Luebo, Congo Belge, Africa
August 16, 1921
Dear Friends:
Though we may not have written you often since our arrival, still we want to assure you that it is not because we have not thought of you often. There have been many things to do, first getting settled and straightened out in our new home, then getting started in our work--with one the resuming of work and the other taking up new work and studying of the language. Our early missionaries used to say so often that the two most important words in the English language out here were delay and interruption; this applies just as much today as it did 20 years ago.
We were pleasantly surprised at the kind of house that we found waiting for us at Luebo. Instead of one of the old style mud houses with mud floors and a thin ceiling of sticks through which dust continually found its way, we found a neat brick house with wooden floors and ceiling. It is true we still have wooden shutters without glass, and a grass roof, but these will be replaced in due time by glass windows and a tile roof. Our back yard is a regular barn yard, for we raise chickens, pigeons, and goats. We do not keep the goats for pleasure, nor for meat, nor yet to destroy our empty tin cans and old paper, but for the milk. We get enough milk daily for our coffee and tea and a few glasses to drink or to use in cooking. The rest of our menagerie comprises two small monkeys. Of course, this is very commonplace information, but a good many people like to know the things that go to make up our surroundings.
Our usual day's work runs something like the following: at 5:50 we have the morning sunrise prayer meeting at our main church shed, where from 500 to 800 natives gather to begin the day with prayer, and a good many more than this in the various sheds throughout our village. After this our day's work is begun. Here, of course, each person's time is occupied according to his special work, so we will give ours. Mr. S. has charge of the workmen on the station, about 75 at present, and immediately after the morning prayer services he gives them their work for the morning, such as repairing houses, fences, and grounds; we have also a little truck garden from which we get a good quantity of vegetables practically all year round. In the meantime Mrs. S. has seen to it that breakfast is being prepared; so about 6:45 we have breakfast, and our morning devotion immediately following. After this, Mrs. S. conducts a prayer service with the boys under our care, and Mr. S. goes to the office, for his work is to look after Luebo station business-Station
Treasurer, we term it, although this includes the Printing Office and a few other items. At 9:00 the morning school begins, Mrs. S.'s school work being the care of the missionaries' children, some of the other ladies teaching in the native school. There are now five missionary children who come under the kindergarten, although they are not old enough to take up lessons. The morning session is out at 11:00. From 11:00 the station catechism class is conducted by one of our native leaders, where those who have expressed a desire to become Christians are taught our catechism which is nothing more than an explanation of what it means to become a Christian. At 12:00 of course you will find practically all of us engaged with our noon meal. After lunch our station is pretty quiet until 2:00, when the bell rings for the afternoon service, which lasts about 30 minutes. After this work is again taken up according to each one's calling, and which continues till about 5:00 or 5:30 (it is dark about 6:00) or very shortly thereafter all the year round.) Very often shortly after 5:00 you may find some of our folks out on the tennis court (both of us indulge somewhat in this exercise.)
We mentioned above about "delay" and "interruption." The above schedule does not run through every day, far from it; we only wish it did more than we find it. A few examples of interruptions. Just the other day Mr. S. and another missionary were invited across the river for a visit, and as this was one of these "return" visits, they felt they should go. This was our banker here with whom we have official dealings frequently. Leaving the station at 3:00 P.M. this meant the entire afternoon was gone, for we could not hope to get back before 6:30, as it is about two miles with the river to cross in a canoe. Then a few days previous to this our station had an official call from the "Commissaire" who is the highest official of the State of Luebo, and this meant we all had to lay down "arms' and pay our respects to him and his wife till about 5:00 or a little later--afternoon gone. Of course, we don't have missionaries coming in every day, but when they come it generally means we all get together in a social and a business way, for we must decide on the arrangements, or re-arrangements of our work; there have been three arrivals (different ones) since our own.
As for the work, we will not say much of that, for you can find that more ably presented in our church papers. There is always an opportunity for every spare moment even in a lay missionary's life. Just this past week we have both been twice to see one of our sick workmen, and to give him what help we could. They are just like us in that respect; they appreciate a word of cheer when sick. Then also, we have had a meeting in a part of the village in the interest of building up our work there.
You may think this is just a circular letter, but we think of each of you as we write, and we shall appreciate a word from you, too. Remember us in your prayers, as we do you in ours.
Yours in the Master's service.
Mr. and Mrs. B. M. Schlotter
Nashville, Tennessee,
October, 1921
Any letter with five cents postage, or postcard with two cents postage, addressed to Mr. and Mrs. B.M. Schlotter, A.P.C. Mission, Luebo, Congo Belge, Africa, Per Kinshasa, will reach them in due course of mail
P.S. Sept 3rd. Just a few lines before we mail this letter as the mail closes this afternoon. We very seldom have much advance notice about the closing of the mails so don't have much time to write after we find out when the mail closes. Nothing sensational has happened lately. We are having at our house for meals this month Mr. Gilliam and Mr. Hillhouse, and later we will have Mr. Craig; this is what we call the club, composed of our "bachelors." I believe Dorothy is writing you more fully about this.
I hope you will not misunderstand what I have written about showing our letters. We merely want to say that we feel that our personal letters are not just what ought to be passed around whole, and hope you will understand it that way.
Love to all,
B.M.
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