Landlocked (Early 1936)

In 1936, the editor of the D.M.S. missionary newspaper wrote, "The way out from Siuyen seems still not passable, so none of the Siuyen missionaries have been out on vacation in the last few years."

It was not just that the Siuyen missionaries were not able to take vacations, however, but that they were basically imprisoned in Siuyen because of the bandit activity. Thus, neither Anna Bøg nor Elise Bahnson was able to make the kind of missionary journey to outlying areas described in our post Invited Everywhere (1932).

Nevertheless, Anna Bøg and Elise Bahnson carried on their work within the city limits of Siuyen, making home visits, teaching catechumens, giving Bible courses, leading prayer circles, organizing and presenting New Year's meetings, and participating in devotions at Siuyen Hospital. Both were also active in the Sunday School, which had a large attendance.

In a 1935 publication, the Y.W.C.A. said about Anna Bøg and Elise Bahnson, “Young, clever and warm-hearted collaborators, they are a good support for the work done among women and children.” They were also a good support for one another. In late February, 1936, Anna Bøg wrote, "It is good that we are two during this very difficult, tense time."

Anna Bøg related that besides being unable to travel they had been oppressed by cold and illness. "The entire month of January was very cold. There was hardly any snow. Despite the extreme cold, we had sunshine every day. Much illness followed. At our house, Miss Bahnson was ill with a high fever, influenza. She got better twice but then relapsed, and she was very tired when she began to recover."

Because of the travel restrictions, Elise Bahnson was not able to bring her architectural skills to the other missions where they were needed. Her design skills did not entirely lie dormant, however. Dr. and Mrs. Bertelsen wrote, "The congregation here has received a baldachin designed by Miss Bahnson -- it is very beautiful. . . . Earlier the pagans frequently said, "We don't understand you Christians; you do not do anything for your deceased!" But even the pagans say that the baldachin is beautiful." (The baldachin was an ornamental canopy to be used in funerals.)

In the February, 1936 account, Anna Bøg described the recent activities at the women's station, which we summarize here:

During Chinese New Year, they held a week long Bible course for the Christian women and catechumens, along with special meetings for the children. In spite of the very cold weather, there was a full house every day. Although the Chinese ate special meals during the New Year's celebrations, there were only two such meals and so the Chinese women were nevertheless able attend the Bible course. It was held from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. daily, not counting recreational time.

There were fifteen local speakers plus two young male evangelists who had just graduated from the evangelist school and brought a breath of fresh air from the outside. The women read John's letters, Jesus' parables, practiced new songs, and heard and saw special New Year's texts and pictures.

On the last day, several women attested to the deeper conversion they had experienced as a result of the meetings. One woman said, "The image of the snake that winds about people and holds them, has spoken to me about that sin that binds me." Another intended to go home and speak to the brother-in-law who lived on the same farm but whom she had not spoken to for a year.

About 30 children participated and the children were observed to pray very devoutly. At the end of the meetings both the women and the children asked, "Isn't there more?"

The missionaries and Bible women had planned meetings for the pagan women that were to take place the following week but shortly before the meetings something occurred that upset the pagan woman and as a result the attendance was less than had been anticipated.

Currently, many women were attending the Bible studies on Friday afternoons and about 50 were being prepared for baptism.

In the D.M.S. Annual Report for the fiscal year 1935-1936, Anna Bøg noted, "For the weekly work, we have three devotions in school, one to two devotions in the hospital, three Bible classes in town, and ten prayer groups. On the catechumens list, including both adults and youth, in the fall we had 110. Most were studying twice a week. There were countless visits in homes, intensive work among the pagans, Sunday school work, and so forth."

And, even though the missionaries could not leave town, the Bible Women could. In the article written in late February 1936 summarized above, Anna Bøg related, "Our nice young Bible Women who have learned to cycle, have been out to several villages and held meetings. We Danes cannot leave town [but] we hear about places where it is peaceful, and then they cycle there."

In the same annual report for 1935-1936, Elise Bahnson wrote about the specifics of the work in the outlying areas, apparently all of it accomplished by the Bible Women:

"Hsing-lung-kou was visited twice a week in the spring. The young Bible Women had a baptism class there. Before the six woman and six children were baptized, they came here for a short time for education. A young girl from there was confirmed.

Shao-tzu-ho was visited twice and two women were baptized at Christmas.

Lohr-chüan-kou - From the Pang's home, daughter-in-law No. 4, a widow with a small son, was baptized. They are now in Antung in the children's home. Daughter-in-law No. 1, also a widow, had her daughter-in-law baptised.

Su-Tzu-kuo - From the Li home, a young girl was confirmed and shortly after that she went back to the pagan home that she had been given to as a small child.

Chien-shan-yao - The Christian Mrs. Shen brought her adult daughter in for education. As many in the countryside, she had for some time been under Tao-te-hui's influence.* [In that religion] after a year of study, young girls can proclaim the teaching and earn their living. This tempts many young persons."

Sources:
Bahnson, Elise; "Frk. Bahnsons Beretning," D.M.S. Aarsberetning for 1935-1936, pp. 137-138.
Bertelsen, Peter and Dorthe; "Hospitalet i Siuyen," Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 103, Nr. 49, 1936 (exact date unknown).
Bøg-Madsen, Anna; "Siuyen," Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 103, No. 16, April 15, 1936, pp. 230-232.
Bøg-Madsen, Anna; "Frk. Bøg Madsen skriver," D.M.S. Aarsberetning for 1935-1936, pp. 136-137.
"Fra Redaktionen", Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 103, Nr. 26, 1936 (exact date unknown).
Young Women's Christian Association; Vest-Øst, 1910-1935, (Kristelig Forening for Unge Kvinder, 1935), p. 64.
All D.M.S. items used with permission.

Image:
Photograph of Elise Bahnson (left) and Anna Bøg in front of the old women missionary's residence in Siuyen, May, 1931. Courtesy of H.B. Petersen.
-----------------------------
*This was not the only reference to the influence of Tao-te-hui during this period. Dr. Bertelsen also mentioned it in the 1936 article quoted above when he wrote about the baldachin designed by Elise Bahnson.