28/10/2024
Thomas Nelson ii lai at a heak huai thu
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I’m really glad that many Chin people are interested in the historic posts I’ve made recently. It seems that there is some confusion about the timeline of the baptisms in Chinram, though. As I understand it, this is the correct order:
Pu Pausuan and wife, and Pu Thuamhang from Khuasak Village from the Chin Hills were the first converts and were baptized by Rev. Dr. East on May 11, 1905. The first person to embrace the Good News of Christ from Hakha was Pu Siakhaw. He was baptized by the Rev. Arthur Carson on the 1st day of January 1906. On February 1, 1906, seven persons from Khuasak Village were baptized by Dr. East. The believers continually increased in number, and at the end of 1906, they totaled 29 persons.
As far as what happened on February 1, 1906, we have the words from a letter Dr. East wrote to his wife, Emily, on that day. It’s printed in the new biography of Dr. East, “It Is Life to Be of Service.” This is what he wrote:
“Khuasak Village, February 1, 1906
“Dear Emily,
“This has been a great day in the history of this mission. It means that Christ is marching on in the Chin Hills! Early in the morning before it was yet day, we descended 4,000 feet to a small stream in the bottom of the valley where the stream had been dammed off for the purpose. Much [sic] people were already there when we came. I placed the disciples in a semicircle around me after we had entered the water, and as the first rays of sun came over the brow of the Hills to the east of us, I baptized them in obedience to His command. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
“My! What a morning when the great light bearer of this earth smiled upon us as I buried those converts in baptism, men and women plucked like firebrands out of the fire. We wended our way up to the schoolhouse and had divine service praising the Lord for what His hands have done among us in the name of the Lord Jesus.
“I remained in Khuasak until the 7th of February, then I moved to Teyan Village east of the Hills. During my stay in Khuasak, I treated 229 persons for various ills, performed one operation on the face of a woman, preached and prayed with people twice each day having illustrative lantern talks each night.
“In Teyan, I remained until February 13; during this time, I treated many sick people and preached to them twice daily. The people here seem eager and willing to listen and want to know more about Christ.”
On the 17th of February in 1906, Dr. East organized the first church in the Chin Hills at Khuasak Village. There were about 14 people in that first congregation.
Scr; Thomas Nelson
