Monday May 31st, 1965
Mombasa, Kenya
I went to town with Maxine Law today, and met M.G. at the office. He and Tom Tipton went down to the harbor to get Ensign Stagg and some books that the navy were giving our school. They had quite a time getting through customs so our picnic didn’t turn out. Although Ensign Stagg brought us some bologna and bread so we had sandwiches at station meeting. Virginia made John (Ensign Stagg) a cake since it was his birthday and anniversary. He had supper with us although we didn’t eat very much for we wanted to save room for bologna sandwiches. He gave us each 250 pieces of gum (American) for our kids, also a patch with the ships name on it to sew on their shirts.
When I read things like this in my Mom’s diary it makes me proud to be an American. The American sailors on this ship freely gave of their time and energy to give us missionaries a small but precious taste of home. I don’t know for sure but I would bet that those books were donations from the men aboard that ship.
Bologna from America, you would have thought Ensign Stagg had offloaded gold bullion to hear the description given this lunch meat. Next time you recoil at the thought of just a bologna sandwich remember somewhere lives a missionary that dreams of eating B-O-L-O-G-N-A!
I urge you to make sure you thank the next serviceman or woman you see for keeping their post on the wall so you can live free. I know I sure appreciate the sacrifice these men and women make on my behalf! (Oh, and it’s not just because of the gum!)
Thursday May 30th, 1968
Houston, Texas
We got up about 8:30 this morning and had breakfast. I washed two loads of clothes. Then M.G. and I went over to the Webb’s house to see if Alan and Kenny could play with their son also, to see if they could spend the night there on the 6th and 7th of June while the Bunns are at their convention. We left for Houston about 1:30pm and got here around 4:30. The first people that we saw that we knew were the Hulls from East Africa. The Cromers are across the hall from us. Tonight we went to Linda’s apt. to have tea with some of the East Africa gang.
Evidently Mom and Dad were going to a mission conference in Houston and were looking for a place to lodge Alan and me. I think the Webb’s got the lucky number and got to keep us for a couple of days.
The Bunn’s were close friends of ours from Dad’s days in seminary and they lived in Mt. Enterprise, TX.
I know you have seen comments from other missionaries about relationships that are forged in the fire of service. (Aunt Margie’s comment May 23rd) Common causes make fast friendships. These bonds hold true even though separated by miles or months. Mom’s excitement about seeing the Hull’s and the fact that after an afternoon of conference they met for tea are just further proof of this connection.
Saturday May 29th, 1971
Limuru, Kenya
This morning we made raspberry ice cream and took it to play day at the Cunninghams. This is the last day for it to be there for they go home on furlough in July. There was a big crowd there and lots of good food! Tonight I had the Blakley family for supper and then Vestal and Carol Jean and M.G. and I went to the late movie- “The Love God”. Our children stayed here at our house and looked at T.V. Robert tried making banana pudding tonight by himself but he tried to put the eggs into scalded milk too fast and they curdled.
Play day at the Cunninghams. The Cunninghams were trendsetters while I was on the mission field. They were the originators of “play day” in Nairobi. I don’t know where they got the idea but it was a winner with all the missionaries. Once every so often they would have a big party day at their house. Each family would bring food and chairs and show up for “dinner on the ground” but no preaching. The kids would play and the grownups would talk and fellowship and generally let their hair down for a few hours. I can remember some great times at the “play days” of my past.
You might think it strange that missionaries would even think to go see a movie called “The Love God”. However you must remember that when your choices are limited you will always tend to be more tolerant of borderline entertainment. The deciding factor for this movie was Don Knotts starring role. His fame from Andy Griffith made sure this movie was seen on the foreign circuit by any American with a yearning for the USA.
May 28th, 1982 Hammond, Indiana
This morning Billie and I went shopping at the mall. I bought a skirt for $11.00. We ate at a restaurant called “The York”. Tonight I spoke at Orchard Drive. There were 34 present. The pastor was Clifford Welch. After church I met Billie and Bob’s daughter and her husband. He is on the police force here. Bob went out and bought 3 dozen of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I ate 3 and hated myself later.
This must have been a trip that the Mission Board planned for my folks during our furlough. Being in close proximity of Chicago I bet Mom was really amazed at the sheer amount of people that are here.
I could not find a link for “The York” restaurant so if anyone knows where that is please speak up.
Looks like Mom was able to partake in that great police treat “the doughnut” even though she hated herself afterward. I am not sure that having just 3 doughnuts ranks hating in my book. Before I was a low-carb guy I have downed a dozen at a time.
Friday May 27th, 1977
Limuru, Kenya
This morning M.G. finished Mrs. Clark’s car. While we were finishing breakfast, Web and Betty Carroll came in. Then Phyliss went to town with them. Thomas Kennedy came by today. He said that Keith was in Nigeria now. M.G. helped Thomas to get into his trunk for it was stuck. Tonight Ken, Eric, Glen, and Sammy went out to the assembly and knocked on the doors of people and disturbed them. Jim Green came out here to see if they were here. We made them go back and apologize.
Looks like Dad was fixing a car again this time before breakfast. He also used his other talents to open the stuck trunk for Thomas.
Ken and his group of hardened hoodlums went out this evening for a wild night on the hill. This bunch of ruffians was the most calloused of all criminals. Don’t let their baby faces fool you. Under that innocent facade was a seething caldron of trouble. Wait a second, all we were doing was knocking on doors and running away. The reason we got caught was most likely from the uncontrollable giggling that erupted when the “victims” tried to answer the door. Jim stopped this unholy reign of terror and my folks made us go and fling ourselves at the mercy of the court. Kids are kids in any area of the world.
Tuesday May 26th, 1970
Limuru, Kenya
This morning M.G. fixed a new carpet for the trunk of our car. He sewed two old pieces together. We went over and had coffee with the language students. This afternoon I went with Myrtice and Sally Conley out to a nearby village and we got stuck in the mud. At first a large number of children tried to help. Then a young man with 3 donkeys tried to pull us out. The rope broke when he tried to pull. Later some men came along and helped. Then when we finally got out there was a big fuss about who would get the money. Finally we gave it to an older man and he was supposed to divide it out.
Some days you just know things are going to go wrong and there is nothing you can do about it. I am sure this is how Mom and these women felt with their ill fated journey to the nearby village. However knowing Mom and the ladies pretty well I bet they had a great time watching the ensuing attack on the stuck car. In my mind’s eye I can see those children pushing every way at once to get the car out. They most likely had a better time getting mud on themselves and the car than anything. Then to the rescue comes the man with 3 donkeys. Too bad he also had a rotten rope or he might have obtained the prize. It was not until later when some other men came along and extracted the car from its miry grave. The only problem now became how to divide up the spoils. Evidently the aged appeared most honest so the old guy got the loot and was charged with divvying the take.
Sunday May 25th, 1975
Kijabe and Limuru
This morning M.G. came into Kijabe to go to church at Kentmere. I fixed breakfast for Alan, Ken, Jeff Ramey, and Alf Rhea. We had cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs, and fruit. M.G. fixed a holder on the wall for Peggy to set her transformer on. We left Kijabe about 5 o’clock and got here in time for the 6:00 English speaking service. Jo Von Bryan and Mildred Cagle gave their testimony. Tonight the T.V. was full of the “welcome back” from the coast for the president of Kenya. M.G. was unable to contact Charlie tonight.
Mom was helping a lady from R.V.A. out by being a dorm parent over the weekend. The Duncan picnic banquet extended over 3 days! I truly thought that I had gone to heaven. No R.V.A. food for 3 whole days. Looks like Jeff Ramey (Alan’s roommate) and Alf Rhea (lucky contestant #1) got to join in the food and the fellowship that was had that day.
True to form Dad was always fixing something wherever he went. Today it happened to be a transformer shelf.
One of the many reasons God wants us to develop a testimony is to encourage out fellowman. I am sure that the offering from these ladies did just that. I thought that I would give you a small taste of what the welcome back party. Just click the video after the jump and sit back and enjoy!
Wednesday May 24th, 1978
Limuru, Kenya
This morning I got up feeling bad so after breakfast I went back to bed for awhile. I went out to the assembly for a few minutes to see the women who had come to sew curtains for the assembly. We went out to R.V.A. this afternoon for a picnic and to watch the Rugby game. Ken had been on restriction for one day because he had gone into the girls dorm lounge to get a drink of water. Carol Barnett was the one who gave it to him. Mr. Day was teasing him about it. He told us that we had better watch him if he ever really starting dating the girls. Ken told us that on flower day he gave Sue Ellen a flower and she gave him one. R.V.A. won 4 to 3 with Lenana today. They won in the last few minutes.
I hope Mom did get to feeling better. Perhaps the thing that helped her along was seeing evidence of her labor with the ladies and the curtain project.
Mom and Dad showing up at R.V.A. was cause for great excitement on the campus. Mom always did things with style so when she brought a picnic it was a banquet. I always seemed to pick up a few more friends on picnic nights.
I think the statue of limitations has run out on my crime so I guess I can confess now. Carol did tempt me with a cool drink and I fell to temptation. I was not near the innocent bystander that my subsequent confession to Mr. Day portrayed me to be. I am sure I told him that I heard a plaintive cry for help and rushed headlong into danger to rescue the unfortunate heedless of the punishment which was sure to follow. Mr. Day’s prediction proved to be something of a prophecy in my later life but that is another story.
A flower for Ken from Sue Ellen, she was the lady of my dreams during my junior year in high school. I tried all year to strike up a romance with this young lady but she withstood my advances like a rock. Ends up she starts dating one of my best buddies during our senior year and Ken was left jilted and alone on the steps of Kiambogo porch. However, just like a phoenix from the ashes Ken later met and married the lovely Cindy Watson Duncan and now lives his dream in Tennessee!
Sunday May 23rd, 1965
Mombasa, Kenya
We let George have the day off today hoping he would attend church. Jean and Timmy Law had lunch with us for Maxine was up in Nairobi. This afternoon we drove over to the airport for a coke and snack. We like to have never gotten across to the waiter what we wanted. Afterwards we drove through one of the African villages. Their life seems so simple compared to our way of living. After church we went home with the Travis’s for cake and ice cream. Our children enjoyed playing together while the adults talked. It was good to sit on real American furniture for a change. We got a letter from Helen and Hilda Mills which we enjoyed very much. The Travis family joined our church today.
Mom and Dad were always on task. They knew that God had called them to Africa to win the lost and they went about it with determination. Mom was always ready to provide meals when anyone needed it and I am sure that both Jean and Timmy were glad to dine at our table rather that eat their own cooking.
Ordering out in Kenya was somewhat of an ordeal. Cultural differences make for strange outcomes sometimes. This reminds me of the time I ordered a coke and ice at one of the main hotels in the capitol city. When I got the beverage it was hot and the glass held two ice cubes that were rapidly melting in the heat. I asked the waiter for more ice and he informed me that two cubes were more than enough for anyone and went on his way.
The busy workday world of the American would seem as chaos to the average Kenyan. As I try to fit this and that into my crazy schedule I wonder if the African may have had the idea after all.
Fellowship among missionaries is one of the key things to making life a joy on the field. The friends you make in the heat of “battle” are the ones that stay with you for life.
Hearing from home was always a joy in our lives. So if you know any missionaries and you care the least bit about them drop them a line on occasion. I will take my own advice and email my brother when this is posted.
Tuesday May 22nd, 1979
Limuru and Ngulia Lodge
This morning we left Limuru at about 6:30am. We stopped at Hunter’s Lodge and had a cup of coffee and some banana bread that I brought along. We got to the lodge about 12 o’clock and had lunch soon afterwards. They had braised oxtail or cold cuts so we choose the cold cuts. After lunch we rested until 4 o’clock and then went out to see the animals. About 5:30 the gear shift had something to go wrong and couldn’t shift gears. We drove in second all the way to the Kilaguni lodge. M.G. and Buck fixed something with a piece of wire but it didn’t hold for while we were in 3rd gear it slipped again so we drove all the way to Ngulia in 3rd gear. This wasn’t much of a problem though. The manager here at the hotel says that he has a good mechanic so we hope he will be able to fix it in the morning. The supper here was not too bad-something like Swiss steak, French fries, peas, and rhubarb pie. We had fruit and soup as first courses.
It seems my folks were taking another trip without son number two to tag along. I do not regret the fact that I missed the choice between oxtail and cold cuts.
It also seems that they had some car trouble along the way. I never cease to be amazed at what my Dad can fix with bailing wire! I like the way that it was not a big problem if you could only drive in 3rd gear. Ends up the manager did know a good mechanic and he was able to get them up and running the next day. I thought I would tell you that so you would not think them stranded in the wilds of Africa to this day.
I am really glad that I was not at the supper table tonight to delve into “something like Swiss steak”. I will leave the real identity of this “mystery” meat to the reader’s imagination. I would be willing to bet real money that the folks tanked up on that first course of soup and fruit!
Posted by margiesmanna 
Posted by margiesmanna 
Posted by margiesmanna 