1938 (4) Eunice in Hawaii

On Board  "Dollar Steamship Lines"

Dearest Mother and All,

Hello from Hawaii!  It is wonderful here.  We had a tour of the Island this A.M. and oh it was grand.  I'm writing it all in a long letter later, but now I must get this one off on the next boat.  The "Manteroy" leaves here at 4 P.M. and should reach you in about a week.  That is pretty quick time from away out here.

I'm sending some folders of pictures.  Be sure to keep the scrapbooks.  I thought you'd enjoy them along at different times rather than all at once when I get home.

 

Would you send a copy of this letter to Ruby and Helen as I'm afraid I won't get more than a card off to them from here.  There are so many to write but I can't complain of not having time now.   I'm trying to rest a lot tho and the days slip away in a hurry.

Am feeling fine!  Not a bit seasick.  We get waited on like babies.  They even make our beds for us and call us for our bath, etc etc.   I'm not used to all this!  And eat -  it's awful!  Ha!

Say, I want you to send me another picture of the Baby soon; so it gets to me in India.  I know he has changed a lot by now. 

How are you all?  I spose Ede will soon be getting ready for school and Dot and Marj, too.    I don't like to think about Dottie teaching - I just don't!  but am praying the Lord's guidance for you all.   He won't let you make a mistake.  Just be sure it is His will.

Write me long newsy letters now and mail them right away so I'll get them before too long. 

Did I ever tell you I got the blue coat OK.  It came to the boat and I got it while in Los Angeles.

There are about 33 missionaries on our boat and 10 priests.   Many missionaries returning  to interior China.

We have the name and address of a Missionary Home in Hong Kong where we can

stay for the few days until our next boat.   Hong Kong is British and safe.

I'll try to have longer letters ready for you from Yokohama.   This is a hurried note but it brings all my love and hugs and kisses around.

So bye bye till word comes from Japan!

Bushels of Love,

Eunice

The Lord is my Shepherd and your Shepherd, too.  We shall not want!!

1938 (3) Eunice leaves the USA

On board ship….

Dollar Steamship Lines

  New York. California. Orient. Round the World

                                                                                              

Fri.  P.M.

Dear Loved-Ones all,

At 7 O’clock P.M. your time we will be setting sail from American Shores.   We were to sail at 3 P.M. but they are not thru loading; so are not sailing until 5 P.M. pacific time.

The boat is just swarming with people now.   It has been so quiet the days in port because there were only a few on Board.  It will be quite different now.  There are a lot of people on now who are just going through the boat to look it over.

I went through the whole thing the other day.  Even went up into the Pilots cabin and sat in the Captain’s chair.   I’m going to try to tell you all these things in detail when we get going and send it back from Honolulu.

No more mail after this until we dock there and it will likely take ten days or 2 wks to return from there.  Am sending or I guess I did send you the Itinery.

I sent M.J.  (Her sister Marjorie?) a box with some picture cards etc.  They give you a new wash cloth when you start out and I thought Marj or Ede or Dot would like to keep it as a Souvenir.  Don’t let them fight over it Mother – maybe you better keep it and just give them the package.  The other one can have the bar of soap. 

  

I thought Ede or Marg might like to keep a Scrap book of things I send back.  These penny cards are cheaper than Kodak pictures so I’ll try to send some along the way.   They could paste them all in a Scrapbook along with the descriptive letter and you’ll have an entire account of the trip.

Am enclosing a sample menu.  I guess there’s no chance of my losing weight.   I feel fine!  Had the cholera shots.  This sea-air is envigorating.

Wanted to send you a wire just as we set sail, but thought I’d better save the pennies for postage farther on.  Just about $100.00 in so far on further fare.  Maybe more mail before Boat sails!  We are trusting the Lord to supply balance.  He can take care of us there as well as here.

In spite of the sadness of leaving you all – there is a deep joy in knowing the Lord has said, Go and to know I’m obeying Him. Am trusting you each and every one to His tender care.   I know He careth for you and will keep you every day.

My farewell message to you all ( the dearest and best in all the world to me) is in Philippians 1:2-12.

² Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.³ I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.⁷ It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. ⁸ God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. ¹² Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^[b] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 

 ’ll be reading it often as I think of you in the next few days and always.

And now Deut. 6:24 – 26  is my prayer for you all.

²⁴ The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. ²⁵ And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.”

Tho far away remember I’ll think of you many many times in every day.  Somehow you do not seem so far away when hour by hour I can commit you to Him and know He’s watching over you there, too.

The song in my heart is Psalm 107  

They were glad when it grew calm,  and he guided them to their desired haven.  (and the desired Haven in verse 30  is India.)

And here is a kiss all around   XXXXXXXXX  (one for Roger boy)  and bushels of love till we see one another or all see Him at home up there.

Till then let us “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!”

Love in His dear name,

Eunice

         

1938 (2) Eunice on a ship from LA to San Franscisco

1938   (2) Eunice on the Ship from LA to San Franscisco

 

After taking the bus from Chicago to Memphis, meeting Daddy there; Mummy took the train to Los Angeles with a friend, Jean, boarded a ship there and went 24 hours to San Francisco on her way to India by herself.

Mummy had had a vision when she was at Moody, "John, Jews, India".  John did not propose, so Mummy, a small town, farm girl from Wisconsin followed her Lord to India to work with the Jews...

( you can understand why meeting up with John  (C.J.B./ Cecil John Buffam/Daddy)  or receiving a wire from him was so important to her before she left the USA!

Shari

Dollar Steamship Lines

New York . California. Orient. Round the World

Dear Folks,

We just pulled in through the Golden Gate; docked about 11 am.   I’m going ashore and want to mail this out right away.

Yesterday and today have been full of new and thrilling experiences and you can be sure I’m enjoying every minute.  Just can’t tell you how grand it is.  My only regret is that I can’t take you all along.

How I missed you yesterday when the Boat pulled out of L.A.   Everybody throwing streamers out to friends and loved ones, but I’m afraid my streamers didn’t reach you.   I threw some to you just the same and my heart was more in Wisconsin than it was there.   It is a beautiful sight – Band playing and all!

Am writing a long letter of details later so will just make this a note so I can get it right out.

How are you all.  Did you get my message via Ruby?  Am hoping to hear from you here.  Will be here till Fri so you can get letters to me.  Had a wire from Mildred just as we got on the Boat in L.A. and one from C.J.B. just as the boat docked in S.F. this A.M. Precious Messages

We are trusting the Lord will supply full fare before we leave here.  I believe He will.  Dr. Reid wired us not to sail unless full fare is in.  God is able!  Sat, $15.00 came in and we got $36.00 at the boat yesterday.   We now have $69.00 of the $200.00 needed from Hong Kong on.   Pray and claim God’s promises!

I’m feeling fine but Jean had a bad fall Sat. eve and sprained her ankle.  Dr. put it in a cast Sun A.M. and they took her on board in a wheel chair.   Has to be on for two weeks.  She won’t be able to get around here much.  I felt so sorry for her when all her friends were at the Dock yesterday to see her off.  She couldn’t even go out on deck to see them and I could go out but my folks were far away.  It just didn’t seem right. But we are rejoicing in spite of these little things.

How is my Baby dear? (Roger Mortimer)  Give him plenty of kisses from Aunty Eunice and tell him all about the Big Ship.   I can just see what a big thrill Per would get out of this, the rest of you would too.

Jean sends her love, more details very soon.

Love you all,

Eunice

This is a poem that was very dear to Mummy through the years.  George Wilson found it on her dresser and made a copy.

OBEDIENCE

I said, "Let me walk in the fields,"  He said, "No walk in the town."
I said, "There are no flowers there."  He said, "No flowers, but a crown."

I said, "But the skies are black, there is nothing but noise and din."
And He wept as He sent me back, "There is more" He said, "There is sin."

I said, "But the air is thick, and fogs are veiling the sun."
He answered, "Yet souls are sick, and souls in the dark undone."

I said, "I shall miss the light, and friends will miss me, they say."
He answered, "Choose tonight, If I am to miss you or they."

I pleaded for time to be given.  He said, "Is it hard to decide?"
It will not seem hard in heaven to have followed the steps of your Guide."

I cast one look at the fields, then set my face to the town;
He said, "My child, do you yield?  Will you leave the flowers for the crown?

Then into His hand went mine, and into my heart came He;
And I walk in a light divine the path I had feared to see.

                                                           George  MacDonald, 1824 - 1905