Charlotte Harris Rees - Courage, Endurance, Sacrifice: The Lives and Faith of Three Generations of Missionaries

Title Page

Courage,
Endurance,
Sacrifice

The Lives and Faith of Three Generations of Missionaries

Charlotte Harris Rees

Copyright

Copyright 2016 by Charlotte Harris Rees

Courage, Endurance, Sacrifice: The Lives and Faith of Three Generations of Missionaries

Charlotte Harris Rees

www.AsiaticFathers.com

harrismaps@msn.com

Published 2016 by Torchflame Books

www.lightmessages.com

Durham, NC 27713 USA

SAN: 920-9298

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-61153-230-2

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-61153-231-9

Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-61153-235-7

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 International Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the publisher except in brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

What Others Say

Rich in historical facts, this biographical work of three generations of missionary work in one family covering the period from 1875 to 1972 and from Wild West Texas and Mexico then later to China and Taiwan is amazingly detailed. It vividly depicts the courage, endurance, and sacrifice of those pioneering missionary workers in faith.

In this well-researched book the author offers a good picture of the true nature of missionary work and of the contributions missionaries have made in many parts of the world.

For readers interested in the modern history of China during the most turbulent period of its history, this book also provides useful insights.

Dr. Hwa-Wei Lee,
Retired Chief of the Asian Division,
Library of Congress

In Courage, Endurance, Sacrifice Charlotte Harris Rees inspires readers in a carefully researched portrayal of three generations of her family as they faced epic degrees of adversity with simple, reasoned, obedient, and patient endurance. The familys selfless witness allowed them to become uniquely one with their indigenous people groups in a truly shared humanity. I recommend this page-turner.

Jim Berwick,
Archivist, International Mission Board,
Southern Baptist Convention

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my daughter, Dawn Rees Powers.
Often you and I did not see eye to eye.
All along I loved you.
You have been Gods beautiful gift to me.

Introduction

Remember the days of old.
Consider the years of many generations.
Deuteronomy 32: 7

Several years ago I was asked to write a book about my father, Dr. Hendon Harris Jr. to explain the man who understood the strange Asian world map when he first viewed it.

This book answers that request. I have included my grandparents and great grandparents stories here because not only did they have exciting accounts to tell, but they also shaped my fathers character. As it is said: The apple does not fall far from the tree.

The three generations discussed in this text lived lives that were far from ordinary. They all also expressed interest in learning about from where Native Americans came.

This book has been years in the making. I wrote numerous pages in 2004 and 2005 but soon realized that if I were to tell about my father, I first had to explain his theories about ancient Chinese exploration in the Americas.

Therefore, I put this text aside but kept collecting information. In 2006 my abridgement of Fathers nearly 800 page The Asiatic Fathers of America came out. That book was followed by three books of my own research which spring board from Fathers and discuss different aspects of that subject. Today many around the world have embraced Fathers interpretation of that map. Starting in 2016 a US based high school world history textbook, Streams of Civilization , Vol. 1, 3rd. ed., shows Harriss map and references his research.

Most families have legends. Mine has many stories not all factual. However, in this book I tried to include only those that I could substantiate. Therefore, I have over 400 endnotes. Many of my endnotes are worth following up to the source so that one can glean even more of each account.

All three generations discussed here were prolific including as writers of articles and letters. Each generation wrote at least one book. Therefore, I narrate as much as possible in each ancestors own words.

My fathers books and my parents records and correspondence which I collected over several years from various sources were treasure troves for me. Mother left an audio recording of the story of her life.

How Beautiful the Feet, the autobiography of my grandmother, Florence Powell Harris, was my starting point for her generation and the one prior. Obviously I cannot retell every detail of her story or even narrate it as delightfully as she did. Therefore, I hope that readers will later go through her book, which my cousin Larry Harris has brought out again both in paperback and as an e-book.

Charlotte interviewing her Aunt Cita in 2015.

I interviewed several people who had known my father. Over the years I collected and read history books and numerous related missionary biographies. The excellent records of the Southern Baptists (including private missionary correspondence of these relativesnow open after being sealed for many years) and reports of other mission agencies furnished insights and documentation.

What I read in the research for this book played a symphony on every string of my emotions, but the journey was adventuresome. I hope like I didthat perhaps you will laugh, cry, get angry and/or happy, but most of all be inspired.

In celebration of my fathers life this book is being published in 2016 the year he would have turned 100. 2016 is also the year that my sweet Aunt Cita turns 90. She is our only relative remaining from her generation.

None of us choose our forefathers, nor can we claim credit or blame for what they did or did not do. However, in understanding our ancestors and their worlds perhaps we can better understand our own.

I love hearing from readers. E-mail me at HarrisMaps@msn.com and/or review this book on Amazon and other sites.

Charlotte in British Columbia in 2010 interviewing Peter Stursberg, who in Kaifeng, China, had been a childhood friend of her father, Hendon Harris Jr. As an adult Stursberg was a WWII Correspondent in Europe and was well known as an author of several books.

Main Characters in This Book

Several of the people in this text have similar names. Below in alphabetical order of given names is a list of the main characters. In case one becomes confused about whom I am discussing, he can refer to this list below.

• Aurora Dawn - Daughter of Hendon Jr. and Marjorie Harris
• Charlotte - Daughter of Hendon Jr. and Marjorie Harris
• Cita (Florencita) Harris Strunk - Daughter of Hendon Sr. and Florence
• Florence Mayberry Powell - Missionary to Mexico, wife of William Powell
• Florence Powell Harris - Missionary to China, daughter of the Powells
• Hendon Harris Jr. - Missionary to Taiwan and Hong Kong, husband of Marjorie