Kijabe, B.E.A. Nov. 16. 1903                                                                                                 Index

Miss Florence Minch,
Naperville, Ill.

My dear friend:
        I have not received any mail from you since I last wrote. I hope it was not because you have been waiting for my letters. I thought I would not answer before I heard from you but I am afraid I will run over time if I do not and besides I am hoping you will get this before you leave for holiday vacation if I write now. Oh but how I am learning to like Africa. It is simply glorious here. Dont worry and fret like I did imagining what I would have to suffer here. I am really enjoying myself more than I ever did at home. We are very busy now building our new house. Since this is to be the headquarters and since there is plenty of good material here we are planning to build a large house. Mr. Hurlburt is building it at his own expense. It is to be a two story house 28 ft by 42 ft. and will be a sort of a home for the Africa Inland Mission. I hope it will be finished before you get here. This of course will keep us very busy for almost a year so I will not get so very much time for language study, yet I manage to get in a little time. We have decided that it will be best for me to put in all my time and effort at the Masai. We are getting on wonderfully with the Masai hard as they are to teach and I believe it is simply because the Lord is leading in the work. They have moved one of the villages quite near to our station and call us their friends. I have succeeded in healing entirely two bad ulcers for them and have pulled some teeth. Pulling teeth seems to be to them the greatest wonder of the white man. They spend hours at it digging out the teeth with a nail and suffer terribly. They think I am a great doctor. (I have just been away while I was writing. Mr. Hurlburt was in the garden and he called for me. I went out and there stood two fine looking young Masai men. He said they wanted to live with me and teach me their language so I could come and tell them the Words of God.) Florence If you dont think God answers prayer come to Africa. How could it be possible that two men should come like that. It was just the thing I have been praying for. I hired the two men to work for me giving them each two Rupees a month (Two Rupees = 64 cents) average wages in this country. I only wish you could see some of the Masai people. They are fine fellows. Yesterday we went to the station to get the mail and on the way we met some Masai children boys and girls. They were as friendly and courteous as people at home. I believe if you could work among these boys and girls you would be so happy you would keep on singing all day long. A person almost goes wild to see them. Oh Florence if some day you and I can spend all our time in some Masai village we will be so happy we wont know what to do with ourselves. Of course there are some things about the Masai that are not just agreeable to think of but I think if we treat them kindly or even decently those things can be overcome. The thing I mean is they are not quite safe but I believe it is simply because of the harsh treatment they receive from the white man. The Masai we have met you could not wish to be nicer. I hope I shall be able to learn their language quickly. Of course it will take a year or more till we get this new station established but then I should like to be able to preach to the people at once. I believe God has answered prayer in another way. Mr. Claude Hollis the first Secretary of the East Africa Protectorate heard that I intended to take up work among the Masai and he is a man who is greatly interested in the Masai. He has a Masai warrior at his place who he has partly educated. From this man he has taken the language and made a study of it. Mr. Hollis intends to publish a book containing a grammar and vocabulary. He also has a number of Masai stories which he has translated literally. Think how surprised I was when two weeks ago he sent me all his papers and asked me to copy his work. I have copied the whole thing and really have the whole language almost complete. He also sent me a translation of the 1^st. chapter of Mark. Think of it almost the first man of the land and condescend to do such a thing for a fellow like me. Can you blame me if I say I believe God has prepared the whole thing. First called me then brought me here and now carries on the work. Oh Florence lets pray together continually and surely he will raise up a people for himself among this tribe. Oh Glory to him who honors his humble servants!

        How anxiously I am waiting to hear of that General Conference. The trouble is I dont even know when it will be. I hope and pray Lora and Mr. Butzbach will be led to come here. I think it is just possible they might be stationed somewhere among the Masai. How would you like that if you and Lora should learn the same language. But Mr. Hurlburt is calling for me to help him so I will close for this time. I suppose it is getting on toward winter with you. Here the weather is simply delightful only just a bit cold nights. As soon as you prepare for coming make sure you get plenty of warm clothing. Throw nothing away. Last night I slept under two comforters and a woolen blanket and was not a bit too warm. In fact I huddled down to keep warm. But I must close. Keep on writing whether you hear from me or not. I am always glad to hear from you. Yours as ever John W. Stauffacher (over)

        If you are taking the college chronicle and do not care to save them will you not please wrap them up for me in bunches of two or three and send them to me. You know your old man is too poor to afford these things. You will do me a great favor if you do this.