C. 1932 [Date penciled in.
Header of letter has been torn out.]
Dear Sisters:
I’ll include you [word unclear] tho I have
things to say to each of you. And Cora here is a letter from
Mulungit for you. I didn’t ask him to write to you -
only said you wanted a bit of his hair. and as I took a family
picture Xmas I’m sending that too tho for some reason it isn’t
so very good. And under another cover I’m sending a book of
texts to be painted. I got them when I got the Searcher’s
Almanac. Wish Beth would water color some if she feels so
inclined sometime and you put ‘em in an American or something
& post ‘em back to me. I like ‘em on the walls in the
guest rooms. It’s good Sun. P.M. past time. Then I’m also
sending you an easy Searcher. I use this style for the native
girls’ Sun. P.M. easy work. They love it. It will help the
boys to get acquainted with their Bibles.
Your letter written at Freunds came a mail
ago. Yes, it had been some time since we heard from you. and
were very glad to get it. and also to hear about the Freunds
and glad Mrs. was recovering from her operation. I hope she
gets well & strong again. Mrs Barnett is not well since
hers. perhaps she didn’t stay down long enuf. It was quite a
shock to her system as the tumor was large & the organs
effected were removed too. I haven’t heard from her so don’t
know how she is since they are back from Mombasa. but shall no
doubt see them next week at Conf.
Cora, could you get some ivory white enamel
paint like you did before, & send by Raymond for the bath
tub. I’d be so glad for some.
[reverse side of first page, with header
torn out] … finally gone. I thot she was over 90.
‘Twas nice that Cora Beth could see her even for just a little
visit.
Yes, I should think it is nice to have Cora
able to drive. Suppose I’ll have the job of getting us over to
Kijabe a week from Mon. I wish I had Calif. roads. I wouldn’t
mind then. I don’t mind even so; but ‘twould be real fun then.
Miss Norton, one of our old workers from
Ukamba is here with us. Came ab’t a week ago & will go to
Conf. with us. She came out the year after I did but is some
older than we are. We are enjoying her. she is very easy to
entertain . . she entertains herself. She has letters to write
so we both spend our evenings in that way.
There is big excitement at a neighboring
kraal tonight. They have a big herd of cattle; & I
mean big for now. About 50 head or more. and when we
were out for a walk an old man came along the path running -
& we asked what the trouble was - he said the cattle were
lost. Then two warriors came down over the hill & all ran
across the river & seemed to search back of bushes &
then run again - evidently tracking them. Then we saw 4 women
from that kraal & they said 3 head of cattle came home
& “the enemy” had gone off with the rest - which means a
thief has stolen them.
[pg. 2] We hear voices but it’s not those
seeking the cattle. We will no doubt hear tomorrow.
Hope you enjoyed your “vacation” at
Freunds. Sort of a satisfaction to help out any way - even if
it wasn’t a real holiday. Heb. 6:10. [Engraved on Florence’s
tombstone at Oicha, DRC. “For God is not unrighteous to forget
your work and labor of love.” Heb. 6:10]
I’m so glad Stacy is out there - tell him
so and tell him to just stay there. I’m sure he will be much
better in every way. If Anaheim doesn’t suit him very well he
can easily find a place that will.
Yes, I post your letters on to Claudon. We
received Raymonds telling of the wedding, in last mail. Sara
wrote too. You will be planning for them by the time you
receive this.
And right here I want to tell you our
little Mary Slater is in Calif. & will be til Mar. &
I’ve just written her telling her to get into touch with some
of you & besides meeting “our folks” I told her she could
find out where Raymond is so she can see him too. Her address
is c/o Mrs. J. A. Waite, 8616 Southgate Ave. South Gate,
Calif.
I don’t just remember where Southgate is,
but some of you will know. You know she was Matron in R.V.A.
when all our boys & girls were there - and was also at
Rumuruti with us for years. took care of me when Raymond was
born & also when Claudon came - we were living in her
little house then. Now she has the rest home in Nairobi where
we staid May when Jno was sick. Show her a nice time for our
sake - she’s been very good to us always. She can talk
Masai for you.
Do give our love to the Robertses - aw how
do you say the plural of Roberts!!
Yes, I remember the name Rev. Busse very
well - wasn’t that interesting about his helpfulness to that
family & the outcome.
Yes, thanks so much for the Digest - it is
coming direct - so we got 2 Nov. numbers. I always send them
away - sometimes to Shaffers & sometimes to Claudon. Did I
tell you I read that article “On the fringe of silence” aloud
one evening when Mr Clarke was here. He doesn’t hear awfully
well. so he appreciated it. The last to come was the brilliant
Dec. no. I haven’t read it yet. And in last mail came the Am.
& the two Crusaders. and the needles and the lovely
writing paper. Thanks so much for it all. That is beautiful
paper. That cream edged in brown that Alice, I think, sent is
just about finished. I used it mostly for Xmas greeting cards.
when I wanted to write a bit of a letter. And this will be
lovely too for extra times. I’ve almost read the Crusaders.
Well, its something to be the relation of a Bishop.
Mr. Hurlburt always called John Bishop to the Masai. &
when Scudders & Andersens were here in Sept. we called Mr.
S. Bishop to the Samburu & then Mrs. A. said yes & we
have the Earl of Litein!
[pg. 3] We went for a picnic today &
when I wanted to do the lunch up I found the roll of wax paper
is just about finished. any picnic things like that paper
& napkins will be very acceptable via Raymond. Did
I mention kitchen aprons - just one or two practical ones -
you have such pretty ones.
Now Alice to yours. It got to Kijabe Dec.
24 but couldn’t get out here til the 27. so you hit it pretty
good. Thanks so much for the nice family picture. How Darwin
has grown. They do do that, don’t they? Thanks too for those
of Floyd & his Philura. She looks like a sensible sort. I
had none of you 4 so I’m keeping it tho I spect Claudon would
like one too. I’ll send some of these of Floyd & Philura
to him along with the clippings about the shower - and the
Hooppole news.
O yes, & if you can send some more of
these metal things for cleaning aluminum ware - I’d be glad.
I’m enclosing a bit of a wrapper. I have one still & don’t
allow them used in general but just for certain things so they
last quite a while.
Thanks awfully for the samples of coat
& shirt and the apron. I thot you usually bot your aprons
at sales - & that’s why I asked for one. I suppose I can
make it too. especially if you send me a remnant of goods
that’s suitable.
So you have a plate of teeth. I didn’t know
that. Jno just said today he ought to make a date with the
dentist if we go to Nairobi after Conf. but we may not go -
our remittance hasn’t come yet & we couldn’t get much if
we didn’t have that. We expect it will be here by that time
tho. I may not go in. There’s not a great deal I need.
My head wants to ache. has threatened all
day - so I suppose I better put it to bed.
- - - Mon. night. I’ve just “flitted”
[sprayed DDT] under the table to chase the mosquitos out. so
now I’ll continue my talk. Went to Narok yesterday as usual
tho my head was not feeling good at all and to help matters,
just about ½ mi. from hospital where we hold a meeting, &
1 ½ mi from school, the tire went flat. It was so hot
and no shade about at all - and neither of the young men with
me knew anything about anything - but we got the wheel off
& put on the spare when behold, that wouldn’t hold air, so
we took the other to an Indian shop & asked if his boys
could find the leak - in the meantime I sent the evangelist to
the school to go on with the service & we finally got the
wheel fixed up & back on - then we went to the hospital
for the service. & then waited for the mail which didn’t
come. We got home so late that Dad & Miss Norton were
fearing we had had car trouble. It is now about 2 ¼ years
since we started going to Narok for Sun. meetings & this
is the first time we’ve had any trouble - & we have missed
very few Suns. in that time. So I say the car hasn’t done so
badly.
(pg. 4) No I have no zinnias now. Every
thing has to be watered so much I can’t have many flowers -
but if you’d send me a few seeds I could have them when the
rains come on.
We got our remittance. Now Dad would like
to go to Nairobi before Conf. as his teeth are very
uncomfortable but Conf. begins Tues. morning & that would
mean we’d have to spend Sun. in Nairobi & at any rate I don’t want to drive in
Nairobi. If we go to Conf. first then we’ll get some one to
go in with us.
Wonder if you’ll be
counting days til Raymond &
Sara
get out there. Maybe by the time you get this you’ll know
about when they are arriving. We had a lovely big letter
from Claudon this eve - also a note from Mrs. Bell. It is 6
wks since we heard from Claudon - but Miss Smith, the nurse,
at Bells sent a Xmas card and a bit of a message saying they
were expecting him in for his birthday & Christmas so we
knew he was alright. It’s hard for him to get letters posted
when at his station - he’s so far from the office, that I
don’t think he does much writing when by himself. He wrote
the day after Xmas. Told of all he did while at his station
but didn’t say anything about the Xmas dinner. But he was
happy to be at Bells again. Agnes is so good to him. She
says he is thin. He is hoping to hear from us soon now as to
when he should come down. And we are hoping to hear soon
from Raymond as to about when they think they will
be coming. My, what a stirring up we’ll get all along
the
line. To think of Claudon coming gives one a big thrill
& then to think of Raymond & Sara coming &
perhaps gong to meet them & the good times we’ll have
here - gives one a succession of thrills - which just can’t
be described.
In some of those little pictures of Floyd
& Philura Floyd looks like Lee Burroughs did when we
knew him. Are her people members of our church? Thanks for
the one of Aunt Lorene & “whoa Maud”. The way she holds
the reins would let any one know she was brot up on a farm!
This letter is going to
be pretty full. but I guess all will go in alright. These
envelopes are pretty strong.
Carrie Offerle gave
Aunt Lorene a large print New Testament & Psalms for
Mulungit & he has written her so I must get mine done to
Aunt Lorene too. I’m sending you the family picture but it’s
not very
good. James is a cute little fellow.
Every body has gone to
bed & I must too. My head is “all well” as Claudon used to
say. & I don’t have trouble very often. and even these hot
days - which do test ones vitality - I can keep agoing &
we do rest well at night.
The cattle that were
lost were all found but one which no doubt was stolen.
Very much love to you
all. God bless you.
Flo
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