Recently, my granddaughter, Rachel and her husband Luke visited the Billy Graham Museum in Wheaton, Illinois. The museum is about much more than just Billy Graham. They had much correspondence of my wife’s correspondence from her time as a missionary. This is one of her ministry newsletters. Everyone mentioned has long ago died. These were written when I had seriously entered her life. At this date, Bessie knew she was going to marry me.
Newsletter #8
Ask of Me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
221 Bluff
Yokohama, Japan
July 16, 1951
Dear Friends:
You have not been overburdened with prayer letters from me have you? I see my last one is dated January 22nd and it was only the seventh letter written in my two and a half years in Japan.
When I last wrote I asked for prayer for the Bible Training School which was to open in April. Before the war we had a well-equipped school that was completely destroyed during the war, so this was to be a new beginning. It was with some fear and trembling that we sent out our information and application forms. The first week we had only two students, but we continued to ask the Lord to send others until finally we had six. We were using a vacant bedroom in our house for a classroom so when others did apply later, lack of space and facilities made it impossible for us to receive them. These students have lived in a small house left to the Mission by Kido Sensei who had served her Lord so faithfully in our work before her death. We realize now the imperative need for a dormitory for next spring and so once again Mary Ballantyne and I will be pouring over plans and talking about things not exactly in our line! I know that you will pray that God will guide us in every detail.
The second term begins in September and many little details need to be ironed out before that time. It has been joy to teach students who are eager to know the Lord and His Word. There is a happy spirit in the school for which we thank the Lord
In June, the annual meeting of the alumni was held and the graduates rejoiced with us over the re-opening of the school. The first offering towards the new dormitory was given by them that day. It was a small sum but it showed their appreciation for the training.
Our meeting among the Aizawa women has continued and each week a different student goes with them to give the message. It is good experience for them. I smile as I think of the past when in my limited Japanese I tried to point them to the Lord. Now they hear the Gospel clearly. We long to see real conversations, so please pray with us for that.
Since my last letter two girls have accepted the Lord Jesus at the Saturday Bible class. What a joy it is to kneel beside another woman who is aware of her sin and is asking the Lord to forgive her and make her His child. It is a joy and privilege that I want to know increasingly. I am more than ever convinced of the power of the Word of God coupled with the working of the Holy Spirit in bringing conviction of sin and salvation to needy hearts. All our Lord asks of us is that we give out that Word and I am constantly amazed at the way He uses our simple presentation of His gospel.
Since January every Tuesday morning I teach the Gospel of Luke to the Judges of the Yokohama Court. Some fifteen judges and a few other officials gather for this class and what a joy it has been to tell them of the Savior! They know English quite well but when they do not understand me the court interpreter makes the meaning clear. We have reached the eighth chapter and I do believe the Lord is speaking to their hearts. Two are Christians already, but others have expressed a desire to “enter Christianity”. In our country certain things are understood by most people but in Japan the ground work must be carefully laid. I do not mean that they cannot be saved immediately on hearing the Gospel, but I am finding it necessary to go into things that I have never considered carefully before that are implications of the Gospel. Judge Miyamoto wrote me his impressions of our class as follows:
You will enjoy knowing that Mary Arnold will be joining us in August, but will spend the first year at language school in Tokyo. Knowing the strenuous program of study ahead for her, I hope you will add her to your list as you pray for this corner of the Lord’s vineyard.
We are entering the heat of the summer after the rainy season, but I hope to spend August at Takayama, my seashore retreat of last summer. I am conscious of your prayer help. Thank you again for your faithfulness.
In His Joy,
Bessie Dodds
Newsletter #8
Ask of Me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
221 Bluff
Yokohama, Japan
July 16, 1951
Dear Friends:
You have not been overburdened with prayer letters from me have you? I see my last one is dated January 22nd and it was only the seventh letter written in my two and a half years in Japan.
When I last wrote I asked for prayer for the Bible Training School which was to open in April. Before the war we had a well-equipped school that was completely destroyed during the war, so this was to be a new beginning. It was with some fear and trembling that we sent out our information and application forms. The first week we had only two students, but we continued to ask the Lord to send others until finally we had six. We were using a vacant bedroom in our house for a classroom so when others did apply later, lack of space and facilities made it impossible for us to receive them. These students have lived in a small house left to the Mission by Kido Sensei who had served her Lord so faithfully in our work before her death. We realize now the imperative need for a dormitory for next spring and so once again Mary Ballantyne and I will be pouring over plans and talking about things not exactly in our line! I know that you will pray that God will guide us in every detail.
The second term begins in September and many little details need to be ironed out before that time. It has been joy to teach students who are eager to know the Lord and His Word. There is a happy spirit in the school for which we thank the Lord
In June, the annual meeting of the alumni was held and the graduates rejoiced with us over the re-opening of the school. The first offering towards the new dormitory was given by them that day. It was a small sum but it showed their appreciation for the training.
Our meeting among the Aizawa women has continued and each week a different student goes with them to give the message. It is good experience for them. I smile as I think of the past when in my limited Japanese I tried to point them to the Lord. Now they hear the Gospel clearly. We long to see real conversations, so please pray with us for that.
Since my last letter two girls have accepted the Lord Jesus at the Saturday Bible class. What a joy it is to kneel beside another woman who is aware of her sin and is asking the Lord to forgive her and make her His child. It is a joy and privilege that I want to know increasingly. I am more than ever convinced of the power of the Word of God coupled with the working of the Holy Spirit in bringing conviction of sin and salvation to needy hearts. All our Lord asks of us is that we give out that Word and I am constantly amazed at the way He uses our simple presentation of His gospel.
Since January every Tuesday morning I teach the Gospel of Luke to the Judges of the Yokohama Court. Some fifteen judges and a few other officials gather for this class and what a joy it has been to tell them of the Savior! They know English quite well but when they do not understand me the court interpreter makes the meaning clear. We have reached the eighth chapter and I do believe the Lord is speaking to their hearts. Two are Christians already, but others have expressed a desire to “enter Christianity”. In our country certain things are understood by most people but in Japan the ground work must be carefully laid. I do not mean that they cannot be saved immediately on hearing the Gospel, but I am finding it necessary to go into things that I have never considered carefully before that are implications of the Gospel. Judge Miyamoto wrote me his impressions of our class as follows:
“At first I attended this class to learn English, but now I attend it to hear your kind preach and know the meaning of the scriptures. Now under your guidance I can understand almost all your saying and the outline of the scriptures and it is a very pleasant time for me when I hear you preach about Jesus Christ. As you know I was being confined as a prisoner for nearly five years in Soviet territory until the last month of the year before last. I was completely bruised, mind and body by the maltreatment of her country, but I was constantly longing for high things of spirit in my long and painful time of prison life.Please pray that Judge Miyamoto may soon experience the liberating power of the Gospel. I know your prayers will do much for these men.
Now to my pleasure, my long desires are being fulfilled at this Bible class because my soul began to see something high and see myself raising up spiritually higher under your instructions.
I am sorry now I have very little faith for the God and yet possessed by the demons, who have lived for many years in my body, so they do not like to get out of me. And because we have lived in the same place for many years, enjoying all the pleasures of life and suffering all the human troubles together. But under your influence I am sure I shall be released from my sins before long and born-again in the future.”
You will enjoy knowing that Mary Arnold will be joining us in August, but will spend the first year at language school in Tokyo. Knowing the strenuous program of study ahead for her, I hope you will add her to your list as you pray for this corner of the Lord’s vineyard.
We are entering the heat of the summer after the rainy season, but I hope to spend August at Takayama, my seashore retreat of last summer. I am conscious of your prayer help. Thank you again for your faithfulness.
In His Joy,
Bessie Dodds
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