Mavuradonha Mission Station
P.O. Bindura P/B 16
Southern Rhodesia, Africa
May 25, 1952
Dear folks,
I suppose you wonder why in the world I do not write once in awhile. I know that it has been some time since I last did but here goes and I shall try and get it finished, too, and in the post in due time.
I got your letter of the 12th the other day and I was glad to get it as it had been some time since I last heard from you.
School resumes its activities this coming Tuesday and therefore I shall be back in the swing of things in a big way again. I do not have a cook boy now as mine quit right after Conference and so I have to do all of my own work. It would be O.K. if that were all I had to do. I’m enjoying my new kitchen. It is so handy and convenient. How I shall manage when school begins remains to be seen.
Mary has been away all this holiday and is due back tomorrow with Warren who has gone into town after her. The Brutons were in town last week all week and so I was here alone. However, Inga paid me a short visit coming out on the native bus on Tuesday evening and returning the same way on Friday morning. I had a very delightful time with her and it really was the only holiday that I have had. I have gotten all of the work done, though, which I wanted to do and I have my living quarters painted and to my liking for a change. Then I have cleaned out my junk holes and just have gotten caught up on my work in general.
I believe that I told you that Inga is now under the South Africa General Mission and is now at their Mission Station here in Rhodesia located at a place called Rusitu. She will be teaching in their school there. It will be quite a change for her as it is an old, well-established station with many European workers as well as native.
Today Lois and I were here alone and we did not go down to the church as it is 2 ½ miles from here and up and down hills on the big order. In fact coming back it is uphill all of the way. Last week I walked down there and not a soul was out for church except one of the native teachers from here and the native evangelist so I had to turn right around and walk all of that way back so I said to-day I wasn’t even going to go. The people in this community have the idea that during the school holiday there is no church either and so they just stay home even though you try and tell them that there is no holiday from worshiping the Lord.
I had a nice dinner today. I’m sorry that I couldn’t have you in for a meal, even though Jim and Larry don’t like my cooking. I had nice fried chicken, mashed potatoes, peas, fresh rolls which Lois had baked, and for dessert I made that White Christmas Chiffon pie that is in the Betty Crocker cookbook. I have plenty of eggs just now and I also had some cream which I saved off the top of the milk and so I tried it and I liked it very much. Why don’t you try it and let me know how you all like it. When school gets going I won’t have any time to dilly dally around cooking a meal.
Well, Mom, I’m glad that you went to help with the Junior-Senior affair. It was nice for you to get to see it and to meet the ladies. I’m glad to hear that you got such nice towels, etc., for your Mother’s Day.
I’ve forgotten the date that Lois is to be married. Aren’t I awful? I must write to her. I suppose that she is home by now. Goodness, I haven’t written her very many letters this past year. I really am terrible about this letter writing. It is a wonder that I get any letters any more.
I suppose that the men folks have their corn in by now. I trust that you are having a good season. Are there lots of robins like there were the year that I was home? I wish that I could see a few of them. We are having much cooler weather now. In fact it is ideal and it is a good time for gardening. I have mine more or less in shape now and soon I’ll be having cabbages. About 15 boys remained here during holiday as they have no money for their school fees and so they stay to earn them and so I have had one of them being responsible for my garden and he has been very good. I’ll be sorry to lose him now that school begins again. Most of the boys are very careless about watering and wash out everything by dousing it on by the bucket-fulls.
Helen and Orval had to stay in town quite a long time after Conference as both Freddie and Dickie had to have injections again for bilharzia. They seem to never get rid of that disease. That little Lois is still as cute as they come and is the spit image of her mother in every way and they are as proud as punch of her, too. Pamela, Brutons little girl, is changing a lot these days and since she has been around the other kids she seems to be a different kid. She is quite cute, too, and quite a good child. She doesn’t make herself a nuisance around me and I live right in the same house. I guess I told you before that I’m in one end and they are in the other. I like my quarters very much. Did I tell you that Effie Byrd will be coming here sometime in the fall? She will live with me and for once I’ll have someone who knows to cook, etc. Bye bye
Love,
Eunice
[p.s.] How are the pigs, etc.? How many do you have? Has Jim and Larry their usual amount of livestock?
