Peshawar Tlangval

A hming chu “Alexander Mehboob” a nia, Pakistan-a ram bial pakhat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa  Ram bial huamchhung,  Peshawar-a khawsa a ni. Zirna lamah MA (Islamiyat) leh MA (International relation), M.Div a ni a. A pa hi zirtirtu a ni a, a pu hi Pastor a ni thung, a pami te 2 hi pastor an ni bawk. A pa pu hi Sikh sakhua aṭanga Kristiana inlet a ni a, hemi achinah hian an chhungkua hi rawngbawltu chhungkua an ni chho ta zel a ni.

Rev. Alexander Mehboob,  MA (Islamiyat), MA (IR), M.Div.

Tlangval harhvang tak, sa pan thler thlawr a ni a. Ka hmuh hmasak ber nia a chipui te Urdu ṭawnga bia a, a teikual vel ruai kha mitthlaah a la cham reng mai. Kamis ṭial leh kekawrtlawn ngalrek chen a haa, chappal a bun a, a kamis hi a benglut lem lo thung. A kamis kar aṭangin a kekawr benga a key chain khai – Pakistan Flag lem chu a lang zauh zauh bawk a, eng thuamhnaw pawh inbel se he keychain hi a khai reng a, a kawr awmah Pakistan flag anga siam lapel pin a bel reng bawk. A bak hmul a zuah kual a, a hmuihmulin a heh a khuh lek lek a, a ṭawng karlakah a tuai chho leh lawk ṭhin. A hmel en mai kha chuan khawilam ringthar nge maw niang le? Tih tur khawpa dawldang a ni a, he’ng laia Punjabi kan lo hmuh ve ṭhin te nen chuan an sa chu inmuk hleih tak a ni.

Mahni inuluk tak a ni tih erawh a hriat theih mai. Function pangngai chinah chuan puithiam kawr (clerical shirt) a ha a, pheikhawk pum a bun ap reng bawk. Chutianga a inthuam aţang chuan Pastor a ni tih kan hriat theih phah ta hlauh bawk a. Zan khat chu Cultural Programme kan hmanga, mahni hnam inchei dan a inchei tur a ni a, hemi ţum hian kan Peshawar tlangval hi Kurta var suit hain a rawn inthuama, chumi chungah chuan kawrchung dum a la ha hrama. Tuifinriat kam ṭiauphoa che velah chuan a la smart ber awm e.

Peshawar tlangval, St. Stephen Church kawtah

Alexander-a hian St. Albert’s College, Karachi aṭanga BA a zawh hnuin, Peshawar University aṭangin MA (Islamiyat) a zo leh a, Masters in International Relationship a zo bawk. St. Thomas Theological seminary, Karachi aṭanga M.Div. a zawh hnuah Pastor atana nemngheh a ni a, kum 2013 aṭangin Church of Pakistan hnuaia Faisalabad Diocese-ah Chaplain niin rawngbawl hna bul a ṭana, kum 2017 aṭangin Peshawar Diocese-a ṭhalai rawngbawlna enkawltuah a ṭang ta a ni. Pathianniah Pathian biak Inkhawm Urdu leh English Service an nei ṭhin a, Zirtawp chhun dar 12-ah “Lalpa Zanriah Sakramen” an kil a, tlai dar 5:30-ah “Damna inkhawm” an nei zui leh a, engemaw changin nilainiah inkhawm an nei ṭhin bawk.

Pakistan Kristiante chungchang sawi dunin Fk-i nen

Pakistan Rama Kristianna dinhmun

Chanchinthar kan dawn tam zawk hi Pakistan rama Kristian te dinhmun chhiat zia leh an chep zia hlirin a awh khata. Ringthar thah thu te Biak In suasam tih te hi kan hriat lar a ni. Chanchinthar thehdarhtu te hian chanchin dik tak emaw a nihna tak tarlan emaw ai chuan a nih bak hret, mi te ngaihven tur zawngin an chhuah fo ṭhin nia an sawi hi a tak tak emaw tih mai a awl ṭhin. Pakistan-ah hian kum zabi 18 chhoah khan Kristianna hi a lut tawha; Bristish sipai te leh Missionary ten Kohhran an lo phun daih tawh a ni.

Rev. Alexander Mehboob, Youth Coordinator, Peshawar Diocese, Church of Pakistan

Pakistan hi Islam dana inkaihhruaina ram a nih avangin sakhaw dang te tan hmalak erawh a har hle. An ram danah sakhaw danga inleh hi khap bur a ni a, chutih rual chuan sakhaw dang aṭanga Islam-a an inleh erawh chuan harsatna engmah an tawk ngailo thung. Islam sakhaw  vuantu Kristianah emaw, sakhaw dangah emaw inpe ta se, sorkara a inziahluh tirha a inziahluh dan kha Muslim a nih si chuan a sakhua kha sorkarin a thlak sak duh ta ṭhin lo a ni. Tin, hetiang boruak a thlen hian han rikhluai chang an neih ṭhin a, Kristian ten a pawng a puia tihduhdahna an tawrh loh thu leh an chunga hleilenna a nazawngin a thleng lo niin Peshawar tlangval hian a sawi bawk.

“Kristian te chu an taimaa, an rinawma, hna an thiam bawk” tih hi Pakistan rama ringlo mi ten Kristian te an hmuh dan a ni.

Pakistan Kristian ţhalaite

Pakistan rama ringtu te aw ka ngei aṭanga an ṭhalaite dinhmun leh ningkhawng han dawnsawn chu ngaihthlak a nuamin rilru a khawih teh e! Rawngbawl dan chi hrang hrang an neia, chung zinga danglam tak chu “Inter-Faith Youth Camp” (Sakhaw hrang hrang ṭhalaite intawhkhawm) kha a ni. Kar khat chhung teh meuh sakhaw hrang hrang ṭhalaiten intawhkhawm hun an hmang ṭhin a, chumi chhung chuan thil chi hrang hrang an zirho a, nunphung te, eizawnna kawng lam inkawhhmuhna leh inpumkhatna lam thu te an zir ber a, themthiamna kawnga hma an sawn theih dan tur te pawh an zir ṭhin bawk. He programme hi Church of Pakistan buatsaih a ni.

Pakistan rama Kristian te chanchin khunkhan takin kan sawiho

Tunlaina boruak hrang hrangin a chimbuai ve reng bawk. Kristian ṭhalai an inhlohna tam ber chu nupui pasal inneih vang niin an sawi bawk. Kristian tlangval tan Islam nula neih chu a theihloh tluk a ni a, an inneih dawn chuan tlangvalin a Kristianna bansana Islam a zawm emaw a nih loh chuan buaina nasa tak an tawk mai ṭhin. Chutihrual chuan Kristian nula leh Islam tlangval inkarah erawh harsatna a awm lem lo, nula kha Islam-a a inpêk mai avangin! Islam tlangval leh Kristian nula inngaizawng sawi tur an tama, nula ten an Kristianna an phatsan zel bawk si avangin Kristian te tan chuan channa nasa tak a ni a, Pakistan rama Kristian ṭhalai hruaitu te rilru tihahtu lian tak a ni.

Training chung zawnga zawhna ngah ber a ni hial awm e!

Ruihhlo avanga harsatna erawh an tawk lem lo. Islama dana rorelna a nih avangin drug leh ruihhlo dang a zalenlo a, ṭhalai zingah ruihhlo ngai an awm meuh lo.

Kristian ṭhalai nge nge

Eizawnna leh hna zawnna lamah sakhaw dang te aṭangin harsatna leh enhranna emaw an tawk ve lem lo. Chuti a hnehin Peshawar leh Hyderabad bawr vela Sawrkar leh mimal hna thawk tur phei chuan Kristian ṭhalai an duh ber lawi tlat si hi thil chhinchiah tlak tak a ni. “Kristian te chu an taimaa, an rinawma, hna an thiam bawk” tih hi Pakistan rama ringlo mi ten Kristian te an hmuh dan a ni. Keini ramah erawh “Kohhrana inhmang lo…” tih te hi hna siamtu te tehkhawng a ni lawia. KṬP ten inenfiah nan i hmang ang u. Pakistan Kristian ṭhalaite ang hian KṬP-a active tak te hi hnathawk tura min duh zawk theih nan theihtawp kan chhuah a ṭul hle mai.

India, Pakistan, England leh Sri Lanka palai te nen

Rev. Alexander Mehboob

Peshawar Tlangval, Rev. Alexader Mehboob nen hian SACYN Leaders Training 2017, Negombo-a intawng kan ni a, Hindi-in a ṭawng emaw ka tia, ka Hindi thiam ang angin ka bia a, anin Urdu-in ka bia emaw min lo ti ve thung a, “Urdu i thiam a ni maw” min ti awllo, thui erawh kan inbe thei lem hlei lo a, Hindi thiamin a tlin miau si loh chuan. Sapṭawng pangngai takin a 6awng thei a, a aw phawi pawh India rama Hindi hmang ho aw phawi ang tho a nih avangin hriat a harsa lo. Kan chamho chhung zawnga a ṭawngkam hmasa ber chu “inchungah thlamuanna awm rawh se” tih hi a ni. Traning-a tel ve, nula ho ten fiam tehah an neih a, thla te an lakpuia, an han lem fem vel ṭhin a, ani mi kulmuk chi tih takah a hnar nasa thei hle. Chumi hmu chak chuan a aia uar sauhin an han fiam ta ṭhina, a ṭang nasa ṭhin khawp mai.

Nepal leh Myanmar palai te nen

Tlangval hawihhawm leh bengvar tak a ni a, kan haw tur pawh min thlah thlap nghe nghe a. Training chhung zawnga zawhna ngah ber a ni ta hial awm e. Peshawar Diocese ṭhalai te zinga rawngbawltu pawimawh tak, an khaipa – coordinator a ni a. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province chhunga Kristian ṭhalaiten kawng hrang hranga hma an sawn theih dan tur ngaihtuahin Peshawar Diocese hian hma an la a, sakhaw dang ṭhalaite nen pawh thawhhona ṭha tak neiiin, innghirngho lovin, chak tak siin rawngbawl hna a kalpui mek a ni. SACYN Leaders Training-ah hian Pakistan aṭangin mi 3 an rawn tela, pakhat hi chu resource person a ni nghe nghe. Tin, England-a cheng, Pakistan mi, nula pakhat a rawn tel bawk.

Field Visit-ah team khatah kan awm dun

SACYN Leader’s Training 5th Module 2017 hi Negambo, Sri Lanka-ah neih  a ni a. Khawvel ram hrang hrang – Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, England, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan leh Sri Lanka aṭangin kan kalkhawma. India ram aṭang hian Kohhran 3 (CSI, Syrian Orthodox leh PCI) atangin kan kala, CKTP (Mizoram Synod) aiawhin Nl. Lalfamkimi (Fk-i) nen kan kal.

SACYN 2017 palai te

[Kristian Thalai Chanchinbu April 2018-ah tihchhuah a ni]

The Last of the Pioneer Mission

  • The land of the head hunters was transformed into a land of peace within a short span of time. It was the Lord’s doing. The advent of the Missionaries in the now called Mizoram was in three phases. The Lakher Pioneer Mission (LPM), the last of them all, was established in September 26, 1907 at Saikao Village by Rev. R.A. Lorrain. Since then, his legacy remains there.

Some part of Saikao Village. July 7, 2012

Saikao, previously known as Serkawr is a small village in Siaha district of Mizoram. It is around 300Km from Aizawl, the capital of the state and around 51 Km from Siaha.

The Lakher Pioneer Mission Compound, Saikao

The Lorrain’s Ville Bungalow was built on a hill top in 1914 by Rev. Lorrain himself, using a tin roof, a wooden floor and a ‘dap’ wall (splitted bamboo matted together).

Lorrain Ville, a Bungalow built in 1914 by Rev. RA Lorrain

Trophies at Lorrain’s Ville

Rev. Violet Louise Anne Mark, the third generation of the LPM decided not to return to England. She has been staying at the Lorrain’s Ville till today. Affectionately called as ‘Pi Vaili’ by the locals is the grand daughter of Rev. R.A. Lorrain. Born on April 16, 1938, at Saikao, her mother was “Tlosai Zua No”  (Princess of the Lakher), the daughter of Rev. Lorrain. Her father was Mr. A.B. Bruce Foxtall. She was married to Rev. L. Mark, a Mara theologian in 1968. She was ordained as a minister in 1994 by Rev. Lambert Garter at Saikao.

Rev. Violet L. Mark (Photo courtesy – Soul Photography, Siaha)

Rev. Violet turned 80 today (April 16, 2018). May God continue to be be with her.

Rev. L. Mark

The Mark’s were blessed with four offspring – 3 sons and 1 daughter.

Grand Childrens of the Mark’s.

The bungalow has been neatly maintained by the Mark’s.  As you walk inside, you can feel the presence of the Lorrain’s. Things were kept as it was.

The living room

The living room was set up in such a way that it was like stepping into a time machine and going back to the 19th century England.

A research colleague, Dr. B. Malsawmkima sat on the rocking chair of Mrs. Lorrain

Rev. Lorrain developed the Mara Alphabet and translated the bible in his study room in the bungalow.

Study room at the Lorrain’s Ville

The Holy Bible used as a reference by Rev. R.A. Lorrain for translation into Mara

Rev. Lorrain was a trained medical personnel. It was his knowledge in  medicine that gained the trust of the head hunters (Lorrain, 1920).

Biography of Hudson Taylor and other Medical Books and a typewriter

Ms. Tlosai, the daughter of Rev. Lorrain was an excellent pianist. It was said that most of the Mara Gospel songs were translated and written by using this upright piano. Which was freighted in 1932 to Tlabung by boat, it was then disassembled and transported to Saikao by means of pony.

A Dale Forty upright piano

The Maraland celebrated its Gospel Centenary in 2007. Saikao village, being the provenance of the Gospel in the area, remained in the hearts of the Mara Community and the whole Mizoram. The dedications of the Pioneer Missionaries will always be cherished. The legacy, which remained there  will also be an evidence of their dedications.

A monument erected at Saikao to commemorate the Gospel Centenary of the Maraland.

 

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

[Isaiah 52:7 (KJV)]

Oftenly I heard about the LPM and their legacies which remain there at Saikao. Visiting the LPM has always been in my bucket list. On July the 7th 2012, while venturing around the Siaha Forest Division, we had our brunch at Kaochao (Kawlchaw) Forest Beat House. We were then taken to the village forest plantation around the legendary Saikao village.  We took the offroad to cut our journey short. We crossed the Chhimtuipui river, heading straight to Saikao through a fair weather road. The road was bumpy and slippery. If not for a robust Gypsy, we would have stuck on the way.

Crossing the river Chhimtuipui

Luck favoured us. The ACF, who was the Liaison officer for the monitoring team was born and raised up at Saikao Village. The LPM Premise was his childhood playground. He took us to the Bungalow and we finally met the Last of the Pioneer Missionary.

It was an impromptu visit…had it been a pre-planned visit, I would have not wear a camouflage shirt…and lucky me for that boy standing in front of me…who hideth the chempui carried cross-draw at my waist 😀

Even though it was ecology which brought us there, it was more a pilgrimage to me. A pilgrimage to witness the love and the grace of God.

Today, on her 80th Birthday, our prayers are with Rev. L. Mark and his family, who lovingly cared for Rev. Violet, as she is bedridden due to hypertension and other old age ailments. #prayforrevviolet

A heartfelt gratitude to –

  • Soul Photography, Siaha for permitting me to use Rev. Violet’s portrait.
  • Mr. Beihrochhua, a close friend, for helping me to get the necessary information.

Reference:

Lorrain, R.A. 1920. Pioneering Lakherland. Lakher Pioneer Mission, London.