Isobel Kuhn is my favorite missionary. I read a BJUP biography of her when I was in 6th grade or so. Later I read another biography and have always remembered her words that the biographer chose for the front pages of the book. "Why go to the heathen? The heathen are happy!" Isobel said, as she proceeded to tell of a young heathen girl caught in an indiscretion who was skinned alive as punishment. How horrifying.
Isobel Khuh was a Canadian, a student at Moody Bible College where she met her husband, and a missionary to the Lisu people in mountainous Western China in the 1930s and 40s. She is my favorite.
I think I initially liked Isobel Kuhn because she had many doubts when she was younger, as did I. "She wasn't perfect! She had doubts and overcame them and went on to be a missionary! Maybe I can do the same."
In January Amos was working overnights at TMC. He came home and went to bed, and I eventually got up and wandered into the kitchen. I found a note and a book with a battered dust jacket on the table. It was Nests Above the Abyss, by Isobel Kuhn! Amos had found the book for sale in the TMC library in the middle of the night, left the money for the book on the circulation desk, and brought it home to me. Awwww!
After returning from India, I picked up the book again and decided to read it. It was very encouraging and convicting at the same time. Two things that really stuck out to me are the need to pray for our missionaries (and others) and the fact that one missionary or one missionary couple cannot respond to all requests; they would quickly become overwhelmed and rendered useless. I encourage you to read Nests Above the Abyss, one of Isobel's other books, or one of Isobel's biographies. I've included a few paragraphs from the last chapter of Nests Above the Abyss.
"Ten years they have waited [after asking for a missionary to come teach them]. Do you think that when they called for gospel messengers, God did not respond? It could not be. He gave His most precious Son that all might know and receive eternal life. I think that man did not respond. It costs something to leave loved ones and the comforts of civilization. I believe that each generation God has "called" enough men and women to evangelize all the yet unreached tribes of the earth. Why do I believe that? Because everywhere I go, I constantly meet with men and women who say to me, "When I was young I wanted to be a missionary, but I got married instead." Or, "My parents dissuaded me," or some such thing. No, it is not God who does not call. It is man who will not respond!
Our dear Missing Link is in heaven, and took a little fruit along with him, too [a newish convert who died]. I am sure his one talent received a "Well done!" from his Master. But I am wondering what God is going to say to this other kind of Missing Link -- the Link missing from his chain of witnesses to the uttermost parts! "My flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock" (Ezek. 34:8).
Satan's stronghold towers up triumphantly. The awful abyss gapes wide beneath them. The Sharp Winds from the Bitter Height are still blowing. Oh, will you not help point out to the terrified little Nestlings, that behind them is the Cleft of the Rock, so close, so sheltering, but so unseen unless you and I go to them."
Isobel Khuh was a Canadian, a student at Moody Bible College where she met her husband, and a missionary to the Lisu people in mountainous Western China in the 1930s and 40s. She is my favorite.
I think I initially liked Isobel Kuhn because she had many doubts when she was younger, as did I. "She wasn't perfect! She had doubts and overcame them and went on to be a missionary! Maybe I can do the same."
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| My book and note (click to enlarge) |
After returning from India, I picked up the book again and decided to read it. It was very encouraging and convicting at the same time. Two things that really stuck out to me are the need to pray for our missionaries (and others) and the fact that one missionary or one missionary couple cannot respond to all requests; they would quickly become overwhelmed and rendered useless. I encourage you to read Nests Above the Abyss, one of Isobel's other books, or one of Isobel's biographies. I've included a few paragraphs from the last chapter of Nests Above the Abyss.
"Ten years they have waited [after asking for a missionary to come teach them]. Do you think that when they called for gospel messengers, God did not respond? It could not be. He gave His most precious Son that all might know and receive eternal life. I think that man did not respond. It costs something to leave loved ones and the comforts of civilization. I believe that each generation God has "called" enough men and women to evangelize all the yet unreached tribes of the earth. Why do I believe that? Because everywhere I go, I constantly meet with men and women who say to me, "When I was young I wanted to be a missionary, but I got married instead." Or, "My parents dissuaded me," or some such thing. No, it is not God who does not call. It is man who will not respond!
Our dear Missing Link is in heaven, and took a little fruit along with him, too [a newish convert who died]. I am sure his one talent received a "Well done!" from his Master. But I am wondering what God is going to say to this other kind of Missing Link -- the Link missing from his chain of witnesses to the uttermost parts! "My flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock" (Ezek. 34:8).
Satan's stronghold towers up triumphantly. The awful abyss gapes wide beneath them. The Sharp Winds from the Bitter Height are still blowing. Oh, will you not help point out to the terrified little Nestlings, that behind them is the Cleft of the Rock, so close, so sheltering, but so unseen unless you and I go to them."
:: Nests Above the Abyss, Isobel Kuhn, 1947
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