by Mary Chisholm
ents, Rev. and Mrs. James W. Falconer, who were stay ing nearby, received a telephone call from her doctor. The Lord had answered quickly — He had called Lucille home! She had been radiant and joyful, rejoicing in God her Saviour up to the very moment He took her to Him self. Later that morning, her parents wrote, “ Our daugh ter went to be with the Lord whom she loves and served so well. We left her the previous evening feeling quite comfortable and looking forward to a good night’s rest with the aid of médication. She seemingly slept well until shortly before God called her to His Heavenly Home without suffering. “ Lucille will be flown to Formosa, July 21st, and funeral services will be held at Mount of Olives Confer ence Grounds. We are sure you will hold up Dick and the children at the Throne of Grace in their special hour of need.”
In April’s issue of K in g ’ s B usiness , Lucille Webster, a radiant young mother whose missionary labors in Formosa had been unusually blessed of God, tells of her acceptance of God’s higher plan after suddenly learning, as she returned to Formosa with her husband Dick, and children, Dorothy, Darlene and Don, that she was strick en with inoperable cancer. T h e t r i u m p h a n t story of how God completed His perfect plan for Lucille Webster unfolds in the let ters written by four people: Lucille, her parents, her husband, and a friend. In March 1963, after what she termed “ a very deep dip into the Valley of the Shadow,” Lucille wrote from Formosa, “ This sort of experience makes one feel so detached from this old earth. Heaven becomes so much more real. But how it makes us realize the truth of the poem, ‘Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.’ How I wish I had done more for Him.” Her April letter says, “ I have often thought how wonderfully God planned our return to Taiwan. Had we known of the disease, I am afraid we never would have left the States. The children are well taken care of and are very happy in school. Dick can continue on with student work and I have about four college girls in each afternoon for talks about the Lord. So we can both be busy in the Lord’s work. My doctor is the best. ‘As for God, His way is perfect!’ “ Just sitting in a chair is a most abnormal life for me, yet the Lord has kept me content. I had the joy of leading my nurse to the Lord and two college girls. Others have started a more systematic prayer life as a result of our little afternoon chats. Please pray for oppor tunities and boldness to witness in the hospital.” And so according to plans, Lucille returned to the States for treatment. Upon entering the hospital, as was her custom, she was immediately about her Heavenly Father’s business. She had asked God for opportunities and boldness to witness — God gave both. Among those touched by her life there, were a volunteer worker and a Jewish patient, who were brought to the Saviour. On Tuesday morning, July 16th, about two weeks after Lucille had returned, a number of ministers met with her and her parents to pray for her healing accord-* ing to the Scriptural injunction. They met under a large shade tree on the hospital grounds. After all the others had earnestly prayed, Lucille herself offered a short pray er which went something like this, “ Lord, I do not demand healing; it is only Thy perfect will that I ask.” About seven o’clock the next morning, Lucille’s par
Lucille W ebster, mission-
ary to Formosa, lives,
and dies, in the victory
of the Christian life.
Her heart-warming
story and homegoing are
recounted here.
Back on Formosa, God’s perfect plan was being worked out too, preparing her husband Dick for the hard and lonely days ahead. In the evening, after learning of Lucille’s death, he wrote to her parents, “ Just a note to let you know the Lord has been very much with us. It is wonderful how the Lord prepared me for the event. The night before, I had a dream that Lucille had been taken Home, and I had prepared to leave for the States, and then stayed after all. “Then last night about eight o’clock, I phoned Dr.
it
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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