Kijabe B.E.A. Feb. 20,
1904
Index
Miss Florence Minch:
Naperville Ill.
My dear Florence:
I believe it is almost a
month since I have written to you. That month I must say was
the busiest I have ever seen. I have been teaching three
classes a day, trying to study half of each day, also trying
to work one half day at building the house. Besides there was
a great deal of work at the money matters of the Mission and
dozens of letters to write. I believe when you realize what
all this means you will be ready to excuse me for not writing
sooner. I suppose when you get this you will already know all
about the letter I have written to Mr. Butzbach. We are hoping
and praying that our plans may carry out. Still if the Lord
should lead otherwise we would be only too glad to see them go
to China. Whatever may happen however I hope you will begin to
plan at once to come out as soon as possible after school
closes. Oh how I have been praying these days that the Lord
might prepare you for the coming. You can hardly realize what
it will all mean. I have already passed through it and perhaps
know somewhat what it will be like and yet perhaps even I
cannot realize what it will mean for you. Let me tell you this
much however dont let your imagination run riot. I believe the
hardest things I passed through were the things that never
came. If we could only at such times trust more fully in the
tender care of Him who loves us more than ever we can love any
one. I thought several times while coming out if only my
father or one of my brothers had been with me I should have
felt much safer, and yet the love of a father or brother is
nothing compared with the love of Him who abides with us
forever. But perhaps what you may imagine concerning the
journey will be nothing compared with what you will think
about this country. I just wish I could sit down with you a
few hours and tell you just how it is. What ever you do, dont
come out here with any fears. There is absolutely nothing to
fear. Prepare to live about as you would in the Fall at home.
Miss Compton came out here in a terror about wild animals, and
to this day she suffers a great deal when for her there is
absolutely no danger from wild animals. When I first came here
I never went out without a gun, but so far I never saw a
dangerous animal in the day time except the rhinoceros on the
Athi plain so now I sometimes travel through heavy woods and
never think to take a gun along. We see buffaloes and lions
and leopards and rhinos and have even seen elephant paths and
hyenas are without number, but all these animals are rarely
seen in the daytime and should you meet any of them, there is
not one that would attack you unless you disturbed them. These
animals that look so savage in the zoo are not at all what you
would expect them to be when wild. On the other hand there are
so many things that make life pleasant so that it is much more
pleasant here than at home. And now while I think of it, if
you study Botany get yourself a good flower press, and
vasculum, and by no means dispose of them, but bring them
along. I want to some day make a large collection of the
flowers, ferns, and mosses that grow here. Another thing I
should like to do is make a collection of butterflies. I have
seen some of the prettiest butterflies here I have ever seen
anywhere, and any number of varieties. I began once to make a
collection and had about fifty different kinds. I had them all
nicely arranged in an old box, and one night our cat got in
the box and spoiled nearly all of them so I have given it up,
until I can make better arrangements. Now if you find time,
some time when you are in the city go to some old furniture
store, and see if you cannot find a few suitable boxes with
glass covers. I should’nt be sorry if I had half a dozen two
feet square. See what you can find. Now lately I have been
asking you to do a whole lot but dont think I am getting
cheeky. You will think different when you get here. Whatever
you get charge it up to me, and send in the bill. I tell you
about these things now so you can be on the lookout. See if
you cant find some where an old carpet about 14 ft. square.
These old dirt floors are a terror. Not only on account of the
awful dust, but they are a regular breeding place for jiggers
and fleas. There are no flies nor mosquitoes here, at least
very few, but all the jiggers. As soon as things get settled a
bit, I shall fix my house with clay walls and get glass
windows and make good clay floors and cover them with carpet
or canvas. If I can do this we will have one of the nicest
little homes in the world. We have a fine little stream which
comes down the mountain side back of the house giving us
plenty of water. It then runs into the garden. There is not a
spot in the whole garden which cannot be watered by this
stream. I have about 20 banana trees growing nicely also a
large number of excellent berry plants. Our garden will be
simply grand. We have a large number of wild olive trees
around the house. I think they are prettier than the elm at
home. The branches resemble the elm very much. Remember this
house I speak about is the one which I hope shall some day be
our home. The new house we are building is about a quarter of
a mile from here. I think this place is much prettier than
that. Now just a word about my Masai boys. I believe I forgot
to tell you about Naguldu a third one that is staying with me.
He is a very good natured fellow, and just full of fun. I have
nick named him Professor because of his learning so fast. I am
teaching them English. They want to learn to sing English
songs, so I am teaching them “What a friend we have in Jesus”.
Naguldu reads nearly the entire hymn and reads it nicely. I
think however Mulungit is the most promising of the three. He
seems to be very sensible. One day we went out to dig a spring
and took him along to carry our food. He went off and sat
under a bush and was so quiet that we thought he was sick. Mr.
Hurlburt asked him what was the matter with him, and he told
us that he had been praying to God all the forenoon. I really
believe he was in earnest. Yesterday I went off with him to
get some berry plants. I can understand a great deal what he
says, and make him understand my meaning. He told me a great
many bad things that the Masai do, but says that he wants to
live as Jesus tells him. He even says he does’nt want to go
back to the Masai again but wants to live with us always. I
have really fallen in love with the boy. He is so clean and
nice, and besides is very handsome. I dont believe I have seen
a prettier face on a single colored man. I am praying much
that God may make him and the others men who shall some day be
a mighty power in spreading the Gospel.
One more thing I want to tell you. Miss
Compton leaves for home the 1st of April. She
expects to be in Chicago either in Sept. or Oct. I asked her
if she would not go out to the college and speak at one of the
monthly missionary meetings. She says she would be glad to do
so. Please try to make arrangements for her. Her address will
be Miss A.D. Compton, Troy, Penn. so whoever has charge of
those meetings can write to her. Miss Messenger and Miss
McCleary also are going home on account of ill health. This
will relieve us of all of our old maids. Oh my! what a relief.
Now just one thing more. I want you as soon
as possible to make arrangements to visit my home at Monroe,
Wis. I have written to my parents about you, and now of course
they will be anxious to see you. See if you cannot find some
time to go up. I think my two brothers in St Paul, Ben and Ed
will be home sometime this summer. It would be nice if you
could go up then. If you find time I wish you would write to
my mother. If you do address her Mrs. Henry Stauffacher, Box
322, Monroe, Wis. Dont fail to send me that picture. Could’nt
you also send one to my home. You may not find this a very
interesting letter but I felt I must write what I did and will
try to be more interesting next time. The Chronicle came last
week. It was like spending a night at the college. But I must
close now. May He dwell richly in you and give you the
strength to do the work he has in store for you is the prayer
of your faithful friend
John.
I am anxiously waiting to know what B and
Lora will do. May the Lord lead in His own perfect way.
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