Narok,
Masai Reserve, B.E. Africa.
Sun.
P.M. Sept. 5, 1920
Dear
Aunt Annie:
Do you see the date?
Among
the little books you enclosed in the parcel this was written
in front
of “Revelations”. “Read this book Sept 5-16” & I’m
doing so also Raymond. Wonder if you are too. May God open our
eyes
as we read, to see the truth as He means we shall see it. I
have
been wanting to write you for a long time but O the days are
so short
& we’ve been having meetings every evening which takes my
letter writing time. Guess we wont have any this week. We are
expecting Mr Propst & his two boys on Fri. He is coming
over to
do some shooting. He mends & makes shoes and so needs
leather. The wild animal called Kongoni makes splendid leather
and a pretty
little animal called “Tommy” makes fine leather for ladies
shoes. He is teaching native boys to make shoes too.
I
wonder if it’s hot where you are. It’s hot & windy here
today & being Sun. we just “let down” and seems we have
no
ambition for anything. Nights are pretty cold but not so bad
as last
month. Sweet peas are still blooming pretty well and flox
too.
Nasturtiums are usually nice. Are
getting
rather short stemmed now. Garden is not very good. John has
been working too steady at the house. The back veranda frame
work is
up now & ready for rafters. then the roof will go on. It
seems
enormous now - especially compared with this little
matchbox of a house. After we’re here awhile I get used to
the
cloth windows & smallness of it but when we first come
back after
being at Kijabe, it bothers me some. Yesterday I planted
some
violets and your shasta daisies in the rail of the veranda,
also some
ivy geraniums which are to climb up the posts.
Now
I must say a big thank you for the parcel that came some
time ago. You please let Aunt Lorene know too, wont you? Tho
I must write her
& her W.M.S. soon & thank them for the money they
sent. The
parcel came in perfect
order. I haven’t tried on the gray dress but it’s no doubt
alright and just such a one as I’ve been wishing for. And
the
aprons are just the [line missing] and the piece of gingham
will no
doubt make another apron some day - or boy’s waist. Then the
little Gospels and other books are just what Jno has been
wanting so
much. He made
some
by taking an old Bible to pieces but these are smaller &
such
nice binding. Gave
Mulungit
the Testament marked for him & he was delighted. He has
a large N.T. that he usually carried but lost it somewhere
just a few
days ago so was very
glad for this. The one of Rena’s you sent I gave to Tagi as
he had
no English testament. I knew you’d be glad to have it where
it was
appreciated & used. We all have small pocket testaments
so
didn’t really need
it. The rat poison we haven’t used yet for we’re using
another
kind. But it will come in handy. And the ink tablets I’m
very
glad for as I’m at the last bottle of good ink. The after
dinner
wintergreens are fine. They are most as good as cough drops
for one
night I couldn’t sleep my throat tickled so nasty & I
couldn’t
think what
to do
then got one of them & in a little I went to sleep. The
pins
marked “One every hour” are
very
acceptable too. How we laughed about it. Also the buttons
&
kerchiefs etc. Thanks for every thing. Also the spool of
thread. And the S.S. cards & papers. The cards
especially I’m very
glad for. The children love them & sometime if a box is
sent
from home I‘d
be awfully glad for the picture rolls as well as the small
cards &
colored papers & colored pictures - anything that could
be used
by kindergarteners. We have an idea that the Academy may
open then
I’ll have time for kindergarten work and will be so glad to
get at
it. I don’t believe I have answered your letter written from
Annawan for my birthday. It didn’t get here quite in time
but I
was just as glad for it. It should have been
here but it must have loitered along the way. I want the
boys to
answer your nice letters to them, there are two here. They
can do it
for their language lesson tomorrow.
You
folks
certainly
had a hard [line missing]… was a medicine box & put
pins in… [missing].
I
can just see the pile get smaller & smaller. I jolly
well wish
you could “drop in” here for a month or two. Say, wouldn’t
we
get something done? There’s not just so much to be done only
just
a little more than I can manage & so it accumulates; but
if
R.V.A. opens I’ll have a little more time. You say you hope
the
animals will stay away from us. Well, they don’t pay much
attention to your “hopes”. The monkeys have been just awful
the
last few weeks. We put out poison. They ate all the first
time but
it wasn’t a big enough dose. Put out some more but they’re
pretty wise & haven’t eaten it. We had some corn up here
just
back of the house - had used about 3 meals of it & one
Sun. A.M.
they finished it entirely. Tonight while in service a lion
passed
along the road a few rods away grunting - but we don’t mind
them so
much. The people at the kraal make big fires and they keep
away
then.
While we were away they
shot
4 lions in a gun trap. 3 were about ¾ grown & one was
small. While setting the trap one day as the boys looked
around they saw a
huge python snake near by. Tagi said he never saw any so
large. Last week a man from Los Angeles was here. He’s a
“movie” man
& wanted a picture of the snake. The boys hunted for it
but
found only the place where it sleeps, but it’s been seen a
number
of times lately so we hope he’ll get it. He’s away just now
but
is returning soon.
Now
to your May 9 letter. My how the years do fly. To think Rena
would have been 32 yrs. old. It doesn’t seem long at all
since she
& Cora dressed alike. That’s as I remember her best. I
saw so
little of her when she was grown that I rarely think of her
as a
young lady.
Deary
me, you must have missed Grandma awfully. I was so sorry
when mama’s
letter came telling of her going & I knew you hadn’t my
letter. I don’t like to do that but how is one to know.
‘Twas so when
papa went. You certainly were good to [line missing] I
suppose
Grandpa comes in for a double share now of coddling. I know
it is
hard to be so closely housed and I love to think of you now
enjoying
the summer & the flowers & fruit etc. Yes no doubt
grandma
would have enjoyed the summer with you but just think how
she enjoys
“over there”. The crowd “over there” is getting most bigger
than the one on this side. O I do believe the days are not
many when
we’ll all be together. Caught up with those who’ve gone
before. The Spirit is putting a greater burden of prayer for
a Revival on
our hearts. We do need it!
Now
as to gifts for these people. You ask about what
to send, and if Wambuis gifts were suitable etc. Wambui got
all you
sent except the ribbon holder for her hair as they keep
their hair
short - but I gave Dr Blakeslee the ribbon & thot she
might use
it as a belt. Think I suggested denim for dresses. When I
order my
goods from M. Wards I’m going to have several pieces of
denim. Then here is another thing - they need blankets
pretty badly. I mean
the girls at the home - and
the
blankets used to be Rs. 1 or 1.50 & now they are about
Rs. 4
- which is $2. If you want to send a dollar or two sometime
I’ll
see that she gets a blanket or a dress or whatever she
needs. You
know bits of cloth - like a yd. or two of remnant is easily
sent and
makes dresses for the children - calico, tennis or most
anything
really durable. Little kerchiefs for the children or larger
ones for
the men & women or big squares - like huge kerchiefs for
the
womens heads, anything of that sort. Bigger gifts are shirts
for the
men. Mulungit has always worn shoes but he can’t seem to
afford it
now & I’d rather he wouldn’t. I don’t think it is
necessary & I think [line missing]
Now
about the Christian Herald. I think I have mentioned it to
you
before. We too think it is not so good any more. You have
subscribed tho until Sept. 1921 haven’t you? just let it go
til
then. I send
them when we finish to a young man who isn’t in mission work
but
enjoys reading them. By
this
time next year there’ll be another we want - called Our
Hope. Now or at least formerly it was a dollar a year. I
wish you could
read it too. It is a magazine printed monthly. We used to
get it in
the Congo. Some of our workers get it now but no one wants
to give
it away & there are such good Bible studies in it. So
when the
Christian Herald subscription expires we will be glad to
have you
send for the other magazine.
Claudon
has a Bible. Mama sent him one when she sent Raymonds. He
can read
in it pretty well too. O do you know, sometimes I’m glad to
be out
here with my boys and away from the awful influence of the
schools
there in America. Most of them at least. We have been glad
to have
the children here for the year altho I don’t think they’ve
done a
very big
years work
yet they are ahead of their classmates. It has made a
lot of work for me but I’d be busy at something
and while I may have neglected some things I think I’ve done
what
was most important to do.
Downings
left today for the coast and they sail in a week. I hate to
have
them go. They were always our Kijabe “home” especially since
Hurlburts left. and they always made us feel
at home too. They were very good to us, & were some of
the old
timers that knew the beginnings of the work. I was always
“sister”
to Mrs. Downing. She & I have always been fast friends.
They go
to educate the children so don’t know [line missing] but she
will
stay a few years at least. They have almost decided to go to
Wheaton, Ill. Lucile as well as the boys will go on with
music. They are very talented. I think Lucile may be able to
do teaching in
music & so help herself along.
You enclosed “Mother’s
Day” things. Thanks very much for them. Stacy certainly has
his
hands full. It is often hard to know just which is most
necessary to
do but I believe if we ask the Holy Spirit to guide us He will
prompt
us to do the most important.
I
know a year ago work had piled up like it is now & so
many people
stopping in & often interrupting my school work it would
have
just about made me sick. I’d have been so upset. But now He
gives
me quietness for I realize the work is His & I’m His
& so
my time is His & as he gives me understanding so I’ll
use my
strength & my time to His glory. I think we all need to
learn to
have more trust & faith in the Holy Spirit or rather in
Christ &
what the Holy Spirit reveals of Him. We are realizing how everything
hangs on faith in Jesus. We believe He will save these
people &
He does. May He increase our faith every day for “without faith
we cannot please Him”.
Now I must stop &
get to
bed. & the letter will be over weight if I add more. I
want it
to go on the “Grantully Castle” boat so as to get to you
quickly.
Little
picture books & cards are appreciated.
We are all in excellent
health & spirits. May this find you the same. How nice to
be
able to just give you dear folks over into the Lords keeping.
He is
so able. My love to Grandpa, Uncle Freds & Uncle Aaron
too. Lots to you & many thanks to you [rest cropped from
scanned page]
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