July 28^th 1903                                                                                                                    Index

Between Marseilles and Naples.

Miss Florence Minch,
Hooppole, Ill.

My dear friend:
        Just now my heart has been made very sad, thinking over what it seems is the inevitable fate of Africa. Thinking that perhaps you are still considering whether or not you ought to give your life for Africa, I thought I would write, and tell you all about it. We have just left Marseilles France, having spent two days there, and oh how terrible to see the awful results of sin upon the French people. It seems they are simply rotten. I am in hopes we have simply seen the worst of it, yet I have heard again and again from different ones, that France is doomed to destruction, because of the loose morals of her people. George and I promised ourselves we would try to determine what is the cause of this. We had no sooner entered the city than we noticed large numbers of Catholic priests. Their fat, sensuous faces are to be seen everywhere. We traveled all over the city, and have not been able to find a single Protestant church. Is it possible that these French priests are the cause of the low morals of the French people? It is to be hoped that they are not, and yet I cannot see how it can be otherwise. Thinking of these things I sat on the upper deck of our ship this morning, and what was not my horror to see fourteen of these priests, come in through the dock gate, and come on board our ship. Worse still I learned that about half of them, will land at Mombasa our landing place in Africa, and the rest a little farther south. I could not help but cry out “O Lord how long”. Florence it does seem as if the devil would conquer yet, but how like a quiet peaceful voice there came to me the words. Fear not for I am with Thee. How comforting these days when we see nothing but sin and wickedness, are the words of Luther in “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott.” [in German script]

        And tho’ the world with devils filled
        Should threaten to undo us,
        We will not fear for God hath willed
        His truth to triumph through us.

        One soon learns to forget the things behind, and desire only that which is before when he sees how very few there are that seem to know our blessed Lord. How we ought to forget our petty little troubles, and just clench our fists, and determine it shall not be so. Or perhaps better still just fall at the feet of our Master, and beg of him to make us a power in his hand for the salvation of others. Florence if I plead with you to come on, do not think that it comes from any selfish desire. Oh these people must be saved! I wrote in my last letter that I did not want you to decide until I spent some time to see if it should be fit for you to come. I believe this question has already been settled. There is a dear good old missionary with his wife on this boat going to British East Africa. Their station is near the coast in almost the worst section of the country, and we asked him whether Africa in his mind (he has been there six years) is a fit field for women missionaries. He brightened up and said, “Would to God there were only more of them.” I expect he brightened up because he guessed we were driving at something, and was only too glad at the hope of more coming. You have no idea how glad we were to meet with these two dear people. They will go with us clear to Mombasa. The other people all speak strange languages, and none of them are Christians, so we are happy to have fellowship with two whom we cannot help but believe are living very close to Him.

        And now Florence I have been thinking of you very often the last few days, and my heart has been going up in prayer, that He might show you very clearly what He would have you do with the future. There are so many things, which I feel I ought to tell you, which I cannot before you decide to come, and for this reason I have been praying that He might let you know soon. I have just been thinking that since the need is so tremendously great, and since there is nothing of which I know to hinder if you care at all to come, why not at once decide to come, and ask God to hinder rather than wait and ask him to show the way. I believe you are sure he has called you to the mission field. Listen then to His words. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage: be not affrighted neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Josh. 1:9 Are you not perhaps standing between the “Have not I commanded thee” and the “Be strong and of a good courage”? Is it not possible that you think He is hesitating to make known His whole will, while He is waiting for you to show your good courage by stepping out boldly upon the promise, “for the Lord thy God will be with thee whithersoever [triple underlined] thou goest”. I know it will be hard for you to make this decision. I have felt it the last few days more than ever before. Oh the heartaches of leaving home and all the friends you have ever known but believe me Jesus will be with you, and there will be one waiting, who is ready to give his life if need be for your safety, and ready to do all in his power to comfort you should you become lonely.

        This letter may read quite different from some I have written before, but as we pass on and on, there comes upon me such an overwhelming feeling of the great need, that I cannot help but urge you not to wait any longer, but step out boldly upon your faith in Him, and decide at once what to do. I feel that it is very important to decide at once. It seems to me that every moment put off is so much time lost. If he sees that you are determined on going, he surely has power to hold you back. If he does not then surely it is pleasing to Him that you should come on. But I must again urge you not to decide simply to please me. You know what your plans were, before I asked you to go with me to Africa. If God had then already made clear to you where he would use you (of which I know nothing) then drop for once and for all the thought of going to Africa, but if he has not then I see no reason why Africa should not have as large a claim on your life as any other country. Whatever you do do it with the thought of pleasing him only, but why you should not decide definitely on something I can see no reason. Someone has said “Indecision is the rust of opportunity”. Why not then go on grasping opportunities, as we see them, trusting God to hinder rather than waiting for His special directions.

        We are just now passing through the Straits between Corsica and Sardinia, and will reach Naples tonight. Oh how beautiful the country is! What a pleasant world this would be if all the people knew our Master. How grand it will be when as He has promised all the earth shall be full of his truth and his glory. You cannot imagine the pretty effect produced by the very clear sky, the beautifully tinted waters, and the ragged rocky coast lines. Our journey has been such a grand one that I cannot help but praise Him for his great kindness and mercy. We will reach Mombasa on the 19^th and Kangundo our mission station perhaps a week later. How grand it will be to know that at last I am on the Mission field. It seems that the last year of my life can hardly be true. God has led me on so very quickly. Now I hope you will not think you must wait until you hear from me, before you dare to answer. If you do it will be between two and three months after I write before I hear from you. That will never do. Write whenever you feel like it. I shall try to keep you well informed on all things of interest, and now hoping and praying that God will ever keep you in His perfect way, and richly bless you,

        I am your faithful friend John.

        Excuse my crooked ways in writing. [lines are crooked on page] Take lots of time to make out mistakes. If you need an interpreter get one at my expense. Tomorrow we will visit Mount. Vesuvius at Naples. I wish you could enjoy the trip with us.