Salisbury
Sunday 15th May 1955
Dear Mom,
It has been ever so long since I’ve written, I know. Well, it has been a busy time and now that things are getting back to normal and before I go home tomorrow, I’ll get this letter written to you.
Conference finished last Tuesday morning when the folks left. Some had been with us nearly two weeks. Dr. Arnold Olson, President of the Evangelical Free Churches of the U.S., was with us the first few days of the Conference and he was a real blessing to us. He went on up to the Congo to visit their Mission Station up there. One of our men had to take him back to Salisbury.
We were 44 missionaries, I believe. Our arrangements were quite satisfactory and things went along quite well, as far as accommodation, etc., went. It began on the last Friday of April and that weekend is when Mr. Olson was with us. He left Monday noon and our Conference business sessions began then. We had lots of business. Many were moved, including myself, as of December this year. We have some new areas to open up and although we have lots of missionaries, we need more.
As you know, Jean Schmidt was married on the last Saturday of Conference. It was very nice indeed. Lois Bruton and I made the cake and, if I do say so myself, it was beautiful and delicious. It was three tiers with yellow flowers on top and white frosting. We used a dishpan (a big one) for the first layer.
As the other time when we had a wedding at Conference time, we also had a funeral and on the same day in the morning. Little Jimmy Prescott, age 13 months, became ill with apparently a cold on Thursday. Thursday night he seemed quite ill but they gave him penicillin, etc., and I, for one, didn’t even know that he was ill. Then Friday morning he was breathing so hard and he had quite a high temperature so it was decided to take him to Bindura, 90 miles away, to the hospital. About eleven o’clock the parents, Chuck Pruitt, and Ruth Ebbern went but around three p.m. they were back again. The baby had died about 40 miles from the station. How quickly it all happened. It just didn’t seem possible. The parents were a blessing and a real testimony to the grace of God at such a time. She was so calm and she said she had such a peace in her heart. We just marveled at the way they took it and I’m sure it was a great testimony to the Africans. We buried him alongside of the Bruton grave. Clarence Cedarholm made a coffin Friday night of boards and Mary and I fixed it inside and it looked very nice. We stained it on the outside. The body was carried to the grave and we had a little service there only. The Prescotts have a girl about three years, I suppose.
Several had colds during Conference and now I have it. I’ve been miserable all day. We came into town on Wednesday after a hurry and a scurry to get the station back in order including my house. We are leaving as soon as we can in the morning. School begins the next day.
I turned over the memorial money and it seems as if the church will get done this year. I can’t say for sure but they are planning on doing it. The total amount was $571. I’m going to say that if it isn’t all needed for the chapel, the rest should go to the children’s home.
It was nice to see all of the missionaries. There were about 25 children. The Hendricksons and Strams both had brand-new babies with them.
Well, I believe that this will be all for now. I’ll try and write soon again. I was glad to get your last letter telling about your decorating job. I’m glad you like it. Tell the “hamas1Shona for relatives.” that I’ll be writing a circular to them all one of these days. I trust that your hand isn’t hurting so much these days.
Love,
Eunice