Kimwha,   Korea
Dec   27,   19
m-
Dear Father:
have
day.
have
they
xittle
The Christmas  season is about over now and we sha
ii
^
quiet time for a few days.  I hope you had a pleasant
As you will see by the letter on the reverse side, the Lewises
been  spending the time with the Burkholders in Chulwon. How
_v //ere able to get away from their own church at such a time I
hardly know; but many missionaries seem to have no responsibilities
at Christmas.  It would be impossible for me to set away from Kim-
wha.  As the burkholders have not been here since the new church was
built (I think 01 in has never been here at ail) and as they could
not accept our invitation for last Feb. 12 when the others in Chulwon
pme, we decided this would be a good time to renew the invitation,
o we afe expecting them tomorrow according *o this letter.
For the whole monthjof December I have been preaching
on themes leading up to Chris*ma s and urging everyone to make it t
more than just a special program in the church; to make some special
celebration in the home so that the chixdren will remember Christmas
as a. bright day in the year.  So °Jtr thefhome celebration has been
just about nil, although the church programs have been elaborate. *
I tried to do a little decration in our own house, but having no thin
f o use except what I made by hand, it wasUa slow|process and I did
not get|brery far.  I made a. few paper chains in green and red and
hung them up on the front doors in festoons where they would show
through the glass.  Fof a lorig time I have wanted to make al.Bethie-
1
hem manger  scene,--but  as  I had no  dolls that were appropria_  m
did  not know how. to  go about   it until Ruth   suggested making paper
dolls.     That was a happy  idea,   and  I   set  to work drawing them right
away.    However  I  did not   finish them till  this morning.     They will
be  in place for our  guests tomorrow,   and  they will not -iknow but  that
we had  the decorations up before Christmas. •
Sunday nieht  with the help^of a number of the  church women
and  youbg men who  took the parts  of prophets,   people,   and  angels,   I
presented  in dramatic  form the four  thousand years of waiting for
the  promised  Saviour,   giving a  selection  from ten 0.T.   books.     Combining these with  pictures  shown by  the balopticon,|the  evening was
profitable and   impressive,   I  think.     Those who wen4-   out  to  sing
carols  Chris*mas  morning remained after the  service and  exchanged
gifts  in the kindergarten,     ^he  church  provided a midnight  lunch,
prepared at  the Bible womanfsfhouse,   and about  two  in the morning
they  set! out,   and visited  fifty-eight houses.     As Ruth  couxd not  go
last year and wanted  to this time,   I   stayed at home with the baby
and  she w_ent with the  crowd.     The^z came  in about  six  in the morning.
It was  full moon,   and we never had  such mild weather at  Christmas.
The ground thawed  several  inches that day.
Christmas morning at 11 we had a  special worship  service,
and  that  evening the  church was  packed  for the S.S.   and kindergarten
children1 3  orosrram.
y*
our letter  of  lol■   5o
\-/    - X    Vv_
4-\-
e Akers  enclosed.     'Irs.   Aker writes viry  Informally;
on Saturday,  with the  one fro
lust  like  a
conversation.  Christmas day one from Aunt Una came^ urging me
return to be withiyou a nd look a ft er your houses
1
to
Ii   ».  J  J vli
et his opinion as to whether the Board is likely
to Dr. Wasson to
to grant an early!furlough, but have had no reply yet
You °re too uncompikining to sa,r what you need,-     BuiP
if v
Aunt  Una   says
A.      - »   Z   s -a * w   •
donf t
haqi + flte t 0   sav  so.     Glad  vqu had  those outlnss with  the Mayells