I asked one of my house girls, Elizabeth to pick the tomatoes and she pulled the vines.

1961 November 24 to Beryl from Al
Letter written by Alvin Erickson from the Gurakor Mission station to Beryl and Bruce 2314 So 7th St. Minneapolis 6, Minnesota, USA

Dear Beryl and Bruce,

Heartiest congratulations on the establishment of our newest registered nurse in the ranks of the elect. I bet you both feel a little more secure in your seminary venture than that one has a good job under their belt. Not saying what else she might have under there. When you said you had big news, we  second-guessed in the wrong direction. All is well here in New Guinea.

Since I started this letter a powerful rain storm has come up and outside everything is getting a solid drenching. It is the first time we’ve had much wind with our rain. Hear the mountains are quite close together in the clouds hang on their side so you can really see a storm coming and almost watch it move, foot by foot. Thanks for all your letters and prayers. We have been so grateful for the wonderful undergirding we possess. We are also very thankful you were able to visit the folks so much as you have. It surely was not an easy time for them. Things are gradually getting back to normal here so that we can kind of know what is going to happen during the day. Above all else in our adjustment, I think we have learned to appreciate the familiar. It’s a great savior of mental health. Soon perhaps we will be able to concentrate on the problems of others. The language barrier is really a stickler but at least in Pidgin, I am getting so I can talk a little with some of the natives who knows some English and Ina has learned many useful words she can use around the kitchen.

Used this photo from an NPR article published in 2012.

It has been a little irritating the last few weeks to struggle with a lot of the little things around here which are out of repair. We have a big water tank which sits on a wooden foundation beside the guesthouse. It catches all the water from the roof and is the supply for our 40 girls. Anyway the foundation had well nigh rotted away so we got all the boys together drained and move the tank, made a new foundation of concrete and moved the tank back on it. However, now the tank leaks. It’s old and I guess that’s what usually happens. Little consolation that is. The horrible truth now seems to be that there is no easy way to fix it and I have no idea how to put a new one together. Oh well, schools almost out. I think they have about a two week vacation.
Earthquakes have not hit around here although once when we were in Lae, we were awakened by a slight tremor. The bed shook a little. We are starting to become aware of some of the problems which will be in front of us when we really get into the work. One of our biggest headache‘s is the Catholics. They have to decided to make some of the strongest Lutheran territory their target for subversion. It is hard to appreciate any Catholic ideas when you see the tactics they are using here. I’m sure most American Catholics would bow their heads in shame if they saw what the approach is here.

You met the Scherle’s, I believe. Anyway they are the people who have been missionaries here for 14 years and were in Saint Paul last year. He is the missionary in an area which is about 99% Lutheran. The Lutheran Church has been in this area for about 75 years. There have been several attempts in recent years to spread Catholic teachings here but all have failed. Nevertheless they are back again with more determination and ruthlessness than ever. It is inevitable they will succeed to some extent for they are playing right into the hand of human nature. Someone will get in a fight with his brother and turn. Another will be attracted by their money. Eventually things will start to break down and I suppose someday this country will be much like America. This does not mean we will take it lying down. Already about three priests are working in my area. It will be a battle to the last. In my own heart I have become ever more convinced that the Roman Catholic Church allows the most subtle heresy of all, Namely that God does not love sinners but only sinners who measure up. This delicate twist of the law and the gospel makes a mockery of the cross of our Lord putting emphasis on the feeble efforts of man and not on the powerful redemptive acts of God. Read Galatians again and you will see how serious this is. “for freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast there after, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery”.
And here may I emphasize the tremendous value of theological training. How we need to clearly preaching understand the working of God. What a miserable thing it is to be caught up by the slightest and how many there are to tempt us away from the truth of God. With all my being, Bruce, I would encourage you to become learned and faithful to the Scriptures and to the clear insight of our Lutheran confessions. In seminary, everything seemed so intellectual but I am very much now realizing it is confusion in these very things that destroy the life God has meant man to have. Please do not think this is a sermon. It is far too close to my own painful experience with heresy to be that.

Keep up the good and patient work you are doing and be assured of our love and prayers. Al

Ina added this to Beryl.
Hi, congratulations on passing your state boards. It surely is a wonderful feeling. I surely do know what you mean about not being able to feel the cervix. You just know it has to be there somewhere, but where? I’m glad you are getting more confidence. It makes it more fun to go to work. We had a big Thanksgiving dinner[1] here with another American couple. We have two hen turkeys and one rooster turkey so we killed a hen and had a genuine Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. This other couple had just had a baby two weeks ago and we’re so proud of it. The husband has been married before and had three children. His first wife had died.

Tommy, I believe will have brown eyes. They are getting a little browner every day. He rolls around a lot so can’t trust him anywhere except on the floor and that isn’t very safe with Paula around. She does soon give him a good knock as a kiss. When we are looking, then she makes a big show of kissing him. My house girls are becoming more and more helpful with dishes especially washing diapers. Our washing machine is sitting down on the wharf in Lae until we can get a bill of lading[2], which was sent to the mission board instead of us.

The reason these girls work for Europeans is to train wives for the teachers, evangelist and preachers.
Love Ina

[1] Thanksgiving day 1961 was November 23.

[2] A bill of lading (BL or BoL) is a legal document issued by a carrier to a shipper that details the type, quantity and destination of the goods being carried. A bill of lading also serves as a shipment receipt when the carrier delivers the goods at a predetermined destination.

1961 November 30 to Willa
Letter written by Ina Erickson from the Gurakor Mission station to Martin and Willa Tonn, 10316 Grand Ave, Minneapolis 20, Minnesota, USA    The envelope has Nov 20 on it.

Dear Willa, Martin and family,

Ah  the last day of November, soon it will be 1962. Can you imagine! We are all well and fairly happy. We still have only ourselves to speak English to so we are forced to get along or be lonesome. Tommy is still using his chair. He is getting kind of big for it. But it works so well for feeding. He pushes his feet against the seat and flattens the back out. He rolls around on the floor and never stays on the blanket that I put down for him. He can support his weight on his legs pretty well. Paula really enjoys the dogs and chickens. One chicken had a crippled leg and she would run after it until she’d get close then let it run ahead again. She loves to sneak up and scare them. When the dogs go barking at somebody, we always have to call them off and they won’t let any natives near the house. So Paula goes calling excitedly whoo whoo when they start barking. Yesterday she started calling the dog wicker wicker for Victor. And she’s speaking many other words. Daddy she says very plainly. Al has been playing with her so much that she is jealous if he picks Tommy up. She’s gotten real generous with her bottle. She shares it with her native friends, Tommy and the dogs. The children Paula plays with, surely enjoy playing with her dolls.

I asked one of my house girls, Elizabeth to pick the tomatoes and she pulled the vines. I’m glad she didn’t pull them all thank goodness. I finally got some curtains made for the kitchen. It was absolutely bare with blue ceilings and green walls so I added red checkered ruffles.

Al gave a test to the school boys and girls to see which ones should continue and which ones should be dropped. There are just too many for our teachers to handle. Most will be leaving. Must have been a severe test.
I am amazed at the number of items we can get out here. There is nothing we need that we can’t get. Al has fallen for the Gillette super blue blades for his razor.
When we drive into a village, the people crowd around trying to see into the Land Rover and smile and stare -just so curious. Paula continues to be our greeter shaking hands and waving at everyone.
We have been milking our own cows but haven’t been able to get any butter. We turn and turn and nothing happens so we will just have to continue to buy it, I guess. We haven’t heard any more about moving up to Mumeng so I have finished unpacking our barrels.
We didn’t have to pay any duty not even on our new things. Our record player has three speeds 33 1/2 and 45 and 78. Records are so expensive here we haven’t bought any. I just finished “I’ll cry tomorrow”. Try getting a hold of it. Makes me thankful for our kids.

Hope you all are well and happy. God’s blessings and love be with you.

Love always ‘us’.

How is Minnesota football doing? Last I heard they beat Iowa. Good enough.