Feb. 8th 1922

Feb 8th

Well Dad there isn't much more to write about this morning. I have told you about all the news before.

The worst time of the day for me is in the morning when I first get out of bed. I usually start yelling for Irwin or Merrill. When I don't find them, my heart comes clear out of my mouth. I am getting more used to it now, but can't help wish for the time to come that I may return home with you all. I try and keep going hard enough during the day to forget home for awhile.

Dear Dad it has to happen sometimes to everybody and I am no better than the rest. I have a snap to what most missionaries have who come out here. I can run up to the Bureau and talk English when I get too downhearted. It isn't near so hard for me now as it was the first day or so. I'll be good and sometime I will come back and be a better guy. Well I must close. Praying the blessing of the Lord upon you all.

L.B.

Feb. 7th 1922 Continued...

10:00 PM

Commissioner L. L. Bunnell

Dear Dad :- Do you think I wasn't going to address any mail in your name? I have been answering the letters to the name that have sent them, but I know you would okay them all.

I would give anything if you could or "would" land that county commissioners job. It would do you good, so you wouldn't have to use so much physical exercise and it would be good for the boys to take care of the Farm. It would also add a future or income to Variwood.

I am going to start numbering the letters I send from here. This is the 5th one from Basel. You keep track of them and see if they all come. If they do in a few months I will send some souvenirs or jewelry is less than half here, to what it is there.

Well I had my first missionary work today. I went tracting alone. I delivered 38 tracts. This morning Bro. Haltinner took one side of the street and I took the other. This afternoon I went all alone. Some of them had a hard time understanding me. When I would get through telling them who I was they would say "Verstchen sie nichts." meaning I don't understand you. I would tell them over until they knew what I meant. anyway they said they did. A good many wanted to give me money. Some made me take a little. I got 45 sontiems, which is just 9 cents. I found two places where they were so tickled they didn't know how to act.

I have learned the two quite well now. I have been from one end to the other today. While i was traveling I saw a bath house. It was a large laundry and also shower baths. I was quite dirty so I went in ad took a shower. People don't bathe much over here and it is hard to get a bath. This place was nice and clean. It cost me 70 sontiem, or 14 cents. It was well worth it to me.

I haven't been homesick at all today. I believe I am over the worst. I hope so. It is sure cold here tonight. I believe it will come down below 20 (above). Well I am going to bed now, I will probably send the letter tomorrow. I can't send one everyday.

Feb. 7th 1922

Feb. 7th I ate my first horse meat, it was very tough and juicy.

Feb. 7th, 1922

I thought I would drop you another line this morning. I am feeling fine and are rearing to get out tracting. I am going out and try it alone.

I had a good laugh on myself this morning. Last night I told the landlady to bring my bread and milk in at halbesibenuhr. Which I thought meant half past seven. She came in with it this morning at 6:30. She had to get up an hour earlier. I ask her why she brought is at 6:30. She then explained to me how to tell time. Halbesieben means half of seven. I should have said Halbeacht or half of eight.

It is very cold this morning I haven't any fire here so I have to get my overcoat on. It snowed about three inches the other night from what I understand U.S. has been having some fierce weather it never does get as cold here as it does there.

Ask Merrill to tell Prof. Martin at the B.Y.U. that I did not get to see Rulon Hinckley. He is laboring in the French part of Switzerland. Prof. Martin ask me to remember him to Rulon.

Well I have got to get ready to go out to work so I will close for this time and will try and write more tomorrow and send the letter. Tell Merrill to be sure and let me know of all the B.Y.U. games. Also, Irwin and Vinna of Lincoln. Well be good.  

Jan. 31st 1922

Basel

Dear Folks :- I am in Basel to stay. It is certainly a fine place. They have a very good bunch of church members here. There are about 250 saints. They are very kind indeed. I have already visited a number of them. I feel very much satisfied. If I get real anxious to talk English I can come back to the office here at Leimenstrasse 49. The Ballifs are surely fine people. We have ate most of our meals here since I arrived here in Basel. I have felt more at home since I arrived in Basel then anytime since I left America. The people here are so much better people then any through England or France. If it wasn't for the language it wouldn't be possible that I was so far from home. The only thing it takes letters so long to come. It took the letter I got from Irwin 19 days. I can't help expressing how happy I am that I am going to stay in Basel. I won't have to go out on a train all alone for a day or so. Of course I would have rather gone out into Germany and learned high German. I will demand the best Ger. talk I can get. They talk about medium German here.

I can't write on both sides of the paper because it is too thin.

Yesterday we went to the zoo garden of Basel. They had all sorts of animals and birds from Europe and Africa. They had a few from America but not many. They had even a pelican there.

Last night five of us went down to (Schwester). Vrecks. They are very good singers . They sang German to some of the songs of Zion and we sang English (I tried to). It certainly seemed at home. It certainly gives one a spirit to visit these saints. If one gets a little homesick the saints will ease our feelings. I am getting to feel perfectly at home at the saints. Of course I don't know what they say about me, but I feel like it is all for the good.

Most of the Elders are staying in Switz. Seven stay here and one goes to Dresedenger. I am the only one in Basel.

I don't think it will cost me over $15 a month. It will be very few meals we will have to buy.

Well I will close for this time. I sure feel like the work will be fine after I get started. I expect the time to fly like everything after I get the language. Well take good care of yourselves and God bless you at all times.

Yours Truly.

Le Roy