January 29th, 1922

Jan. 29th 1922.

Lskimenstrasse 49

Basel, Switz

Jan. 29, 1922

Dear Irwin:- Say kid you know if I got a letter like you wrote Jan. 10th everyday I would be preaching German before very long.

The last letter I wrote was very discouraging to you all I guess. Just burn it up and forget "all that in there is." It was just yesterday I wrote it but that doesn't matter. I feel so awakened today all the friends want to know what has happened to me. I am as a wild as a goose.

Say you just quit wondering where you want to go on your mission. Myself I did not want to learn a foreign language. You see what I got. If you do actually want to; look out you will be called down in Sanpete County. Right now I don't care because here I am. and am sure enjoying the present. You will be called where it is most fit for you. I didn't know i would make a Swiss out of myself.

Don't worry about me getting seasick, homesick, or a cold like you have. I am in the best of health and have been all the way over. Everybody has attacks of discouragements, but it takes those to make men, and that is what we are all after. A person has got to get to the point in life where there are discouragements, then overcome them. Thats what is happening to me.

I am answering your letter right in its order, so you can remember just what you wrote.

I suppose by the time you get this letter you will have about thirty five full grown lambs. I suppose it keeps you choring to take care of them all. What about it, do you notice any difference around home doing chores and such things since I left? I'll bet Karl is glad I am gone so I can't tell him what to do. I guess you all are glad I am out of the watch for a while, even if you do have to pay for my board. ????

Say go skating on the lake for me (but don't fall in) and just set things up. There is know skating here now. Spring is opening up. Say we wasn't so terribly crazy for going swimming New Years. There were a couple of fools went swimming in the Rhine today. The Rhine runs right through Basel. There is still snow on the ground. (Be jabbers it just started to rain). It is a very pretty river.

Did you get the drain ditch dug? How deep was it? I'll bet Meith was tired when he got through digging drain. You won't get him to again. When you get a goose eat two pieces for me. But please don't chase any geese in that old row boat.

Don't worry about that reading you are supposed to give a month ago. You'll get your turn. Take every chance you get, and talk straight from the shoulders. I got Mama's letter when I got here. I sure appreciated it. I will do my best as a missionary old top. I believe that the language is coming my way. You just keep your prayers in the same direction old top as they were when you wrote because we all need them.

I haven't any other paper with me tonight except this concert. While I'm in the hunger of writing I will write on that.   

I guess you will read and understand all that is on the other side. If you can, you are lucky. I can read and understand part of it. I have learned a few words today. It sure is a mix up to hear a German talk. It sounds like it is all one word. I can pick out a few words now. That's the way we will have to learn.

Basel has about 250 church members. There were close to 200 to Sunday school this morning, and meeting tonight. They are sure fine people. They will do anything they possibly can for an Elder from Utah. It is very few meals we have to buy. They take turns in asking you to lunch. I am sleeping at Sister Niederhauser's. Her husband is out in Ger. on a mission and she is here with the five kinders. This is my third night here and all I have seen them eat is bread, a little honey or jelly, and very little milk and cocoa. I do not eat here because it would be too much of an imposition.

Today Elder Butikofer and myself went over to Sister Urecks for dinner. She has three daughters in America, and another going in June. The man doesn't believe in Mormonism. They are better to do.

Friday night I went to a musical concert. There were about one hundred violins, besides choir and vocalists. It was certainly good. I had a program and could follow the words as they were sang. It was worth a good many lessons in Ger. to me. This afternoon Sister Urecks took us to another musical concert. It was practically all violin. They sure have some good musicians here. I never heard better playing. this paper has the program on for this afternoon, I'll bet you would enjoy it if you heard it.

I am almost sure I will labor in Switz. Pres. Ballif will be here tomorrow night to assign us. Sister Ballif told us this was where we are wanted.

I finish my days work just as you start. I am just even eight hours ahead of mountain time. You see by that how slow you all are????

Well I am not going to send this for a day or two because it might beat the other letter. I will try and write more then if it doesn't make the letter too heavy. There is lots of news if I had room to put it all on.