Advice

What meaningful advice did you receive from an adult? What were the circumstances?

Lois and I enjoyed our studies in Latin, even though we recognized it as a dead language. Several times Mother suggested that it would be more practical for us to study Spanish. She would say, "Spanish is the coming language." She herself had studied Latin, and in the 30's many of us took it for granted that four years of Latin were a valuable part of our college prep. courses. Se we didn't take Mother's advice too seriously.

I took 2 years of French at Olivet and enjoyed Prof. Goodwin's classes and the language itself. Still no Spanish!

God's call to Guatemala reminded me repeatedly of Mother's sage and prophetic advice. But that call didn't come till Larry was in his second year in N.T.S. and I was mother of 2 small children. When we landed in Guatemala in 1950, I had a terrific amount of Biblical knowledge

(I thought!).

But I had to speak as a child, lisping my way to communication.

Mischief

What mischievous childhood experience do you remember? How did it affect you?

Of course, Lois and I engaged in quite a few mischievous escapades. One that particularly stands out in my memory is the day that we decided to take advantage of my dad's faithful record of always getting to Delco Products on time.

Dad sang in the choir and loved the old fashioned hymns, but he rejected the light choruses that failed to express deep theological truths. A particularly disgusting chorus for him was, "I'll Fly Away." When we merrily sang this at home, he would make us stop.

So one day, just as Dad walked out toward Fifth St., where he would take the streetcar to go to work, Lois and I stood in the door and loudly and merrily sang "I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away!"

Late or not, Dad returned and soundly spanked us!

First Communion

Do you remember your first communion? What influence did it have on you and your family?

In our church communion was served four times per year. Since the Lord saved me when I was five years old, I took communion along with my parents. It was a natural and beautiful part of my worship experiences.

The greatest communion experiences I ever had occurred while we were missionaries, serving in Coban, Guatemala. Communion was a traditional part of our District Assemblies. One day, during this special act of worship, it dawned on me that at the Lord's Table we were one. Around that big altar were Kekchis, Pokomchis, Rabinalachis, Ladinos, and North Americans. Some of the worshipers had on neat clothes. Others were barefooted and not too elegantly clad. But we were quietly talking to the Lord in our own languages. There was no difference in our acceptance in God's sight. The Lord's Supper helped me to identify with fellow Christians in a fresh and beautiful way.

Finances

What were your family finances like when you were growing up? How did that affect you?

We were not rich, but my parents knew how to utilize their limited income with wisdom. We always bought our homes. We didn't rent. Mother and Dad never owned a car. So we walked to school and to church and took the streetcar when we went to town. When our church moved to Westwood, we walked a part of the time and used streetcars on other occasions.

Mother made our dresses. Our home was furnished with simplicity but was kept clean and neat. We ate simple foods, but Mother knew how to make beans, rice, potatoes and other common foods have taste-appeal.

In depression days, Dad had no job. My parents were strongly opposed to accepting government aid. So they baked bread and coffee cakes, and we helped sell their products from house to house. God Provided!

Books

What were some of the most memorable books you read as a child? What made them memorable?

Of course, the Bible was the most memorable of all the books I read, and it still is!

Louisa May Alcott's books: Little Women, Little Men and Joe's Boys were favorites because they were wholesome novels and realistic enough to be applicable to my own life.

I also read Beautiful Girlhood by Evangeline Shellhammer. This book helped me examine my own relationships, especially those with my father. She pointed out that when a girl reached her teens, her father often felt estranged because his daughter's interests were changing. He felt incapable of meaningful communication. She encouraged her readers to take the initiative in conversations with their dads. I took her counsels seriously and was able to bond with my father in a wholesome way. I also enjoyed fairy tales, because they stretched my imagination. I read "Little Orphan Annie" daily in the funny paper.

Decorating Tips

Record here some gardening or decorating tips that you have found helpful:

When we couldn't afford to buy book shelves, Larry and I stacked apple boxes, arranged our books in them and I made a series of skirts for the shelves, protecting the books from dust, and decorating the bare wooden boxes.

The skirt idea also helped us enjoy a fairly large vanity in our bedroom in Coban, Guatemala. Larry arranged the board for the table top, using a wooden box at each end. I made a gathered skirt for the table and covered the makeshift frame. The mirror on the wall above this home-made vanity made it appear to be more dignified than it really was!

Birthdays

What did you do to celebrate birthdays when you were growing up?

Mother baked delicious cakes, and she used candles to give them the birthday aura. Birthday gifts at our house were simple and inexpensive, but well appreciated.

I think that the first "elegant" birthday gift I bought for my mother was a fruit cluster made of clay. It was a colorful wall hanging. And I still remember the excitement of buying it with my own money and walking down Third St, carrying that rather heavy package.

Since Mother crossed to the other side, that memory-loaded bunch of fruit has graced my kitchen walls in San Antonio, in Boston, in Olathe and now in Bethany.

Birthdays are for giving to those we love most. And somehow the joy comes back to the giver.

First Kiss

What do you remember about your first kiss?

Paul Nock, Howard Myers, Earl Pendleton and I recognized our relationship as girlfriend-boyfriend, but we never kissed each other.

However, dating Larry was different story! The word had spread on campus that I refused to be kissed, and one of my fellow students was crude enough to yell across campus, "Has he kissed you yet?" I think George did that more than once.

Larry and I had dated for about three months before he kissed me. Evidently he had heard the rumor that I would refuse if he asked. So, he didn't ask. He grabbed me and kissed me, and somehow I knew it was all right. Our first date occurred on Jan. 21, 1938. The first kiss (2 I think) occurred on April 14 of the same year. Sixty happy years have hurried by and we still kiss joyfully, lovingly and almost daily. (Unless I'm teaching in Latin America and he is in the US)

Joyce's added note...in 2007 they still kiss and hug...but have to sit to do this or they might fall over! Hey, she is 89 and he is 94!!!!!!

First Date

When did you have your first date? Tell me about it.

Paul Nock and I never really dated. We would walk home from church together, since his family and mine walked together, but I probably walked with his sister Marjorie as often as I did with him. He did claim me as his girlfriend, however, and the big chocolate Easter eggs he gave me for Easter and my birthday, plus valentine candy for Feb. 14 announced plainly that I was his.

We often ate Sunday dinner at his home, and the Nock family would frequently come to our home for Sunday dinner. We played together. Paul liked to climb trees and show me his skill, but none of that togetherness could be categorized as dating.

Actually, when Paul began to date Jean (the girl he eventually married), his mother thought I might be hurt. So she arranged a blind date for me at a party in her home. This, my first date, was quite boring to me and to the guy. We had nothing in common.

Crazy Fads

What crazy fads do you remember in grade school?

The girls wore socks instead of hose, and some of the girls whose parents forced them to wear hose would roll them down to their ankles at school, then roll them back up before heading home.

Some of the girls in my fourth grade class would bring dill pickles to school and sneak them out of their desk when Miss Sussman wasn't looking. They'd take a big bite, then hide them again.

Our classroom had a "dilly" odor. Dills were the in thing in desks and in hungry mouths.

Hardest Thing To Do

What was the hardest thing you ever had to do?

I could write this answer with facetious intent and claim that the hardest thing I ever had to do was to eat peas when my dad forced me to eat them!

In reality, facing what seemed to be the probability of losing my husband, when in Chiclayo, Peru, he had a severe heart attack, was the roughest period of my life. Our lives had become so thoroughly intertwined in missionary vision, as well as in a joyful wholesome marriage, that losing him seemed impossible.

But God furnished great grace to both of us. Fellow missionaries surrounded us with love. Dr. Greathouse came to our home during our district assembly and was a great boost. Fishermen from Santa Rosa came to our house and prayed for Larry's healing. I still believe the Lord responded to their faith. Larry's still alive in 1998, (actually this is being typed in 2007 and he is still living!) and our love is richer and our missionary vision vibrantly alive!

Extracurricular Activities

What extracurricular activities were you involved in during high school? Why did you choose those activities?

I belonged to the Forum Romanum, our Latin Club. I was interested in foreign language and greatly appreciated Miss Bertha Winch, the faculty sponsor of that club. She was a devout Christian, a loyal Presbyterian, who lived her Christian ethics and expected us to do the same.

I also sold tickets for our basketball games during my junior year.

I was a member of the National Honor Society and of a club sponsored by Herbert Dwyer, my history teacher. It was the John Dewey Club.

Most of my extracurricular activities were forms of church involvement; teaching the 5 year olds in Sunday School, singing in the church choir, singing specials in duets, speaking in NYPS services, playing the organ for junior church (occasionally), selling Scripture calendars from door to door, serving on the church board, and taking part in special programs.

Hideaway

Did you ever have a special hideaway or playhouse? What made it special?

Grandma Mary Kendall had a woodshed, where she and Aunt Frances stacked the wood which they used in their stove and for heating purposes. They did their major cooking in a huge wood stove.

The woodshed was private enough to be a hideaway. So, during the 2 weeks of vacation which we spent in Cynthiana, Ohio, I enjoyed life in the woodshed. A part of the fun was that of exploring. The woodshed contained items that might have been stored in the attic if Grandma's home had had an attic. Finding items I hadn't seen before was a part of the fun. But the rope swing attached to a crossbeam made life in the woodshed in the semi-darkness a lively contest with my own record to see how much higher I could make that swing go.

Clothing

Describe one of your favorite dress-up outfits as a child. On what occasions would you wear it?

Mother made our dresses and was a careful seamstress. Often, she would use the same pattern for Lois and me. At times, she would buy similar material, but in different colors. I particularly recall the red dress she made for Lois and the green one she made for me. The material was a pretty combination of red and white, which Mother trimmed with a white ruffle. Mine was exactly the same, but done in green and white. Unfortunately, I liked red better than green. It seemed to me that Mother had shown preference in her selection of colors. So, I was jealous. (Remember that I was a Christian but not yet entirely sanctified!)

The dress I remember best was black with white polka dots. It was the first dress I ever bought for myself and was not homemade. It was not expensive, but I was excited about the ability to make my own choice.

Favorite Teacher

Who was your favorite teacher? Why?

In high school, Edith Sauer was my favorite teacher. I already liked math, and she was my plane geometry teacher. The very first day of class she won my determination to show her how special I was! The penetrating look she gave me with her big sparkling brown eyes, when she called my name, awakened a quick response! "I'll show you who I am!"

She was physically charming, had a beautiful smile, was a very good teacher, was unusually fair, kept student photos on the bulletin board, and was quite popular. No wonder! At the end of the first semester, she called me to her desk and told me she had compared her grades with those of my other teachers. All of them had turned in A's for my report. Her first grade for me at the initiation of the semester had been a B. She voluntarily changed it to an A, so that I would have all A's!

I kept up correspondence with Miss Sauer from high school till her death in 1996. 60 years!

Early Prayers

When did you first start to pray? What do you remember about your early prayers?

I started to pray very soon after I had begun to talk. Family devotions were taken quite seriously. Mother had strong interests in missions. So these influenced my childhood prayers. I don't recall everything I mentioned in those early petitions, but one often repeated request was for "China, Japan, India, Africa, Korea and the islands of the sea." Interestingly, I don't think I ever included Guatemala, El Salvador, Peru, Mexico, Costa Rica, Cuba or Ecuador! Well, yes, Cuba was included in "the isles of the sea," but I didn't know it!

I learned very early in life to pray with seekers at the altar because I wasn't allowed to play or run around during that part of the service. Instead of sitting quietly on the front seat (bored), I joined the intercessors.

God's Calling

Did you ever feel that God had a special calling on your life?

I think I was aware of His special calling quite early. I had a strong desire that God would call me as a missionary to Africa. During my years in high school and college, I kept reminding the Lord that I was available to do missionary service in Africa. I fasted and prayed and pled for divine direction, but God had other plans and knew exactly when I would need His answer.

Finally, He called Larry to the ministry. We sold our house in Dayton and joyfully headed for Kansas City in 1945, the first year NTS served our church. I settled for the career of being mother and a pastor's wife.

But during Larry's second year in NTS, I awoke one morning, knowing definitely that God had called me as a missionary to Guatemala. I wanted to share the exciting news with Larry, but the Holy Spirit reminded me that God does not do things by halves. He would call Larry too. And He did about a week later!

Company at The House

Did the pastor or a visiting missionary ever come to your house for dinner or tea? Share one vivid experience.

How about several vivid experiences? Dr. Goodwin, General Supt., visited our home when my little sister Esther was a baby (a baby - yes, but she could undress and she could walk!) Dr. Goodwin was at the table, enjoying Mother Kendall's delightful cooking, when my cute little sister decided to make the general's visit even more delightful. She came marching joyfully into the dining room completely in the nude! Mother was tremendously shocked, but the general handled the case with ease!

General Supt. Strickland and his wife visited us in El Salvador. We had a wonderful visit. But when the taxi came to pick up the Stricklands and their luggage to take them to the airport, he mistakenly picked up our big bag of trash, set out for the trash man. We stopped him just in time. Can you imagine the confusion hat would have occurred in customs at the Miami airport?

Winter Storm

Share a story about a severe winter storm.

We probably had several severe winter storms in Dayton, Ohio during my childhood and teen years, but they have not left ugly memories. I delighted in the snow and slid on the ice. Snowballs were what winters were made for!

The snowfall I remember best occurred in San Antonio, Texas, while Larry and I were teaching there in our Hispanic seminary. Most of our students had never handled snow before so the day turned into a snowball picnic. Students even climbed up on the dorm roof and scraped off snow to be sure they got it all. I arrived in my classroom about 8:00AM and immediately was greeted by a snowball that flew over my head, hit the blackboard, then splashed into pieces on my desk! I knew there was just one person on campus who could aim that well. Sure enough, it was Joe Rodriguez! Dr. Jose Rodriguez had thrown that snowball from the opposite side of the campus - a long distance. He's a real pro! When we reached home, a cute little neighbor kid came over and asked politely, "Can we borrow your snow?"

First Job

Tell me about your first job.

I was still in high school and hoping to go to Olivet College, so took a job at Metropolitan Clothing Co. My first assignment was to work at the cash register. This included the job of doing gift wraps, other than during pre-Christmas rush, when a special group of workers was assigned to the this job. Little by little, I became acquainted with the salesmen. I took their merchandise bagged it or gift-wrapped it, and rang up sales and gave change. But one day during the Christmas rush, and unknown "salesman" came to me and asked me to do a gift-wrap for his customer. In a business-like voice, I said "Gift wrapping is being done over there," and pointed to the table designated for that job. The man meekly walked to that table, but my shocked fellow worker said, "Do you realize that that man is the president of this store?" (He didn't fire me!)

Chores and Allowance

What chores did you have to do when you were growing up? Did you get an allowance? How much was it?

One of our chores, of course, was to make our bed before going to school. No allowance for failure to make it up! We also washed and dried dishes very frequently. Our pay was the delicious food that Mother had served in those dishes. Lois and I found ways to have fun on that job, flipping tea towels at each other, reciting Latin verb conjugations, or teasing unmercifully. On one occasion our fun was so intense that we broke a dishpan full of dishes. We had to pay for those out of our very slim income. One of my duties was to do the Saturday dusting. (No pay!) The one pleasure this job afforded at appropriate times of the year was that of picking fresh flowers and arranging them in vases before doing the dusting. It was a pleasant way to procrastinate! I did get a nickel a week for scrubbing the kitchen floor.

Pet

What was the name of your favorite pet? Why was it your favorite?

Mitzy was my favorite pet. Our parents (especially Dad) didn't want our pets in the house, but Mitzy got by disobeying the house rules much better than the four Kendall kids did! Perhaps her disobedience was one of the reasons why we liked her so well.

She had several litters of kittens, so that we learned from her some of the basic facts of life. One of her personality traits was strong perseverance. If she was lucky enough to get into the house and to find the closet door in our patents bedroom open at delivery time, she would joyfully give birth to at least four kittens right there under Dad and Mom's clothes! And when we would dutifully move that tiny quartet to an equally nice nest outdoors, she would stubbornly return her family - one at a time and by the neck-to that favorite closet upstairs. I think her middle name was "Never Give Up"!

Favorite Meal

What was your favorite meal when you were a child? What made it your favorite?

Homemade ice cream was my really favorite meal. In many cases, my parents brought in snow right after it had fallen, then made delicious ice cream in our simple way. It was fun to stand over the register and feel the warmth from the furnace while we ate our snowy ice cream.

In summer our parents made ice cream in a regular ice cream maker. In either case, the product was "a bit of heaven on earth."

Helping to bring in the snow, or in summer helping to grind the ice, made this food preparation a family affair. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why home-made ice cream was a favorite meal. But letting that delightful delicacy melt slowly in our mouths lengthened the time of our delight. Perhaps this also explains our preference.

Scent or Sound

What scent or sound immediately takes you back to childhood? Describe the feeling it evokes.

The sound of chugging of a passing freight train brings back childhood memories. Both on Armore and on Woodward Avenue, we lived near the tracks. Noisy trains were a part of our daily lives.

I remember some of the experiments we made on those tracks. For instance, we carefully placed straight pins on the tracks in the form of a cross, hoping that those heavy wheels would seal them together.

Trains meant more at vacation time when we would take the D.T and I (Detroit, Toledo & Ironton) to Bainbridge, Ohio, to visit Grandpa Bond and Aunt Clara, their son Harold and their dog Ring. Then Grandpa would a few days later drive us to Cynthiana, where we could visit Grandma Kendall and Aunt Frances.

But I still don't like to wait long minutes at railroad crossings when freight trains go chugging by - despite pleasant childhood memories!

Getting To School

How far did you have to travel to attend elementary, junior high, and high school, and how did you get there?

I went to Jackson School for first and second grades. The school was less than a half mile from our home on Ardmore. I walked either through the fields or on the railroad track a part of the way. That trip was fun. Gathering wild flowers or balancing on rails or walking with friends made those trips special.

When we moved to Woodward Avenue, I still could take a part of my trip to school through a field or on the railroad tracks, but we were only about 3 blocks from the school.

Roosevelt High (including both junior and senior high) was only 2 blocks farther! Our parents never owned a car. So we weren't even tempted to want a car ride to school.

Valentine

Describe a memorable Valentine you received.

Of course, we exchanged valentines all through grade school. I was proud of the number of valentines I received each year. Valentines from Paul Nock meant the most to me, because he was my first boyfriend. We were in our early teens. Paul was a fellow Christian and was generous with his gifts. I wonder how much delicious chocolate I enjoyed because of Paul's expressions of love! We never held hands, nor hugged, nor kissed each other. We were simply good friends.

Perhaps the best "valentine" from Paul was the small note he put on his heart when he learned that "unus" meant one. His Latin teacher gave him a romantic idea (without knowing it!) He explained to me that I was unus=Number One - First on his heart. I think that was the nearest moment to romance I had during my teen years!

First Bible

Who gave you your first Bible and how old were you when you received it? How did it influence your life?

I really don't remember when I received my first Bible. It has been an integral part of my life as far back as I can remember. My parents both took family devotions quite seriously and helped us develop a love for the Word of God.

I recall the shock I received when I discovered the contempt which some of my junior and senior high school teachers showed toward God's Word. My chemistry teacher made fun of me in front of the whole class, simply because I believed in the Biblical account of creation. My 8th grade English teacher caught me reading my Bible during a free reading period and told me I had to bring another type of book for that weekly assignment. I wonder what she would have said if I had brought a volume of Wesley's Works!

Becoming A Christian

When did you become a Christian? How did your life change?

I was 5 years old. I had a brand new baby sister, Esther Frances. I was jealous of her and of my popular sister Lois Faith, who was 16 months younger than I. My anger and jealousy found expression in disobedience and rebellion. I walked through Mr. Brown's carefully trimmed hedge, mistreated Lois, and was disobedient to the lady who was caring for mother and the new baby. (Mrs. Ganther) But the Lord convicted me, and I finally shared my situation with Mother. I confessed my sins to her, and she wisely recognized that I had reached the age of accountability. She instructed me to kneel by her bedside and ask God's forgiveness. And there, next to Mother and little Esther at her side, I was born again. The newborn was no longer a threat, because my own birth in Christ changed my outlook. God's love and peace erased the ugly resentments and anger. I was a child of God!

God

Who was the first person to talk to you about God? What effect did this have on you?

Both of my parents took quite seriously their responsibility of training us in basic Christian beliefs. Family prayer was an integral part of our daily life. We had family devotions twice a day, and our parents took us to church twice on Sunday, to prayer meetings on Wednesday, and to revival services every night during protracted meetings - sometimes 2 or 3 weeks long, and occasionally as long as six weeks.

We were introduced to Wesleyan theology as soon as we could begin to understand spiritual matters. Consequently the Lord saved me when I was five years old, and sanctified me when I was 12 (Dec. 21, 1930)

The clear concept of God's love and holiness created in me a strong desire to be like Him and a wholesome vision of my own evangelistic responsibilities. Such spiritual preparation made it natural for me to say a joyful "YES!" when God called me as a missionary to Guatemala.

Memory of Grandparents

Share a memory of your grandparents or an older person you loved

I loved Grandma Kendall and Grandpa Bond, and admired them, but early in life I sensed a special attachment to my Aunt Frances, a sister of my father. Grandpa Kendall had died when my father was only four years old. Aunt Frances took a role of mother - father- aunt, and more. She took responsibility at home but earned the family income as an outstanding public school teacher. People in Cynthiana, Ohio recognized her skill and admired her. After she had taught for several years the local politicians tried to force her to vote in favor of their candidates. Aunt Frances was willing to lose her teaching job (25 years of first -class service) rather than yield to unethical political pressure. But God supplied her needs. She continued to care for her invalid mother and for other members of the family who came to her for help. She was very active in her church (Church of Christ in Christian Union). The church folk and all the rest of us admired and loved her. She was Christlike.

Important Life Lessons

Recall some of the most important lessons you have learned in life.

1. It pays to serve Jesus.

2. A life of holiness radiates the love of God. It is not basically a life of legalism, even though obedience to the divine will is absolutely necessary.

3.Love produces obedience, The fruit of the Spirit is love, and this fruit is manifested in every level of our relationships with others.

4. God is always just. There are periods in our lives when we can't understand why He is permitting disappointments, suffering ,bereavement, or losses But as we look back on these experiences, little by little we discover that our hardships have been ingredients in making us more than conquerors through Him who loves us.

Memories of the Siblings

List one special memory about each of your brothers and sisters.

Lois had a great sense of humor. At Olivet she was involved in quite a series of pranks despite the fact that she was an A student. One of these occurred when she had turned a somersault in front of a gang of boys when she was not properly dressed for such an act. (I think they had dared her!) The dean of women was looking out the window and saw her, so punished her by making her stay in her room that evening, while the rest of us went to a concert in the chapel. Lois decided to have fun in her own way. She took a pan of hard biscuits we students had refused to eat for supper, stationed herself at the right window and pelted the couples as they walked by in best dress en rout to the concert. Miss Sinkhorn easily guessed who had rained the biscuits . She didn't accuse Lois. She simply asked her to clean up the mess. Lois obeyed, but wrapped up the broken biscuits and made the package into a gift wrap and deposited this on Esta Sinkhorn's desk.

Grandparent's Houses

Describe your grandparents' houses. Did you visit them often? Why or why not?

Grandpa Bond, my mother's dad, lived in Bainbridge, Ohio, a small town. My Grandmother Alpharetta Crook Bond, had died when Mother was only 13 years old. So he had married Clara, whom we called Aunt Clara, instead of Grandma. We had a lot of fun playing with Harold, their son (my half uncle), who was just a few years older than I. He was a big tease. We liked his dog, Ring, and were fond of the yellow apples that fell off the trees in Grandpa's yard.

Mary Sparger Kendall was my dad's mother. His father had died when my dad was a very small child. She and my dad's sister, Frances, lived in Cynthiana, Ohio, a small town not far from Bainbridge. Her home had been a log cabin but was covered with regular lumber siding. We visited Grandpa Bond, then would go to Grandma Kendall's every summer. We enjoyed the train trips on the old D.T. and I. that took us to that area once a year

Home

Where was your childhood home located? Did you enjoy living there?

At 233 S. Woodward Ave. in Dayton, Ohio. I did enjoy our home on Woodward. Dad kept the yard in first-class condition, so that we kids were proud of our home. We had a garden, 2 cherry trees, 2 grape vines, bleeding hearts, lilies of the valley, violets, spirea, gooseberries and other interesting plants. Our big cherry tree near the back of the house produced delicious crops of dark cherries, which Mother canned.

I liked our neighborhood because people were friendly. No TV and no air conditioners were a blessing, for this lack gave us access to talkative friends who sat in their swings on the front porch and communicated with us as we went skating up and down the sidewalk. Slorpes, Upsons, two Smith families, Boyers, Beanblossoms, Satterthwats, Hunters, Cabbages, and others seemed like family members, as well as good neighbors. They were special.

Childhood Prayers

What kind of prayer did you say before you went to sleep? Who taught you how to pray it?

Mother taught me how to pray. And we would have family devotions before going to bed. We kids were glad to prolong the day, so did not resent that time of Bible reading and prayer.

I recall that my good-night prayers ended with a missionary emphasis:"Lord, bless the people in India, Africa, Korea and the islands of the sea". I don't know whether my parents taught me a specific prayer, or whether I was allowed to form my own Obviously, I had absorbed some of the missionary vision that characterized my mother's prayers.

Who knows? Perhaps those good-night prayers were preparing me for the glad "yes" in my heart when God said, "I want you in Guatemala."

Living Room

Describe what the family living room looked like when you were a child.

The living room was furnished with simplicity. In one corner was the library table. It had open ends which Mother filled with neat stacks of books and magazines. In the center of the table was a pretty dark green cut glass vase which we kept filled with cut flowers during the months when our flowers were in bloom. Instead of a sofa, we had a cot across from the library table. One of us would sleep on that cot when we had overnight guests. The chairs were very plain. So was the rug. But we had guests quite frequently and entertained them joyfully in that small room. The two windows of the living room were graced by lace curtains that had to be placed on curtain stretchers when they were washed.

Mother's Activities

How did your mother spend her day? Did she have a job or do volunteer work outside the home?

Mother spent her day in service to others. She was a good homemaker, a good cook, a willing entertainer and a wise parent. She took very seriously her walk with Christ. She had her daily communication with the Lord in her bedroom. We children could hear her interceding for the lost. She had family prayer with us. My dad was in charge of evening family prayers and mother took charge in the morning. She was creative and even used drama at times to make the Word of God come alive for us.

Mother did not work outside our home unless she was visiting the sick or doing volunteer services for the Lord. She served as director of the junior department in the Sunday School and as study chairman in the missionary society. Children and missions were very important to her.

Father's Employment

Where did your father go to work every day and what did he do?

My father worked as a guard at Delco Products. When the Depression came , he suffered the grief of unemployment, but determined that he would support his family and keep up his payments on our home. Many workers during that period turned to the government for support, but my parents preferred to bake bread and sell it from door to door. We girls helped with the sales ($0.10 per loaf). Mom and Dad would often get up at 2:00 A.M. to do their baking.

Dad returned to Delco after the worst part of the Depression had passed. But he took on a second job when we started our studies at Olivet Nazarene College. He became our church custodian and did such a thorough job of maintaining the church clean and beautiful that pastors of other churches said they were jealous of our pastor!

First Time to Church

When did you first go to church? What are your earliest memories of church?

All during the 9 months that my mother carried me before my birth, I was taken quite frequently to the First Church of the Nazarene in Dayton, Ohio, a small church located on Williams St.

I enjoyed the ministry of the Trissels, the Butts and the Palmers during my first years in Sunday School. They really loved us.

One of my favorite church friends was Brother Sanderson. He showed a lively interest in small children. He called us three sisters "Walker," "Talker" and "Squawker."

I learned very early that I was to remain silent and attentive during the church services. When I didn't, my father had strong means of reminding me of my responsibility! I enjoyed the church music, endured lengthy sermons and very early took active part in the altar services, either as a seeker or as an intercessor for others. I loved my church.

Dedicated or Baptized?

Were you baptized or dedicated as an infant? If so, where and by whom?

I was baptized as a small child, then chose to be baptized again in Wolf Creek when I was about 12 years of age. I think Rev. Henry was the one who baptized me when I was a baby. Our family deeply appreciated his ministry.

Of course, the baptism in Wolf Creek meant a great deal to me, because it was a public testimony to unsaved folk who gathered around our church group and watched with curiosity as we were dipped in that creek. I think that a few of my school friends were among those who stood apart from us and watched and learned. Pastor A. H. Perry baptized me. He was a solid Christian, and excellent teacher of the Word, and a caring pastor. He could quote Adam Clarke almost as well as he quoted the Bible.

Childhood Bedroom

Describe your childhood bedroom. What was the view from your window?

We three girls slept in the bedroom next to the attic. Lois and I occupied a double bed, and Esther had a single bed on the other side of the room. One window faced the brick house next door, where the Slorps lived downstairs and the Upsons lived upstairs. Lilies of the valley grew snuggled against the house directly below this window. The front window bordered on the roof over our front porch. We could see the Hunters', Smiths,' Boyers and other neighbors' homes across the street and could watch the train that chugged by on the track just beyond the Slorps' house.

My bedside was the place where I would kneel after returning from school in the afternoon. That was a sacred spot where I talked things over with the Lord. I needed that communication, because my school friends were critical of my walk with Christ.

About My Name

Who gave you your name and why? Did you have a family nickname? How did you get it?

My Christian parents preferred Bible names, so named me Eunice Ruth. We used nicknames for some of our friends but respected family names and held to them.

However, the new generation took great delight in assigning nicknames. Joyce and David especially had to endure the creative names assigned to them by older siblings. "Tamale feet" was a favorite and was used enough to make Joyce wonder if her feet really resembled tamales.

And I myself didn't totally escape the nicknames. Some of my students in our seminary in San Antonio called me "Faraona" (feminine form of Faraon= Pharaoh). Of course, this was mentioned behind my back, but the reporters gave me the news with obvious glee.

Childhood Pastimes

What was your favorite pastime as a child? Did you prefer doing it alone or with someone else?
I loved to swing in the old porch swing that was attached to the hackberry tree at the back of our yard. Sometimes I would enjoy swinging with my sisters. Other times I liked swinging alone and making that old toy go as high as possible. I could use my imagination and pretend that I was really going places.

I also enjoyed junior church and felt very important when Thelma Butts or some other leader would ask me to play the organ and accompany the other children as we sang.
Going to Grandma Kendall's home in Cynthiana, riding a train to Bainbridge and visiting Grandpa Bond en route, eating Aunt Frances' sugar cookies, enjoying the flowers in her garden and the swing in her wood shed, picking blackberries for mother to can, taking a walk on a sandy road near Grandma Kendall's; all these and more were favorite pastimes when I was a child.

My Favorites

Flower* Rose
Perfume* Evening in Paris
Color *pink
Hymn or song* “Amazing Grace”
Book *The Bible
Authors *inspired by the Holy Spirit, (John and Paul - favorites)
Bible verse *John 3:16
Dessert* Chocolate ice cream
Vacation spot* Guatemala
Type of food* Black Cherries
Sport* Anagrams
Leisure activity *Reading Theology