Mavuradonha Mission Station
P/B 16 Bindura
January 11, 1952
Dear folks,
Another “rainish” day. We surely have had the rain this year. These past two weeks it has rained off and on most of the time. As I say, everything is lush and drippery. It is general in Rhodesia and I’m sure that they have seen plenty in the Valley.
I’m wondering if Orval will be able to get out next week to take the boys back to school. The two single girls who will be running the home in Salisbury this next term are down there, too. The road doesn’t get impassable here except after heavy rains. One has to wait until rivers go down. I saw in the paper where a man’s car was turned over by going through deep, swift water. He and his native boy somehow got out.
The Christmas packages haven’t been heard of yet. One day they will come, I guess. Tonight I think I’ll have soup then I can use your soup spoon. That will be real nice when I serve soup.
School begins week after next. I’m shaking in my boots as I’ve much to learn myself. We had Teacher’s Institute for our out-school teachers. One of them has finished teacher’s training and the rest just eighth grade. The one with teacher’s training is real keen. He will be going to Msengedzi along with a helper. I think he’ll do a better job than myself. He knows exactly how it should be done and if he does it he’ll really be a teacher. Here at Mavuradonha we have two trained teachers besides Mrs. Danielson and myself. They are very good. The one is excellent as a teacher, very outstanding in every way as a native.
This morning I set out some zinnias and marigolds. I’ve done so before but this is a new bed. Seems strange not to have to water things. When school begins I’ll have gardening with the girls. That will be interesting. My cook boy has been off sick for three days. I don’t know how sick as he hasn’t come to the dispensary.
The Brutons have gone into town. He is supposed to try and get material for building my kitchen. Russ and Margaret were over last week and he is coming back to help build. Well it is nearly six o’clock. I must go out and see what is going on.
Now it is 7:30 and I’m finished with supper, such as it was. My radio is playing lovely here. I’ve got a yearly medical report to give for this place to send to the government and that is a job as records haven’t been kept properly. When I left for furlough there was a doctor and his wife (both doctors) who were here and they had a big business up at the hospital here. A hundred or more people living around the hospital being treated, etc., and now it is such a dead place outside of the few cases. It could be built up by a nurse who devoted herself to the task. I shall try and keep regular hours for it, even though I am in school.
I haven’t heard from Inga since she left.
Well, I am at the end. I’ll write about the house, etc., in my next letter.
Love,
Eunice
