CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER FIVE
BLACK AND WHITE PEN SKETCH
dp waes she arrived everyone had been talking about her: often a poor way to set the stage for anyone."But I fell in love with her on sight. She went out to you, and that did it."
So wrote a friend who first met Isobel that year at The Firs. "I have a memory of gaiety and much laughter. A black and white pen sketch would picture her well. Her complexion had not much colour. Her straight dark hair was fine and hard to hold in place. She was slim. A slight uptilt to her nose gave her quite a bit of piquancy. Her keen mind, her interest in the beauties of literature, her strong sense of responsibility in her family situation, these were other things I recall."
That summer Isobel worked as a waitress at the confezence.
She also began to take some leadership with the young people of the high-school age. One of these, now a mature Christian mother, writes, "I well remember Isobel's morning group meeting in the woods and the heart-searching messages she gave.
One was based on Gareth and Lynette and the four gates. Another was woven around a string of pearls. Her talks were like her writing—vivid and appealing to young people. I also remember enjoying her rollicking sense of. humour and quick wit, such wholesome balance it was. Her notes were kept in a small ruled notebook. ... She had a precise way of keeping track of things."
Another who was a high-schooler at that time remembers Isobel dreamily strumming her guitar and singing gospel songs and choruses.
"J. O. Fraser of Lisuland was there that summer," recalled another visitor, "'and as he so graphically related his experiences among the Lisu in China it was very evident how Isobel took. in all that he had to tell about those mountain tribespeople.
On Saturday «fternoon, at the end of the conference, webaal an informal time of fun and entertainment. Isobel and her group realistically portrayed a party of Lisu welcoming their missiona on a mountain trail. The picture stands out in memory after |
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these years because of her dramatizing a scene which had become very real to her throughout the on From then on Tribesland became Isobel's definite goal and J. O. Fraser a lodestar of her life. Isobel could not forget those
_ days. "Down in my seat on the side aisle I prayed, 'Lord I'd be willin ing to go... only I'm nota man.' Never did the vision of the Lisu tribe leave me. I dared not name this experience a 'call', but I believe that time has proved that it was."
Isobel also took on another life pattern that summer through J. O. Fraser's influence. "As I sat listening, I saw plainly how true it is that the Lisu church was born in prayer travail, and I decided that I must employ this weapon of 'all prayer' too."
Her whole life demonstrated her persistence in that decision.
Isobel's father enjoyed the conference with her that year. It was his invitation that drew J. O. Fraser to the Millers' home after ten days at The Firs. The great pioneer's presence and personal counsel gave Isobel a big lift when she really needed it.
She had a problem.
She knew she must go to Bible School before the China Inland Mission would consider her as a candidate. But she had been using her salary to pay off her college debts, and had no bank account. Her father could not help her. His rosy ideas about investments netted him only repeated business losses. Isobel started to pray definitely for funds to enable her to give up teaching and a her whole time to Bible training.
Then something happened. It seemed to her like a miracle.
Money fell into her lap through the God-guided hands of a mere acquaintance. Only her parents and one praying friend knew of Isobel's need, but indirectly Marjorie Harrison heard of it. Miss
Harrison herself had been planning to go to China with the C.1.M. when she was turned back because of ill health. Now she presented her savings to Isobel, earmarked for transportation to Chicago and a year's tuition at Moody Bible Institute.
No wonder Isobel was overjoyed!
Then came a shock. As she shared this wonderful news with her parents, her mother's excited retort stunned her. Accept money from Marjorie? Why that was charity!
. Her daughter live on charity? . . . A foreign missionary? Only those who could not find employment at home, or were disappointed in
ONE VISION ONLY
love, went to the foreign field! .
. Then dramatically Mrs.
Miller shot out another flinty arrow.
"If you go to China it will be over my dead body. I'll never consent !""
Isobel sat staring at her mother aghast.
"My dear mother," she thought, "'you first taught me to love the Lord Jesus. You've been president of the Women's Missionary Society in the Canadian Presbyterian Church forvas long as I can remember. You have opened your home for C.I.M. prayer meetings.
... My dear mother! Why are you now bitter because I feel called of God to be a missionary ?"
Probably no one can ever answer that question with adequate understanding. Alice Miller loved her daughter. She also loved the Lord. Was it worry that was driving itself in like a wedge those days, a wedge between her and the Lord? If Mrs. Miller had not previously demonstrated that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble," we might say that she had plenty to worry about just then. That year all Mr. Miller's savings, invested in two mining companies, had been lost. Besides, through a false accusation, he was threatened with a lawsuit. There was fear of a heavy fine being imposed or even a jail sentence. Murray, newly discharged from the army, was unemployed. Isobel explained, '"'That left only me as breadwinner, in case the judgement went against father. I was an 'ungrateful, conscienceless child' to go off and desert my mother at such a family crisis, she said. And so on and on, every day."
Stormy seas kept rocking the family boat. Each time the subject of missionary service churned the waves, Mrs. Miller was so upset that finally her husband forbad his daughter to speak another word about it. Sam Miller formerly had prayed that one of his children would become a missionary, but now Isobel felt he too was siding against her.
She was puzzled.
How was she to obey God's command to go into all the world and preach the gospel and still be obedient in the matter of honouring her father and mother?
It might have helped her had she known the fact that, as young feet start running towards the goal of the mission field, hindrances often loom up before them like high hurdles.
BLACK AND WHITE PEN SKETCH
But the girl accepted God's challenge to her faith. She found in it her chance to "Move man through God by prayer alone."
With characteristic determination Isobel began jumping hurdles. Trunks were packed for Bible School, student visa procured, and the rail ticket was in hand. The last painful ay arrived. But Mr. Miller still had to appear in court for "My boat was to leave at 2.30 p.m. and my father's case was not over until 10.30 a.m. I had to send my trunk to the boat, not knowing the outcome. You can imagine the tension of those last hours. At 10.30 our telephone rang. Daddy's voice came over the line. "Praise God! Fully acquitted,' The Lord had vindicated my faith. So I left on the afternoon boat for Seattle, my mother's weeping face my last memory.
"Tt was a bitter pase her to give up her only daughter and she was fighting it. That was not her norm. Mother was reall a sweet generous woman. Her neighbours and friends would all testify to her unselfishness. I feel that I failed often to be as tender with her as was her due. I had yet to learn the suffering when one's affections are nailed to the cross. Little did I know that I was never to see Mother on earth again. Before 1924 was ended she was in heaven; all her tears wiped away forever. She died following an operation. Of course her words of prescience recurred to me and overwhelmed me with grief for a time.
"Later the Lord moved an old friend of Mother's to write me a long letter. This was the gist of it, "The evening before your mother's operation she wrote to me saying that she was facing the morrow's serious surgery and in reviewing her life she had come to the conclusion that al her busy W.C.T.U. and Women's Missionary Society work had been but wood, hay and stubble.
*4 feel that my little girl has chosen the better part in wishing to devote all her life to the Lord."'"
And from this clear token God showed Isobel that He had answered her prayers and that in due time she might proceed toward China having had her mother's full consent and blessing.