Caixa Postal 4216 -ZC-05,
Rio de Janeiro, GB., Brazil
February 20th, ‘64
Dear Mother and All,
No news yet though Audrey wondered if she would make it through the night two days ago. We are definitely hoping for a girl, especially as we are having real difficulty in selecting a suitable boy’s name. Michael is quite certain that the ‘likkle baby’ will be a girl. If we do get a boy and he turns out to be no worse than either Michael or Andrew, we shall be more than satisfied.
It was Monday when we finally got out to see Dr Kerr and we couldn’t help smiling when, after questions and examination, he decided that the baby should have come on the 13th! That was the day we travelled from Cuiaba to Rio. We left Cuiaba at about 7am and reached Rio at about 7pm. We could have come on a faster plane but we decided to save the 25,000 cruzeiros that represented the difference (about 8 pounds). We came on a rather old plane that resembles a flying cigar and which seems to bump a bit more than its cousin the DC-3. We had fairly bad flying weather the whole way and Michael felt sick on a number of the descents. However, everything palled into insignificance compared with the storm we encountered near Rio. Had this been my first flight in an aircraft, I think I would have been really scared. We pitched, rolled, rocked and jumped like a little boat in a rough sea. People seemed to jump up in their seats despite the fixing of seat belts. The pilot’s door swung open and it was reassuring to see him calmly smoking. Obviously he wasn’t worried. When we reached Rio, the airport was closed because of bad weather and so we circled for a while. When we finally got a taxi and reached the Alto House through Rio’s traffic congestion, we were very tired and very hungry. This cheap flight only serves strong coffee and our last meal had been at 10:30 am.
As usual the boys have taken the move in their stride and settled here very happily. The house is really quite empty at the moment and so we are enjoying the extra space and stretch around the house. Besides ourselves there are the Leidtkes and Mullens and two single fellows.
We will need your prayers especially for the boys during these potentially unsettled times. Michael won’t like it very much when I go back to Kaiwana alone. Then there will be the further traveling - we cross the Andes four times! - and the stay in Peru. We’ve discovered that in times like this there is no alternative but to spend extra time with them, because we are their security rather than some special bed or room. Will close now and go to bed.
All our love, JAMA * (*John, Audrey, Michael, Andrew??)
Brasilia, D.F.
April 16th, ‘67
Dear Mother and All,
It is Sunday afternoon here, the children are abed and the lake, in one of its loveliest moods, lies before me through the windows. The children seem to have settled very happily here. Anne, after a long time in the wilderness when she seemed to be so often fighting and contrary, is like her old self again. Her diction, though full of childish errors, is so animated and her eyes open so wide that folk just sit and watch her with fascination. Andrew has still not begun to grow. Since Anne now has a trike, Michael and Andrew got a bike last Saturday. The only chore is transporting it up and down stairs. We live on the top floor and there is no elevator - I mean, lift. Audrey is kept busy with teaching the two boys in the morning and running the apartment. Life continues busy, but it is a help to have a stable home life.
The Group bought some land off the North Wing some years ago and now we know that it really belongs to the National Park and that the original sale was illegal. Legal squabbles could continue for years. Meanwhile we stand either to lose the plot with no remuneration or to be charged with a further illegal sale if we try to sell it again. It is very difficult to know what we should do. We don’t need the land now, but we would really like to recoup our investment.
About the end of the month, you should receive from me a glass case with a pair of broken glasses, at least one lens is broken. It is difficult to replace the lens out here and so I hit on the idea of sending them home. My glasses situation is fairly desperate since I am using a very old pair with scratched lenses and wobbly frames that have to be glued now and again. These particular glasses were broken just after Conference on the volleyball court.
Love to all, John
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