Page:Kvartalshilsen (Kvinnelige misjonsarbeidere). 1914 Vol. 7 nr. 1.pdf/4

 In Chorurg, for example the students come to school as soon as it is opened; but in Havadorig, where the children are up on the mountains with the sheep herd until the middle of October, one cannot expect to get the children to school regularly until mid-October. The population is poor and cannot do without the help of their children, and since usually the whole family lives in a tent up between the mountains to guard and look after the flock, so the smaller children cannot come to school any sooner.

The past school year was no good in terms of the village schools.

As you know, on December 26, 1912, our dear and talented teacher, Arsen, who was employed by the boy's school in Munsch, died suddenly of pneumonia. In his place, I had to call Baron Markar from the village of Dergenank to Musch. Then this village were approx. 8 weeks without teacher and preacher. But it caused the villagers to notice what loss they had suffered, and they constantly came to ask me to send a teacher again.

In January, Baron Sempat fell ill in the village of Chorung, and was brought back to his village of Dergenank, when the house in which he lived in Chorung was poor and cold. He also had pneumonia but became well again after eight weeks, thank God.

Thus, Chorung also had to be without a teacher for several weeks. Later, I called a teacher from Sassun in Sempat's place to Chorung, and Baron Sempat stayed in Dergewank as a teacher.

In Havadorig, the priest and the teacher disagreed. - We have both priest and teacher there, as it is a big village. I had to dismiss the teacher as he had the greatest blame and did not want to back down, yet he stayed in the village as teacher until the holidays began. We had a good teacher from our seminar in Mesereh; but now they seek him everywhere to take him as a soldier, to serve his military service. They have already applied for him 3 years ago, so there is no hope that he will be released even though he is a teacher. They are very strict. But I hope we get another one from Mesereh.

Many times, I let my hands sink in despair; but the Lord quietly speaks his: "Do not fear, believe only" Luke. 8, 50, and then I again have the courage to fight on. The darkness here is great, and Satan seeks to destroy all the work of the Lord; but we will be bold and trust in the Lord; for Jesus will also finally be victorious here and let his glory shine in this darkened area too.

Dear friends, I not only want to show you the bright and good, but also the shadow sides and the difficulties, so that you can better understand this work and better fight with us. This year we also had exams in the villages, which were good for both teachers and students. Of course, there was also a lot to do; but much was also encouraging. I was often surprised by what good and quick responses the students gave.

However, in Havada, where school hours are so short, the students had learned quite well, and it was noted that both priest and teacher had made an effort. There were 50 students.

In Dergewank, the work was less good, as expected, and the number of students was low; but I hope it gets better this year.

In Mogonk, the teacher worked with care, and in some subjects, e.g. calculus, the students were very clever. In reading, they were also good, even the small ones knew their ABC. In the end, they sang several beautiful songs.

At the graduation in Hunan, I was not present because I rode over to Miafarkin to meet Pastor Lohmann; but the others said that the students had learned well. The farmers love their teacher, and in the winter, he often meets with them in the odøen- a room next to the barn - to read to them from the Bible and talk to them about the eternal things. This summer, a Gregorian priest has come there, who