Kijabe
E.A.P. Jan. 12, 05
Miss
Florence Minch,
Hooppole
Ill.
My
dear Florence.
Two
of your letters have just come, and the photo album. Florence
I dont
know what to tell you to make you believe how much I
appreciate those
pictures. I almost cried when I saw the old rocks you call
wash line
rock. I used to delight to go out there evenings after the
milking
was done and sit all alone until dark and think. I suppose I
sat
there thousands of times. I also remember how I used to track
rabbits through the snow to the hole under the rock and poke
them out
with a stick and of course the drying of my clothes there and
the
spanking I got from my mother after it are painfully clear in
my
mind. The one that touched me most however was where Merle is
sitting on the porch. The dear old place. I notice there are
still
the same old fences I helped make. Oh how I should just like
to
wander about the old place on a summer evening just as it is
getting
dark, but this makes me feel sad so I will turn to something
else. Now Florence I suppose it is nothing but fair that I
tell you all
about the Masai yet really I should rather not. I never had a
shadow
of a doubt but what God very clearly led me out especially to
these
people and tonight though from a human standpoint and from
human
arguments the tribe must perish before the next generation
passes
away I as firmly believe as ever that God will raise up from
them a
people who shall greatly honor and glorify his name in the
earth. Mulungit is sitting beside me now struggling over a
lesson. He, I
believe God has given me, as an assurance that He will do what
he has
promised me. The thought always comes to me “Has God preserved
this bright and intelligent race through all these years only
to let
them perish when the Gospel is on the very threshold? I firmly
believe not, and though just now I seem to be bound
practically I
believe He is opening a way for me to enter in and win many
for Him. The situation just now is something like this. I
wrote you of the
Reservation and that the Government gave the people 7 months
to move
onto it. Well the seven months are completed. The government
officers were boasting of their great success, but find now
that the
people refuse to go. There was a great meeting held at
Naivasha and
after severe threats on the part of Government men, an
allowance of
three months more was made. You can hardly know how anxious I
am to
see what the outcome will be. The young warriors say they know
well
they cannot withstand the Government, yet they say they prefer
death
to going to the Reserve. After traveling all over the
Reservation I
agree with the people that they cannot pasture their flocks
all the
year round and even some Government men admit that they cannot
stay
more than seven months at a time. Were I sure that they could
live
there I should be very glad to see them go, for then we would
have
the whole tribe close together and could carry on our work
nicely but
this seems to me impossible. The sad thing about it all is
that
there is no unity in the tribe. I think if they could stand
together
and explain to Government men their needs (the present
Government men
are too ignorant to know them) they could do much to better
their
condition. As it is the old chief though very influential is
too
weak through continual drunkenness to prove himself the man
for the
occasion. So every old man is head of his kraal and has his
own
word. As a result they fear the Government and are scattering
as
much as possible to get out of its reach. There are two things
which
I am waiting to see. 1st whether the young warriors
have
spunk enough to do as they say they will. 2nd
whether the
Government will be cruel enough to burn their villages and
force them
onto the reserve. If both happen of course there will be
serious
trouble. If either give in matters may be easily settled. As
far as
our plans for a Masai settlement here are concerned the
Government
has given us orders that none are to remain here except those
in our
employ. This need not change our plans however except that it
will
not be worth while to buy the pasture grounds. Our schools
will be
here and they cannot refuse to let us bring in the boys and
girls
whom we wish to train. You said I should write you plainly
about
your coming. Well Florence there never was a time when you
were more
needed than just now. For this reason. Mulungit’s father was a
great man and at his death left nine wives. Mulungit and two
other
young men are to care for them each having three women and
their
children to look after. In all this great stir Mulungit wants
to
gather all his people here at Kijabe. His own mother a fine
old
woman came a few days ago. Next week he will go to get the
others. There are two of his little sisters several little
boys and a few
other little girls. I really dont know who will care for them
and
teach them unless you come. I expect to spend a great deal of
time
in traveling and preaching soon so will be away a great deal
of the
time. But what about that house? I am building now but not on
those
plans. Things being so unsettled we thought it best to build a
temporary house now and leave the other until things are
definitely
settled. The house I am building now is really for Mulungit.
It has
four rooms a kitchen, a living room, bedroom and spare room.
It may
be our home for some time. It is on a beautiful location very
cozy,
made of burnt brick with shingle roof. It is almost finished
now.
But
oh Florence when are you coming? I dont think I ever wanted so
much
as just now to sit down and have a long talk with you. This
writing
seems so dull. It always seems to me that I will be an
entirely
different man when once you get here. Now everybody is so busy
that
I rarely get a chance to talk with any one and I am longing so
much
to have some one who will be interested in my plans and talk
them
over with me and pray over them. And then you know there is so
much
that comes into ones life when he is alone to make him sort of
cold
and dreary and especially is that true here. How different
that
would be if I could sit with you in front of the old fire
place at
night with a roaring fire and just talk things over, but as
you know
Florence away down in a hidden corner there is a sort of a
tickling
sensation from which I can hardly keep from bubbling over with
joy
which tells me that you are coming soon. I think I wrote you
about
the lady who is supporting me. I call her my “little mother”
and
she calls me her “big boy”. I wrote her a little about you and
this is what she replies “I am so glad you have written me of
the
dear girl in our country whom you love and who loves you. I
may have
a share in her may I not? I would be glad if she would write
me and
of course she must come and see me, you tell her I love her
already. You will write me more about your prospects and plans
and when you
may expect your friend to join you and what hinders etc. You
have an
inquisitive “little mother” but she means it in real love and
interest”. Knowing her great liberality in giving to missions
I
think I can read something between the lines and it is just
possible
that she may pay your passage out and support both of us while
you
are here. Will you not write to her and claim her as your
little
mother too. Her address is Mrs. L. G. Owen Morristown, New
Jersey. She is an invalid and can do no work so I think she
would enjoy much
a letter from you. She seems to be a very nice old lady
supporting
several missionaries in different parts of the world.
Who
told you I was so anxious to get the Christian Herald. I
almost
ordered it myself so you hit it almost right. Many thanks. As
to
hot weather it is always delightfully cool here and you will
need no
real thin clothing. As to what Mrs. Hurlburt would like. She
talks
so much about her flowers and works so much with them that it
almost
seems that is about all she does like. Mr. Downing has just
made her
a beautiful table for the sitting room about 4 ft. square a
bit
longer perhaps. If you could make her a center piece for that
with
flowers on it I think she would be much pleased.
And
now my dear little girl be brave. Its not an easy matter you
have
before you, but will not Jesus make us better for the hard
things we
pass through. I often thank him for making the Masai work very
difficult and then sees fit to let me do it. I wish I could
make the
journey with you. I fear that will be the hardest. When once
you
get here we will be so busy getting things in order, and there
are so
many pleasant little nooks and corners to go to and I love
rambling
so much that we will forget all about our sorrows. Bring
plenty of
photo material for there will be hundreds of pictures you will
want
here. I am sending you a picture of Mulungit and myself.
Mulungits
is very good but I look as though I didnt know where I was, so
when
you look at it look more at Mulungit than at me and now may
Jesus
richly bless and keep you and draw you very near to himself
that you
may be prepared for all that the future has for you this is
the
prayer of
Ever
faithfully yours John.
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