Letter No. 49
New Guinea
June
25, 1944
Dear
Folks:
Nearly
four weeks have passed since I last wrote you. But since that time, I have started to realize that there is a war.
Before
this, all I did was to enjoy myself in Hawaii, sail the
ocean and see the world.
Now
I realize that there is a war and now I realize that home seems twice as far and the possibility of seeing relatives and friends
again seems a long way off.
Even
though, with the fall of Rome, the invasion of France
and the bombings of Japan, the war seem
to be making progress towards peace. If it is God’s will that I do not live to see the “peace,” there are
a few things that I would like to request.
If
I do not return home and you have a memorial service for me, I would like to have Rev. Miller speak on the same text as Uncle
Fred’s funeral, “Be Still and Know that I Am God.” I think it is Psalm 46, if I remember correctly. The
hymns that I would like to have used at this service are the following: “I’m
but a stranger here, Heaven is my Home.” Whatever God Ordains is Good His
Righteous will Abideth.” “Who Knows How Near my End may be?”
The
three hymns are all in the Lutheran hymnal. I would like to have a service similar to Uncle Fred’s only there won’t
be a funeral just memorial service.
Of
my personal belongings, I would like to have $100 given to the Lutheran Hour, $100 to the Concordia Broadcast, and $100 to
Foreign Missions, then our church. All other belongings can be divided anyway the family sees fit.
Of
course I still hold high hopes of returning, but a person has to consider the darker and more serious side when I think of
the future.
Here’s
wishing the whole family a happy and God-blessed life and good health.
Sincerely Yours,
In Christian Faith, Hope and Love,
Your loving Son and Brother,
Edgar
