MEDAN 1985

A Missionary Life:
Rev. J. Wesley Day
China, Malaysia, Indonesia

Medan, 1983 - 1985

This letter may be my last missionary letter from Sumatra. Thank you for your patience in waiting for it, and thank you for your Christmas letters.

My time has been spent visiting churches in Indonesia. Last year much of it ws spent with the English-speaking Wesley Methodist Church of Medan. The Rev. Fred Ingold, along with his duties coordinating the Agricultural Extension programs of the Methodists on Sumatra, was pastor of the church. His wife, Polly, taught Physical Therapy as the Methodist Hospital. The Rev. Don Smith, who came to teach literature at the Methodist University, was Associate Pastor, Choir Director, and Youth Leader. Mary Smith taught at the University and also taught the Wesley Church Bible Class. Well pastored, the church was prospering.

Early in November Fred and Polly left on six month furlough. Early in January Don and Mary left. During the next six weeks, the lay leaders and I "held on for dear life," carrying the usual activities along with three baptisms and one wedding. Then the middle of February Wesley's new pastor, Robert Tobing, arrived.

After Rev. Tobing came, I spent twelve days in Singapore, and had my annual medical examination. The doctor prescribed, "Walk four miles a day, eat mostly fruit and vegetables, and drink up to ten glasses of water a day."

Returning to Medan, I attended Wesley Church. The church was full. The service was inspiring. They have a wonderful new pastor. Thank God! Robert L. Tobing has just finished serving for three years in Australia as an exchange pastor....

February 24 the World Methodist Council launched its campaign for Methodist Evangelism throughout the world, at a Mass Baptism at Tanjung Langkat, in Karo Batak country northwest of Medan. It was a great ingathering, one thousand two hundred and fifty being baptized. As I went, as did other ministers, from family to family who were ready, baptizing adults, children and babies, I thought of the training and pastoral leadership the church must provide if these "Babes in Christ" and thousands of others like them are to grow into mature Christians.

....

This Methodist Center at Bandar Baru, halfway up the mountain to the Berastagi plateau already has second year students in its Theological College, orphans in its orphanage, and an agricultural extension farm, including pig raising and fish culture. The students work on the farm. The philosophy of work as told me is this: The garden feeds the students and the pigs. The pig offal feeds the fish. The students eat the fish, the vegetables, and sometimes the pigs. And they will teach their villagers how to make a living on their land, as intelligent Christian farmers. Weekends the students spend with the new converts.

This is just a taste of what is happening in the 60,000 member Indonesian Methodist Church.

May 3 Fred and Polly Ingold are due back in Medan. After welcoming them, I leave for home. When I knew my schedule I phoned my daughter's number in New Jersey. It was a treat to hear Carolyn's cheery voice answer, "Hello, Granddad." -- from only half a world away!

Family news: Jim Tatum continues with the Long Lines Telephone Company. Vivia is a full time teacher now in the Wall Township school system. Both use computers in their work. Brenda enters grade 9 in the fall and Carolyn grade 8. They enjoy school. Vivia has kept an eye on my house while I have been gone. Jack and Emily and Cathe are back in the States after a sting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Jack helped set up and operate the King Fahad Hospital and Emily became Director of American Community Services. The drop in the price of oil brought them home early. Jack is studying Health Administration at the University of North Carolina. Jimmie visited with them as they passed through New York. He is taking college courses by night and working by day.

It has been a high privilege indeed to serve for two years as a missionary volunteer of the United Methodist Church with the Methodist Church of Indonesia. May God's abundant Grace be with us all!

J. Wesley Day

From a letter dated Spring, 1985 addressed to "Dear Friends around the world,"

With Ho Er Yu and others, 1984. Legend on back of photo says, "20/4/1984, Ho Er Yu's 78th Birthday, after dinner, nothing to do but staring the camera...