Kijabe E.A.P. Nov. 28 ‘07
Mrs. John Minch,
Hoopole, Ill.
My dear Mother.
You may think Florence and I have had a
quarrel and I ran away. Well it does look so and I almost feel
guilty but if you knew how anxious I am to be home you
would’nt think long that I ran away. I never knew that I
thought half as much of Florence a I know I do now. This is
the first time in my life that I have been so homesick that I
feel sort of grumpy with every body around me and what is
worst I just cant get home. I have a very bad foot. I have
been off with Mr. Reibe one of our missionaries and Mr.
Marshall from Moody Institute in Chicago on a long trip. About
three days before we reached the railroad we came to a very
filthy mudhole which we had to cross. I offered to carry Reibe
and Mr. Marshall on my back and while carrying Marshall struck
my foot against a sharp stick hid in the mud and cut myself.
It did’nt seem to be serious though, so I thought nothing of
it, but soon found it began to swell. The mud was so filthy
that it must have been poisonous. Then I had to walk nearly
sixty miles on it and when we reached the railroad it was so
bad I could hardly walk. I wanted to go home from Gilgil but
saw I could not so came to Kijabe. I have been here nearly two
weeks and am not able to put on a shoe yet. If it was any one
but Florence at Rumututi I should worry myself much but she’s
a peach. She can run affairs better than I can myself. When I
left her she seemed as little concerned as if she expected me
back for dinner. I dont doubt she is waiting anxiously to have
me come back but I know she is not afraid and does not worry
so it makes it much easier for me. I know you must think I am
awful for leaving her so long. Well I think myself that I am
awful but it cant be helped now. I know one thing, I will
never go again. I dont think I will have to. I had to go this
time in Hurlburt’s place because of Mrs. Hurlburt’s sickness.
We did’nt know I had to go until Mr. Marshall reached
Rumuruti. Our whole trip covered about 300 miles. We went
first to Baringo then to Lake Hannington then to Ravine Gov.
Station and then to Londiani a railroad station and from there
to Kijabe. I did’nt enjoy the trip because I did’nt want to go
at all though was glad to see the country. The people treated
us very nicely. The Njamus a tribe near Lake Baringo got all
their warriors together and had a sham battle. It was one of
the finest things I saw in Africa. The warriors were all
painted in war colors and wore lion skins and large head
dresses of ostrich feathers. Mr. Marshall took a large number
of pictures. It was a wild sight. I had seen something like it
before but not on such a large scale. The warriors nearly
always go into hysterics and then carry on awful. Some get so
bad that their bodies get stiff as if they were dead. They
roll on the ground and scream terribly and froth at the mouth
as if they were mad. One of the chiefs of the warriors got so
bad that he had to be held by several men but finally he broke
loose and started to run. He jumped over three hedge fences
about 8 ft high made of thorn brush. This brush has long sharp
thorns and is terrible. When he came out the third time the
blood just streamed down his body. He soon got over his spell
though and then came and talked and laughed with us as though
nothing had happened. If you did not know them you would think
they were terribly dangerous. They all carry spears and big
knives and twirl them about in the air but never dare touch
you unless they see you are afraid and then there are hundreds
of people about who would protect you. It is worth seeing but
not very pleasant to go through and takes quite a bit of
nerve. After the battle they gave war dances which were very
interesting. In lake Baringo we saw hundreds of hippopotamus
and crocodiles. The first time I saw crocodiles in Africa. At
Lake Hannington we saw a pretty sight. Millions upon millions
of flamingos. I shall never forget it. Otherwise we saw no
animals of any kind. The country was low, very hot and very
stony. Also very feverish but none of us were sick. I was very
glad when we reached the railroad but wanted so much to go
home and was very sorry I could not.
Florence has just written that you sent the
books with Downing. I do hope they will come so I can take
them back with me for Christmas. but I am a bit afraid.
Sometimes they do not come for weeks after those who bring
them and I must go home as soon as my foot allows. We expect
Downing and a large party next Thurs. or Sat. Hurlburt wants
me to stay and get acquainted with the new missionaries and
then take some along for language study and later to open new
stations. We expect also a single lady to go to Rumuruti to
help Miss Simpson. That will relieve Florence from school work
and I think she deserves it. I must say Florence has worked
too hard but she seems to enjoy it so I have said nothing. but
hereafter I wont allow it. If she takes care of the house and
looks after things she ought not to have school work on her
hands. But dinner is ready and I must stop. This is
Thanksgiving Day and Mrs. Reibe (I am staying with Reibes) is
making a big dinner and has invited in Hurlburts whole family
so we are going to have a big time. They are coming fast now
so I will wait until after dinner and then finish if I am able
to. Well dinner is over and I am still able to write. We
did’nt have a turkey but we did have lots of good things. We
were sorry Mrs. Hurlburt was not with us. She is away for a
rest. Poor Mrs. Hurlburt will likely never be herself again.
It has just been discovered that she is quite low with
consumption. She has not been well for a long time but no one
knew what was the matter with her until a special doctor has
examined her. The Doctor says she is liable to go almost any
time but might possibly live for a number of years yet but is
not likely ever to get well again. I dont know what the
mission will be like without Mrs. Hurlburt. She has been just
like the mother of us all, but changes do come so I suppose we
will have to make the best of them. It is very hard on Mr.
Hurlburt. We think so much of his family and he is a very
sensitive person and takes such things much harder than most
people do. Was glad to hear Downing had been out to see you
people. I suppose he will tease me now for seeing you before I
did. Well I dont care. He did’nt get to know you before I did
and Its better to know people than only to see them but just
you wait we’ll be coming some day. You know my time for a trip
home is soon up. I tell Florence I am going home then but she
will have to wait because she has’nt been here long enough but
she says she wont mind cutting off a year or two. I dont
suppose I could come alone because I would have to have some
one introduce me but any way I think you will see us before
the second year from now is finished. I am anxious for my
first trip home, there will be a lot to see and hear. The
China people have written us to let them know the difference
in cost by going home that way. I suppose they are anxious to
have us see them there, but I dont think more anxious than we
are to go, but then we have lots of time to plan yet and
Florence says you know that your girls can do lots of
planning. Before I left Rumuruti I just finished putting on
the roof on our new house and had I stayed at home we would be
in the house by this time. I suppose when I get back I will
have to build a house for our old maids. I want also to build
a school and chapel so you dont need just yet to suggest
anything for me to do. I am glad we are getting some good help
because now I can give all my time to building while the women
folks do the real missions work. It will also make the place
seem less lonely. But this is a longer letter than I thought I
would be able to write so I must close. My foot is much better
today and I think I will be able to go to Nairobi next week
and then home. I want to get some things for Christmas. We can
get almost anything in Nairobi now. I have just had a letter
from Florence and she says she has just written you so you may
get our letters at the same time but you know I dont get to
writing so very often so I dont suppose you will mind.
Many many thanks for the things you have
sent and a merry Christmas and happy new year to you all
John.
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