Crossing the pacific…

1961 September 11 to Willa from the ship. Written by Alvin Erickson

Dear Willa, Martin and kids,
Happy anniversary from us! We are sailing out on the exceptionally blue Pacific heading for Hawaii which is two days off. Hope this finds you all out of mischief and well. So far our travels have been a real vacation only Ina had trouble with seasickness late one night when she was up with Tom. We’ve done a lot of sleeping, especially when the ocean starts to get rough. This is a beautiful old ship caring about 1300 passengers. We have a little berth that sleeps 4 (bunkbeds), a room on the lowest deck. The meals and service are excellent.
We have some very interesting people on board. Most are British or Australian and we understand about half of what they say. Those who are going out with us on this ship, as missionaries are surely not the missionary types. Besides the Fricke’s, only one is ordained and that is Martin Heist. They have three children, the oldest is 15. He is our top education man in New Guinea. The Chuck Pfarr’s have three younger children. He is a technician and has been the only white person at a 100 bed hospital for years. He is everything you find in a hospital all rolled into one. Both these couples have been out since 1946. We have a widower and his 10-year-old daughter. Sheldon Kyan and Shelby. He is going out as a mechanic of supreme ability. The task will be given him of getting into working condition much of that heavy machinery left behind after the war. He is a very unusual person and has done a lot of machinery work. For instance, he was in charge of making trucks for the government that could stand 65° below weather. In the states he would draw a salary of about 12,000 a year so he doesn’t plan to twiddle his thumbs in New Guinea. More important is that fact that his wife just died of cancer last year. For nine years previous she was sick with polio and then they finally got her over the hump there and then she got cancer. Please pray for this man and his daughter that they might have strength to carry-on with such a burdens.
Tomorrow we arrive at beautiful Hawaii. We are going to make the most of it. Pastor Hilbert whom you met at Parkers Prairie, will be there with a car to take us around. How we wish you could be there to enjoy it with us. The Pacific is unbelievable. The blueness almost overwhelms you with its richness and depth of beauty. As you might expect we are getting anxious now to get to New Guinea and start our work. From what we have gathered, if we go to Gurokar we will be replacing the missionary after November. What this all means? I hardly dare think about. We have heard climate is mild there.

 Have you moved any place? We are very proud of you and many of the decisions you have made for your children’s welfare. May the richness of God continue to dwell in your home through forgiveness and endurance. Our baggage was all down at the dock waiting for us and is on board with us. For that we have only you to blame. My brother-in-law[1] in Cupertino, California works with Westinghouse. He is a machinist and they are making the outer tube from which the Polaris missile is shot. We went through the plant which has hundreds of different machines. It appeared to me to be a job for Martin with his abilities and mind could handle quite nicely. I know it takes a little special training in math and several years of experience before you get to a place where you can command attention. It’s just a puny observation that I don’t expect you to consider. Surely we are most happy the way present things are going for you.
A big hug from Paula and Tom to Mickey, Lainey and Jenny. Our hearts go out to you. Steadfast in the victory that has become yours through the finished work of our Lord.

Sincerely Al, Ina, Paula and Tom

[1] John Williamson, Alvin’s sister Betty’s husband

Betty and John Williamson and family, Betty. Photo taken in Glendive MT at Alvin’s Ordination June 4, 1961. Betty is Alvin’s sister who lives in California. The Erickson family would stay with her family either on the way to Papua New Guinea or on the way back

Barb and Vince Fricke holding Kristin. Jan 1964 at their station in Ponapa

Marty and Florence Heist and Marty, Janet and Daniel (youngest). Janet babysat Paula for Ina while dining on the ship.

1961 September 21 to Estelle
Letter written by Ina Erickson and mailed  from Suva, Fiji. to Durward and Estelle Titus Box 224 Route1, Carlos MN USA 

Dear mom and dad,
Greetings from the South Pacific!  We cross the equator -yes today! The children had a ceremony of getting dunked in the swimming pool. We had a real nice day at Honolulu. Ted Hilpert had flown out to visit a cousin about a week before we got there. He saw us off in San Francisco, California then to a plane, and met us in Hawaii. It was a beautiful sunny day. Lovely coconut palms all over. Before we got off the ship, Hula girls came out in a tugboat and boarded. They danced and sang and gave lei’s of flowers to everyone. Some orchids, some bright red, and some showy white tropical flowers. They all smelled so good and were so fresh and pretty. Then some Hawaiian boys swam out to meet the ship. We were supposed to throw coins and then they would dive down for them. Right in the harbor the water was pretty dirty.
Ted had a small convertible and we rented a jeep and then toured some of the largest island of the group. It was very mountainous. It was so beautiful to see all the clouds hanging around the peaks. Wildflowers grow all over, one would see bushes and trees and wildflowers. There were monkeys - pod trees with leaves something like the bushes we had for a hedge on the farm, but the branches would be so thick around, and spread so far. Usually they would have one in the middle of their yards and it would shade the whole lot or two. Really beautiful trees. It was interesting to see bamboo growing in the forest. Huge vines grow among the trees making hiking in some areas rugged. From one point on the mountain, they had a lookout point, where you could see the Pacific and Valley. The water was various shades of greens and blues and just unbelievably beautiful. Ships floating lazily by in the distance. The trade winds were very strong. Though the temperatures was in the 90s, it was very comfortable.
The kids continue to be good. Paula eat’s like a little pig and he’s very anxious to get to the dining room. Yesterday they had a fancy dress for children. We dressed Paula like Little Bo peep with a sun bonnet, a flared dress, ruffled panties and petticoat and her little shoes caring a little shepherds crook that Al made. We had her pushing a buggy with Tommy in it as a lamb. I fixed some ears on a little white cap of his and a tail on his white bunny suit. He slept blissfully through the whole thing. Al had put chunks of caramel at each end of the shepherds crook to keep the wire from scratching Paula. Paula discovered it was candy and insisted on eating it. They each got a toy for competing.

Tommy can turn from his back to his side and he went off the bunk. Paula has learned to climb to the top of the bunk by climbing on the lower bunk up to the dresser next to it and then up to the top bunk.
God has given us a very relaxing and calm voyage so ear.
Greetings to all and God’s blessings. Thank you for your letters, prayers and concerns. Al, Ina, Tom and Paula.

Ina with Paula and Tom. Tom was 6 weeks old when they set out to Glendive. Both sets of grandparents were not exactly excited to have to say goodbye to their very young grandchildren who were being taken into a primitive country at the time.