Green Leaf In Drought

by Isobel Kuhn

This is the story of the reluctant exodus, when the last China Inland Mission members were forced from Communist China. The experiences of Arthur and Wilda Mathews answer the Is it possible for a Christian to put forth green leaves when all he enjoys in this life is drying up around him?

Genres: Biography, Christian, China, Christianity, Biography Memoir, Memoir, History

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

In Finnish:
Isobel Kuhn (1901-1957) teki elämäntyönsä pääosin Lisu-heimon parissa Kiinan ja Burman raja-alueilla sekä Thaimaan pohjoisosassa. AREENALLA on persoonallinen kuvaus haastavasta työstä ja Jumalan johdatuksesta vaikeuksien keskellä. Elävästi kirjoitettu ETSIMÄSSÄ kertoo lähetystyötä edeltävästä ajasta, kun kristityn kodin kasvatti sanoutui irti lapsuusajan opetuksista, ryhtyi agnostikoksi ja yritti täyttää elämänsä tanssimisella, teatterilla ja seurustelulla. Sisäisen tyhjyyden kokeminen sai Isobelin kysymään Jumalan olemassaoloa ja etsimään todellista suhdetta Häneen. Jumala osoitti itsensä todeksi ja johti Isobelin "sumuisilta tasangoilta" siunatuille vuoripoluille - hän sai evankelistan kutsumuksen, kävi Moodyn perustaman raamattukoulun, ja lopulta - sille areenalle, missä hän sai olla todistamassa Jumalan tekoja Lisu-kansan parissa.

Reviews

[Gene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm almost ashamed to display the relatively low "two-star" rating that I'm giving this book. It receives a relatively high average rating here on GoodReads, and perhaps my knocking it will make me appear a little less spiritual than I feel comfortable displaying. It is a good story, and there is a good basic message to it, and that it what saves it from being really unappealing. The Mathews family shows that trust in God sustains them even in the midst of some very difficult trials. It reveals that God is a true help in time of trouble when various self-help techniques would have fallen way short. Positive thinking and other psychological crutches would have been too feeble to maintain them in their persecution. It took total abandonment to the will of God and God's direct intervention on their behalf in numerous situations in order to see them through. God can't just be a positive though for what they did to work; God has to be real and really involved in our lives.

But I was disappointed that despite the various quotes, I never felt like I got to know Arthur and Wilda through the book. It just seemed that the format was one for relaying the events that took place, but without really getting into the heads of the main characters. Maybe this is my fault, or maybe the book is just too short to provide that sort of depth, but I just went away from reading it with the feeling that, "These two old missionaries from way back when handled their crises in such and such a manner and it worked for them." Don't get me wrong, I'm an old-school missionary myself, so I'm not attacking the Mathews. In fact, I just wish I had had a chance to really get to know them through the book.

Some of the courageous couple's theology was strong, but some was almost reducible to sentimentality it seemed. There was a toying around with the "name it, claim it" practice that almost put Holy Spirit inspirational status on the prayer that every missionary would be able to exit from China without loss of life. And even more disturbing to me was the way devotional Bible reading almost became a practice of divination in which the readers would look to clues on what decisions to make based on the passage of Scripture being read and the phrases that happened to be contained therein. A dangerous practice which is a far cry from "rightly dividing the Word of truth."

Lastly, and I don't want to sound callous here, but the Mathews and other missionaries certainly suffered intensely. They faced more than I think I could have been able to withstand - Let me be clear about that. But it seems that the book portrays them as suffering more intensely than the Chinese Christians themselves who often faced martyrdom at the hands of the Chinese Communists. The Mathews and the others certainly did suffer horribly and could have lost one or more members of their little family, but there were numerous Chinese Christian families who did in fact lose family members and didn't have the protection of the status of foreigner. Their stand was even greater, and I wish some effort had been made to relay more of that tale to put things in China in a less Westerner focused perspective.

Finally, I do want to applaud the way the book highlighted the witness given to Christ by the sufferings of the Mathews to the villagers where they lived. No doubt the church was challenged and strengthened by their commitment not to compromise. All the preaching and evangelizing in the world couldn't accomplish what that sort of living must have done to impress upon that entire village the reality of a living Saviour who can be fully trusted. The Mathews receive my plaudits; Isabel Kuhn, I'm sorry to say, does not.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book! I recommend it, especially if you are going through any trials.

[Go2therock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I see a friend of mine recently read this book and rated it one star. I think I understand why. This book may be kindly termed "understated." It's slow and anticlimactic. How's that for putting one off?

But it's a book to which my mind has often returned over the years, as encouragement to myself and others. This is a story of how our plans and His can conflict; and being powerless to escape or change our circumstances, working out the struggle to walk a path of faithful obedience, I found quietly inspirational. As much as any collection of meditations and prayer, this little book was then and continues to be a lasting contemplation for me.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to pick one favorite book, other than my Bible, it would be this one. This is an intense true story that will teach you about yourself, about God and trusting His heart when you can't see His hand. Don't miss out on this one!

[Chris Nissley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life-giving History of Joy in Hardship

This book draws the reader into a close relationship with those who have suffered deeply, and challenges a greater love, joy, dependence, and trust in God.

[Leah Gritter · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a superb little book. It took awhile for me to get through it, not only due to the tiny print, but more so because each page contained some hidden gem of a thought or phrase that bore pondering. A simple yet profound story of a young missionary family living for Christ in the northern interior of mainland China. To suffer for the cause of the Kingdom with such joy and wisdom...admirable.

[Trice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think my problem with the beginning was its perspective of the complete outsider. Or the voice of the author which made me think very much of the whole idea of 'white man's burden' ( :P ), which in this context makes me feel a bit sick spiritually. What are their sufferings when people are being executed, when others whose whole lives and families and homes and faiths are being challenged have no hope or even desire necessarily of escape? I'm trying to remind myself now that this is really a story of a faith journey by 2 of the saints, rather than a ministry story, so the focus is therefore on what they are traveling through. At the 2/3rds point, their own perspectives are starting to shift. They are hopeless of ministry because of the restrictions placed upon them, and they are being quietly pressed for their very survival (and in constant amazement and thankfulness at the timely provision of God), but here God calls them to joy in him and in the place he has called them to at this now! I love this story of first Wilda's and then Arthur's enlightenment of what a part of this trial was to mean... but not just to them, to the believers who surrounded them: "The message above all others which the Chinese church needed was to see that truth lived out under circumstances equally harrowing with their own" (92). I too have gotten so used to being called a 'foreigner,' and seeing other 'foreigners' (non-Chinese) as the same as me, that I understand what they were feeling - almost all non-Chinese Xians had left the country and they felt alone. But were they? And they are finally seeing this. Why do we draw such lines between peoples? It is certainly not the kingdom perspective. But that's the negative side of what they were actually learning - sometimes I think it's a lesson I've already learned, and sometimes I stop myself because I realize I've just made the mistake again. Their lesson was even bigger than crossing the line between peoples though - it was one of going beyond basic submission, beyond trust, to joy and active will in following the path God had set for them. That too was the example they were meant to provide, beautiful and shining in its truth, in the evidence it presented. What we are to be to our brothers and sisters everywhere, and to those who might become. This story is a true encouragement in the faith.

[Emily Speller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by Isobel Kuhn provided a powerful insight into what it would have been like to be a missionary like Arthur and Wilda Matthews in Communist China during the 1950s, and how the Lord used trials of various kinds during that period to strengthen them in their faith. Throughout that time they clung to Jeremiah 17:8: "He shall be as a tree planted by hte waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

While I definitely would not consider this Isobel Kuhn's best book (I personally found her autobiography much better written) it did encourage me as a Christian to look to the Lord in all trials of life, from the big to the small and to trust Him in everything. This is why I would highly recommend it, despite the fact that at times I felt it focussed a lot on the suffering the missionaries had to endure by staying in China and not so much on the suffering local Chinese went through. However, this is a slim critcism when compared to how much I learned from it, and how much it made me appreciate the many freedoms I experience.

Some favourite quotes from it were as follows:

"These trials of faith are to give us patience, for patience can only be worked as faith goes into the Pressure Chamber. To pull out because the pressure is laid on, and to start fretting would be to lose all the good He has in this for us." ~ p.44.

"The Lord sometimes has to show us, not only the power of the one against us, but also the weakness of our own hearts. His battles are not won through strength and prowess, but through weakness throughly weakend, that refuses to do anything at all for itself but trust in His faithfulness - even when to trust seems folly." ~ Arthur Matthews (p.66).

"through Thy fire would I learn/ 'Thou'rt God', when I can't understand." (p.52).

If this book comes your way, definitely give it a read! :)

[Dustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like Isobel Kuhn, as well as any stories of missionaries with the CIM. The story of Green Leaf in Drought is a very moving and convicting one and needs to be told and read.

That said, I had to settle on 3 stars for this one (albeit, a high 3 stars). I think Kuhn could have fleshed out the story a lot more, and the storytelling style she employed here is one which irks me - the non-linear method of advancing in the timeline focused on a certain topic pertaining to the characters, then double-backing and advancing the core story some more until hitting another topic and so on. It wasn't as overused as it could've been - had the story been more fleshed out - but it was enough to get me flipping pages back to get the series of events in the right order. Still, wasn't as bad as Elliot in 'A Chance to Die'.

The theme of the book - I found - was that our attitudes and actions in the driest, toughest seasons are a greater witness to the heathen than our words. I want to more of how the church got on after the Mathew's left, but there was only about a page telling of the effect of their perseverance on the local church.

All in all, worth the read, the story was incredible, but not as good as it could've been.

[Crazycalvinist O'flaherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The power of God's people praying and the power of testimony when every comfort was taken away and yet their faith remained to witness to the chinese, in their nothingness, louder than all the riches of the world could have. God kept His promise, they kept their faithfulness; God delivered them. A Powerful testimony of how God works through extraordinary circumstances both for the good of His people, and for His own glory.

[Judi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting tale of the last 3 missionaries to leave Communist China in 1953. They got out against all odds and only after great travails and discouragement on every side. More than the actual details, which are far from complete, this is a spiritual journal of a missionary family trapped in a very difficult place and situation. As a spiritual journal, it's a great book, but as a story I felt it was rather sketchy. Nevertheless, I really liked the book

[Dan Sr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did we ever think that we had it bad? Kuhn writes about the Matthew's family that go caught in communist China and went through extreme hardship for the name of Christ. Our Lord will never leave, nor forsake His own. This is a heart-touching example of how the Lord sustains through persecution and suffering.

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. Kuhn, a missionary herself tells the story of the Arthur Mathews family as they faced difficult missionary work and then had to flee China. The story is that it was literally one frustrating obstacle after another. At times it seemed that the Lord had deserted them. They kept on trusting though they had feelings as we all would. The title is taken from Jeremiah 17:8. One of the best!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is among many other stories that remind me to get a better perspective on life and it's meaning. I appreciated the Matthews transparency in revealing their own struggle in discerning the events and attacks against them as missionaries. A book that left me grateful and desiring to remain green.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incredible and challenging message. It is awesome to be able to read examples of His faithfulness. This e-book version is terrible with many typos and copy and paste errors. The writing style is dated and I wish that the author would not have ruined the suspense of the moment by telling you the outcome over and over and over. Well worth the read even with this less than perfect edition.

[Scott Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow Arthur and Wilda Mathews through their house arrest by communist authorities. It's more than a chronicle of their endurance, it's a spiritual journey to contentment untouchable by circumstances.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh! This is an old favorite! I loved this book as well as her other one, Nest Above the Abyss. They are spiritual, and not for the faint at heart.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very excellent missionary story before takeover of China. A bit long but great use of book of Isaiah

[Teegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really hard to read the style at first - super choppy and sort of old fashioned. But the story is phenomenal.

[Wendy Tuell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story! Read it years ago and hope to find a copy and read it again soon.

[Damson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read this book I loved it and marked it as one to keep forever. I wholeheartedly recommend it to you.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book about Christian victory and triumphant in adverse circumstances. Highly recommended.

[Lghiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arthur and Wilda Mathews and their baby spent a frustrating two years trying to discern and follow God’s will as missionaries for the China Inland Mission, a group spread widely over mainland China. Under the Communist regime, they were not allowed to witness to people about Jesus or to help people in need. They were eventually confined to their meager and uncomfortable quarters and socially isolated. Their living situation was desperate as the authorities tried to starve them and forced them to live in unhealthy conditions. Why had God brought them to this place? Why wouldn’t the authorities allow them to leave? Having arrived with enthusiasm, they eventually suffered through round after round of seeking God’s will in the midst of despair. Their little girl was a bright note as she absorbed and repeated the songs and Scriptures that sustained her parents during the difficult times.

If you are inspired by missionary stories or want to read about God working in the hearts of His children when times are hard, then you would probably find Green Leaf in Drought to your liking. The content is very interesting. Stylistically speaking, this book is not in the excellent category. Author Isobel Kuhn had very difficult resource materials to work with, mainly the writings of Arthur and Wilda Mathews. Their compositions were letters intended for family and recordings on paper of their thoughts, prayers, and poetry, which we would refer to today as journaling, often written in tiny script on thin airmail paper. Others were involved in deciphering and organizing the events which Kuhn then transformed into a readable narrative. As Kuhn tries to translate the couple’s thoughts into dialogue, the result is somewhat stilted. The descriptions, however, are well executed. Kuhn maintains the integrity of a biography. She does not veer off into historical fiction and is to be commended for that. Readers who want a more in depth character study will not find that because it was not provided in the source materials.

[Nancy DeValve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as many missionaries are being evacuated out of China, Arthur and Wilda Mathews are invited by the Chinese church to come north to the area near Mongolia. They had long wanted to work in that area so jumped at the chance. It didn't take them long upon arrival, however, to see that the situation was not what they hoped. Over the next two years that already difficult situation deteriorated more and more. They were left impoverished, Wilda suffered a miscarriage, their little girl came down with scarlet fever, they had to beg to receive their own salary and even then were only given a part of it, they were eventually not even allowed to talk with their neighbors. Arthur and Wilda's first way of dealing with the situation was to try to overcome and to beg God to change the situation for them. Eventually they both saw that God wanted them to endure with joy; to live each day as the day the Lord has made and to rejoice and be glad in it.
This is an incredible story. Perhaps it is not the best-written book and the style is definitely a bit old-fashioned. But it really blessed me and reminded me that during hardship, while it's ok to pray for deliverance, what God really wants from me is to rejoice in each day.

[Robert Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because it was recommended in a weekly encouraging email from a beloved missionary in Africa. This somewhat obscure account was filled with life lessons for anyone truly living the Christian life. For life is given to tribulation for the follower of Christ. But those suffering for the gospel’s sake in areas hostile to its giving, suffering could be overpowering. Then, it can be rewarding as well. This is the story of Arthur and Wilda Mathews in China as they attempted to leave in 1950 as the Red communists intensified persecutions. This couple with their three, year old daughter endured much and were taught much in the arms of the Lord. The following quote tells me of their resolve in Christ and how I should face the absurdities of attacks on my faith:

“Thou hast kept the best wine till last… The ‘best wine’ of delighting in His will did not fail us throughout the heat of this experience… we are being satisfied with the best wine, so what more could we want?”

Be encouraged in the reading of “Green Leaf in Drought”; the title tells of joy out of distress.

[Eric Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kuhn catalogues the incredible way God cared for Arthur and Wilda Mathews during a terrible ordeal under the communist Chinese during the time when the last CIM missionaries were escaping China. A grim time of privation, almost starvation, a communist officials tried their best to try them for imagined crimes and starve them into submission. Although the cupboard was often empty, God opened his cupboard to feed and care for them.

My only problem with the book for which I gave it a 3 of 5 is the choppy nature of the story through inserting letters, etc.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful testimony. The best is at the end when Isobel explains how God used the suffering that the Mathews went through. Of course, the Mathews could not see what God was doing while they were in the middle of it all. Encouraged again to trust and praise God in the midst of suffering. Convicted about my own desire for comfort often overriding my desire to live a life that honors God and that brings His life to others.

[Jennifer E. Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a very timely book given today’s current news and events! It is the story of a missionary couple and their young daughter as they are trying to leave China in the 1950s under the Red Regime. Only a miracle would do, and they “trusted to trust and not be offended.”
With cheerful faith thy path of duty run
God nothing does, nor suffers to be done,
But what thou would’st thyself, could’st thou but see
Through all the events of things as well as He.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great short missionary biography. While the writing style is by no means modern, and constantly interspersed with the authors interpretation of events, it provided some solid insight into God's provision and plan for the Matthew's in spite of the hardship brought upon them.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Lot to Learn

This book is very insightful into the ways of God, but some of it isn't revealed until the end. I am glad I read it. Arthur and Wild a persevered and brought glory to the Lord.