Kijabe E.A.P. June 9^th, 1904.                                                                                                 Index

My dear Florence:
        If you do not scold me for not writing for so long a time, then I shall never be afraid of you. I hope Florence you will excuse me for this time, but I have been so very busy that it was almost impossible for me to find time to write. The whole of last month I have been living in a tent, now I have nearly finished a house, and in a few days will be ready for good hard work. From this you see my plans have changed very suddenly. I was working hard here trying to prepare a comfortable home for us, but suddenly word came to us that the government sold to a syndicate 60,000 acres of Masai land right in front of our station. Of course that ended my staying at Kijabe, and even the place I am staying at now, is not certain. It too may be sold. But let come what may, I have so fallen in love with the Masai that no matter where they are driven to, unless God should clearly lead otherwise I will follow them. I hope Florence you will come with that determination and even though we may never have a permanent home praise God for permitting us to live as Jesus did. I have been having all kinds of times out on those hills nevertheless I have been as happy and as cheerful as any time in my life before. Jesus promised that whoever should leave houses and lands and friends should receive manifold more in this present time and life everlasting. He is always as good as his promise giving even more than we can realize. I believe even though I have passed through many dangers yet I have experienced some of the most blessed times of my whole life. First I will tell you of the dangers then of the blessings. One day one of my boys went out to get wood. He was no more than about 200 ft. away from the tent when he came back terribly frightened. I quickly grasped my rifle and ran out to see what was the matter. I was almost horrified at seeing slowly making his way towards our tent a monstrous python the biggest snake I had ever seen. I determined at once I would try to kill it for I knew there would not be much comfort in living there with this monster about, but I was afraid to tackle it alone. I sent one of the boys to get my knife and revolver, not caring to run any chances. I had heard of men having a terrible time with pythons. It just happened that a few Masai warriors came along with spears, and I at once called them and we planned an attack. I carried the rifle one of the boys was near me with my revolver ready, and the warriors followed close behind with their spears. We went as close as I thought was safe, and it seemed the snake did not even see us. The grass was quite long and although I could see its body I could not see its head. I knew if I should shoot it through the body only, I could not kill it, and we would likely have a time of it so I fired at where I supposed the head was. I think I missed it entirely but just as I shot it raised its head about two feet in the air. I fired so quickly a second time that I hardly know now how I did it. The snake made a quick move and threw nearly its whole body into the air. It was the most awful sight I ever saw but as it fell to the ground it writhed and twisted itself for a moment, and was then perfectly still. We waited almost half an hour but it did not stir. Then I fired another shot into it and decided it must be dead. We went up to it and found that in the second shot the bullet passed directly through the head completely tearing away all above the eyes. It was the luckiest shot I ever made. Of course my old mania for curios was at once aroused and I determined I would have the skin, and the jaw bones all of which I have in good shape now. Now wont you just close your eyes and see if you cannot guess how long the snake was. It measured from nose to tail just sixteen feet and eight inches. Not a very pleasant customer to meet. A rhinoceros had come near our tent several nights and of course almost every morning I was interested in looking for its tracks. One morning I saw strange tracks no more than 50 ft. away from the tent so I called the boys and asked them what they were. They insisted that they were elephant tracks, but I did not think elephants could go so near by us without we at least hearing them, but it did not take long to decide for we heard not more than half a mile away a loud blast like a trumpet which without the least doubt, was an elephant. Foolishly I determined I would see them. Many times I passed by places where I knew elephants were near but never saw one since I have been here. I sent one of the boys off to the nearest Masai village to call the men. About twenty came with spears, and off we went to see the elephant. It did not prove as pleasant however as a country circus. In the first place it was frightfully cold and the grass was fairly dripping with water. Grass about 3 ft high and wet is not pleasant to pass through especially if it is cold. In about 10 minutes I was wet up over my hips, and my teeth fairly chattered it was so cold. But I was determined I would see the elephant. Before another 10 minutes passed by however I was equally determined I would never again go out to see an elephant. We were hurrying along and came near a small grove, but all was quiet so we did not even stop for a minute, but hurried on. Suddenly three or four elephants let off such a sound so near us that I was almost frightened out of my boots, but this was not all. Such a crashing I never heard. There must have been at least thirty and all came rushing through the woods toward us. Trees over 20 ft. high came crashing to the ground like straws. You would be surprised to see how large trees they are able to uproot. I have seen some over one foot in diameter torn out by the roots, simply that the elephants might get the beans on top. Imagine then how I felt being no more than 200 or 300 ft. away from such a large herd. I had a 38 Colt revolver in my belt and I quickly fired this six times in the direction of the noise. this seemed to frighten them somewhat and they stopped. We turned off a bit to one side and there in an open space stood the whole herd. One big male elephant was not more than 50 ft. away from us. He looked so terribly big that I felt sure I was scared out of my wits and saw objects twice their natural size. He had two fine tusks which I actually believe were between six and eight feet long. His ears were frightfully large. I did not stop long however to look at him although I could not resist the temptation of stopping for a moment. We sneaked off quietly and were soon at a safe distance. We were still near enough to see them all very nicely. They stood there for nearly half an hour. But oh the awful size of these monsters. A few days after I met an old elephant hunter and told him about it. He said if I saw a large herd I no doubt saw some at least seventeen feet high. I really never had any idea elephants got as big as that. It was a grand sight we had, but I never shall look for another. I dont think I was ever quite so badly frightened.

        But now let me turn off to some of the more pleasant things. I have visited large numbers of Masai kraals and quite a number have heard the Gospel and of course all of them for the first time. You can hardly imagine the joy one has in knowing he is giving the glorious Gospel of our Lord to a new people for the first time. They listen very earnestly and their natural brightness and intelligence enables them to fully understand it all. I believe we can expect results almost immediately but what I wanted most to tell you about was our experince of a night a few days ago. You will perhaps be surprised if I tell you that we have already a son in our family. Dont let this frighten you however, because he is the dearest and most faithful boy I have ever met. One night Mulungit and I were sitting in our tent. We had no light except the little that came from our camp fire. Mulungit asked me to tell him something about Jesus. It always almost brings tears to my eyes to see how earnestly the boy sits and listens. I cannot help but believe that already he is a saved boy. This much at least I know. I have never seen a Christian more faithful. He listened for a while and then with tears in his eyes and with a heart so full that he could hardly speak he said he did not want any sheep or cattle he did not want to be a big man but he just wanted to stay with me and do the works of Jesus. Then he said that now I pay him so many rupees a month, but he was afraid some time I might not be able to pay him, and then I would have to tell him to go away. So he asked me to be his father and he would be my son. He wants no pay simply food and clothing. Oh Florence I never knew a happier moment than that. I could just have put my arms around him and cried over him all night long. I dont know as I ever felt that I loved a person quite as much as I did that boy that night. When you see him you will not blame me. His face is as handsome as a picture, and he is as neat and clean as any person I ever saw. Mr. Hurlburt says he never saw a native as sensible as this boy, and says he believes he is surely sent of God for a great work, as Moses was. Every body loves the boy, even the Kikuyu who hate the very name Masai. Now I hope you will enter right in with me and take this boy into your heart and life and pray for him and love him as a real mother would. He has been more to me the six months I have known him than any other person I have ever known in the same length of time. I hope you will not think I have run off onto a streak of enthusiasm. I dont think you have ever known me to be an enthusiast. I just simply cant help loving the boy. I have determined that wherever I go he shall go. He shall eat at my table, sleep in my house, and share with me every joy or sorrow that God shall give me. Florence is this not a part of the promise of Luke 18:29-30. Who shall not receive manifold more in this present life. I may be able to send you Mulungits picture soon. Mr. Hurlburt has taken it but is not sure he can print them. If not he must first send them home. Oh I wish you could see and know the boy as I know him. I think he must be about 18 years old.

        In your last letter you speak of Miss Sweitzer’s school. I have the same reply now as always. Follow the Lord where he leads clearly. I will not undertake to decide for you in anything. I can simply tell you what I think about it, and then am perfectly willing you should act as you see best. I say again I do not think it would be wise for you to attend school another year. The Lord knows I do not say this for a selfish purpose. Florence if you could go with me for but one day, and visit a few kraals, I believe you would once and for all, decide what you will do. All day long the women sit in little groups dressing skins and sewing them together. With them are the little boys and girls handsome bright and as cute as can be. It is practically impossible for anyone to reach these except a woman. Awful dangers threaten them. I think there is no doubt but that if it continues at the present rate inside of five years this country will be filled with cigarette fiends, and at present the women are in the lead. Nearly all old women chew tobacco. Sometimes when I think of the awful dangers I just wish I had the power to force the people into a better life. A few days ago I had a meeting with a number of young warriors. They asked me if I thought the white man would ever leave the country and they could again go to war. I told them No! Then they asked if the white man thought they were like old women. They said rather than be as they are now they would rather all die, and although they told me if there are some good white men who will teach them they will not fight, yet I could not help but believe that when once they realize the white man is here to stay there will be an uprising which will not end until hundreds have been killed. They are not the people who will give up their rights without a struggle. They all believe now that in a few years the white men will all leave. I myself believe there will be but one opportunity before the crisis comes. In the brief pause we will either succeed in causing them to realize the greater value of our living, compared with theirs or they will be lost to civilization and lost from glorifying God forever. There are uprisings among the different tribes now almost every day. A few weeks ago an American was killed by the Nandi tribe, and the Kikuyu near Mt. Kenia are having continual war. I believe firmly that God has preserved all African tribes through all these centuries and just now perhaps for but a day the supreme opportunity has come. We must take it now or loose it forever. This is the day of salvation for Africa. Did you ever think how nearly the world is in the condition now that Jesus said it would be when he was about to return. I am not an enthusiast about his coming again yet I shall not foolishly neglect His warning, “Watch and wait for I shall come as a thief in the night”. Florence what if he should come, and a great many of the best Bible students believe His coming is not far off. Would you rather be found in the training school than on the mission field. Some of these things are very serious questions. I believe we ought to give place to the voice of God even at the cost of tearing away from a mothers loving heart. We ought to be so filled with zeal for him that dangers and pains and heartaches seemed as but a trifle when compared with the great work or the heart of Jesus. I’ll not promise you that you will be happy here every day. The devil’s temptations are too awful for us to escape entirely but Jesus is faithful he will not let us go. No power in all the world of devils shall be able to snatch us away if we trust in Him.

        Those presents have come two days after my birthday. Many many thanks for them. Tell your sister Cora that I will try to write to her in a few days. You asked me to send you a list of the books I have. I would just say that unless you have some favorite ones do not bring any of your school books, for I have all of mine. Other books however bring all you can lay hands on. I would also suggest that if there is any magazine or paper that you especially like have it addressed to you here before you come. There is nothing I enjoy as much here as sitting down for an hour or two with a good paper. I have the Union Gospel News. It is sent me by Mrs. Owen the woman who is supporting me. I also get hold of the Christian Herald once in a while. This paper I enjoy very much. It is almost like a visit to America. Now you had to wait a long time for this letter but you see it is a good long one so I hope you will cheer up and let your old man off for once. As soon as I get settled in my new house I think I shall be able to write oftener. Hereafter my letters will be sent from Leimoru post office but I want you to address me at Kijabe for I dont know how soon I will change again, and now may the Lord bless and keep you is the prayer of

        John.