Luebo, May 22, 1923
Dear Mother and Daddy:
This no doubt finds you in the most pleasant part of the year, with the trees in full leaf, and everything in harmony. We are just at the close of the rainy season, at least it is time for it and some of the signs are on hand, although we are still having some rain.
The "Lapsley" was here last week, getting in on Wednesday and leaving on Thursday, so there wasn't much stir about it, especially as no other missionaries but the Daumerys came up.
Our newly weds have settled down in their home, after their excitement and honeymoon at the Lake at Bulape.
There isn't much news with us as things are moving along smoothly enough. Dorothy is teaching again this session. She improved quite a bit during her stay at the lake; while she gained only the sum of two pounds, still she looks better and feels more like herself. However, I do not mean by this that she was sick. We have both been blessed with fairly good health so far, better than most families I believe; even Mrs. (Dr.) Stixrud was sick for several days here recently. However, let's not boast, but trust that we may be able to continue this way for about eight more months.
I have been watching a little bird build its nest just outside my office window for the past few days It looked odd at first to see a long straw fly up into the tree, and on the end of it a little bird about as big as your thumb. We have quite a number of these little tiny birds, not hummingbirds; there seem to be a number of varieties. As far as we know at this
time we shall be here at Luebo until along in November, perhaps the first and perhaps the latter part, this depending on the "Lapsley". And as regards our mail, we believe that after the 15th of August you had better address our mail to Kinshasa. For if the mail should come after we had gone it would have to follow us back to Kinshasa and be delayed in
reaching us from one week to a month. This of course applies also to packages. Do not send packages to us at Luebo after July 20th.
We have just heard that Dr. Kellersberger is near Bibanga, coming out by way of Capetown; they had a wire from ~Iim for porters to meet him at the terminus of the railway, Bukama. As you may know, he is coming out alone, as Mrs. Kelly was not able to come. And it is most fortunate, for Dr. King is just leaving, and this would leave only one doctor on the whole Mission.
The latter part of April, I don't remember the date, the Longenecker baby died. I understand it had very little chance from the first I weighing only about 2 or 3 pounds, and at the time it came Mrs. Longenecker was very sick. In fact, about one month ago, they feared for her life; but she is better now. For about a week they didn't think either of them would live. Also, the little Crane baby has lately been very sick with bronchial pneumonia, and they were very uneasy, but it is much better now, and I believe almost normal. Nearly all of the children at Mutoto, and there were about 11, had the whooping cough. So there has been quite a bit of illness; some of the grown-ups on the other stations also had minor illnesses. But I think everyone has about recuperated now. Mr. Vinson is on the sick list, although it is more in the form of a nervous breakdown, especially in the form of insomnia; all this family has had a hard time this term, as the little baby has been quite sick more than once lately, and their boy, about 4 years, has had a few spells.
As we failed to get this letter off in last mail, I'd better close and seal this, for you might be wondering what is becoming of your letters.
With love to all.
B. M.
Our Kinshasa address:
Union Mission House
Congo Beige,
Africa.
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