A

I
Ron Elerick Family vol. 2 - no. 1 - april vb

The January 25th issue of THE LOOKOUT contained Arleen's first and only article accepted foir publication, an article entitled "Was Jesus Homesick?". In this article she concluded, "Praise the Lord for homesickness!" In her Personal Diary for January 23rd, written from Chiduba Vil lage, Arleen wrote: "I had a good time in the Lord, standing outside the kitchen door, looking at the stars and praying. . . For the first time in my life I have really longed deep in iny soul for Jesus to come and take me away to be with Him and worship at His feet forever. I'm so in love with Jesus, just wish I could let the whole world know, but I'll just have to wait for

His leading. Not unhappy here, just want to be with Jesus. . ."

Arleen is -- Homesick no long

er not for Oklahoma and friends, nor for Heaven and Jesus; but we do miss her.

Three
since we

months

have

passed
and

As reported In the last

Issue

came to Africa

of the MALAWI WITNESS, Ron and

found our place in Malawiay husband Ron, our three girls, and I. They have not been easy months. I am writing this with a pen because our typewriter
not arrived, and neither have oiir other household goods They are somewhere on the way we hope. In the meantime we are learning to do without.
The Lord has blessed our

the family were moving into Blantyre to attend Language schpol during the rainy sea son. God had provided a house for them as an answer to pray
er. So their new home was to

has

be Blantyre in a house that God had prepared. Ron writes: "Many have asked about the
details of Arleen's illness

and subsequent death,

MALAWI WITNESS.

so

I'd
the

efforts to get adjusted to "bush life." Our missionary work is taking shape, and we are encouraged by the possibil ity of great results. Still, like all new missionaries, we
miss our loved ones back home.

like to share this now in

"We moved into town on the 2nd of Deceniber to attend Lan

We are homesick.

guage school and on the same day the entire family was in oculated at the hospital for Cholera, as during the rainy
season in Malawi, many do con tact the disease. Beginning
the 28th of December Arleen

I f you have ever suffered from that malady,you know home

sickness can be ness. We must a real sick I t can rob i t s victims

of all enthusiasm and

not

energy.
But

began to have headaches and dizzy spells, etc. She took

chloroquine tablets as a cure for a Malaria attack, as we assiimed this was her problem. The symptoms went away and she seemingly recovered. However, a week later the symptoms re
turned and the Doctors who

allow that'.

even as we put our homesick ness out of our minds, i t leaves a precious thoughtz
Was Jesus homesick too? God's own Son came from the

ARLEEN

ELERICK

heights of Heaven
earth as a

to

live on
a

Sept. 10. 1944 - Feb. 9, ISTB

Arleen Jane Evans Elerick was bom Septem ber 10, 1944, in Los Angeles, California, and

wanderer without

treated her,diagnosed that she

had Malaria. She was treated

bed or a place to hand His cloak. The change, the "cul ture shock," must have been infinitely more drastic than
ours-more drastic than the

departed this life to "be with the Lord" on February 9, 1976,in Blantyre, Malawi, Africa,
where the family was serving as missionaries.
She received her secondary education in the

shock any missionary has ever suffered when coming to his

field of service.

As Jesus walked the hot and

Los Angeles area, graduating from Washington High in 1962. At the age of twelve, without the help of Christian parents, she began her own search for God and accepted Christ as her
Savior and Lord. At the age of fourteen, 5he was to
felt the call of God to serve as a missionary

for this until Saturday the 7th of February when she be came incoherent in her speech. The doctors examined her and told me she had Cerebral Mala

ria, commonly known as "Blackwater Fever". They contacted the resident in chasge at the

dusty roads of Galilee, did He

think home? of the comforts He had

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

he admitted her.

and

Tests were

left behind

in

His

heavenly
misunder^

When He was

and she always felt that the call Africal That feeling never changed.

then

taken, and

the

results

showed that Arleen was suffer

stood,did He think of the warm

and

happy

fellowship

He had

1 year (Pepperdine University, Los Angeles).

(Next Page Column 3)

Following this

committment she

attended:

ing from Hepatitis, not Malar

ia, and that her blood sugar
(Next Page Column 1)

(Next Page Column 1)

'I WILL RETURN . . . THE WORK MUST GO ON."

"From the beginning, there was
I

never any
set out to

doubt in rny mind that I would return and con

tinue the work that Arleen and

cont.

accomplish for our Lord. Six years ago n\y faith would not have been strong enough to
have considered this, but Arleen led me to a

ARLEEN

cont.

:?
enjoyed with His Father? When He was rejected and mistreat
ed, did hosts of Him with ledging
universe?

He think of all the Heaven who worshiped joy and love, acknow Hitn as Lord of the
As Jesus bore the

deeper walk with Christ and it is now possi ble to accept what has happened and to go on. "Ten months ago, we went to Malawi feeling
that this was God's will for us. We set out

1 1/2 years (San Jose Bible College, San Jose); and 1 year (San Jose State College, San Jose). While at Bible College
she met Ron Elerick and they were married on June 6, 1964, at Oroville, California.

to evangelize people
who had no one to

who

needed Christ

and

teach them.

In these few

agony of Calvary, did He long for the painless state that was His before the beginning
of time?

short months we placed Bibles in the hands of men for the first time; we shared with people

hungry for the Gospel; we assisted with the starting of two new congregations and the opening of a new village and we witnessed the
new birth of 51 people. "But the work is not finished, fiy committ ment is as valid today as it was when we

Two years later, Rhonda Jane was born on August 19th at San

Jose. Following a move in 1967

to Alaska, Susan Mae was born May 19, 1968, in Fairbanks and Wendy Kay on August 21, 1970,
in Homer. God used Arleen in

"The fellowship of his suf fering'." Paul rejoiced in it,

arjd so do we. Homesickness i s

but one area

of

l i f e that we
know

started out together.

The circumstances have

the churches at Fairbanks, An

can share with Jesus and

changed,

but the need is

as great as ever!

chorage,

Wrangell,

Homer and

that

He

understandsone way
and our Lord can be homesick

that we

linked
ness'.

in

common fellowship.

Our leadership training classes have done much to train evangelists, and this must con tinue, as new areas are requesting teaching. "Souls are lost and need Jesus. I have the

Kenai. It was during this time of still feeling God's call to be a missionary that she re
marked to an Indian woman who

Praise the Lord for

(This article appeared in the January 25, 1976, issue of THE LOOKOUT and Is reprinted with their permission.)

permit to go! I love the people! I am learn ing the language and I expect great things in the years to come for the glory of Jesus! "Truly it is no sacrifice to return. Christ
has been a comfort to me and n\y mind is end, but a new beginning."

was a Christian, "God is going to have to change n\y feelings, or Ron's". A few days later,
Ron announced his decision to

peace with the knowledge that NOTHING can separate us from His love. This is not the

at

return to Bible College. In 1971, Arleen resumed her

studies at Midwest Christian

College and graduated with an A.B. Degree in Christian Edu

cation In 1973. During time she shared a 2 year this min

cont.
was dangerously lew. Although they fed her glucose to build i t up, Arleen went into a coma that night and never regained
consciousness. She died at

- UPDATE! While this issue has been to know of the primarily

a tribute to Arleen,we also want you

istry with Ron at the

Christ

ian church in Apache. On Sunday, May 18, 1975, at the Eastern Heights Christian Church in Ponca City,they were

9:30 p.m. the 9th of February (Malawi time) and was buried in Limbe, Malawi,the next day. "Many may assume that our living in "bush conditions" in
Africa contributed to Arleen's
death. Not sol The doctor at

plans. (Call if you have questions.)

staying in Bakersfield,

present and future

"set apart (by the elders) for

the work to which God had

THE PRESENT:

Ron and the girls are

called them" (Acts 13:2) four days later departed

and for

California,
spending

with Ron's brother and his wife and two children. Ron will return to

Maiawi where home was to be a native mud hut with a tin roof

the hospital explained that he felt she contacted hepatitis at the hospital from a needle
that was infected. The time

Oklahoma the first of May,

the summer
the summer.

speaking

to

supporting

congregations, camps and D.V.B.S. groups. The girls will join him in
Susan and Wendy are do

in the village of Chiduba. Arleen passed from this life on February 9, in the city of Blantyre, where they were en rolled in Language school dur

ing the

rainy season, of in
contacted

fectious hepatitis;

of the incubation period fits the date when we were all in

oculated for Cholera.

ing fine in school and Rhonda will

soon enroll. She is much improved. THE FUTURE: Ron is planning to re turn to Malawi this fall, probably

"Some may think i t

strange
Ma

two months earlier from an in fected needle when innoculated for Cholera. She was buried in Limbe, Malawi, in accordance

that Arleen was buried in

lawi , but she would not agree.

Long before we went to Africa,

we discussed this
for both of us.

possibility
I t was her

in September or October. However, many details must be worked out.

FINANCES: In excess of $13,000.00
has been received for the expenses related to Arleen's death and the

with her desire to be burled in Africa, surrounded by those she loved and led to Christ.

request

that

she

be

buried

is survived by her husband,

by her mother and father and

She was preceeded in death

where she died. It was her desire to be buried in Africa,

surrounded

by

the people she

loved and led to Christ'.

"Some people never

their visions in this

fulfill
life.

return of the family to the States, This will more than meet the needs

who will be challenged by her

witness.

Ron, and 3 daughters: Rhonda (9), Susan (7) and Wendy (5); and by a host of Christians

Arleen, although for just a short time, saw her dreams and
desires for Christ fulfilled."

and will provide

the

funds for the

return to Africa. Regular SERVICE LINK funds should continue however.

Nonprofit Org.

U.S. PO'STAGE PAID

Permit No. 32

FIELD ADDRESS:

M/M Ron Elerick

Christian Church Mission

Chiduba Village P/A Chtringa

P.O. Palombe

Malawi, Africa
FORWARDING ADDRESS: Malawi Christian Mission

c/o Eastern Heights Christian Church

Route 2 Box 88

Ponca City, Oklahoma

74601

I
Ron Elerick Family
VOL. 2 - NO. 2 - SEPT. "7B

wn
God Z& a good God, a iacth^iit God and ont (/oko feeep4 HZ& p/ioniUt6,

iim f
Many tunz6 I /lave pAzackzd

l&olatzd to any one. nation o^ g^oup oi pexipto,*

a& I mnted to teach tho^e, who had no te.ackeJi,

m&6^age^ on the, "GKeAt CormU&lon", ojtrpha^lz^g Ao. tnaXh that tht Go^peZ -U univoMol and not
Tkl6 pAampted ai> to go to MaZam.,

PA^a.chlng, that In Je^uA, all poweM. U given and

He ha& comanded u6 to teach, baptize, and teach alt nations.

IheAe. AM anotheA pant oi the "Gfiexit Cormu>i>lon" that many may have oveMoofitd, that we would neven. be alone, Uy expeJUence In WxJbMl JU a testimony to thi& t/mth.

thing4> weJie hand to bean.,

^teadia&tne&6 oi hope, , {I The&6. 1:2, 3a), White time non. 6pace would penmlt a total ac counting, I would like to JihoAje a (Jew lni>tjances oi how inlend& weyit the "6econd mite" ion, u6.

tion oi you in vu/t phojyeM) conataktty beanlng in mind youA wonk oi iaith and labon, oi love and
We i/ianfe God ion. meeting the&e i^peclal needh thnough Hi6 6enx>ant&, "Lond,we thank you ion., , , "

Koted ifwm iamVLy and MXend&, I wa6 neven. alone, "Lon,d, I thank you'," J am al&o mindful o^ Paul'6 wond6, "We give thank& to God always ioK alt oi you,

ielt Hit, pnz6ence and I have a new peace in my heant that "alt i(, wett," TkeAe in Hatam., 6epamaking men

He pAomiied While tkei>e I want to ^kafte that "thn^agk it alt" Je&u& totu with me. I ^alty

A6 ihz

Icut

nemleXtzn. uxu

mdUzd, {^inaJi on Rhonda indicated ihz would izquiAz a long pzfiiod of{ Sh& tooi ioon ejvioltzd Zn &chool, hoMzveA, whzA.z ihz mn ^zcond .in
a fiacz. HeA VoctoA. itatzd that

heA.

^uCl fLZto\}VLtj tka>

({oi-t

wa& 'UnpoiiZblz} but zvzn new a -C4 normal and phy6ZciU

Whzn we ^i&tu/inzd to tkz Statz& toe iaczd thz hmzdlatz nzzdi ojJ tempo^wAy hou&lng duAing a AhoAt itay in Oklahoma, dzpzndablz tAOMpofitation and a pznmanznt homz until ouM. fuitufm. God meX all thz&z nzzdi thAough Hl6 pzopl.. Chuck S TA.zlma Rowden openzd theJji homz and thein. hzoAts to mz oa. thz thAzz wzzki I wai hzfiz pAzczzding thz IkemofUal SeAvlcz. A "homz

Bob Lzntz Iz^t family and mbUitAy to laboi 6 wzzki uiUh

ui in Ualmi. Hz mnkzd on ova

houiz, fizpaUAzd thz Land HovzfL and brought u6 a touch o^ homz

that we nzzdzd. Thzn, bfwkzn

6how "all u)eZl" loLth all o^ the. g-OiZi,. "Thank-you TatheA." A ipectoi. notz Qfiatitude. l6 duz to HoAold and Lucy, my bfwthzfi and ki6 iai{z, ^o-t tak ing thz QinJU Znto thzit home and being ^atheA and mother, to thejn. No one can fizally appAeccatz thz addzd Ae^pon&lblllty, thz tnX.p6 to tkz doc tor, thz ^pzclal di2t nzzdzd ^oA. lihonda and thz zxpia. lovz

amy i^iom homz" should always bz toiXh iuch {[inz ChAlstian ^znd&. Thank you, FathzAl I

^oot and all, hz took anothzn. ^0 wzzki, to fizpont to oufi iuppoAting chufichz&. fJJith his plans to fiztisAn temponjOAily altzAzd, hz iznt thz $396.24 balancz to us. We adznowlzdgz his many zxpn.zs^tloni, o^ lovz.
Whzn ChoAlzs S Linda Smith

weAZ tAons^znAzd to Ohio, we loit ou/t ^aith^ul ^ofium.duig agznts. However, God gfiaclous-

l^ pfu)vl(k.d GzoKgz and Hazel

God pnxivldzd "whzzli" vkzn

Tlaymond g iKznz

nzzdzd to hzlp thz kidi

ad-

ju&t. My mom, Polly Hza6lip, also hzlpzd, and a "thank-you!' ju&t doz&n't zxp^i hoiA) much thziA. hzlp hai mzant.

Webb obbeA&d a lou) milzagz 1971 Chzvzllz In good mzchanical condition. Thz wholz&alz

O'Uzalzy. Fo^ moAZ than a yzoA now thzy havz bankzd founds, pfLzpaAzd hupoHts and wnotz "nzmy" Izttzu o^ appKzcJjxtion. In addition, thzy ^aith-

iuUiy wtwtz to us on thz ^zld

giving ouA hzants and &pVUts
a Kzal boost. Thzy oaz tmly
OUA. CjO-lahomAS In Halaiai.

pAAJiz and gznz^u& contribution made, dzpznd ablz tAonspo.'itation veAy Azadonablz. Thz coa ha6 6eA.vzd ivzll and i& now io^ iolz. Thankil

P:

Thz SzAvlcz Link tooA iavzd hundAjzds 0|J dellafis whzn Glzn S BAnzstinz Pztty o^^eAzd thz Aznt ifizz usz ofi a tao bzdfwom mobllz homz. Thz nzw ca/ipzt and houAs o^ tunz thzy spznt

madz ouA. homz veAy com^ofitiblz. Tha^-youl

All 0^ thzsz weAz unsolicAjtzd gl^tJ) o{, Ix)\jz f,fiom God's pzoplz as thzy wzAz Izd to ihaA&l

EMERGENCY FUND ACCOUNTING

When the tragic news of Arleen's untimely death spread stateside, the response was always the

same.

"What can we do to help?"

Our first response was pray I

Pray for comfort, strength

and wisdom for Ron and the girls. And then we requested financial help for the-unknown expenses that would accumiilate. The months have now passed and the hills are in. It is now time for an accounting to the many, many Christian friends who responded to the need.
We have attempted to recognize the congre
gations who shared. In some cases it was

Foothill Boulevard

Church of
Christian

Commun i ty
Alexandria

Christ Church
Church

Oroville, Ft. Lauderdale,

Cal.

Christian

Ozark Bible College

Artesia Kosoma First

A1 exandria,
Joplin, Artesia, Anthlers, Apache, Apache, Ardmore, Blackwel1, Chlckasha, Chickasha,

Fla. La.
Mo. N.M. Ok. Ok. Ok. Ok. Ok. Ok. Ok. Ok. Ok.

(Lord's
Christian

Reapers)
Church
Christ Church Circle Church Church
Church

Mary-Martha College Heights

Westside Parkview

Church of Christian Bible Christian Christian

Christian

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

338.39 50.00

200.00 210.16 100.00

25.00 337.00 25.00

impossible to determine the exact sum given, as a church or college acted as the collect ing and forwarding body. These cases are indicated by this sign (*, **, ***). We have
not listed Individual gifts, choosing rather to let God bestow the recognition through His blessings. Your gifts, large or small, were accepted as expressions of your deep

concern

and

love.

Ify how we "thank-you".

and services ate

314.09

Since most commodities

Primary Dept.
Elm Flat

Sunday
Christian
Christian

School Church
Church Church School Church Church Church Church Christ Church Church School Church Church Church Church Church

$ 124.60 $1 ,005.00 18.09 $

Cleo Springs,
Deer Creek,

$
$
* * * *

higher in Malawi than in the United States, we anticipated hugh medical and burial ex penses. However,this was not the case. The
doctor admitted that Arleen had been inocu lated with an infectious needle and the b i l l

45.50

Deer Creek Eagle City Primary & Junior

Fletcher Cache
New Testament Marlow Glencoe Guthrie

100.00
82.73

Sunday
Christian Christian Christian Christian Church of Christian Christian Christian Christian Christian

Eagle City, Fletcher,

Cache, Duncan, Marlow, Glencoe, Guthrie, Lawton,
Lawton,

Ok. Ok.
Ok.

$ $

820.36

Ok. Ok. Ok. Ok.

Ok. Ok. Ok. Ok. Ok. Ok. Ok. Ok.

Carriage Hills
Western Hills
First Moore

University
Antioch

Christian Christian
Christian Christian Christian Christian Christian Christian Bible

Lawton, Marlow, Moore, Norman,

$ $ $ $ $

Chapel Draper Park Metropolitan Mimosa Heights

Northside

Church
Church Church Church Church Church Church Church Church

Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma

City, City, City, City, City, City,

** ** ** ** ** ** **

$ $ $ $

715.00 122.77 55.00 29.80 400.00 52.00 800.00 155.00

reflected that they assumed that liability. Ron did purchase the most expensive casket available in Malawi and an appropriate memo rial service was held there. The only other expense will be a memorial headstone that iton will place on the grave when he returns. The medical expenses incurred here are mostly those which doctors in California felt were necessary to assure that Rhonda
had no reoccurance of the disease and that

804.56

family members (including Harold, Lucy and family) were not Infected. Additional ex penses were for blood tests on Rhonda before she returns. Since she has been given a "clean bill of health" (Praise GodI) there
will be no further medical expenses.

Ok.
Ok.

Ok.
Ok. Ok. Ok. Ok.

It is evident that your generousity sur passed the needs of the hour, even the ones we expected that did not materialize. Even
when the return airfare is deducted from the

Oakland Tuttle Forest Hills

Christian
Christian Christian

Metropolitan
Midwest ~ Junior Class

Christian" Col t^ge

Christi an

Northside

First (Senior Class)

Red Rock Stroud

Christian

Christi an
Christian Christian Christian Christian Christian Christian Christian Christian

Church Church Church Church

Tryon

Church
Church Church Church Church

Highland Park
Sandusky Avenue
Fi rst

Wellston
Fi rst

Tuttle, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City,-Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, Putman, Red Rock, Stroud, Tryon, Tulsa, Tulsa, Watonga, Wellston,
Crane,

**

account,

a substancial balance will remain.

$1 ,287.70 $ 200.00 -Ok.*** $ 707.30 Ok. 50.00 $ 50.00 Ok. $ 5.00 Ok. $
Ok.
Ok. Ok. Ok. Ok. Ok.

To this will be added

the income from the automobile when it is sold. - The question now arises, "Since the Lord supplied a sur

plus, how would He have it used?"

While we

$ $ $ $

25.00 100.00 77.30 600.00

would welcome your thoughts, it appears that the answer may already have been supplied. When Ron departed Malawi, he left the Land Rover with a missionary friend (from the
churches of Christ) and since the vehicle would soon be 10 years old and must pass a

Ok.
Tex. Tex.

Church
Church

Community (Women)
INDIVIDUALS

Perryton,

$1 ,000.00 10.00 $ 91.20 $ 65.00 $ 50.00 $

rigid government inspection;

his mechanics make a list

this
of

man had

the repairs

necessary

to

pass this test.

He estimates

$2,248.00 $13,496.55

$1,000.00 would bring it up to standard, but that it would probably be better to trade it in on a newer model. It has served well (though requiring constant repair) and it
met the need for immediate "bush" transpor tation when Ron first arrived in Malawi. Should this become necessary, Ron would seek the advice of friends in Malawi who have

TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS
DISBURSEMENTS:

Burial Expenses (Malawi) Medical Expenses (Malawi) Air Transportation Home Medical Expenses (United States) Automsbile (+ title s insurance) Miscellaneous
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS:
BALANCE IN EHERENCY FUND:

$ 150.50 $ 21.00 $2,135.50 $1,011.50 $1,586.17

g 23.77 $4,928.44

mechanical aptitude
could be purchased.

so

the proper vehicle

Again we want to say "thank-you" for your faithful support of the Elerick family and
we want to ask you for your prayers,not only for them, but also for the eldership of the Eistem Heights Christian Church that we might be given wisdom and direction from
1,568.11

'

Cod for

the

decisions

that

must be made.

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

FIELD ADDRESS:

Nonprofit Org.

U.S. PO'STAGE

PAID
permit No. 32

M/M Ron Elerick Christian Church Mission

Chiduba Village

P/A Chiringa
P.O. Palombe

Malawi, Africa
FORWARDING ADDRESS:
Malawi Christian Mission

c/o Eastern Heights Christian Church

Route 2 Box 88

Ponca City, Oklahoma

74601