learn about God and the Bible. These youngsters responded to care and teaching in a striking manner. They are eager to learn and have committed to memory many Scripture verses. Beginnings So the Children’s Home began. By twos and threes and fours, other “lambs” came into the “fold.” All of the chil dren have been rescued from degradation, disease and dirt. The reputation of the Home for its devotion to its little charges is so good that county health authorities and others are pleading with them to make room for fifteen to twenty more at once! Here is a letter from the county health nurse typical of many received by the Browns: “I am writing you about another family. There are two children (boys) ages and 11. The mother died about ten weeks ago and a fourteen-year-old boy three weeks later. Both of them died from neglect and T.B. The rest of the family have all been examined by our chest specialist, and the father and the six-year-old girl are active cases. There has been terrific pressure from all the neighbors on that creek to remove those children; none of the neighbors are willing to take them and there are no relatives. The Red Bird Mission at Beverly admitted them all to their hospital about two weeks ago and again they have been carefully examined and T.B. tested. These two still show no evidence of any thing except terrific malnutrition. “ This morning I saw the County Judge and Attorney and the Welfare people. We all agree that IF you take these two it would be a God-send. We know that the father and this six-year-old girl will never leave a hospital. The Judge is willing to give you legal papers. “I have had many years in this work and I have never seen such a pathetic case. I have tried to give you a brief but true picture.” Co-W orkers Naturally with such an increase in work and responsibility, Mr. and Mrs. Brown could not handle all the work by them selves. So the Lord whose blessing has been evident in this work from the outset has raised up some excellent helpers whose hearts have been touched by the plight of these little ones. They have thrown in their lot with them at great per sonal sacrifice. For instance, there is Mrs. Mabel Trott, a trained school teacher, who is doing wonders in bringing the children up to standard grades for their age. The Nursery Supervisor, Miss Anna Lee Mason, and her assistant, Miss Bernice Allen, are equally efficient and consecrated. They, as well as the Browns, and in fact, all of the missionaries of the Kentucky Mountain Mission, could make good salaries
Adults, right to left: Miss Bernice Allen, nursery worker; Rev. and Mrs. Jack Brown, with a few of their “ children.” elsewhere but they choose instead to live on meager allow ances for the sake of Christ, and those outside the fold. None of these workers feel that they must limit themselves to their particular line of duty, but all plunge in with a right good will and dispose of all the endless tasks that fall to the lot of those engaged in looking after so many children. These three, with Mr. and Mrs. Brown, constitute the entire perma nent staff. Some additional girls are employed to sort cloth ing at $1.60 per day. There is a great need at present for a consecrated couple; the man should be a real “handy man.” Naturally, the older children help care for the younger; and all have their own little tasks to perform. The Home is a regular bee-hive of activity from morning until night; the din is often almost unbearable; and occasionally the workers must take time out for rest in order not to collapse, with all the ordinary work of feeding, washing, clothing, mending, etc., coupled with special care for nine babies. Living Quarters This remarkable work is housed in a rickety one and one- half story farmhouse in Lee County, Kentucky. The long liv ing room must serve as playroom, dining room and sitting room. At present the two upper dormer rooms of the half story serve as a dormitory for the girls; and the boys sleep in a dug-out room in the basement which is rather damp and very crowded. The burden of Mr. Brown’s heart is that ade quate light, airy dormitories for girls and boys may be pro vided. The problem of water supply is another serious one. When the cistern and the well give out, the water for all living purposes must be hauled eight miles by Mr. Brown himself who would prefer to be giving his time and strength to the spiritual aspects of the work. A laundry room is greatly needed for the problem of drying clothes in winter is very try ing. A good jeep and a telephone would make their work infinitely easier; the nearest telephone is seven miles away, the doctor 18 miles, the hospital 44 miles. This lack of tele phone service was deeply impressed upon the Browns the win ter they had two appendectomies and four tonsillectomies among their children! Page Fifteen
The very inadequate headquarters of the Children’s Home. JUNE, 1951
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