Naperville, Ill., March 17^th 1902                                                                                           Index

Africa Inland Mission, Philadelphia, Pa.

Dear Sirs:
        I write this letter to you, believing it is the will of God I should do so. I have for over one year been a member of the Student Volunteer Movement, and my conviction grows stronger each day, that God would have me spend my life in Africa. I have just returned from the Student Volunteer Convention at Toronto, where of course my convictions were strengthened still more, and now I am anxious that as soon as possible I may have fulfilled what I believe is God’s will concerning my life. I apply to you for several reasons. I am a member of the church known as the Evangelical Association. Our membership is as yet quite small, and we already support a mission in Japan, and since our church is mostly German, we are doing quite extensive mission work in Switzerland and Germany. At our College we have a Student Volunteer Band three of whose members are planning for China, and just now we are planning for Missionary Campaign Work for our summer vacation, to start a movement on foot, to begin a mission in China. Because of this I can hardly expect support from my church for Africa. The reason why I apply to you now is that I have as yet not much more than an excellent start in my preparations for the mission field. I will be next year a Junior at our College, and have spent already six years at this place, having come directly from the country school, at sixteen years of age. I am at present 28. Now I have means at hand for four or five years more work in school, and should be very much pleased if I could place myself under the direction of some Mission Board, and thus make special preparations for a special field. I am ready to do anything, and everything that my Christ would ask of me, and would be ready to sail for Africa immediately if he should direct me there. I believe however as long as I have means in hand, I cannot serve my Master better than making the best possible preparation for his service. Now I wish you would consider my proposition, and let me know what you can do for me. I shall be pleased to answer any questions you may desire to ask, and should you decide to accept me, would be willing to place myself entirely under your control, follow any line of preparation you might think best, and go to any field in Africa to which you should direct. If it be God’s will that I should go, as I believe it is, I know he will open the way, and I shall leave it all in his hands, and trust wholly in him. I am anxious to do his will.

        Respectfully yours,

        J. W. Stauffacher

Address:
        J.W. Stauffacher,
        Naperville, Ill.
        North Western College.