As Rev. Violet Louise Anne Mark, the last bloodline of Welsh Missionary in Mizoram Rev. Reginald Arthur Lorrain, has become seriously ill at her residence at Saikao in southern Mizoram, the Evangelical Church of Maraland called for prayer for the recovery of the missionary.
The granddaughter of Rev. Lorrain, Rev Violet Louise Anne Mark has opted to stay behind at Saikao in Siaha district of Mizoram even after the Welsh Lakher Mission was called off in 1977. She married a Mara theologian, Rev L Mark and has been living in Lorrains Ville bungalows of her grandfather at Saikao village, some 300 kilometres from Aizawl.
As per information, Pi Vaili, as she is known to the Mara community, has been suffering from hypertension since long and her condition became worse since Thursday last.
“Calls for prayers were requested to all the churches in Mizoram and mass prayers were held on Easter Sunday across Siaha districts, our prayers are being answered and Pi Vaili has shown response to the medical treatment and showed signs of improvements,” said Rev. Ch Chhama, a pastor of Siaha Vengpui.
Church sources from Siaha said that the Executive Secretary of the Evangelical Church of Maraland has issued a communique to all its subordinate churches to pray for the recovery Rev. Violet Louise Anne Mark.
The speaker of Mizoram State Assembly Hiphei, who also hails from the region, sent a note of solidarity to the ailing missionary.
“Members of the Mara Autonomous District Council have called on the best doctors of the region to treat the missionary, she is being monitored 24/7 treatment by the best doctors,” Rev. Ch Chhama said.
The Lorrains have decided to stay behind despite the termination of the Welsh Pioneer Mission, they are loved by the Mara people and their legacy is being termed as ‘Heaven sent’. Even after the death of the Rev. RA Lorrain, his wife Maud Louise Ullander Lorrain continued, she was awarded Kaiser-i-Hind Silver Medal for her meritorious works for the British army during the Second World War.
Rev. Violet Louise Anne Mark was born at Saikao on April 16, 1938.
Rev. RA Lorrain was the founder of the Evangelical Church of Maraland, he was the first pioneering missionary to the Mara people at the southern extreme of the then Lushai Hills. He established the Welsh Lakher Mission at Saikao village on September 26, 1907 and his descendants have been living there since then.