Letters From Grandpa #131

• LETTERS FROM GRANDPA
• 131

Dearest grandchild,

Today’s letter will be about the late Isabel Dittemore. She spent her life doing mission work in Asia. As a single woman 27 years of age she first went to Western China to work with the J. Russell Morse family. Since she was having trouble with her teeth, and since would be in an area so remote that it would take 3 months to get to a dentist, she had all of her teeth pulled before leaving.

After several years in China she returned to America and married a Kansas farmer named Warren Dittemore. When the two of them went back to China he became sick and died in a very short time. On his tomb stone is written “He being dead yet speaketh”. These words in English, Chinese, and Lisu have inspired many believers to be martyrs for the cause of Christ. I presume the local believers are still continuing to care for this grave which has become a symbol of dedication to Christ.

Later Isabel spent 10 years in Japan and 18 years in Taiwan. While in Taiwan she was on the radio six days a week with Bible lessons both in Chinese and English. Each week she taught her listeners three songs . This interesting format attracted many Chinese to listen because they wanted to learn English. It was a very practical way to plant the seeds of the Gospel into their inquiring minds. It was my privilege to interview her on radio station KOBC just before she returned to Asia at the age of 71. I was deeply touched by her testimony and wanted to help put her light on a candlestick. I dared to call Good News Productions, Intl. and ask if they would video tape her testimony. They graciously consented and that very afternoon the first in a series of over 100 video taped interviews was conducted. Eight years later I did another interview with Isabel when she was 79. That interview can be seen via www.boycemouton.com by clicking on “Ventures in Faith”.

Finally, failing health forced her to returned to the states and she came to live in the Spring River Christian Village in Joplin, Mo.

Not long after, a Chinese brother in Christ named George Tien came to GNPI to record 600 Bible lessons in his native language. He had been invited to teach in 13 seminaries in China but obviously could not honor all these requests in person at the same time. That’s why he decided to record those lessons, make them available to the seminaries, and then visit the individual colleges to monitor test results.

Ziden Nutt, the founder and CEO of GNPI, asked George how he became a Christian. He replied that he listened to an old lady teach the Bible over the radio, and then obeyed the Gospel. Ziden asked if he remembered her name He didn’t. When asked if it was “Isabel Dittemore” he immediately remembered. George was shocked when Ziden then asked if he would like to have dinner with her the next day. Providentially, the luncheon had already been planned with Isabelle, Don DeWelt, and others. Isn’t it great how God orchestrates our lives!!! It is my understanding that Isabel, up to this time, had never met anyone whom she knew was listening to her Bible lessons over

the radio. ‘What an encouragement it must have been to meet George an hear what God was doing through his life. Perhaps George Tien is just one of many thousands who came to Christ because Isabel was used by God to plant the incorruptible Seed of the Gospel.

Someone asked: “What on earth are you doing for heaven’s sake?” This clever question sheds light on our purpose in life. If your goals only involve the temporal treasures of earth you will someday discover, as Solomon did, that it is only vanity and a striving after wind. Not everyone is called by God to be a missionary like Isabel Dittemore, but everyone is called by God to do something for the eternal welfare of others. Remember! To fear God and keep His commandments is the whole duty of man (Eccl. 12:13).

As believers, we are members of His Body. God has designed the Body so that every member has something to do to help the Body function. Paul said it like this to the Corinthians -

“ For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-28 (KJV)

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce