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The Final Word March, 2005

John H. Giesler

March is a crucial month because we change from winter to spring, at least in the northern hemisphere. We usually spend the whole month in Lent, but this year we spend Holy Week and the joy of Easter, as well! We include a new story about another Indian-Moravian association. This involves the Lenepe tribe, the oldest tribe in the northeast, brought into the Iroquois, and revered by them because they had their story of the creation of the world on the Walum-Olum, the Red Score. The Moravians traveled with them as they were driven by the whites from New York into Pennsylvania, Ohio, Ontario and finally far from Moravian centers, into Kansas. At the same time this work was turned over to other church groups, as were the Cherokees, about 1900. The Munsees remember two centuries of Moravian work even after a century of separation. Br. Al Reynolds again found this story. Thanks. We thank Br. Don Winters for Holli Flynt’s letter from China. It has a wonderful serendipity in her meeting with John Per-lee in Tianjin, China. The British Moravian Messenger had the story of the consecration of our newest Bishop, Herbert Hessen. He is part of the largest movement of Moravians in the world, from Suriname to the Netherlands. Br. Bob and Br. Jack share their interest with us once again. We rejoice about the coming of the Cherokees to Salem, this time to teach us. We hope many will take advantage of this unique opportunity. The Trail of Tears Tour is offered once again by popular demand. Don’t miss this wonderful experience! Give generously on the special 548^th Anniversary of our church and help the exciting new area in the Moravian world, CUBA. Bishop Iobst told me of his delight in Dan Crews latest book, This I Verily Believe. It is a book that will bring together all parts of the Moravian Church in language lay people can understand about the firm foundation of our church. It is available for $5.95 in the Moravian Bookstores and Archives. It is a good book to read and to give, he tells us. I am anxious to read it. The recent tsunami brings another chapter in memory, the Moravian mission to the Nicobar Islands. Fifty of seventy two missionaries sent died there in one of the most difficult missions in the 25 years our church worked there. After we left, no other church group ever attempted a mission. There was a picture in the W-S Journal of a Nicobar man shooting an arrow at a rescue helicopter. Nothing has changed. JHG

THE FINAL WORD  - John H. Giesler

ONWARD is published 10 times a year, with two double issues, by the Moravian Mission Society, South, Inc. You can subscribe for     $10 per year. Changes of address and/or checks should be made out to the Mission Society, and mailed to PO Drawer Y Salem Station, Winston-Salem  NC  27108 – Attention Sheila Beaman.  Editor is Rev. John H. Giesler, 1116 Tommy’s Lake RD, Winston-Salem  NC 27105. E-mail John Giesler
 ONWARD is on the world wide web at  www.bethabara.org/ONWARD.htm