Marshfield Wis Aug 25, 1902.                                                                                           Index

Miss Florence Minch;
Hoopole, Ill.

My dear friend.
        I am obliged to write you a letter which I wish were not necessary but I suppose we shall have to take disappointments and say it is better to whistle than whine. I shall not be able to attend college next year and will therefore be obliged to leave the responsibilities of the Volunteer Band with you. I write you now that you may prepare beforehand. I am sure there is nothing in the world that is dearer to me than that little Band at N.W.C. and it almost brings tears to my eyes to think that for nearly a whole year I shall not be able to attend one of the meetings and perhaps until I return again some of the old Volunteers will be gone. I believe however it is the will of my dear Father in Heaven that I spend the coming year where I am for I did not decide to do so until I carefully and prayerfully considered the matter. My Lord knows I am willing to go wherever he shall lead even though it be to give my life and I know he will lead me aright. I hope he will be very near to every member of the Band and bless his cause on the Foreign Field. I have sent for 2 doz. pamphlets and will send them to your address at Naperville Ill. It is too bad that our plans cannot be carried out as we had hoped. I am afraid I should be somewhat discouraged if I did not believe that my dear Father is bringing upon me disappointment after disappointment simply to try me. Ever since I decided to go to the Foreign Field my prayer has been that my Father should try me thoroughly so that I might be able to stand the test when I got there. I am glad he gives me grace to take cheerfully whatever lot he may cast upon me. I am at present grubbing stumps and milking cows and yet I never was as happy and as jolly as I am now and when I remember that I have an appetite that will do away with half a dozen big potatoes and about a half pound of beef I cannot help but praise my Master for good health and a cheerful disposition. Now I want to ask you to do me a favor. I shall spend much time in prayer for our Volunteer Band and of course shall be very anxious to know how the Band is getting along. I believe you will be faithful and write to me from time to time and tell me about the Band in detail. We are brothers and sisters and there are none for whom I have more sympathy and in whom I am more interested than those few who will meet in the Y.W.C.A. room on Sunday morning. I am afraid some Sunday morning at 8:00 o clock will find me out in the woods with tears in my eyes. I hope you will remember me in your prayers at such times. But I guess I must close. I shall be very glad to hear from you at any time. And now hoping that God will be with you and richly bless you in all your labors, and make your way clear to the foreign field,

        I am your fellow Volunteer,

        J. W. Stauffacher,

        Address Box 208 Marshfield, Wis.