Kijabe E.A.P. April 18. ‘05
My
dear Florence:
Mr.
Hurlburt left us just one week ago, and sailed today from
Mombasa. It has been an exceedingly trying week for me for
this reason. He
went away without saying a single word about you, and it sort
of
seemed as though he would come back without you. Mr. Rhoad and
Mr.
Evans talked so much to him about bringing out their lady
friends
that I was afraid it would nettle him if I said anything about
it. So I just kept quiet. Just now however a boy came to the
door with a
letter which proved to be from Mr. Hurlburt. In it he says
“write
me what your lady friend lacks to come out. I have an offer to
make
up any deficiency so that she may come now”. Florence I almost
cried as I read this. I was feeling very lonesome this week
and have
prayed to God that if it was in any way possible He should let
you
come now. This is His answer. I dont know who has made the
offer,
but it seems now settled that within six months, God willing,
you
will be at Kijabe. I believe that will be one of the happiest
days
of my life. I have not said much about my desire to have you
come
out, but there has been a continual longing such as I can
hardly
describe. I believe I can truly say I have seen some of my
best days
in Africa, yet there has been some very severe trials, but is
that
not as our Lord would have it that we should suffer together
with him
for the Kingdoms sake. So I feel as though I have little
opportunity
left to suggest anything for your further preparation.
Hurlburt
tells me to ask you when and where he may meet you. Please
write a
letter to him addressing him Mr. C. E. Hurlburt, 516 Stephen
Girard
Bldg. Phila. Pa. In care of Mr. T. Edward Ross. If you are
ready to
meet him at anytime please tell him so and wait for his
orders. Please dont be afraid in anything of Mr. Hurlburt. He
will treat you
as kindly and as gently as if he were your own father. I dont
think
I know of a single man whom I love and respect as I do Mr.
Hurlburt. When he left last week I could hardly wait until I
could get off
alone and just cry like a child. It must have been so hard for
him
to leave his family. In his letter from Mombasa he says “Oh
John
it’s so hard to go I would be a second Jonah and sail back to
Kijabe if it were not surely of Him, but oh Stauffacher I do
need
your prayers. Cry mightily unto God for me.” Nothing has ever
so
touched me in my life as to see him knowing surely that God
would
have him go, yet dreading it all as only a man can dread a
thing. We
all believe however that his trip home will be a mighty
blessing. Dr. Pierson will meet him in England also other very
prominent
Christian leaders and help him to arrange for an Auxiliary
Home
Council in England. He hopes also to bring quite a number of
missionaries from England. There is no doubt at all but that
our
work will be greatly increased.
Now
I dont know how many more letters I will write to you. After
you
leave Hooppole it will be almost impossible to reach you until
you
arrive at Mombasa. My plans were (always) to meet you at
Mombasa,
but since you come with Mr. Hurlburt I dont suppose I will go
down
for it is a dreary ride when once the novelty of Africa is
gone. This I am planning however that we may for a wedding
trip go up to
lake Victoria, take a trip around the lake on the new steamer,
and
make a short stop in Uganda. It will not cost much and with a
little
saving I think we can easily make it up. Of course it will be
a year
or more after you get here before we will be married. Mr.
Hurlburt
desires this and I think it is very wise. We hope by that time
to
get things as settled with the Masai work that I may return to
Kijabe
to stay. Hurlburt hopes to get a large sum of money for Masai
work
so that we may keep a number of boys and girls at Kijabe. He
wants
my work to be here. He never has been willing that I should
leave
Kijabe under any considerations. Ever since I was a boy I was
a
great hand to crawl away into every nook and corner and see
everything so those 4 sqr. miles of land I have pretty well
explored. It is very difficult to get through there being so
much brush so I
am really the only one who has explored it, so Hurlburt is
very
anxious now that I should be here when he returns to help lay
out
this land. It will be a treat to you to see some of this. Part
of
it is covered with immense bamboo forest and Oh it is pretty.
I hope
to have a number of small paths cut before Hurlburt returns so
that
we can get into it. Hurlburt is very anxious that I should be
at
Kijabe while he is home so I will likely now only make a short
trip
to the Reservation, choose the location for our mission and
return
again and stay at Kijabe until you get here. I think I wrote
you
once concerning a Gov. man working at the Masai language. He
is a
great language scholar and has now finished his work and oh it
is
arranged beautifully. I have just received the book but since
it is
a large one and costs 5 dollars I dont think I can send you
one. I
would much rather you would not attempt to study on the
journey. Rather do a little sewing and then take in and enjoy
as much as
possible the wonderful things you will see. Your trip will be
grand,
being in the summer months. Let it be just a grand resting for
your
work here. Oh Florence I am so happy to know that at last you
are
coming. You may find me a little foolish when you get here but
I
think you will be able to overlook that. There are many things
I
should like to write concerning our plans for the future but I
think
there will be time enough for us to plan that when you get
here. I
think I have written nearly everything you will need to bring
along
except perhaps a folding cot for you to sleep on when we go
out on
any trip we may take. I have plenty of tents. I have just
received
a Christmas box from home in which ws a beautiful set of
silver
knives, forks and spoons so you wont need to bother about
this. Dont
try to bring a stove unless you already have it. I was so glad
to
hear about the organ. Bring all the music you can get. I have
been
organist for the mission since I have been here and have
practiced
much on Hurlburts organ and have made great improvement over
what I
used to play. All Kijabe people are great for music. Mr.
Downing is
a good tenor and he often asks me about you. When he
discovered that
you sing Alto he was much pleased. Mrs. Downing and Alta
Hurlburt
sing Soprano. Mr. Hurlburt is a beautiful Bass and Agnes
Hurlburt
sings Alto so we need just another Alto to make up the lot. Mr
Downing thinks with you we can have a ladies Quartette. Mrs
Downing
used to sing in a ladies Quartette. Oh Florence there’s some
Glorious times a comin’. Wont we make these old Kijabe hills
ring
when you all get here but I must close for this time. Let me
know as
soon as possible just whats going on. I shall pray much for
you
these days that the Lord may keep you and bless you. Now be
brave
and dont let things frighten you. Do it all for the sake of
Jesus
and it will not be hard.
Yours
in much love and anxiously waiting, John
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