Anna V. Blough letter to home folks, Nov. 19, 1921

              Pingtingchou, Shansi, China
November 19, 1921

Dear Home Folks,-
Just got Jennie�s, Mother�s and Robert�s letters. Had not heard of Robert since he was at Mt. Morris. He must have been a busy boy cooking for that bunch of hungry students. 

I wrote you last at Taiku. I got back from that trip a week ago last Tuesday. There were meetings going on here then and have been since then. We expect them to end on Monday with baptism and communion. This week we have been giving special instruction to applicants for baptism. There will be about fifty men, fifteen women and perhaps a dozen girls. I had several classes a day with some of the women and the others had them part of the time. I taught them stories on the Life of Christ bringing what it means to be a Christian and lessons on prayer. It was so very interesting. Of course it is new to most of them yet they take it with open hearts. The wife and mother of one man who has been a Christian for a number of years show considerably more knowledge and understanding than the rest, for they have had teaching and prayer on the home so that they understand. Six of the women are from villages where I visit. I am so glad to have Christian women scattered about over the country. It makes a nucleus for a bigger work in their home villages. 

This next Thursday will be Thanksgiving Day. I plan to start out on that day with Mr. and Mrs. Crumpacker on a village tour. We have arranged for a weeks meetings in four different villages before Christmas. After that we want to go out in the famine district and work. I am glad they are going along, it will not be so lonely and by helping each other it will not be so hard. Just how it works I can tell better when we are at it. 

Mother the package of the underwear came alright and everything is alright [sic].  I will look for the other little package you say you sent me. I sent one to you for Xmas and also to the girls. Hope they get thru alright, would like to hear, for the post office here is rather uncertain about packages these days. I did not register them and they may not go right. Please tell me is [sic; if?] you must pay duty on them for I do not like to send gifts and have you pay for them. 

That was quite a parade you had. Must have been an interesting sight, especially the two old ladies.

Am sorry for Alta and she can�t keep her children with her. Am glad she can visit Waterloo again. 

Wish you could see our house plants. Have a variety of geraniums in bloom that are so pretty. Two of the prettiest are a pink and a red raised from seed that Ralph gave me. 

Love to each of you and best wishes for you in your line whatever it may be.

Yours as ever,
Anna



Nov. 22 

84 people were baptized, 230 at communion last night--  Mother, your birthday package came this morn while I was at breakfast. Thanks for stockings, kerchiefs, candy and all. The collar too is so pretty. Have decided to wait a day longer and be here for Thanksgiving.