Questioning Their Community

(2/12 28) Walter, there is another boy, Raymund Goehring, whom I wish you would pray for. Last year he was a real problem. He would not study and didn’t care if he failed his subjects. He is studying now, and I believe his grades for this six weeks’ period will average a B. He has a good bass voice; I would like to have him in my glee club. I believe if we pray about it, that when I approach him he will join the group. Byron is doing fine singing. 

(2/14 31) Here are some of the questions which arise in class. Do miracles happen today? Is prayer answered in dreams and visions? Why do we end our prayers by saying “In Jesus’s name and for His sake? What was the purpose of Christ’s coming upon the earth? Why did He have to die to save us from our sins? … It was said that 100 miles south of here near Colo. Springs there were millions of young grasshoppers coming out. Of course not many will admit it, but I know that it is God helping the farmers. For we will have a cold spell after that, and it will kill what otherwise might have been the worst grasshopper epidemic in history. It had been predicted by some very prominent entomologists. There comes to my mind an old saying, maybe from the Bible, but I am not sure of it right now, but it says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” It certainly seems to me, as far as the farmer is concerned, that God is for us.

(2/14 40) Mrs. Swanson’s daughter, Laura, . . . asked me to sing an appropriate missionary hymn or solo. I just couldn’t seem to find anyone suitable except “The Ninety and Nine,” which went way up to g and stayed on that tone for quite a few measures. I didn’t want to sing it because that would sound strained and put on for me to sing for church, altho for someone who could have sung it easily it would have been very impressive. About an hour and a half before the program, I got two Methodist hymnals from Allagene Jefferis, and then I prayed again especially for a suitable song, and I found “Sowing the Seed.” When I came to church, here the words of the devotionals were concerning the sower who went forth to sow. Laura’s entire talk was about the text. I was so thankful that God was so gracious to answer my prayer.… I am glad that the cattle market has been somewhat stronger. That is a term that I have never used in that connection before. I presume it is a correct usage because you used it. I am glad that you feel encouraged about the prices. Money isn’t everything. I am sure that you could amass quite a fortune, as you said, if that were your goal of life. It isn’t worth it

(2/16 45) Margaret, I am praying for Raymund Goehring, . . . and all the other requests which you sent and for you always, in order that you may be used to lead many to God.

(2/20 48) I am glad for the cold spell that you have had. Probably the grasshoppers are frozen to death. We have had quite cold weather also. One morning while I was walking up the hill with Ruth Mitleider, a freshman girl, she told me that I had a frozen spot on my nose. She told me to just hold snow on the spot. I did so, and in a short time the whiteness had disappeared. That morning the thermometer registered 26° below. When you froze your face, maybe there was no snow handy.

(2/26 139) Some time ago you asked me to discuss a number of Sunday School questions. The first question: Do miracles happen today? I believe they do. It’s a miracle that we are going to be married since I know that it was done through God’s guidance, but please don’t misunderstand me. Mother said not so very many years ago … The third question: Why do we end our prayers by saying “In Jesus Name and for His sake”? I think that it is because Jesus says to His disciples, “Verily, verily, I say unto you. If ye shall ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be made full. In that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you; for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father.” St. John 16: 23b, 24, 26, 27. The fourth: What was the purpose of Christ’s coming upon the earth? To save us from our sins and cause us to be redeemed and justified before God that we might inherit eternal life in heaven. John 3:16.… The second question: Is prayer answered in dreams and visions? I don’t believe God uses [them] much today because we have the whole Bible, which in Old Testament times and even New Testament times they didn’t. However, I am sure God still uses it to call. Some ministers have dreamt that certain persons were in need and have followed out the dream and found it to be true. I think that God sends dreams and visions if He needs to but it is seldom necessary. 

(3/2 148) “And the spirit of Jehovah will come mightily upon thee, and thou shalt prophecy with them, and shall be turned into another man.” I Sam. 10:6 “And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.” I Sam. 10:9 Thank you, Margaret, for the verses which you sent, for the answers to the questions which I sent, and for the whole letters. It was not a bit too long. I never paused once until I had read it all. A few days ago, I came across the above verses as I was reading. To me it is a good answer to the question: Do we have to be born anew, and what does it mean? Don’t you think so? … Margaret, do not worry about your inability to do personal work. When God wills it, He will provide opportunity, grace, and strength to do it; of that you may be sure. As you walk daily before your pupils and fellow teachers, your life is doing a personal work in these fellow men that you are unaware of. You may be sure that a pleasing, smiling greeting does not go unnoticed, nor any kind acts, even tho very, very small. If just a letter from you lifts up my spirits, “it actually makes me feel I could move mountains barehanded” and draws me closer to Christ, think what it will mean to me to be able to come to you at any time. Margaret, I mean every word of this. Letter writing is not easy for me. I would never sit here and write just to be kidding you. In fact, I hope you do not care for it because I do not like it nor can I do it. I write because I miss you.

(3/23 190) The music contest is to be held April the thirteenth at Turtle Lake. My groups are gradually learning their numbers. They seem to learn very slowly; it seems I do not get the results that I used to, but maybe I expect too much and do not prepare enough.

(4/3 268) “But now abideth faith, hope, and love, these three: and the greatest of these is love.” I Cor. 13:13. “Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men, being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh.” II Corinthians 3:2,3. Last Saturday, yesterday, I had the thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians as a part of my Bible reading. I recalled last Christmas Eve when we read it together. … Walter, I am so glad that you love to read from the Bible. The second quotation certainly is an astonishing truth. I am afraid that the epistle that I have been this year has many blurred pages. May God who writes the words have mercy on me. … So you have sold your cattle! I hope all went well for you. Now maybe I will soon see you. … Walter, I truly need your prayers. My glee clubs, it seems to me, are singing poorly. I really have a time trying [to] make tenors out of baritones. I usually have to lower the key to pitch the song so that the tenors can sing easily and unstrained. Raymund Goehring is doing quite well. Last Friday I practiced with him alone after school. Gordon Meyer has taken more interest in singing. Byron Dutoit just loves to sing. The mixed chorus hasn’t practiced for a while, but this week I hope to spend much time on putting finishing touches on the song “Precious Wee One,” which is one of their contest numbers.

(4/4 282) Walter, I met an old man on the street the other evening. He told me what his name was. He must be a Baptist because he was on his way to that church. He said he knew who I was because he had heard me sing several times. He asked me why I hadn’t ever sung in the Baptist Church, [and] then he said he liked to hear me sing. Wasn’t that kind? Maybe that God touched him while I was singing. You made me very happy when you said you love me more and not less. I am the type of person that can be with a person a while but then I someway lose their love, but I believe that is because Christ does not shine through.

(4/19 365 Dear Walter, “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber.” Psalm 121:3. I just love this verse. I am sure that it means much to you also. O, Walter, I am sure that you love to meditate on Scriptural passages. The precious gems which God gives to us in a certain way are like receiving diamonds from Him. Last Saturday night I prayed at the same time as you did. It was just as though you were praying by my side. May God always grant that our knees will be ready to bend to Him. Isn’t it fun to come to such a loving Father for guidance, help, and strength for the future? How did you happen to think about setting a certain time for prayer? I wish we could continue to do so.Now I have your picture before me, and it seems just as though I were talking to you. Have you had a hard time in the field today? Won’t you come to eat supper? We’re to have fried potatoes, juicy beef steak, fruit salad (ready all but mixing it together, which I want you to do), sauce, and cake. The bread is ready because I just finished taking it out of the oven. I am sorry, but it got a little burnt. I hope the coffee isn’t too strong; just as I [was] putting in the coffee, the telephone rang, so I missed my count. Oh, it’s a grand feeling to have you so hungry and the food ready for you. But you look a little tired—what have I done to make you look that way? I know—I forgot to meet you at the door with a great big kiss. Here it is! Now let’s eat. Isn’t God grand to us to give us so many blessings? This was imaginative, but it’s been fun.… Has Mr. Brown ceased from drinking liquor? I am glad that he has stopped asking you. [It] may be that God sent you to this place to be an instrument in God’s hand to draw him to Christ.…So many have asked me to describe you, and one of the first questions seems to be, How tall is he? I am proud that you are Swedish. You know, I believe we have a lot in common.

(4/26 385) I have finally found out why the report is out that I am engaged to a minister. I had a picture of Philip on the dresser, and I guess some folks had seen it and so had just made up the story. I have told them about the mistake. Last night we stopped in at a beautiful ranch home. When this lady, Mrs. Tindall, learned that you are a farmer, she just clapped her hands, and her husband’s face just beamed when he said, “So she’s not going to be a “prest-fru” but instead a farmer’s wife.” Mrs. Tindall said, “Oh, but you’ll enjoy living on a farm. I never have regretted living on a ranch.” Tindalls have four children, and they surely are happy.… I learned that the prom is to be held. I surely am sorry, but I am sure that I haven’t prayed and should have. I am not going to go. I have been told that I am not an educated person because I disapprove of sponsored dances. May God help me to be an epistle that the others can read and long to be Christian.

(4/28 402) I reread some of your last letters & find I did not answer some of the questions. For one thing, I am 5 ft. & 11 in tall. 6 ft. in my shoes. … We should remember Mr. Brown to God. I would like to show him the Way everlasting. I don’t pray about this as I should. It is not easy to remember those who are not so near & dear to us. Is it? … It is hard to say now how things will go, but I don’t think I can wait until fall to see you if we have to wait until then to get married.