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In loving memory of Elder Rolland
Howlett
Feb 10, 1915 – June 9, 2011
Chúng tôi trân
trọng báo tin: Mục Sư Rolland Howlett đã ngủ an trong Chúa ngày 09-06-2011
tại Angwin , CA USA. Hưởng thọ 96 tuổi. Lễ tưởng niệm và ghi ơn sẽ được tổ
chức tại Scales Chapel at Pacific Union College (10 Angwin Ave - Angwin,
CA 94508) vào chiều ngày 6-8-2011 Những ai biết đến Elder Howlett như là
một trong những vị tiên phong có công với Giáo hội CDPL VN và cũng là ân
nhân của tín hữu người Việt trong những ngày đầu khi mới đặt chân đến USA
định cư vào năm 1975.
Tín Hữu Cơ Đốc Phục Lâm tại Việt Nam và Hải Ngoại gởi lời thương tiếc và
tri ân đến cùng gia đình Ông. Cầu xin Chúa chăm gìn thân thể Ông cho đến
ngày Chúa hồi lai.
Tiểu sử Mục sư Howlett
MỤC SƯ HOWLETT, CHỨC VỤ VÀ
TÌNH CẢM VỚI NGƯỜI VIỆT
Năm 1937, Mục sư Rolland Howlett tốt nghiệp trường Thần Đạo Emmanuel và đa
đáp ứng lời kêu gọi phục vụ Chúa tại Đông Dương. Ông bắt đầu công việc
giáo dục tại Saigon. Ông đã dành thì giờ một năm học tiếng Việt(Buổi sáng
học được chữ nào, chiều đến thực tập ngay chữ đó.)
Ngoai Mục sư Howlett được giao cho thành lập trường Thánh Kinh Thần Học. Ông
đã đạp xe đạp khoảng 40Km để tìm kiếm đất đai. Đức Chúa Trời đã ban ơn
phước trong việc mua bất động sản.
Trường học bắt đầu với một nhóm sinh viên, chẳng bao lâu đã phát triển
thêm. Cả hai Ông Bà là giáo sư dạy tại đó. Ông đã khởi sự trường Thánh
Kinh Thần Học với một tạp chí sau này trở thành ấn loát Thời Triệu. Cùng
nhau làm việc là cách hữu hiệu giúp tài chánh tăng lên cho công việc của
Giáo hạt.
Ngày 1 Tháng 9 năm 1939, Thế Chiến II bùng nổ và Tháng 8 năm 1941, gia
đình Mục sư Howlett được di tản đến Ma-ni-la (Phi-luật-tân). Ông đã bỏ lại
trường thánh kinh đầu tiên, một nhà in, một bệnh viện phụ sản, một nhà thờ,
một chẩn y viện cho các bộ lạc Người Dân Tộc.
Sau đây là những chức vụ Mục sư Howlett đã đảm nhiệm trong thời gian ở
Việt-nam: Trưởng Bộ Giáo Dục Địa Hạt kiêm Thủ Quỹ; Hiệu Trưởng, Giáo Sư;
Trưởng Bộ Cơ Quan Ấn Loát; Giám Mục Hội Thánh Saigon; Chủ bút tạp chí CĐPL;
Quản lý kiêm Thủ Quỹ cơ quan ấn loát, Phụ tá Thời Triệu báo. Ông đã bỏ lại
tất cả, đó là nguyên nhân đã làm Ông đau lòng.
Trong thời kỳ chuyển tiếp, năm sinh viên vẫn tiếp tục công việc Chúa tại
Việt-nam. Những năm sau này, Ông đã bảo lãnh hai gia đình người Việt sinh
sống tại Pacific Union College.
Năm 1975, sau khi Saigon thất thủ, đại học Loma Linda và Pacific Union đã
tiếp đón 410 nhân viên thuộc các cơ quan CĐPL tại Saigon được di tản đến
Hoa Kỳ. Điều này mang nhiều ý nghĩa đối với Mục sư Howlett.
Những năm Mục sư Howlett phục vụ Chúa tại Việt-nam, Ông đã hết lòng lo
công việc giáo hạt, mở mang mọi lãnh vực. Nguyện vọng của Ông là nhìn thấy
Tin Lành tại Việt-nam được phát triển vượt thời gian. Ông đã thương yêu,
ân cần, khuyến khích các sinh viên trong việc đào tạo một thế hệ rao giảng
lẽ thật cho Chúa thời bấy giờ. Ông luôn bày tỏ sự tha thứ, độ lượng đối
với mọi người. Người Việt chúng tôi hầu như không tìm được điều gì buồn
phiền, trách cứ ở Mục sư Howlett.
Cuộc di tản lịch sử 1975, những anh em Cơ Đốc người Việt tha hương đã được
Ông, một trong số những người an ủi, giúp đỡ để sớm ổn định cuộc sống trên
xứ lạ quê người. Ông đã nhìn thấy những sinh viên do Ông đào tạo nay trở
thành những người lãnh đạo thành công trong công việc Chúa.
Nay Muc sư Howlett đã vĩnh viễn ra đi, nhưng sự yêu thương, quý trọng đối
với ông vẫn còn hằn nét sâu đậm trong lòng những người Việt xa xứ. Một
ngày nào đây, trong nháy mắt, thiên đàng rộng mở, Mục sư Howlett sẽ gặp
lại những người bạn thân thương tại đó.
Trần Minh Loan
Biography of
Elder Rolland Howlett
In 1937 Elder Rolland Howlett graduated from
Emmanuel Missionary College and accepted a call to serve in what was then
French Indo-China. He went to start the educational work in Saigon. They
spent a year learning the language. (What words they learned that morning,
they would practice on the street that
afternoon!)
When Elder Howlett was told to establish a training school, he would ride
his bike 40 kms a day looking for a place. The Lord blessed in the
purchase of the property. The school began with a handful of students, but
soon grew. He and his wife both taught at the school. He established the
first training school with a press, which later grew into the first
publishing house. Ingathering was a big event each year, raising money for
the mission work.
Sept. 1, 1939, WWII began and in August, 1941, the Howletts evacuated to
Manilla. He left behind the beginning of a training school, a publishing
house, a maternity clinic, a church, and a dispensary for the mountain
tribes. These were the positions Elder Howlett held while in Vietnam:
Secretary and Educational Secretary of the Mission; Mission treasurer;
Principal/Teacher; Book and Bible House secretary; Siagon church elder and
editor of the church paper; Manger and press treasurer of the publishing
house; Associate editor of the Anamese Signs of the Times. He had to leave
it all at a moment's notice, which made him heartsick!
In the interim years, five of his students continued the work started
there in VietNam. Years later, two of the families were sponsered by Elder
Howlett and lived at PUC
There was a Grand reunion in 1975 after Siagon fell, held at Pacific Union
College and Loma Linda. 410 Vietnamese workers from our Adventist
institutions in Saigon were brought to the United States. That meant so
much for Elder Howlett to be there. It was a glimpse of what heaven will
be like, seeing all our friends again!
Don & Louise Driver
 
Everyone enjoying delicious meals prepared
by Kim.(1/19/2007)
- In her living room with Mrs. Wallace and Mrs. Mieng
(1/19/2007)
 
Signing the book Lotus Blossom Returns.
- In the front porch with Mr. & Mrs. Howlett and Mrs. Evelyn Wallace
 
Mr. & Mrs. Howlett visiting our home in
2003.
 
Some pictures in the backyard and inside
our house.
FLORENCE HOWLETT
Passed away 3 years ago
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
FLORENCE HOWLETT
1910 - 2008
Tin Buồn
Chúng tôi trân trọng báo tin Bà Florence
Howlett ( Thường gọi Bà Winton, cùng với Bác sĩ Ervin Winton Giáo sĩ
y tế đầu tiên, có công sáng lập Bệnh Viện Cơ Đốc Sài Gòn năm 1955 )
đã ngủ an trong Chúa vào ngày 22-07-2008 tại Angwin PUC, California USA,
Hưởng thọ 98 tuổi. Toàn thể Tín Hữu Cơ Đốc Phục Lâm tại Việt Nam và Hải
Ngoại gởi lời chia buồn đến gia đình. Cầu xin Chúa an ủi tang quyến và
chăm gìn thân thể Bà cho đến ngày Chúa hồi lai.
CĐPL V-N Hải Ngoại,
tinhuu.net
From: Rolly Howlett - rhhowlett@puc.edu
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:36:01
Subject: FLORENCE HOWLETT
Dear Friends,
This is to inform you of Florence's
passing on Tuesday, July 22, 2008. She is resting and awaiting her Lord's
return when she will see her Savior face to face. Services to be held
August 1, at 11:00 A.M. at PUC Church in the Scales Chapel. In lieu of
flowers, contributions may be made to: Tieng Noi Hy Vong, Vietnamese SDA
Church, P.O. Box 5704, El Monte, CA 91734.
Rolland is recovering from double pneumonia and is currently at Calistoga
Gardens. Condolences may be sent to Rolland Howlett, 470 College Avenue,
Angwin, CA, 94508.
Your prayers are appreciated at this time.
Children,
Mary Dunn
Louise Driver
Pat O'Neil
Billy Winton
Đọc tiếng Việt xin bấm vào đây
These are the excerpts from the book:
LOTUS BLOSSOM RETURNS.
written by Florence Howlett. Publishing by Pacific Press 2005
..... During
Dr. Winton working in Phuket Thailand hospital, the
telegram arrived from the Mission headquarters in Singapore that changed
her whole outlook. Florence beamed when Ervin read her the telegram. It
said, WOULD YOU GO TO SAIGON. NEED MEDICAL WORK STARTED THERE.
.... Saigon! Vietnam was the one place above all others in the world she
most wanted to go to. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and before long Ervin
wired a reply: They would happily accept the new assignment.
..... The next day, Florence and her family sadly said farewell to all the
friends and hospital workers in Phuket Thailand they were leaving. She
loved them all so much. But real joy was found in doing God’s bidding, and
they were bidden to Saigon.
…. Pastor Nerness continued. “ We are so grateful that you have accepted.
The challenge of beginning a real hospital in Saigon. But you need to know
that we haven’t much money earmarked for use there. You will need to
purchase supplies and equipment here in Singapore to take with you. You
won’t be to find much when you get there.” He paused and looked down at
the papers lying on his desk. Then with an almost embarrassed expression
on his face, he said, “All we can give you at this moment is two thousand
dollars. I’m sorry about that, but do what you can with it. God will have
to supply the rest.”
A SMALL
BEGINNING
Two thousand dollars! How in the world could anyone hope to equip a whole
hospital with only two thousand dollars ? A single piece of good equipment
might cost ten times that amount! But Florence and her husband were
missionaries, and Dr. Winton was a master at repairing broken things. So
they set out to scour Singapore for inexpensive medical equipments and
supplies.
…..Florence was impatient to see the building where the hospital would be.
At the main intersection of two busy streets, Pastor Wallace pointed to a
small, two-story building. “There it is! “ he said proudly. “ Oh, no!”
Florence blurted out. " That doesn’t look big enough even for a home, let
alone a hospital ! "
….Then the committee voted on a local board of directors for the hospital.
Pastor Elton Wallace would serve as chairman, and Florence would be the
secretary of the board. The committee also voted to go ahead with
remodeling the first floor so that the outpatient department could be
opened as soon as possible.
….Florence hired a carpenter right away and put him to work on the
remodeling. Ervin spent his time fixing the plumbing and electricity;
Florence set up an accounting system and prepared the many forms that
would be needed.
MIRACLES,
MIRACLES!
“ Florence,” Pastor
Elton Wallace said one morning, “ You’ve been working nonstop since you
arrived in Saigon. It’s time for a break. The Mission has voted to send
you and your family to Hong Kong for a month’s vacation.”
…. In Hong Kong, the Wintons spent time together as a family. Florence and
Ervin took the children on outings and played with them, trying to regain
some of the closeness they had lost in the mountain of work in Saigon.
Once Florence finally regained her vision, she grew eager to return to
Saigon. After all, there was a hospital to open.
…. On May 22, 1955, the outpatient department of the new Saigon Adventist
Hospital opened for business with little equipment and few medicines.
…..One of these women, Mrs. Mann, was a wife of the United States
Operation Mission (USOM) medical adviser. Mrs. Mann talked to her husband,
to do something about getting help for the Saigon Adventist hospital.
Finally a plan took shape.
 The
Vietnamese government would loan some of the medical equipments that had
been sent to it from America so that the Saigon Adventist Hospital could
care for the pregnant mothers of USOM. The permit to pick up the equipment
was issued. It was an answer-to-prayer day for Ervin and Florence when
they hired a very large moving van and set out for the warehouse with a
driver and an interpreter. The truck was loaded medical equipments.
THE
PERFECT PIECE OF PROPERTY
( Đất Mới
)
.... The staff was growing so fast, it was hard to keep up with the
expansion…. One of the first items on the agenda was a proposal to look
for property for a new, expanded hospital facility.
.... After some seaching, a seven-acre lot was found that would be perfect
for the hospital’s needs. The property boasted a large, fully furnished
French villa with three floors of living space, plus servants’ quarters
and four-car garage in the rear. There was also easy access to the main
boulevard leading from the airport to the palace in the center of town.
Florence and Pastor Storz visited Mr. Paulan to inquire about the land.
The asking price for this property was about US $40,000 more than the
hospital had indisposable income! It seemed outrageous even to talk to Mr.
Paulan about buying the property. Florence wanted that piece of land and
she felt God wanted it too, he would bring in the money somehow.
……Mission personnel offered special prayers asking God to lead in the
matter. The local board members all felt that the land should be
purchased. So Pastor Storz and Florence went to see Mr. Paulan again. His
face lit up when he met them, and his handshake was warm and friendly. His
partners had sent word for him to make a deal with the Adventist hospital.
They would not even require a down payment! Florence turned to Pastor
Storz, her face beaming with joy.
He smiled and needlessly asked, " Shall we buy it
? "
“ Certainly.” Her reply came without a second of hesitation.
The terms were drawn up, giving the hospital one year to pay for the
property, with no interest charge, no down payment, and immediate
occupancy. The first payment was due when the property cleared escrow, the
balance to be paid in two equal payments. And Mr. Paulan handed Florence
the key to the villa.
Florence and Pastor Storz walked out of the office, their hearts
overflowing with rejoicing. Florence knew God’s hand had prepared the way.
When they reached the hospital, they shared the good news, and excitement
spread rapidly through the entire staff.
……During the following week, the gateman at the new property informed
Pastor Storz that Mr. Paulan had brought some Americans to look over the
villa and grounds. The pastor immediately set out to find Mr. Paulan. " I
don’t understand, sir," he said when he faced Mr. Paulan in his office.
"We signed a contract in good faith. How is it that you are showing the
property to someone else ?"
" Please do not worry," said Mr. Paulan in a soothing tone. " Some
Americans from the Standard Oil Company are interested in
purchasing the property. They offered me double the price but I told them
it was already sold and that the deal could not be changed no matter what
they offered me." When Pastor Storz reported to Florence, she felt
relieved and thankful. Surely the Lord must have worked on Mr. Paulan’s
heart to make him stick to his contract even though not a cent had yet
been paid!
BEGINNING
WITH AN IMPOSSIBILITY
…..About a month later the gateman came to Pastor Storz and Florence once
again. He was so upset that he could hardly speak. When he finally blurted
out his message, Florence felt a cold shiver run down her back. “Sir,” the
gateman began “A contractor brought his whole crew to the property this
morning. And they are still there, laying out the property for a large
housing project! ”. Pastor Storz left church immediately and accompanied
the gateman back to the villa. The men were hard at work, just as the
gateman had said. Pastor Storz said to the contractor “This property has
been purchased by the Saigon Adventist Hospital. Please take your men away
immediately.”
The contractor gave a smug grin. “ Look at this,” he said, holding up an
official-looking document. “ This land has been requisitioned by the
govement for the construction of refugee housing!”
……. Pastor Storz told him. “There has obviously been a mistake, would you
please cease construction until I can look into this matter?” The
contractor considered this a moment before he replied. “Yes, I will take
my men away until we have further orders.”
Again, Pastor Storz hunted up Mr. Paulan, who expressed surprise to hear
that the government had sent a contractor to the property. “Yes,” he said,
“the government requisitioned the land more than four months ago, but the
law is clear about these requisitions. It specifically states that if
building has not begun within three months of the time the order was
issued, the owner is free to sell his property. So I legally sold it to
you.”
Together the men set out to talk to the government authorities. When they
arrived at the proper office, they were informed that the minister had
gone to Australia for several weeks to attend the Olympics. His assistant
said he could not change the order requisitioning the land, but he would
issue a command to stop construction until the minister returned and
produced the original order. Again God intervened, and the new hospital
property was still theirs—at least until the minister returned. When he
came back and heard that the property had been sold for a new hospital, he
was delighted. He voided the original requisition immediately.
Contributions from local friends and businesses funded
the first two payments to Mr. Paulan. When Florence’s family and some
American doctors heard about the land purchase, they also wanted a share
in helping to pay for the new hospital property. Soon the Mission was able
to make the third payment – and owned the new property free and clear.
But one more obstacle suddenly arose. A new law came
into effect that no foreigners could own property in Vietnam. Legally, all
of the Mission-owned property was held in the name of Pastor Elton
Wallace. In addition, the government considered the Mission a French
organization, and French organizations could not buy property - even to
build a hospital. Negotiations began between the Vietnamese ambassador and
the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Washington, D.C.
One year and six months later, on America’s
Thanksgiving Day in 1956, President Ngo Dinh Diem signed the papers that
allowed the property to belong to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. What a
day of thanksgiving that was! Now the property only waited for the new
hospital to be erected.
…..The Wintons had a little more than a year until furlough time, and
Florence had one more problem to deal with. It was a big problem.
Beginning with the war for Vietnam’s independence, refugees had built
small shelters on every available spot of empty land-Including the new
hospital property. Over the years, these squatters had made themselves
very much at home. Some had actually built small houses and planted
gardens. Before the hospital could be built, these squatters would have to
be moved off the property. But as in some other Asian countries, the
squatters would not move unless they were paid—and paid well. Only then
could the Mission build a brick wall around the property.
This problem was resolved. The squatters were paid, and
the wall was built—all before the Winton left on furlough. Florence
happily wrote the check to pay for the iron gate at the entrance. She
greatly anticipated seeing the new hospital under construction when the
family returned in a year. Of course, it would take several years to
complete the hospital facility, and the money for contruction must be
earned before the board would allow them to proceed.
In the meantime, the villa was remodeled into three apartments for
families and several studio apartments for unmarried graduate nurses. A
church school for the American children met in a room on the third floor.
It was a happy moment for Florence when she and her family spent their
first night sleeping on the new property.
This second year at the hospital had been a busy one,
as the year-end reports recorded. Medical personel saw 40,000 outpatients
and admitted 758 patients to the hospital. They delivered 103 babies and
performed 147 major surgeries. The staff had grown to more than fifty
employees, and every staff member was a baptized church member – an
especially important statistic for Florence.
…. During these years, the gospel was spreading rapidly in Vietnam. The
Vietnamese Voice of Prophecy had gone on the air as a result of Dr.
Winton’s care of a grateful patient.
….. And then it was furlough time. The 4 years in Vietnam had gone by
quickly. For solid week before the Dr. Winton left for their furlough,
their friends and former patients gave them one farewell after another.
They even had two banquets on the same day.
Then came the last night – when the hostpital staff
said Goodbye. Florence’s tears flowed freely. These people were her
family. Many had come from small villages with a meager education. And now
they were doing a marvelous task in caring for the sick in the hospital.
The final act of that last evening was a dress parade.
The staff had lovely Vietnamese costumes tailored "áo dài" for both Ervin
and Florence. Someone placed a lei of orchids around Florence’s neck. A
medal carved from ivory was presented to Ervin. On it were carved the
words, " First Medical Missionary to Vietnam." The staff had
one last request of Florence and Ervin – whenever the Winton told the
story of the Saigon Adventist Hostpital, they must were these costumes.
At three o’clock on the morning of April 28,1958, Florence made out the
checks for the hospital payroll. A few hours later she turned over the
accounting books to Dr. Brooks. Weary and exhausted, she sobbed at the
airport as she and her husband said Goodbye to the crowd gathered there.
She was going back home, but her heart would stay behind in Vietnam.
From the book: LOTUS BLOSSOM RETURNS. written by
Florence Howlett with Sandy Zaugg.
Publishing by Pacific Press 2005
* DÒNG SÔNG PHƯỚC HẠNH
*
TÌNH PHỤ TỬ
*
TRÁI TIM
TÂM LINH ...
*
PHƯỚC CHO NHỮNG KẺ CHẲNG THẤY MÀ TIN !
*
NHU MÌ NHƯNG KHÔNG NHU NHƯỢC
*
SỨ
ĐIỆP “HÃY ĂN NĂN”
...
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