Beryl Finch

Mirror

Description

Life and Work

As Beryl Finch left her home to work as a missionary in India, her mother stood in the doorway and said, "If prayer alone can get you to India, then you will surely get there."

As a young woman, Beryl Finch journeyed each year to the Missions Conference at Three Hill's Prairie Bible Institute. She heard about the need for missionaries and responded to the call. But her mother's poor health required her presence at home and Beryl needed to be with her.

Then, in the autumn of 1947, Beryl's sister agreed to stay with their mother and Beryl prepared to sail for India. She served for 40 years in northern India, learning to speak Urdu and Hindi. She taught at a women's residential school and helped adults learn to read and write.

She endured 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) temperatures and lived in the mud houses and tents with the people of northern India. She returned to Canada every three to five years to speak about her work and with the people who supported her.

In 1988, she retired and continues her work at the Alliance Church teaching Bible class and leading prayers for those who taking up the call to the mission field, just as she did 50 years ago.

Beryl has once again made her residence in Mirror, where she continues to serve the church and its missionary vision. We appreciate her dedicated missionary work, and wish her the very best in God's love for the rest of her years.
- Citizens of Mirror

Memoirs

A Letter of Appreciation by the Citizens of Mirror

We, the citizens of Mirror would like to acknowledge our appreciation for the years of dedicated missionary work that Beryl Finch did in her life.

Beryl graduated from Prairie Bible Institute, Three Hills in April 1947 and went to India that same fall. She served in North-Central Indicator 20 years with an Interdenominational Mission, working mainly in village evangelism amongst women and children. She often lived in rat-infested houses with no running water and very poor sanitation.

After a prolonged time in Mirror as a result of her mother's poor health, Beryl went back to India and taught in Kalvari Bible Institute in the North-East for eight years. She returned in 1987 and spent another year on home assignment with the Mission before retiring.

Beryl then made her residence in Mirror, where she carries on much church and missionary work on a smaller scale than before. She is very active in the Mirror Alliance Church, where she is a board member and gives a missionary focus each Sunday.

We again would like to express our appreciation and wish her the very best in God's love for the rest of her years.


Associated Member Museum: Mirror and District Museum