The following article highlighted the life-changing works done by the Mara Pioneer Missionaries, especially that of Rev. R.A. Lorrain among Mara people. Read more to get more insights into this article.
Reginald Arthur Lorrain
The Pioneer Missionary of the Mara
(File photo of Rev. & Mrs. Reginal Arthur Lorrain)
By Syuhlo Beichakhei Mara, Hyderabad.
“The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with Joy." - Psalm 126:3
It was 1905 when the prefigured of all his endear determination hushed pretending into our mirth by Almighty who founded the Pioneer Mission to the Maras on the 11th Feb.1905. Thanks for having an auspice opportunity to unfold the mystical deed of our beloved missionaries on this 104th gospel to the Maraland.
Reginald Arthur Lorrain was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. James Lorrain’s five sons:
James Herbert Lorrain
Frederick Charles Lorrain
Edwin Welter Lorrain
Ethel Louise Lorrain
Reginald Arthur Lorrain.
On 11.Feb.1905 Reginald Arthur Lorrain prayed for God’s guidance regarding the people whom he was to serve. During that time, his loving brother Rev.J.H.Lorrain was moving his mission station from Arunachal Pradesh to Mizoram. J.H. Lorrain mentioned about serving the savage nation of the Maras in his letter. Accordingly Reginald took it as God’s will.
Reginald applied to a number of Mission societies or churches to reach his destination. Unfortunately he was unsuccessful and all his applications were rejected. He wrote a pamphlet on the Mara people and prepared for two long years to fulfill the will of God. On 18th Jan.1907 R.A. Lorrain and his loving wife, Nee Maud Louise Ulander lorrain left London with all their whole mind and heart to serve the one who sent them. Albeit a number of sabotages, they fortunately managed to arrived in the first domain land of Maras on 25th Sept.1907 at the village of Paitha. Then, they proceeded forward to the destination of their station till Saikao on 26th Sept.1907.
Mr. and Mrs. R.A.Lorrain completed to form the alphabet and opened the first school on 18th March,1908 with the help of the native people. And the very next year, some verses and books of the Bible were translated into the Mara language. In 1910 a hymn book was published in Mara.
Until 1915 just seven Mara people became followers of Jesus Christ, and by the 1926 almost all the Mara people did. In 1927 R.A.Lorrain and his colleagues translated the New Testament into Mara. The entire Holy Bible was translated and published in 1956 and become one of the foremost transcriptions in Mizoram.
In spite of a young Christian community that the people knows the footpath of their enlightening mission and formed missionary society or Church in Maraland. The churches sent missionaries to the fields of Assam, Chakma, Myanmar, Nepal, Sudan and Tripura, etc.
The Maras are grateful to Mr. & Mrs. R.A. Lorrain and their family. Reginald entered into glory on 1st Feb. 1944 at the age of 60. His lovely wife also rested in the Lord on 23rd May 1960.
Rev. Albert Bruce Lorrain Foxall, the son in law of Mr.&Mrs. R.A.Lorrain continued to work among the Maras from 12th Dec.1928 to 2nd July 1977 till his last breath. They all were buried in Maraland.
Mrs.Annie Violet Lorrain Foxall (Vaili), the only daughter of Mr. & Mrs. A.B.Lorrain Foxall is still living with us along with her loving husband Rev. L. Mark and their children.
OTHER MISSIONARIES TO THE MARALAND:
The following are the names of our beloved Missionaries who comely patronaged and radiantly abided by Mr &Mrs. R.A. Lorrain:
Ms. Glady Ramsey
Mr. John Yelle Mark
Ms. Irene E. Hadley
Ms. Gladys E. Gorst
Jelly and his children (Mary, Susan and Johny).
Rev.RA.Lorrain was awarded a Coronation Medal by Assam Governor, Sir.Robert Reid in 1937 for his excellent work in Maraland.
They are the basic source given to us by Almighty God. They had given us all their abilities for our today and tomorrow. We now right good to reassure the mervellous deed and patronages by Lorrain’s families. May the seed sown by our beloved Missionaries enables us to redeem and perpetual the trace of the trail blazers aurevior.
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|2011-09-27 14:46:57 AnonymousAmen! Eima missionary nazy thatih he ahluh thei chaina hawhta eima ro lyma awpa he eima tao hialia awpa a chapa ta ei pahno. Arohpazy ei chaly kaw tyh ei. May God bless Maraland!
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|2011-09-28 09:54:12 Bnst.chakhei (eiku) eima missionary thti jy nvw roh pa vta eima ly gasa..!!!abeipata ca y pa lyma mwsy..!!!
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|2013-01-09 01:40:53 Anonymous - ahyna chaAly avaw chhie kaw nota eipa lao ru liata avaw la kawpa sakha cha,,R.A.Lorrain zytah pachuhna ama hneipa liata ahy zyma ,Keimoh Mara tawhta Pastor apakha(1)na tawhta apazie pata ama khie nata ama moh zy nia vaw pala pathei tuah ula eilu kawna,,Longlive Maraland,
samaw eicha hla ei..
