Difficult month as the Horrolts get ready to leave.

1961 October to Estelle

Letter written by Ina Erickson from the Gurakor Mission station to Durward and Estelle Titus Box 22

Dear mom and dad,
One day seems the same as the next. The only difference is that every other day we wash diapers. We have stones making a circle and the place a grate on top of that and had the water in a huge pot to boil the diapers with a quarter cup of soap. Then we take a stick to pull out the diapers and put them into cold water for scrubbing by hand and then rinse two times which is quite a job for 48 diapers. It’s rained day and night except one since we got here. The nights are very cool and we have several blankets and the kids have heavy pajamas and several blankets. Some days get quite hot but we have good ventilation in the house. So it’s always comfortable. We had more humid days in Minnesota and Montana that we have had here. We are in the spring. However, the Horrolt‘s went down to Lae to take care of some business and they about passed out from the heat. We are real fortunate to be here at Gurakor.

It really has been a trying month as the Harralt’s are busy packing and we are trying desperately to get the language as they will be gone in another week. And we are left floundering. We are in the way as they are tying up so many loose ends. Yet neither of them is in very good health. Mrs. H has four blood clots, from thrombophlebitis and a ulcer on her leg. Reverend H has recently had a heart attack. Al won’t have a chance to go on any trips before they leave. So I guess we have to learn from the natives. Maybe he can go on a trip with Fred Scherle.
We are working on a language called Pidjin. It’s half English and half Melanesian. Most all of the natives understand it until we can learn Jabem.

Delip holding Tommy and Paula standing

I have two girls working for me, trying to keep an eye on them and the kids can be quite trying. One developed a sore on her neck and I had to let her go. After she went, I discovered a mirror, a pail and two large aluminum dishpans also gone. I’m so dumb and I didn’t realize what was happening until it was too late to know where they have gone. Then today I discovered a rug that was in the bedroom was gone. I told Elizabeth the one remaining girl that she better find it and that I didn’t want her to come back until she had. Five minutes later she came carrying it in. I asked her about some of the other items but she could not find them. The thinking of these people, is that it it’s not wrong to take something. The only wrong is getting caught.

Both Al and I have fared quite well. Neither of us have lost any weight. We surely love hearing from you. Greetings to Bette, Lisa and Frank. To Claude and Lois and Dorothy‘s. I surely hope dad is feeling better. The letter you sent on September 17 got here October 17 and the one you had mailed around the second or so got here before that one did. This morning we got your air letter.

 Paula was talking and cooing at Tom tonight. He was smiling and talking back at her. She is a little jealous and pulls his fingers or gives his leg a good yank. She comes out with a vehement ‘no’ or ‘don’t’, bai for cow in Jabem and M for banana in Jabem ‘TeeTee’ when she hands me anything – which means Thankyou.
We surely do look forward to letters.

The girls usually bring in the milk and mail about 5:45 AM or 6 AM in the morning. I don’t know anymore about the Westphal‘s than you do. We did have one letter soon after we arrived. I wish we could have seen Erva and Herbert before we left. Sounds like Claude and Lois must have had quite an anniversary.

God has been wonderful in helping us face each day with courage and strength. I do think after we get moved into the big house with plumbing and a kitchen it will be a little easier to care for the children. You would love the beautiful flowers we have in our front yard is a flower garden.
Love Al, Ina, Paula and Tommy

‘Greetings to Bette, Lisa and Frank. To Claude and Lois and Dorothy‘s.’ Bette is Ina’s very very close cousin almost sister and her husband Frank and baby Lisa. Claude is her mothers brother married to Lois and Dorothy is her mothers sister. Aunt Erva is married to Herbert.

Siblings-Claude, Dorothy(bluecoat), Inez, Erva, Keith and Estelle (Ina’s mom). Ina grew up in close proximity to her aunts and uncles. Erva lived away and she and Estelle wrote to each other frequently which I think helped instill letter writing into Ina.

Ina and Bette in high school

Ina standing

Cousin Bette and sister Beryl on top