The Death of Isobel Kuhn

Isobel was diagnosed with cancer in 1954, but continued to minister to others.  Isobel continued to find many joys in her life, even in the last few months she was given.  She called these blessings the edelweiss of God.  God's will had become Isobel's own and in His will she found peace.  Isobel ran the race with perseverance and her life reflected Hebrews 12:1-3 which states, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."  The life God had chosen for her was not easy, but she remained steadfast in her faith and accepted every obstacle with grace and humility.  She kept the faith and was rewarded in Heaven.  You can be sure she is now part of the great cloud of witnesses in Heaven cheering the Lisu believers and Christians around the world on in their race.  Isobel said, "When I get to heaven they aren't going to see much of me except my heels, for I will be hanging over the golden wall keeping an eye on the Lisu church!"  Isobel Kuhn was and still remains a major influence in the lives of the Lisu people.   After fighting the good fight for 56 years, Isobel Kuhn went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 20, 1957.  The website below has the program of Isobel's funeral, as well as her obituary and a few other interesting tidbits.

http://www2.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/docs/Isobelkuhn08.htm

Isobel's favorite hymn which was sung at her funeral was The Sands of Time are Sinking.  Her life verse was Philippians 4:11, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

The Translation of the New Testament and Hymns

The book mentions the translation of the New Testament into the Lisu language as well as several Lisu hymnbooks.  J.O. Fraser had completed the translation after many years of hard work.  He developed the Fraser alphabet and translated the Bible using his alphabet. I have included a link below to a website that provides more details and examples of the Fraser alphabet, which was eventually recognized as the official script for the Lisu language.

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/fraser.htm



The Kuhns and the Lisu Christians were ecstatic when the New Testament translations arrived.  They truly understood the value of scripture.  As Psalm 119:72 says, "The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold."  The Bible is God's very word given to us.  He reveals Himself and His character to us through the Bible.  Without the Bible translated into their language, the Lisu people could not read God's love letter to them for themselves.  Today, I think many Christians take the Bible for granted and sometimes lose the appreciation for the great gift we have been given.  Bibles are in great supply in the English language.  We have more versions of the Bible than we can count.  I can hardly imagine what it would be like to only have the New Testament translated into my language.  J.O. Fraser also translated many hymns into the Lisu language for them to sing.  I found a video of members of the Lisu tribe singing Handel's Messiah.  The video is amazing and shows how God used J.O. Fraser and the Kuhns to spread his name throughout the earth.  A German- British Baroque composer's song performed in cathedrals and concert halls is now being sung by a tribal Lisu choir in the mountains of rural Asia.

Rainy Season Bible School

The Lisu people were mostly a farming community.  Rice provided them with a substantial income and living.  Isobel and John soon observed that many Lisu were not busy during the rainy season.  Isobel decided to open up The Rainy Season Bible School so that she could teach the Lisu the gospel and basic ideas of Christianity.  She and John would train the new believers and send them out to neighboring villages.  Even to this day in various countries and regions, missionaries continue to host Bible schools during the wet season. 

Rainy Season Bible School was influential in the conversion of many Lisu people.  The school taught the new believers to be very mission minded and evangelistic.   Training national people to evangelize and teach their own people is a priority of international missionaries.  God commands believers to be always making disciples.

 Making disciples is a priority at my church.  In my church we have a program called 1-3-1. One person praying for three people to know the one true God.  If everyone prays for and personally witnesses to at least three people, there will be a ripple effect.  We can reach many different spheres of people,because everyone has different circles of influence.  My church has outreach events in order to make it easier for us to invite our 1-3-1 friends and neighbors to organized events that combine relationship and the message of the gospel.

A picture Isobel Kuhn took herself and titled "Preaching to Lisu"

The Lisu People

Lisu women working in the fields.

John and Isobel are finally able to start working with the Lisu people.  The Lisu people John and Isobel worked with were located in the Salween mountains around the Salween river in China.  There were and still are Lisu people in Burma, Thailand, and China.  Before the Lisu people heard the gospel, they worshiped many false gods and were very superstitious.  However, through missionaries like the Kuhns and J.O. Fraser the gospel has spread like wildfire to them and many of them are believers.  My mom and older sister Becky worked with the Lisu people in Burma when they were on a couple different mission trips.  The influence of missionaries such as John and Isobel Kuhn can still be seen in the lives of the Lisu believers today.  The Lisu believers have maintained their culture while embracing the integrity of the Word of God.  Junta soldiers of the Burmese government persecute the Lisu and many other tribes of believers.  Despite harsh persecution, the Lisu have stood firm in their faith and continue to witness to other people.  The believers my mom and sister met continually spoke of their appreciation for the missionaries that brought the gospel long ago.  The legacy of the Kuhns lives on in the hearts of the Lisu people.  

The green area on the map above shows the Lisu people.

The Salween River is labeled and highlighted on the map above.

A picture of Lisu rice terraces taken in 2008.

Lisu people wearing traditional clothes and celebrating.

Trusting God

Isobel gave birth to their first daughter and they named her Kathryn. Isobel and John both wanted a lot of children and Isobel was soon expecting her second child.  However, Isobel ended up losing the baby.  Isobel was heartbroken and devastated over the loss.  However, God was still working in their lives.  Isobel and John received a letter from J.O. Fraser asking them if they would be willing to work with the Lisu people in the mountains.  With a newborn baby, Isobel and John would not have been able to make the dangerous journey up into the mountains.  John and Isobel happily agreed to answer the call.

Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  I know that we do not always understand God's plan and will for our lives, but this verse brings a lot of comfort.  Losing a child, even an unborn one, is something I can't even imagine going through.  My older sister just recently gave birth to her first child and my first nephew.  Even before he was born, we loved him.  Losing him would be devastating.  I admire the way John and Isobel continued to put their trust in God, even though they faced many hard, challenges.  Their courage and obedience despite difficult circumstances is a good example for us to follow.  From their example, I can learn to depend and fully trust God, even when I don't always understand His plan.  God is powerful enough to use the death of their baby, to allow John and Isobel to continue their journey to the Lisu people.

Yin-chang

Isobel was finally able to sail for China in October of 1928.  She married John Kuhn on November 14, 1929.  Cultural adjustments confronted Isobel.  She had to adapt to new foods, lack of privacy, and disturbing behavior.  Visitors to her home had no regard for cleanliness and Chinese mothers allowed their toddlers and infants to urinate and defecate on her new rug.  However, she struggled the most with John's cook boy Yin-chang and his wife.  Yin-chang and his wife were lazy and took advantage of John and Isobel.  They would "borrow" things from the Kuhns without asking.  One cold day, Isobel noticed a few feebly burning coals in their tiny charcoal brazier.  She was puzzled, because they had just purchased a new larger brazier.  She soon discovered that Yin-chang and his wife were huddled around the new brazier in their bedroom, where the heat was solely concentrated on them.  Whenever Isobel complained to John, he defended Yin-chang's behavior.  Isobel tried to remedy the problems with them, including instructing the couple how to wisely use the money she gave them for food.  They would only smirk at her and refuse to cooperate.  She eventually realized her own fault in the situation,because she hadn't given her problem to God.  She confessed that her reaction was not a good witness to the Chinese.  Isobel finally took her anger to God and apologized for her behavior.  She asked God what she should do.  Almost immediately after, John gave Isobel permission to dismiss Yin-chang.


 I don't think I would have handled the situation with Yin-chang as well as Isobel did.  I think I would have entirely blamed Yin-chang.  I would tell myself and God that my annoyance and anger were justified, because of the behavior of Yin-chang and his wife.  In situations where I have been challenged to live or encounter someone like Yin-chang, I have not always responded in a way that honors God.  I became bitter and angry.  Blaming everyone but myself, I kept dwelling on everything that person did that was inconsiderate or that made me mad.  My attitude became so bad, that my family suffered from my constant complaining and little cutting remarks. Like Isobel, I had to acknowledge my inappropriate responses to the situation.  I understand that someone else's rude behavior does not justify a bitter response.   

A picture of Isobel and John at their wedding.

Uprisings and Obstacles

Chapter five mentions uprisings and mobs against foreigners in China.  The turmoil in China caused CIM or China Inland Mission to be concerned for the safety of the missionaries in China.  Many missionaries were evacuated as soon as possible to Shanghai which was relatively safer.  Isobel's boyfriend, John Kuhn, was evacuated to Shanghai by boat.  The dangerous state in China made it impossible for new missionaries to enter China,so Isobel was not able to journey to China.

Above picture is of a Chinese Christian martyr.

I was interested by the author's brief reference to this period of uprising and violence in China at this time, so I decided to research the topic further.  This time period is called the anti-Christian movement of 1922-1927.  Led by communists, a violent movement swept through China which targeted foreigners, missionaries, and Chinese Christians.  Chinese Christian converts and missionaries including women and children, were brutally slaughtered by horrific methods including being roasted alive.  Chinese soldiers continued to terrorize China by murdering many more missionaries and Chinese Christians.  A total number of deaths is not certain.  During the Boxer Rebellion CIM suffered more deaths and property damage than any other organization.  I have previously researched John and Betty Stam who were a missionary couple to China during this time period.  They were also murdered by communist soldiers.


Learning about this time in China's history makes me especially thankful for God's grace and work in my life. Christians in the United States, including myself, are not faced with a lot of persecution.  We are blessed with religious freedom. I attend a Christian school, where being a Christian is a relatively easy and normal thing to do.  I often wonder how I would respond to situations similar to those of the martyrs in China. Would my faith be strong and sincere enough for me to take a stand for Christ, despite persecution and torture?  The strength of the faith of the missionaries in China amazes me.  I am also inspired and awed by missionaries like Isobel Kuhn, who despite the danger and potential cost, followed God's call to China.  They continued to obey God, even in the midst of violence in China.  They risked their lives in order to bring the gospel to the very same people who had brutally murdered other believers.  Instead of responding with fear or hatred, the believers responded with love and an even greater passion for reaching out to the lost.


I found a video with excerpts from letters Carl Lundberg, a Swedish missionary, wrote hours before he, as well as his wife and two young daughters, were murdered by Communist soldiers.  I believe it gives a better idea of Christians and missionaries in China during the early 1900's.

Mr. J.O. Fraser and China Inland Mission

A picture of J.O. Fraser

Isobel Kuhn wanted to become a missionary after hearing J.O. Fraser speak of his experience with the Lisu tribe in southern China.  Isobel's mother and brother disapproved of her choice. I found it shocking when Mr. Fraser told Isobel, "Miss Miller, I have sensed that Satan is opposing you and working through your mother and your brother." (pg.8)

Isobel's mother was the president of the Women's Missionary Society.  How could Satan work through a Christian who thought she was doing God's work? The above quote makes me want to evaluate my actions even more carefully.  I do not want be a stumbling block to others or have Satan working through me.  I don't want to discourage people or even assume I know God's will for their life.  When my family began the adoption process for me sixteen years ago, even well-meaning Christians discouraged my parents.  They warned my parents what a great risk it was to adopt and how there were already four children in the family.  Even my own paternal grandparents, who claim to be Christians, were totally opposed and critical of my parents for adopting a child of a different race.  Their attitude has prevented us from having a close relationship.

The Calling

Isobel Miller Kuhn never dreamed of being a missionary to China.  God works in everyone's life to orchestrate events to draw them to Himself.  The story of Isobel Kuhn clearly shows God's hand in her life and how He directed her steps.  Isobel was influenced by a professor to abandon her faith in Christ, and certain events led her to seriously consider committing suicide.  When she was brought to this low point, she rededicated her life to God.  She said, "God, if there be a God, if you will prove to me that You are, and if You will give me peace, I will give You my whole life."  Little did she know that God really was going to use her whole life in a greater way than she could have ever imagined.

 God has also orchestrated every event in my life and has drawn me to Himself.  I was born in a poor, rural village in China and then abandoned  by my birth mother on the steps of a police station.  My life was spared, because God gave my birth mother the courage to continue her pregnancy in a country where forced abortion ends the lives of thousands of babies.  Just as Jochabed hid Moses, God used my birth mother to protect my life when she took me to a safe place.  My birth mom risked her own life, giving me the chance to live.  However, God's plan wasn't finished there. He purposed for me to be adopted into the family He had specifically chosen.  God willed that a Christian family would adopt me, so I would learn about Him and become His child.  He revealed Himself to me and I was no longer an orphan, but a daughter of the King!  He weaved my story together before I was even born.  Looking back on how God has shown His providence and guided my steps is amazing and I cannot even imagine what He has planned for me in the future.  God's purpose for Isobel was to go into China and God's purpose for me was to escape China.

The video below is a brief general biography I found on Isobel Kuhn to give a bit of background information.


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