The September 1952 Newsletter
Source: Memorial Univ of Newfoundland

The January 1953 Newsletter
Source: Moravian Archives

The March 1954 Newsletter
Source: Paul Library

Moravian Missions, vol. 52, no. 08 (August 1954) Source.


The list and archive of all "Moravian Missions" newsletters (1903-1956) by the Center for Newfoundland/Labrador Studies.
Source.





https://dai.mun.ca/pdfs/moravianmis/ MoravianMissionsVol48No101950October.pdf ;

MORAVIAN MISSIONS         Vol XLVIII No8
October 1950

Tibet.

At long last the two recruits for the Tibetan field are now on their way. Br. and Sr. P. Vittoz left London on 26th August 1950. Communications with Tibet are still irregular and slow. Br. Driver had not heard of the granting of the visa to Br. and Sr. Vittoz, even though a letter was sent as soon as information of its granting was received. Br. Driver hopes to meet them in Srinagar and take them to Leh by air if possible.



https://dai.mun.ca/pdfs/moravianmis/ MoravianMissionsVol48No111950November.pdf

MORAVIAN MISSIONS        
November 1950

The recent war in Kashmir as resulted in the recruitment of the youth of Ladakh for military service and this has greatly increased the previous military requirements of food and transport. The pockets of the farmers of Ladakh have been filled with money and nowadays most people can produce a wad of notes when they have to buy something in the market.

Once upon a time a rupee was untold wealth and a poor family lived for four days on what a rupee bought. Nowadays, it is a very small thing indeed, for the cost of living in Western Tibet has risen very steeply during the past few years. Old people, the destitute and infirm have found things very difficult because they have no land or are unable to work.

It is also a matter for surprise that many other people can still manage to live in these expensive days. Salaries and wages of Mission workers and State Officials have more than doubled, but the real change in the cost of living can be assessed from this price list.

In 1940 to hire a horse from Srinagar to Leh cost 15 shillings. In 1950 the cost is about £10. The cost of a horse from Leh to Khalatse, fifty miles, was 3 shillings, now it is 16 shillings.

In 1940 cooking butter cost 9d. lb. In 1950 10 /- per lb.

In 1940 lean mutton cost 4d. per lb. In 1950 1/10 per lb.

In 1940 sugar cost 4d. per lb. In 1950 2/6 per lb.

In 1940 flour cost 1d. per lb. In 1940 potatoes cost ~d. per lb. In 1940 milk cost 1d. per pint. In 1940 s1nall eggs cost id. eacl1. In 1950 1/- per lb. In 1950 5d. per lb. In 1950 6d. per pint. In 1950 4d. eacl1 In 1940 \Vood fuel was 5lbs. for 1d. In 1950 5lbs. for 8d. In 1940 a coolie (labot1rer) got 6d. a day. In 1950 3/-. In 1940 house servants got 15/- per inontl1. In 1950 60/-.

A recent visitor to Leh said that the cost of living was as high, if not higher, than in Washington, the capital of the U.S.A...

A second remarkable change is the recent growth of party consciousness among the people. The West Tibetans in East Kashmir, that is Ladakh, have been repeatedly told of the realisation of Independence by India. They have also been told that the oppressive rule by the Maharajah has ended and that they are free to go their own way in "New Kashmir".

All have heard that the freedom to decide their own future will be theirs soon. This teaching has been taken to heart by the Ladakhi. So much so that newly elected village councillors have really believed that they had power of life and death over their fellows.

But that is not all; the Buddhists are now demanding that, as they are the majority community, their nominees should be appointed to all the positions of authority in the Leh district - which is Ladakh. They are objecting to those who have been converted from Buddhism to Christianity holding these positions now and to this end petitions of protest have been carried in processions through the town of Leh. Men have been called from remote villages to Leh to join in these processions and recently the troops had to be called out to disperse an angry crowd of demonstrators.

In past years the Ladakhi has been praised for his tolerance and friendship for all men. Christian Evangelists have travelled around the countryside and have always found an audience willing to listen to them. The Church in Ladakh too has been able to worship her Lord and Saviour without interference from anyone. Now the clouds of enmity and hatred appear to be gathering and the future of the Church in Ladakh is going to be more difficult and also more exciting. The past indifference to Christ and His Gospel appears to be changing into active opposition.

The third change on the Western borders of Tibet is the welcome one of an increased desire to become better Christians among some of other Brethren thei-e

An outward sign of this is the fact that Church attendance has never been better than it is now. For many years before they became free from Mission control in 1945, the Christians sometimes complained of the strict discipline maintained by the Missionaries.

Along with this they besought and complained that the Missionaries should be more lenient with the failings and moral laxity of the easy going Tibetan. This did not help the Missionaries to keep on the best of terms with their Ladakhi Brethren and without some elements of friendship prevailing between Missionaries and Christians, little missionary influence could be exerted.

It is now very interesting to notice that, after five years of autonomy, the Elders of the Ladakh Church are becoming more firm with their erring Brethren. Instead of condoning faults and turning the blind eye, the Elders are beginning to think more of the moral welfare of their fellow Christians and of bringing the Gospel standard of behaviour before them. The change is something to rejoice over or the Elders are at last beginning to become real Shepherds of God's Sheep in Ladakh. One of a missionary's joys, and there are many, is watching the Lord's Children under the providence of God progress towards "full grown men unto the measure of the stature of the Fulness of Christ."



MORAVIAN MISSIONS         Vol CLVIII No12
Feb 1951

Tibet.

News of our Missionaries in Tibet has been somewhat scanty in recent months, but the arrival of the Annual Report with an accompanying letter has provided some interesting items of information.

The dangers threatening Eastern Tibet (Chinese invasion) have not, at the present time, come near to Western Tibet, and, unless unforeseen developments take place in the near future, the work can proceed with little external interruption.

Internally there is a sense of change and instability until the future of Kashmir is decided. The people themselves are unsettled in their minds and are somewhat apprehensive about their new rulers (the republic of India).

The delight of Br. and Sr. Driver at receiving reinforcements after holding on alone in Leh for three difficult years can be imagined. Their joy in their new colleagues is real.

When Br. and Sr. Vittoz reached Srinagar it was found as cheap, if not cheaper, to charter a plane to convey them to Leh (the journey being done in 75 minutes) than to travel by pack pony and pony back, which would have taken 15 days.

Br. Driver hopes that Br. Vittoz will be able to suggest new methods of presenting the Gospel when he has acquired sufficient knowledge of the language. For the present his work consists chiefly in language study. Not until he has gained a good knowledge of the language can he begin any Evangelistic work. The foundation laid in the Tibetan language under Br. Asboe's guidance will enable Br. & Sr. Vittoz to build up· more quickly their fluency in a strange tongue. ·

The decision taken some years ago to grant full independence to the Church in Leh has proved to be right; more and more responsibility is being undertaken by the Elders in Leh .. Church attendances ha improved, more interest is being shown in the temporal and Spiritual work of the Church.

When the Relics of Buddha were in the neighbourhood of Leh, all the accommodation at the Gospel Inn was taken. The Evangelists made the most of their opportunity and spoke to many people giving them tracts to carry away. Apart from such unusual occasions the Gospel Inn has not been used as much as in former years.

The hospital work is a great encouragement . Over 5,000 attendances at the dispensary were recorded, fifty in-patients came for treatment, in addition Dr. Driver made over 700 visits to patients in their homes. There is ample work for her services even though the state dispensary has been re-opened.

Last winter Br. and Sr. Driver had the help of Miss Drew, a trained nurse from New Zealand belonging to the Central Asia Mission, who had come to Leh to obtain a better knowledge of the Tibetan language.

She proved of great help to the Doctor in dressing frost-bitten Yarkandis ,who came for treatment and needed much skilled attention.

When we consider that all this medical work has been carried out practically single-handed we pay our tribute to Dr. Mary Driver. The unemotional record of facts and figures indicates a devotion to duty that must tax the strength of the Doctor in her service to sffering human beings. Her work is done in and through the strength given to her by the Great Physician. We can only pray that her health may stand the strain so that in the coming years her medical knowledge·and skill may benefit larger numbers of people who need it.

The two Christian girls who, as previously mentioned in these notes, wanted to become nurses, have now gone to the Ludhiana Medical School for a two year's· course which will qualify them for the title of Nurse “Dais” --- a local Indian term. They are keen to get this training which will enable them to assist the Doctor on their return to Leh.

A leather-bound copy of the Tibetan Bible has been given the Leh Church by the Bible Society in Lahore in memory of the late Br. Yoseb Gergan, who did so much of the translation work, but owing the the breakdown of postal communications between Pakistan and Kashmir the Bible has not yet been received.

Gaining converts in Tibet is a slow process. The difficulties that confront them are so fearsome that only an exceptional man with an exceptional religious experience can be expected to face them. Should anyone make a stand as a Christian he may be quite likely cast out of his home by his family and thereby lose his means of livelihood, not only so but his other relatives and friends will turn their backs on him and upbraid him for leaving his former religion. Becoming a Christian in Tibet may mean a complete severance from former relatives and friends. It imposes a severe strain on a prospective convert and explains, in part, the slow growth of the Church.



https://dai.mun.ca/pdfs/moravianmis/ MoravianMissionsVol49No091951November.pdf

MORAVIAN MISSIONS         Vol XLIX No9
November 1951

Tibet

Br. Yonatan began work in Leh about the end of May 1951. He visited the members of the Congregation and conducted services at the beginning of July 1951 and did very well. He has the gift of imparting his ideas to others. The report from the Principal of the College Yonatan attended in India refers to him as a very good student, diligent in his studies, of exemplary conduct and one who has shown an excellent spirit.

Br. and Sr. Vittoz had a brief holiday during August. They had been struggling daily with the Tibetan language. Their holiday was spent in an attempt to climb one of the peaks opposite Leh which, it is believed, had never been conquered. In spite of some bad weather Br. Vittoz reached the 20,000 ft. summit. His wife is finding acclimatization a slow process; in some cases it takes two years, in others a shorter time.

The country is being taken over and explored: groups of scientists are searching for valuable minerals needed in modern industry. Engineering groups are improving communications, establishing wireless contacts with distant parts of the country, by building radial roads for rapid transport by motor vehicles. The people are put to work building airstrips. Thus in a brief space of a few months a primitive country is being transformed into an up-to-date modern State with bewildering suddenness and efficiency.

The hospital is not as busy as it used to be: the prices charged have been increased and the people are economizing. The charge is 4 annas for 3 days’ medicine, which is not beyond the patients’ means.

The doctor is preparing to visit Nubra to do cataract operations for theporer people who cannot afford to come to Leh; some time has to be spent with the patients afte the operations so the visit may last a month.



MORAVIAN MISSIONS        
Feb 1952

Tibet.

Reference was made last month to the appointment of Br. Eliyah Tsetan Puntsok as a· member of the Tibetan Staff. He is, it is worth me11tioni11g, the son-in-law of the late Br. Y oseb Gerga11.

Br. Driver has since written to say that with the help of Br. Eliyah he and Br. Vittoz intend to produce literature for propagancla purposes. He hopes that it may be possible to eliminate the laborious handwork by t1sing a typewriter with Tibetan characters. He has asked ~1ission Board to locate such a typewriter! With the kind help of Bishop Kenneth Hamilto11 st1ch a typewriter has been locatedat a price. The price asked for such a machine is $ggo- more than £300 in our currency. We hope that on further inquiry this typewriter may l)e st1itable and that the high cost of purchase may not rule out this new venture envisaged l)y the missionaries. It is one which might have far:reaching and beneficial results. Typewritten stencils would, with the help of a duplicator, enable literature to be produced in considerable quantities.



https://dai.mun.ca/digital/moravianmis/

MORAVIAN MISSIONS         Vol LI No1
January 1953

Tibet.

Br. Vittoz, on whom the mantle of Br. Driver has fallen, has supplied notes from Ladakh which give a vivid account of the work, the disappointments and the problems of the Missionary in Leh. From these only a selection can be made.

Magic lantern shows were held in the courtyard of the church during the month of August 1952, on Monday and Friday evenings, before the weather became too cold. Between fifty and sixty people gathered to ' look and listen ' and, it is hoped, to learn something-from the pictures and comments on the Bible stories displayed.

Br. Dewazung’s two daughters, who had been sent to Ludhiana Mission Hospital in India to be trained as nurse Dais, returned recently. As their fares had been paid by the Mission they promised to serve for at least two years in

our hospital. Now it appears that both of them have applied to enter State Service, one in Leh and one in Kargil.

During the month of October 1952, harvesting and threshing of wheat and barley proceeded as usual, and, with good crops, everybody was pleased. To the consternation of the people an epidemic of' rinderpest ' broke out in one of the hamlets belonging to Leh. Many cows died and as beef is never eaten in Kashmir the people suffer the total loss of their cattle. The Missionaries lost two cows and made every effort to keep alive a calf to ensure their supply of milk.

Br. and Sr. Vittoz report that they are in good health and are now fully acclimatized so that the altitude does not affect them any longer.

'The news of Sr. Driver's illness was received with grief by our brethren,' writes Br. Vittoz. ' Everybody liked them and we heard many a word of sympathy for them.'

The dispensary is now closed. People wanting help or medicine come to the Mission house.

Br. xxxx rashi, the Evangelist, who was preaching and helping in the dispensary is going to take charge of Sheh where a small Congregation is without a regular preacher and a few children without regular instruction.



MORAVIAN MISSIONS         Vol LII No3
March 1954

Tibet

Br. Vittoz makes some interesting observations in his Annual Report on the work in Ladak. The life of a missionary is full of hopes for the future, coupled with frequent disappointments in the present, and in Leh this has been true.

Political changes have affected the country's economy; the lull in trade across Central Asia (Leh being one of the main trade centres between India, Tibet, Sinkiang and Afghanistan) is impoverishing the country, and there is little hope of a revival. There is no doubt that modern progress was gradually ousting the ' caravan barter trade across the Asian deserts,' but political action has accelerated the process.

A change of Government in Kashmir· in August (1953) did not affect Ladak. The Government decided to alleviate taxes paid by landowners as well as to sanction important development schemes that have been under consideration for a long time. An imposing High School building was completed this summer. A hospital is to be built in Leh.

For some years the Ladak people have been demanding more autonomy in the management of local affairs. In November, 1953, the Kashmir Government agreed to this claim and appointed the Head Lama of one of the local Buddhist monasteries to the charge of Deputy Minister for Ladak Affairs. ·

Missionary work, in the accepted sense, is carried on by the Mission staff only, for Ladak Christians seem to lack the desire or the strength to evangelize their fellow countrymen. Br. Eliyah Tsetan Puntsok has fully confirmed the hopes that were placed in him when he joined the Mission Staff two years ago. In spite of hardships, says Br. Vittoz, he never failed t undertake arduous duties with enthusiasm. he readily devotes himself to the service od his Lord and Master and to His Church in everything. His leadership and his stand for the faith have been conspicuous and of inestimable value.

During the long winter months the Mission Staff read together an English book on the Church's teaching, and also a Tibetan book of poetry, readings that were both profitable and entertaining.

Literary work has always been a characteristic feature of Western Tibet. The printing of the Tibetan newspaper has been speeded up by the purchase of a rotary duplicator. This monthly paper is spread far and wide and is one of the best means of carrying the Gospel to places outside the personal reach of the Missionaries.

Besides tracts in dialect, Br. Eliyah has written Christian poems in pure classical Tibetan. One of these, entitled ' Eighty Praises,' is of true beauty, says Br. Vittoz, and its success is such that it has been quoted by a preacher in Kalimpong, which is more than a thousand miles distant from Leh.

Evangelistic tours have been undertaken in a new way, described in earlier issues of this magazine. The Dispensary is reopened; as. it is equipped with all kinds of instruments and medicines, the Missionaries work in collaboration with civil and military physicians.

In passing Br. Vittoz remarks that he had the honour of being a private guest of India's Premier, last summer (1953) (without saying why!!).

Unfortunately, the Ladak Church is static. There have been no conversions for several years, and the church seems to lack the strength to expand. Only a very few Christians give a positive witness of their joy and peace; fears are expressed that the Church might lose her vitality if no deep spiritual revival occurs within her.

Efforts are being made to induce those who have left the church to rejoin, with some success. Some who had turned to Buddhism have rejoined the church. Two former Kyelang members who, because of lack of news about them had been crossed off the list, have been discovered and have re-entered the service of the Church.

A short story reveals that the work, though disappointing, has not all been a failure. A Central Asian Mission doctor working near Simla visited the former Moravian Mission Station of Pu and found two Christian ladies, strong and faithful, still reading their Bibles and singing old Moravian hymns. Such happenings, though infrequent, are heard with joy and gladness and are tokens of God's blessing because they bring encouragement to all who labour in the Tibetan field to sow the seed faithfully.

One of the main worries is the isolated position the Ladak Church. No active co-operation with any other Mission is possible. So Br. Eliyah attended the General Assembly of the United Church of North India, held at Calcutta October (1953), described by himself in a separate article. He expressed the Ladak Church's desire to have a solid link with the Indian Church. His request was welcomed. The possibilities of the Ladak Church joining the United Church of North India are being studied. If it is achieved, then the small church may be blessed through spiritual communion with her Indian sisters, thereby enabling her to serve her Lord more faithfully.