Faith Bauman

Keith,Thank you for this wonderful post about our Mom and Aunt. When the twins turned 80, Hope came to visit us in Boston, and we put on a big party at the retirement home where I worked, a home where my mother and father had already visited several times to give presentations about their life and work in India. We had a grand time listening to their stories of growing up in Preston (now Cambridge), and their many adventures both together and apart. They had a bond (and still do!) that was wonderful to experience. We all appreciate your remembrances and your very kind words about our mother Faith.

Thanks, Margaret, for this story. I believe this was likely the summer our mother Faith wrote about in her "Life Story," a 54-page collection of stories and events from her life that she put together a dozen years ago. In her words: "Every Sunday, I conducted three services, three congregational worship services, and two Sunday Schools. Since I didnt have a car, volunteers drove me to all three places and helped me a lot. One of them was a nice young farmer, named Wallace. During the entire summer, I was busy, with church work and housework, and never had any dates with a man. But during the last Sunday, Wallace drove me around the area and then asked me for a date on Monday. Monday night, he asked me for another date on Tuesday, and so every night that week, he and I dated together. It was quite exciting, but I didnt know what to do about it. In the end, he asked me to marry him. It was such a romantic offer, but by that time, I was feeling committed to what I considered Gods calling to be a missionary, and so I refused."We appreciate your memories of our Mom and Aunt. They indeed were remarkable women.

Faith was assigned to the Massey Charge as a summer student when I was eleven. I remember several stories about her time here. Hope was working in the same role at Webbwood and surrounding churches. That was1947. She boarded at my aunt's house for the summer so she was like family to me that year.My main memory was that my young uncle took a shine to her and she to him. He made quite a purpose to drive her to each of the churches. His car had a bench seat so they sat very close. One Sunday Faith and Hope exchanged pulpits. Uncle drove Hope to our churches that day. She and Uncle sat as far apart as possible. Since both girls dressed alike, the congregation were sure that my uncle and Faith had had a break up! Faith turned my uncle down, in favour of mission work.

Faith and Rev. David Bauman had occasion to visit Massey, Ontario many times to visit Faith's sister Rev. Hope Jackson. While we always knew and understood the amazing bond these sisters had, it was a joy to behold the love and compassion they together shared for other people. It has been many years now since Hope's passing and her good works are remembered as keenly today as the sadness felt for her passing. Today we remember and send prayers to all of Faith's family and friends who will mourn her loss and remember all the good she too brought to our world. In Faith and Hope God blessed the world with two amazing women and our lives were made richer for knowing and loving them.

Faith and Rev.David Bauman were stationed in Godhara, Gujarat in India. This is my hometown. A great dedicated missionary family who gave their lives for Bhil tribe and people in rural Gujarat. Faith Bauman and I served together in Methodist Bible Seminary. Faith was a very motherly to our seminary student. My family and I are grateful to Faith Bauman for her dedicated service. Rev. Dr. Domnik Israel and Joyce Squire-Israel, Greenfield, Wisconsin.