Octiober 4, 1958

Dear Hugh:

Here I am, holed up in a Methodist Mission getting all my summer mail read. Three months is quite a spell to be out of touch with civilization. Have more of my Malad parishmen's answered "the rollcall up yonder". Barstow wrote about Guardalajara & nuberous epistles of less note.

Please excuse the delay in answering your July 18th letter - but I just picked it up today. No doubt you're all settled - but in case not - here goes on your questions.

Parma is a town and country church. Marshall, the previous pastor was a pretty good guy . He was always looking for a good deal - guess he found it as rel prof at CofI. Don't know the church very well - The farmers around there are loaded, conservative and good people. John Show has a church 5 miles away - ask him about the set-up. Idaho Falls is the fastest growing city of Idaho (the Oakridge of the West) with a large (1200) growing Presbyt. Church. Dr. Gulick, the grand old man of the Presbyt (36 yrs at Id Falls) plans to retire soon. Harry Washburn (remember him met at seminary) was there as associate for about 8 yrs. There were factions in the church built around the precher's personalities but I think of that as being resolved. I think a lot of Dr. Guliek and he supported me at Presbytery in every way he could. One of these days they intend to start a new church at Id Falls. I don't know much about Laramie - the connection of both Harvard is that he went to Union and Butreck was one of his proffs. If you have any questions on Idaho Falls, I can probably help you out.

Much has happened since we last corresponded. Fr Eq. Af., Congo, Rhodesias, and no So Af. Took up the Se Presbyt. Mission in the Congo - They treated my like a long lost brother. Now the roses are blooming. There are girls sun-bathing, beautiful blooming jaserandas line the streets, my window I see pile after pile of slag, Jo'burg is on a drift, and gold mines stretch for 40 miles. The deepest mine in the world is here, 2 miles over 11,000 ft down.

Last night I visitest a compound where the mine workers are housed. There we held a literacy class (Lauback method) for contract laborers imported from Mozambique. Outside the door, in red hot jive the drums were playing and men were dancing: inside it was hyms, prayer and reading books on the life of Christ. All designed to keep the "native" calm, cool, unblemished from knife wounds and fit for work. These devices are considered by the officialts to relieve tensions and suppressed desires. I WONDER. The men have left their families, wives, and children, to work for 12 to 18 monoths. This is tough for a man as sexed up as the African - unnatural social situations - "apartheid" at its worse and we wonder why the African is revolting in his chains? These are wonderful, happy long suffering people - but how much will they take?

Along the highway I passed Sophia-town (Read Alan Patons "Cry, The Beloved Country") This was the only place in the city where the native could own property - you see, the sewers emptied here - the place STUNK! Today a modern "disposal plant" has been put in and the blight is gone - i.e. Good real-estate. So the government condemns, white housing units are built and the "native" is pushed into rental units. Here is freedom, justice and Christianity in South Africa! There is fear among the whites - you an feel it in the air, why shouldn't there be? "Whatever you sow - That you will also reap!"

Next week I hope to go to Kruger Park to see the big game - here; man is caged, its illegal to get out of the car. And problems: I cannot get a telephoto lens for my camera, so we will have no pictures - PITY!