Marokau, Tua.
Oct. 11, 1939

Dear Mother, Dad, and All,

It is surely getting hard for me to get at letter writing. Must be getting out of practice; anyway I feel as though I should cut my writing down to half what it has been. Of course I'll write regularly as possible to you and in order to do that and do it completely, I have to start a month or so before we expect a ship.

Conference is over and everything has taken on a little quieter aspect. We have been in quite a rush all last week. Elder Braegger and I are alone now, Elders Price and McEntire having gone east to Hao last Sunday night. We are expecting a ship any morning now and we will go over to Hikueru for a short stay.

The week just passed I attended 20 meetings. (I'm sitting on a cushion now.) From Sunday to Sunday. Our Conference was held the 6th and 7th and regular Meetings Sunday again. Only two Islands were represented, this one and Tauere, so we were disappointed in our crowd, but even at that we had a good time and a successful get-to-gether.

It has been quite stormy lately and for that reason only one boat dared venture out. The ships weren't running just right for the people to get here, and as their little sailing boats are all else they have to travel on the ocean in, one can hardly blame them.

Surely is dark and damp out now. It is only about 5:30 but our lamp is lit and we're sitting shivering to keep warm. That breeze from the south is surely chilly at times. Makes one think of October weather back home. Just right! I always was warm blooded.

Well, Dad, I guess you are just about drawing up plans for your deer hunt. Where will it be this time? Indian Creek? By the time you get this letter I'll undoubtedly have heared as ships are pretty scarce now due to the war trouble. I think ships will come oftener from the States than they will go there. Course we very seldom here what's going on outside and aren't very interested anyway at the present. Once in awhile we hear everything is broke loose and then the next ship brings the news that nothing has started yet and each side is waiting for the other. So, we don't know just what the score is.

The score here is that we gained four Catholics over to our side during the past month. Our Branch is growing, and under the present organization it seems as though it will be a leading one before long.

And now it's about time for Wednesday night meeting so I'd better put on my neck-tie. Will continue to add a bit here and there as time goes by.

Oct. 22.
Sunday afternoon and we are about to leave for Hikueru. I'll have to make this letter much shorter than I had planned if I send it in to H.Q. this ship. The ship came a little unexpectedly today but we have been expecting it for three or two weeks. Now that it is here it keeps us rushing to get prepared. But, from the time the ship came this morning until now, we performed another baptism of a young lady. It's surely a swell way to climax our stay here among the people on this island.

I'll try a few more lines when we land in Hikueru tonight or in the morning, but right now the house is full of "well-wishers" so I better stop for awhile.

Oct. 23. Well, here we are once again in Hikueru. The passage over was uneventful; I didn't even get sick though almost.

Our home is surely fixed swell for us and the people welcomed us heartily. We will stay here for a short time and then go to Anaa again returning to Tahiti in December. I will write again when I get to H.Q.

This branch is running smoothly and therefore we will not stay very long. It seems just like returning home again after being away a year.

There is no further news; nothing to worry about and everybody is happy.

Write often,
Love to all,
Dean

P.S. I'll start another letter on your Birthday, Mother.