads ir bhls undertaking.

continue to bless you .end yours as you faithAlan's Dad,

SUl4

P.S.

aila^^manner
designate
gifts
for "car"
or.
some
so it these
can besijcotal
kept .In
a c^paravo
fund.

"Bemo Buggy" or in

- '2.'^
Field Address:

Forwarding Agent:
Mrs. Sandi Gant

R. R. 1, Box 333
Fort Gibson, Okla.
74434

February, March, 1973

Dear Christian Friends,

I,.

Well, we've gotten off to a great start this year

with not getting out the February report last
month. But honestly, we have been so busy these
last two months that we just haven't had time. I

must say, though, that we have been happier

than ever before. It seems like the busier we get BI^HBiiiHBVBfljHHBHBln

the happier we are.

^BBUi

|||H^^^^B|B|^

The lunar year started on February 3rd this year

'SggKif1:LSZSL-

and the Chinese call this the year of the bull or B[B|^^B^BPilp''i> ~

#.

CP **

ox. Cattle ore well respected in China because

they are mostly used for working purposes. As a

result beef is rarely eaten and is for the same

reason expensive. At this time we think of

Hebrews 10:4; 9:12: "It is impossible that the

fT

BBh

blood of bulls and goats should take away

'

'*

'

'Jb
'.^E

Year of the cow

sins....he (Christ] entered once for all into the

Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redempt ion." We hope
and pray that this can be the year of Jesus Christ in Taiwan.

Early this year something happened which really shows the importance of teaching new Christians. One Sunday
morning just before Church services started old Mr. Peng, who was just baptized a year before, came to me with two
crucifixes on long chains. He asked me to pray over them, then he and his, who was baptized at the same time as his
father, would put them on I tried to explain as politely as possible that this was wrong. I knew he would feel
embarrassed or hurt in front of others in the congregation. Then on the following Tuesday night Janet and I went to
their house and opened the scriptures to explain more clearly that we already hove the presence of the Holy Spirit in
our hearts and do not need some good*luck charm to protect us. We also showed how images of worship were strictly
forbidden. They were very humble and accepted the teaching with gladness. This event made me start a weekly Bible
study in their home which I had been meaning to do but hod put off. This study is difficult since the old man speaks little
Mandarin land we speak no Taiwanese. We have the lessons recorded in Taiwanese and after we have prayer with them
we listen to the lesson. If any discussion is necessary his son con translate.
On March 12th and 13th we had the privilege of being visited by Brother Biggs, the preacher of o supporting Church in
Troy, Kansas. He and his wife were the leaders of a small party of Christian farmers who were visiting Asia. They were
only able to be here for two days but we did have time for fellowship together and Brother Biggs gave a testimony at a
special meeting at the Fu Hsing Church. Afterwards the Chinese and American Christians had a wonderful time of
fellowship and refreshments at the Church building. Before calling it a night we went together to the night market
where we saw people eating snakes, among other things.

The dollar devaluation has surely affected missionaries everywhere and probably worse in other areas than here. The
devaluation here amounts to a loss of five cents on the dollar. Thus, it makes our rent $116 rather than $110 a month.

Although this has decreased our monthly salary by about $30 God has used many of you to more than make up for it.
Thank you and Him for this wonderful care.

Now to get to what has been keeping us so busy. We are just finishing up a five-year term here in Taipei and during this
time the Lord has used us in bringing about forty people into Christ. During all this time we have been anxious to fulfill

Hunt & Peck

The O.T. has 39 books

the commission of our Lord Jesus Christ: "Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have

commanded you." (Matt. 28:19, 20a) After teaching and baptizing we must go on to teach them to obey Christ's
commandments. Thus, since December, 1972 we started working to prepare some suitable teaching material for this.
We selected Standard's first course In the Training For Service series called "A Survey Of The Bible." In Chinese we call

it "Sheng Jing Jr Nyou Lan" which means, directly translated, "A bird's eye view of the Bible." Two people, Mark Cheng
and Julia Ling, translated the book in three month's time and we started printing at the end of January. Before each
lesson could be printed we checked the translotion carefully. We had the lessons memeographed because we wanted
to use this material at least once before printing It into a nice book. It is a good thing we did this too as we have
discovered several errors as we taught. The typist has to literally use the "hunt and peck" method since her typewriter
has thousands of Chinese characters. Some, like the personal pronoun for God, she did not have and therefore these
had to be written in by hand. At the time the class started on March 11 th we had the first six lessons printed. Each week
we have added to this until now we have all but the last six lessons printed. We should have these done by next week.

We had eighteen registered for this class when it started and after the first five class times one has dropped out. This
class is not easy. It is a ccomprehensive study of the Bible in which the student is required to memorize names, outlines
and events. There are tests, grades and diplomas to be given. This course Is designed to be completed in six months but
can be finished in three months if classes ore held for two hours once a week. We will just be able to finish before we
leave on furlough.

Theclass is taught by myself most of the time. It takes a lot of time to prepare for this class as I have to be able to teach
the lesson in Chinese and onswer questions. This is very difficult for me and I find that I still cannot remember a
character after reading it many times. I am Inviting Chinese men, scholars on certoin sections, to speak to give us a
deeper range of thought. The students themselves participate by giving reports on various subjects and books. We've
oil grown and learned a lot and teaching this class has given me more satisfaction than anything I have ever done on
the mission field.

As for furlough plans, we have already bought our tickets to leave Taipei on a charter flight on June 8th. After a one
night stop-over in Tokyo we will arrive in Los Angeles on June 9th, the Lord willing. We plan on leaving Los Angeles on
June 19th after speaking to Churches in that area. Most of the summer is filled up with speaking dates but we will write
more about our schedule next month.

We really thonk God for the commission He has given us and are hoppy in His service. Thank you for reading, writing,
giving, and praying.
Yours In Jesus

Alan, Janet, Beth, Becky, & Jennie Bemo

Furlough Address:

FAK CAST
cKusAtteti

Forwarding Agent:
Mrs. Sandi Gant

R.R. 1, Box 333

Fort Gibson, Okla.
74434

May, 1973
Dear Christian Friends,

Today is June 8th, the day we are to leave for the United States. Being 9:00
A.M. we still have seven hours before departing and one of the important
things left yet to do Is to write to you. I didn't really plon to walte till the lost
minute to write but perhaps It Is best since severol exciting things have
happened during the last few days.

Exactly one week ago a friend said to me, "Since you are leaving in a week I
guess your not very busy now." I think that he thought that our work was
pretty well finished up. This has hardly been the case! For oxample a Bible
course of ten lessons, called "Basic Christian Doctrine" In Chinese, was fust

finished being printed four days ago. By the time the lessons of several pages
each were assembled, stapled, and put into envelopes, they were finally
finished yesterday. Last Saturday the teachers manual for the Training For
Service course, called "A Bird's eye view of the Bible" was completely finished
up being translated. By Tuesday we were able to completely finish checking
this translation and just now two secretaries are finishing the final draft on the

last five lessons to take to the printer today. By leaving the money for this

Louis In KInmen

printing the teachers manual will be completely finished by next week and molied out to the eleven graduates of the
Training For Service.

By the way, the Training For Service class was ended on May 27th with a two hour final exam. Of the seventeen who
started the course, four dropped out, one was unable to complete the course because of illiteracy, and one other failed
the test, leoving eleven to graduate. We hod a "graduation banquet" on Tuesday evening, May 29th, where, while we
ate, I tried to encourage them to serve God and told them that the Churches future depends on them. 1 am proud that
some of them are already involved in working for the Lord and two of them have started new jobs: Ray Chen has started
working with Sam Hazlewood in new Church work, and Kathy Gwo has started teaching Sunday School at the Fu Hsing
Church.

Of course there hove been many farewells in the last couple of weeks. Some of our dearest friends were in the Military.

We were able to go to see two of them--McGill Lee in Tainan, and Andy Hwang InChung Li. CalvllLai made a special trip
to Taipei from his post to tell us good-bye. We were not so fortunate with others as they are stationed on out Islands:
Louis Chang and Peter Hai are on Kin-men (on island within sight of Red China) and Cork Yu Is on Peng-hu. There will be
many many farewell this afternoon at the airport.
Services hove gone on as usual but have had a new air to them since we are about to leave. Last Sunday I felt a great
sense of urgency as 1preached from Revelations with its admonitions: "Blessed is he who reads aloud the words of the
prophecy and blessed ore those who hear, and who keep what is writen therein; for the time Is near
This calls for

wisdom

Here is a coll for the endurance of the saints

preach the gospel because the time Is near.

" Rev. 1:3; 13:18; 14:12. We really do feel on urgency to

It is the hope of every missionary to be able to leave his work for a period of
time or permanently and know that it will go on. This has especially been a
concern of our since the Church has no Elders or deacons and for a period of
two months Thomas Lwowill be taking the main responsibility of two Churches

while his brother, Joseph is in the States. We were afraid that he might invite a
denominational preacher or group to help out and we prayed most about this.
After the sermon, out of the clear blue sky, Mr. Lwo introduced a preacher who
was going to help out with the Church after I had gone. My heart sank.
However, after Church services were over I talked to this man and learned that

he Is a preacher working with our non*instrumental brethren. I was so happyi'

We had him over for lunch a few days ago and discussed the Church. We know
that he is a man who really loves the Lord. Jesus said, "If you love me you will
keep my commandments." He will be preaching at the Fu Hsing Church once or
twice a month.

Calvin & Andy

That night! went colling on Mr. Lee. He hos come to Church services ever since
we hove worked there but because of his Presbyterian background has been
sprinkled. We have talked to him about this several times but wanted to ask
him for a decision before we left. Just three days before our departure date he
mode the decision to be immersed. Although we are not sure of the dote yet
we ore happy about this. Since he has completed the training for service

officers in

Chung-Li

course (3rd highest in the class) we hope he con be a deacon soon.

I hove enjoyed writing this and I hope you hove enjoyed reading it. By the time
you read it we will be in the States, the Lord willing. The next time we write it
will probably be from Treaty, Indiana. We look forward to seeing many of you
soon.

Yours In Christ,

y^

V w- L

Return Requested:

9 197.'

NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION

Mrs. Sandi Gant

R. R. 1, Box 333
Fort Gibson,
Oklahoma 77434

U.S. POSTAGE
1.7c PAID

Ft. Gibson, Okla.

Permit No. 3

Furlough Address:
Alan and Janet Bemo

2120 Hayes
Muskogee, Okla.
74401

rAK CAST
cttusAoetc

Forwarding Agent:
Mrs. Sandi Gant

R.R. 1, Box 333

Fort Gibson, Okla.
74434

June, 1973

Dear Christian Friends,

A few hours after I wrote the May report we were

on our way to the airport there must have been at
least 30 people at the airport to see us off. It was quite
an ordeal to check our six pieces of luggage and say
goodbye to friends we love so. It was especially hard
to leave Janet's mother, knowing the children
wouldn't be able to see her for a year. We left on

Korean Airlines at 4:30 p.m. on .;j^ne 8th and got to

Seoul in two and a half hours. Our former land-lady
Bemo Buggy
went with us as she was going to Minnesota to see
some relatives but was afraid to go by herself because she doesn't speak a lot of English.
After spending a day In Seoul seeing the Harold Taylor's work with the Bible College, prisons and orphanages we left
the 9th at 7:00 p.m. on a 747. Because we were the last ones to check in we were put way in the back of the plane by
the luggage compartment, which we discovered were the best seats anyway.
We crossed the international date line sometime that night, beginning our second Saturday in a row. Later we arrived
in Hawaii at about 9:00 a.m. their time and during 15 minutes free time in the airport I was able to call our old friend,
Harold Gollager, the minister at the Kiomuki Church of Christ in Honolulu.

^ At 8:15 p.m., Saturday,'June 9th wearrived at the L.A. International airport according to thecalendar, just 1 hour and
15 minutes after we had taken off from Korea. Even so it took us four hours to finally get through customs and claim our
baggage. We were so happy to ee-my father, who had driven our cor from Oklahoma to meet us, and the John Irwins

with whom we would be staying. We got Mrs. Lee put on her midnight plane for Minneapolisa little before 12:00 and
left for the Irwins.

Our time spent with dad was very short. We had planned for him to spend the next two weeks with us as we drove to
various speaking engagments. However, dad's sister passed away the day before we arrived and he had to go back to

Muskogee on Monday.
As we left the airport the night we arrived I got behind the wheel of the car dad had found for us. It is reolly a
i)eauty-a red 1970 Ford Torino with a yellow stripe down both sides. Although I hod a valid driver's license I was glad
that there was little traffic that time of night on the San Diego freeway. I asked dad about the payment of the car and he
said it had been paid for by special offerings in response to a letter he hod sent out to all of you concerning the "Bemo
Buggy". This was really a thrilling surprise, and we want to thank those of you who helped buy this car. It is really nice
and we thank God for it.

A few hours after we got to L.A. we spoke at the Knott Avenue Christian Church on Sunday morning, June 10th. As it
was my first presentation and I hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, I am afraid it wasn't a very good
presentation. That night we spoke at the Anaheim Christian Church. We appreciated so much the warm welcome of the
new preacher and old friends like the Parises. We took the children to Disneyland on Tuesday and then spoke at the
Duarte Christian Church on Wednesday night. After four days of refreshing fellowship with John and Gay Irwin we left

for Son Fronsisco to see Liang Fu and Kusa Tseng and there three boys. They hod been immersed seven years ago in
Taiwan after we had studied the Bible with them and they are still faithful to Him. We were treated to a delicious meal

in Chinatown and a tour of Frisco on the 15th and then we had to leave for Longmont, Colorado very early the next
morning. We made it as far as Salt Lake City before we had to stop that night. The next day we arrived in Longmont in
time to eat a delicious meol and speak to a good crowd at the church there Sunday evening. The next morning we left
Phylis Fairibalds lovely home, where we hod spent the night, to drive up into the mountains, where we spent five days
of summer camp, working with Bob and Carol Ammerman. This was a great week as there were many who dedicated
their lives to God-offering their lives as "a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God." Just yesterday I got a letter
from Matt Reynolds, one of the campers, writing about going home and telling his folks and friends about his decision.
While at camp we stayed in a little cabin with a wood burning stove. It snowed the second night we were there and the
temperature got down to zero.

Because of a lost minute cancellation in our schedule we were able to go to our home in Muskogee for two days. This
gave us just enough time to see our family and friends there, reshuffle our luggage and take off again.

Since fhe Skiles family, our fellow missionaries in

Taiwan, have been on furlough for a year we were
especially glad to be able to spend the night of June
25th at their house. The next morning we had a couple
of precious hours of fellowship with them before
shoving off for Bedford, Indiana. We got there thirty
minutes late for the scrumptious church supper they
were having but as hungry as we were it didn't take
long to catch up. It was a joy to witness of how God
has used us, to these faithful women of the Ludean

Society there.
First tractor ride

Our next speaking date was at Etna Green, Indiana for Sunday, July 1st. We got to Etna Green three days early and
stayed with Althia Hamlin, a faithful Christian and a long time friend of the family. We will always remember this area
of the country where people appreciate and know how to preserve things old. There is a special remembrance of the
play the Goods took us to see, the warm friendliness of fellow Christians there and Althla's good cooking.
This,-the first month we have been in the States has-been really full and abundant in love. We are happy to be in the
United States even with all its faults. We are even happier to be Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. We are writing
to you from Wabash, Indiana. The next time we write. Lord willing, it will be from home-Muskogee, Oklahoma.
We send a very special thanks to ail those who opened their homes to our family of five. It could only have been done
with hearts of love and may the Lord bless you for it.

Yours In Christ,

Alan D. Bemo

AUG

non-profit

Return Requested:

ORGANIZATION
Mrs. Sandi Gant

R. R. 1, Box 333

U.S. POSTAGE

Fort Gibson,
Oklahoma 77434

1.7c PAID

Ft. Gibson, Okia.

Permit No. 3

uj. d.

rAR eAST
CKUSAOett
ALAN & JANET BEMO MISSIONARIES
FURLOUGH ADDRESS: Alan &Jonet Bemo 2120 Hayes Muskogee, Oklahoma 74401
FORWARDING AGENT: Mrs. Sondi Gont* R.R. 1, Box 333 Fort Gibson 74434

Dear Christian Friends,

OCTOBER, 1973

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ, the author

and perfecter of our faith. We thank Him who not only
helps us but uses us in His service, unworthy as we are.
It has been a real blessing to Janet and me, as well
as to the children, to be able to visit with our relatives

regularly. My Dad, Mother and Grandmother live right

here in the Muskogee area which is our temporary

headquarters. And, it is not much of a trip to Cioremore

to see Janet's 'Grampa' EIrod. We have made one trip to
Atchison, Kansas, to see Janet's paternal grandmother

and we are planning to go back for another visit with her and other relatives during October. And, it is a special
blessing to me to be in this area because I have the privilege of conducting worship services every fourth Sunday
ot the Rest Home where my own grandmother lives.

We have been traveling extensively the last three months and many special memories stand out. For
instance, there was the fellowship we had with Dave and Janet Hammil, whom we had met years ago in Okinawa
while they were in service there. They provided a place for us to stay at their camp-site during the North
American Christian Convention when there was absolutely no place to stay in the entire city. And, who could
forget the antiques and the home-made bread and butter at the Roth's home in Illinois. We remember Mr. & Mrs.
Biggs getting out of bed at 3 A.M. one Sunday morning to provide a place for us to sleep a few hours before we
spoke at the church at Troy, Kansas. While we were there we also hod car trouble and Kenneth Higgins found a
mechanic who fixed our cor but wouldn't take any money "because it was Sunday." Later that night Vicky Higgins
fixed a special meal for us(Kenneth's favorite]. Her folks gave us bedding to use during camp the following week.
We got to know a lot of wonderful kids at West Central Christian Service Camp in Missouri. We cherish fond
memories of time spent there. And, oh, how we enjoyed the new den that had been added to Uncle Ben and Aunt
Lola Gross' home in Atchison! We have often remarked about the forbearance of Mrs. Raymond Derby at

Foriboult, Minnesota, when we were two hours late for the delicious supper she had prepared. We appreciate

Betty Enabnit's devotion to God and to her family in Clear Lake, Iowa, and we appreciated fellowshipping till
midnight with the preacher and his wife. Grinnell, Iowa, stands out in my mind also, partly because of the evening
B'^b Toney and I played guitars and partly because of the 'fattening meals' we enjoyed in the homes of the
Mindrips, Longs, Corbins, and Hayworths. We had a wonderful fellowship with over thirty couples at one of the
class picnics. In Missouri, we went horseback riding at the Goerkes, and enjoyed being guests at the ladies'
meeting at the Halls. While in Kentucky, we visited Kentucky Christian College and what a spiritual uplift we
received at the home of Uncle Mark and Aunt Pauline Maxey. Each time we were in a church I had the same
feeling, "Oh, how I wish I could stay with this congregation during the entire year of our furlough!"

Even before we came back to the States on furlough, I prayed that God would somehov/ find o way to allow
us to work with a congregation on a regular basis, and at the same time be able to travel and speak in the
churches which have supported us. It seemed a toil order, but we know that God is able to answer such prayers,

and praise the Lord, He did! Not long after we arrived in Muskogee, we were asked by the Muskogee Christian
Church to become youth ministers. I went to on elders' meeting and explained to them that I would have to be out
of town speaking to churches quite often, but they decided to hire us and pay us $70 a week to do the job while
we were in town. Of course, this does not meet all of our financial needs and we are still dependent on

'missionary support' as we carry on the same functions on our furlough that is common to missionaries. But it
does help! We don't need as much for daily living expense as we did while we were in Taiwan, but we do have a
great deal of travel expense. Also, we ore spending a great deal of money on materials that we will be using
during our next term in the Republic of China. What money we do not hove to use now, we ore putting into a
special account to be used for air-fore back to Taiwan and for the initial expenses of getting settled, such as
deposit on a house, a motorcycle for transportation, a telephone, etc.

Actually, the youth ministry has turned out to be

far from what I expected! It is the hardest job I've
undertaken, but God has blessed u^ and things are
starting to move! I know that the experience we are
gaining will make us much better missionaries.
Shortly after starting the work as youth minister
at the Muskogee Christian Church, we heard that the
church at Okay, Oklahoma, (where our forwarding
agent, Sandi Gant, attends) no longer had a minister
because of financial problems. I offered to preach there and explained that I did not expect any money, but rather
wanted to see the church continue. Working in two churches each Sunday is a little hectic, but we enjoy it and it
reminds us of our work in Taiwan. On the weekends that we are on the road speaking, we line up someone to take,
our place. I especially thank Jim Page, of Ozark Bible College, for helping out.

There are several things coming up which are spiritually exciting. We have been invited to hold a revival
meeting at the First Christian Church in Boynton, Oklahoma, where my father is ministering. This meeting will be
held the last full week in October. I have several speaking engagements in Missouri and Kansas, and during the
month of November I will be speaking every night for fourteen days in a row in fourteen different churches in
Kansas as a participant in the WESTERN KANSAS SCHOOL OF MISSIONS.
Also in November I have the undeserved opportunity of speaking at the 26th National Missionary Convention
which will be held in Oklahoma City, November 20-22. The theme of this year's convention is, "God at Work." I
will be speaking on the afternoon of the 21st on the subject, "God at Work...Answering Us." I hope to see you at
the convention. If you are planning to come, write to us in advance so we can make arrangements to meet you
there.

Though we have been very busy with all of our furlough activities, it is impossible not to think about the
work in Taiwon and be homesick for our brethren there. We will be happy when next'May finally gets here so we
can go back to work for Christ on the field. In the meantime, please pray that the work there will progress. We
are happy to hear that the youth work there is growing under the care of our co-worker, Alan Lwo. Janet is very
anxious about the souls of the women she taught for so long.

Please write to us when you have time. If we haven't gotten to see you yet, we hope we will before we go
back to Taiwan. In any case we pray God's richest blessings on each of you.
Yours In Him,

yO.
Alan D. Bemo

L-

I'f'"

Mrs. Sondi Gant

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