Thursday, Abril 1, 1926
Buenos Aires – I translated four more good hymns into Spanish. This makes twenty-five I have translated here in Buenos Aires. I propose getting them out as a song tract so we can use them pending the time when we get out a new edition of the hymn Book when they can be incorporated in that. It has been excessively hot all day, and this evening is simply sweltering.
Friday, Abril 2, 1926
Buenos Aires – I wrote Elder Haymore, Elder Huish and Rey, Helaman, Beth and Betty. I prepared a 155 word announcement of our meetings to put in the paper, and we too it to La Prensa but they wanted $80.00 pesos to print it so we did not have it done. I am of the impression that we will have to do our missionary work in this country with very little assistance from newspapers. It has been one of the hottest days of the year and it has caused my eczema to become very much worse. Late: a cool wind came up.
Saturday, Abril 3, 1926
Buenos Aires – Much cooler today. I prepared matter for Children for Sunday School work tomorrow. Also typed a lot of letters for Bro. Ballard. The day has been cloudy and gloomy and I have felt very depressed all day. My heart action has been very bad all day. When I get to thinking an worrying my heart trouble always bothers me. I have wondered and worried a great deal about Rolfe. How I wish he could see things in the right light!
Sunday, Abril 4, 1926
Buenos Aires – Day was nice and cool. Went to Friedrichs in morning and held good Sunday School. Had German meeting in the hall in afternoon. Our night meeting was very well attended and a success. I spoke on Book of Mormon and we showed the Eastern States Mission Reel. It was not to my way of thinking as good as the slides. We had about 150 people out. I was very tired when it was all over. Just five months today since I left home. Longest I have been away from my family in 19 years.
Monday, Abril 5, 1926
Buenos Aires – Went early and got electrician to come and properly connect our lights. Owner of house agreed to pay for same. He got it done in good shape. I put in rest of day getting my translated hymns ready for printer. I have twenty-five translated and am going to print them as a song tract. With what I now have translated and in use, this now makes 47 hymns that I have translated into Spanish. The weather continues nice and cool. For the last few days, and particularly today, I have had an expectant feeling, as though someone were coming, or I was going to receive some startling news. Makes me feel very strange. My heart action is no good.
Tuesday, Abril 6, 1926
Buenos Aires – I have worked hard all day preparing another announcement tract. It is now ready for the printer and contains about 1800 words. A great many important points are brought out. Tomorrow we expect to take it and the 25 hymns I have translated to the printer to have him get us out an edition of each. We got 2000 letterheads today and 1000 printed envelopes. It has been dull and gloomy all day and has rained a little. Is somewhat warmer tonight.
Wednesday, Abril 7, 1926
Buenos Aires – We took our new Tract and the 25 Hymns to the printer to get a price on the printing of them. They will give us the price tomorrow. I typed several letters for Bro. Ballard and I wrote May, Rolfe and Nena. Mail goes off tomorrow. In evening we went to Friedrichs and held an hour’s class with children and then about that long with the adults. There were about 30 children and 15 adults. Fine spirit manifest. Mothers of some of the children out for the first time. Feel encouraged with outlook out there. Very much warmer again.
Thursday, Abril 7, 1926
Buenos Aires – Today is Trucy’s birthday. I did the “family wash” and put in the rest of the day cooking etc. Did a great deal of studying and reading. Letters left for U.S. today. Expect mail on boat to arrive on the 10. Bro Ballard went to town in the pm to attend to some matters. We received price on printing from Salvation Army printing house. Song tract to cost about 75c plata each, making them cost about .03c American. I want to send some to the Mexican Mission.
Friday, Abril 9, 1926
Buenos Aires – We ordered 10,000 of the announcement tract for $92.00 (pesos) and 2000 of the song tract for $156.00 pesos. Bro Ballard went to town to get money for rent etc. In afternoon at 4 we held a cottage meeting at the home of Mrs Jose Molares. There were a goodly number out. Many of the mothers of the children we have been teaching were there and manifested a great interest. I spoke nearly an hour and enjoyed the Spirit of the Lord in what I said, and all seemed very interested and to enjoy all that was said. We feel encourage over the increased interest being shown in that section. Much cooler.
Saturday, Abril 10, 1926
Buenos Aires – Woke up with a drizzling rain this morning and it rained all day, at times very violently. Street again flooded so traffic of street cars was stopped for about 5 hours. I received fine letters from May, Nena, Emaline, Beth and Rey. All of the children have had flu but all better but Tracy at time the letters were written. May still writes that Rolfe is a problem and it worries me a great deal. Nena continues very poorly. An operation is threatened but I hope can be put off till I get home. Her letters try to be cheerful but they have a sad note in them. I wish I could be home to help. I put in most of the day answering the letters I had receive and answd all but Nena’s. Mail leaves Monday and I want to send letters to all. Also got letter from Bro Haymore. Not much change in Mexican situation.
Sunday, Abril 11, 1926
Buenos Aires – We went to Friedrichs at 9 am in a downpour, got wet to my knees. About 18 children to Sunday School. Terrible day, rained all day. Few of the German Saints came out to meeting in pm. At night small crowd on acct of cold and rain. I spoke about 30 minutes. In pm I wrote Nena and Helaman also Bro Huish. Also wrote to Bro Roberts condolence on acct of the death of his wife. I was blue and despondent.
Monay, Abril 12, 1926
Buenos Aires – I received a letter from Bro Haymore advising me of quite a number of the Missionaries Ladies and Elders who had been going to dances together. I answered his letter approving rather rigorous treatment he had given them and instructed release of Elder McDonald and Lowe and for him to hold a tight rein on the rest. It has been a very cold day for the country, very great change from the hot weather we have been having. We went to town in pm to see if we could find some slides on Bible subjects but could find none.
Tuesday, Abril 13, 1926
Buenos Aires – Read and studied most of the day. I received a letter from a Bro Arthur Vedmore who used to live in the colonies, and married a Redd girl. He wrote me from Chile where he is now working for a nitrate co. He invited me to be his guest should I come to Chile. Bro Ballard bought an electric heater, which made our room very much more comfortable. The weather continues much cooler – not frost but a damp penetrating cold. We had a nice supper of veal steaks, sweet potatoes and grapes.
Wednesday, Abril 14, 1926
Buenos Aires – I read greater part of “The Faith of Our Fathers” by Cardinal Gibbons; enlarging my understanding of Catholic beliefs and claims. I received proof from printers of our Circular tract and song tract and did some proof reading. Went in evening to Friedrichs and had largest turnout of adults and children that we have had out there. Several new men came out. Sold one testament. Had very good class with children, and then preached nearly an hour to the adults present. On coming home worked correcting tracts till after midnight.
Thursday, Abril 15, 1926
Buenos Aires – This is May’s birthday, and she is 44 years old. I have thought of her all day and wished I could be with her. A steamer from the US arrived yesterday and I have expected mail all day but none has come. I worked hard correcting proof and revising some of the songs of the circular tract and song tract. Returned them to the printer and he promised to have some of each ready by Saturday. I am worried about mission in Mexico as Deseret News of Mar 18 says the Mexican Government has ordered officials on border not to allow any foreign ministers whatsoever to pass into Mexico. If this is enforced it means that we can send no new Elders into that country. It will greatly hinder work and mission there.
Ardis, Any idea what his concerns about Rolfe are? (I assume Rolfe is his son?)
Yes, John Rolfe Pratt was his son. I can only guess from the clues here that Rolfe’s not “seeing things the right way” probably refers to belief or the importance of religious expectations, rather than to any misbehavior. Rolfe married a year later, a short-lived marriage so maybe (*speculation alert*) it had something to do with the girls he was interested in? In any case, he served in the military, became a medical doctor, and raised a family, so he seems to have lived a productive life
Thanks. (I notice too that he was pretty young when he died. 53?)
“We went to Friedrichs at 9 am in a downpour, got wet to my knees.”
Yes! We often saw the elders in that mission with neatly pressed suit pants above the knee and wrinkled and muddy below. Their shoes fell apart quickly too. We sisters had a better time since we wore skirts and sandals. (Panty hose were not to be found.) We just waded through to water with no problem.
They also chained their cars to trees to keep them from floating away when the streets were flooded. Other than that, it was a frequent occurrence, but not really a problem.