(Following this life sketch is the poem that Eva wrote for her husband Carl on their 60th wedding anniversary)
Eva Ruth Longway, the first of five children, was born on March 20, 1919 in Bangkok, Thailand (Old Siam) to missionary parents Ezra and Inez Longway. When Eva was three years of age the family moved to China where she spent most of her childhood and adolescent years. At age 17 she was a junior in high school when the family returned to the United States for a year of furlough. It was there in Massachusetts she met and fell in love with H. Carl Currie, a 17-year-old freshman farm boy from Maine majoring in theology at Atlantic Union College. After that year of furlough she returned to China with her family continuing the courtship through trans-pacific postal mail. In 1939 Eva and Carl were married and left for China the following year after Carl finished his Theology degree.
While studying the Chinese language in Rangoon, Burma their son David Carl was born. The Curries remained in China throughout the war, having to evacuate and translocate a number of times due to Japanese invasions. In 1943, as bombs were exploding in Changsha, Hunan Province, their second child, Ruth Ann was born. At the end of World War II in 1945 their last child, Laura Fae, was born in Chengdu, Szechuan Province.
In 1948 the family was forced to leave China due to communist takeover of the country. Rather than return to the US they were assigned to pioneer the SDA church work on the island of Formosa (Taiwan). As Eva continued to raise their growing children the Currie family then moved to Singapore. While Carl served as president of the SE Asia Union of SDA Eva worked part time as his secretary. In 1960 it was back to Taiwan for another six years where Eva continued to support her husband’s ministry.
The imminent death of Carl’s mother and the progressing courtship of their two daughters took Eva and Carl to New England where Eva enjoyed living in the USA as a pastor’s wife. Eva delighted in being able to help her two daughters to prepare for their wedding days.
Their time in the US did not last long for two years later Carl was invited to be president of the Bermuda Mission. It was there Eva enjoyed this tropical island riding her moped and snorkeling the beautiful coral reefs. Their time in peaceful “paradise” was short lived. In 1971 Carl was invited to be President of the Zambezi Union in Southern Rhodesia during the tumultuous time when the country transitioned to become Zimbabwe. During the 15 years of service there, Eva enjoyed visiting game parks and assisting her husband during his evangelistic meetings in the African bush.
At the age 65, as they were contemplating retirement, the call came for them to serve in Hong Kong with the China radio ministry. Being back in the Asian milieu for another 5 years to complete their 50 years of overseas ministry was a gratifying experience for Eva, especially living next door to dear friends with whom they began their ministry a half century previously in war-torn China.
On a two-acre lot in Tennessee, Eva and Carl became homeowners in 1990 for the first time as they built a cozy little house across the street from their daughter Laura and her family. They resided there for 14 years surrounded by family and making new friends. In 2004 they made their final move, this time to Yucaipa, California. After nearly 70 years of marriage Eva laid her dear husband Carl to rest in the arms of Jesus on January 03, 2009. Eva lived another 6 years with her closest companion, Precious, her Siamese cat and passed away peacefully following a short illness on Sunday, October 11, 2015. Her sojourn on this earth is now ended as she awaits the call of her Saviour where she will journey together with Carl to new heaven and a new earth.
The following poem was written by Eva and read to Carl on their 60th wedding anniversary in 1999.
Our 60th Anniversary
I’ve loved you now, Dear, 60 years plus.
It’s been wonderful being “Us”.
We’ve had our ups and downs, ‘tis true,
But still I think the world of you.
Just seventeen when first we met --
Not too long ago to forget!
You’ve told me in your heart you said,
“That girl someday I hope to wed.”
A sling was on my arm that day
But that didn’t scare you away.
That handshake party we went to
Was a welcome to me and you.
Your Russian roommate intrigued me,
I loved to hear him talk, you see.
How could we know a few years later
He’d lead your sister to the alter?
There was another suitor, you knew.
I guess it really bothered you.
He was older and very wise,
Much nicer than most of the guys.
He brought me flowers and chocolates, too.
I never got any from you!
You said my love you would not buy
Then You ate His chocolates – What a GUY!
Remember the ice skate outing
And how you were really pouting?
You said you’d ne’er date me again!
I hardly knew where to begin.
Good old Frank did understand and say,
“This weekend I must be away.
I truly hate to break our date,
Because I dearly love to skate.”
Of course you were glad you won that bout,
I could almost hear your shout.
Then to add insult to injury
You borrowed his skates for the day!
When we became engaged, you know,
Before too long I had to go
Back to China with my dear folks.
To us that really was no joke.
Did we keep the mailman busy!
Sometimes we must have made him dizzy.
That was the longest year we knew,
‘Till I could sail back here to you.
That was a time of testing, too,
Hard on me, more hard on you.
But when we met again we knew
Our love was really tried and true.
We both studied hard that school year
And it seemed each date we grew more dear.
So as the month of June drew near
Our wedding plans got into gear.
We had a lovely lawn wedding
In spite of the rain that morning.
Under the arbor we pledged our love
While God did smile down from above.
Marion Shaw and Stanley Farley
Were the head ones of our party.
Erna Myers and Jerry Greene
Were there to grace the happy scene.
Sister Greta and brother Zeek
Gladly gave the help we did seek.
Cute little pig-tailed Bethel Miles
Strewed the flowers down the aisle.
AUC’s dear President Jones
Officiated in solemn tones.
It was our privilage to be
The first couple in his ministry.
Our honeymoon at Rangeley Lakes
Was the frosting on our cake.
At last we were alone together
And sure our love would last forever.
And when the honeymoon was o’er
We built our nest up on third floor.
What fun to be Mr. and Mrs.
With no one to spy on our kisses!
But it wasn’t all just wedded bliss,
I’m sure you can remember this.
We both took full-time college work
And our bindery jobs we couldn’t shirk.
You had classes two nights a week,
It seemed we played at Hide and Seek.
My classes were on other nights.
That way we had no time for fights.
Friday night our Bible studies,
Sabbath night your ushering duties.
That left only Sunday nights free,
What a hassle for you and me!
We’d study ‘til the wee small hours,
Have our worship and our showers.
Next morning’s class began at seven --
Too early to leave our “Heaven”!
Somehow we made it through that school year.
But as graduation time drew near
Mumps made you look like a bull frog,
And you lay in bed like a log.
Your fever was high—how sick you were!
How I did wish I could do more.
Your final exams it did mess up,
And your class night you had to give up.
But you did get to graduate
Even though you took your exams late.
Then before long to China we went.
And that was the greatest event.
It was your very first trip, you know,
But I was already an old pro.
I loved the moon shining on the sea
As far away as we could see.
But when we got sick it was no fun
When to the rail we had to run.
When we rested in our deck chairs
I taught you to speak Chinese there.
We had a most wonderful trip—
Almost a month on that great ship!
Wonderful meals and room service, too.
My second honeymoon with you!
When we at last did reach Shanghai
Dear Mom and Dad were standing by.
I was glad to see my brothers
And also there were lots of others.
That’s the way we used to do—
Meet everybody who came through.
How good it felt to be “Home” again!
But of course to you it had not been.
They said we would live at the San.
That’s where our Chinese school ran.
With such a good setting we began
To lay plans to increase our clan.
But after a few weeks it was clear
Trouble was coming very near.
That’s when the Sino-Jap war began
And we all had to change our plans.
They sent us and our teachers, too,
Down to Burma to start anew.
Six young couples in three duplex homes
Which soon were ringing with Chinese tones.
What fun we had on Kalaw’s Hill
In that duplex they named “Didyville”!
‘Twas there our fam’ly was begun
When Dave arrived as number one!
How we loved that tiny tot!
And we still love him quite a lot.
The Tom Geratys lived next door.
Little Larry did “Baby” adore.
We studied many hours a day
But still had time for fun and play.
That’s when poor Tom did break his leg
When not to play he had begged.
The day the Japs bombed Pearl Harbor
They also bombed Rangoon, Burma.
How our world did change over night!
It gave us all an awful fright.
That was the start of World War II.
What were poor missionaries to do?
The U.S. Consulate said to go,
But how we’d go they did not know.
They only said and did repeat,
“Don’t let grass grow under your feet!”
So we did pack up right away.
We will never forget those days.
How I worried about my mother
And also two of my dear brothers.
They were all in the Philippines—
David was ten and Ralph fourteen.
Later we truly were concerned,
When we learned they had been interned.
For three years plus no news we had.
Oh how hard it was on my poor Dad!
At war’s end they were rescued by
McArthur’s Troopers from the sky.
Back to America they went.
When Dad joined them, they were content.
Of course he worried about us, too,
But he told us what we should do.
Travel up the dread Burma Road.
He’d come from Chungking to help us load.
He came down in his Pontiac Sedan
To lead the fifteen-truck caravan.
Each family half a truck could fill.
There were supplies for China, still.
They decided Ruth, Hazel, and I
With our babies to Chungking should fly.
Tom with his broken leg should fly, too.
That was the wisest thing to do.
We took the train to Loshio.
‘Twas the best way for us to go
To catch the airplane to Chungking.
Not very much could each one bring.
We slept in a hotel in Lashio,
Before we got on the plane to go
High in the air to old Chungking.
Oh, how it did make my ears ring!
No filling stations on the road
So one truck had gas for its load.
We hoped bombers wouldn’t hit it.
Then everybody would have “had it”!
You slept beneath the trucks at night.
That’s when that flea gave you a bite.
You fell sick with a raging fever.
It seemed that you might not recover.
Thank God for Dad’s Pontiac sedan,
And Ethyl Chennaloy who began
Right soon her nursing skills to employ.
God bless you, Ethyl Chennaloy!
Dad did forsake the caravan
While to Chungking his Pontiac ran.
Far away, up in Chungking
I didn’t know a single thing.
When Dad left the caravan behind
Only you were on his mind.
How you did suffer in that back seat!
I’m sure you wouldn’t want a repeat.
I don’t know how many weeks it took,
But when you came how thin you did look!
David and I were happy, too,
That we could be again with you.
The others took two months to arrive,
And Art Mazat was barely alive.
He got typhus fever so bad
The doctor gave him up for dead.
Polly Barnett and Helen Lee
Nursed him and sent their God a plea.
His fever broke and he got well.
The doctor was shocked to hear tell!
We had a Division meeting there,
Trying to decide who should go where.
We were assigned Changsha in Hunan,
But first we would stay in Heng Yang.
Actually our station was Kiangsi,
But the Japs occupied it, you see.
Dad was Division President
And cared very much where each one went.
At the meeting’s end we had to go.
How I’d stand it I did not know.
I’d travel in the cab with Dad,
You atop the Signs and all we had.
The hills were steep and the road was bad.
It took all the courage I had
To care for my baby as we rode
And think of you on top the load.
As we thundered down those steep grades
I couldn’t help feeling afraid.
I asked, “If we meet one can we stop?”
“We’d better NOT!” muttered my grim Pop.
I clutched Baby David with one arm,
Used the other to keep me from harm.
I don’t recall that we had seat belts,
But I remember some painful welts.
I worried about you up there on top
And hoped you wouldn’t lose hold and drop.
It’s a good thing we were young then--
I’d surely hate to do it again.
Oh those filthy, noisy Chinese inns!
When one stops there his trouble begins.
You don’t get much sleep, that’s for sure,
And all kinds of creatures you endure.
How glad we were at our journey’s end,
To meet some wonderful new friends!
Rose and Jerry and baby Ruth,
Who had little hair and not one tooth!
Ruthie loved David right away
And it was fun to watch them play.
But we soon learned what a life they had
And how the bombings were so bad.
It didn’t sound like any fun
To know every day we’d have to run.
Dad was worried to leave us there,
But he had “Signs” to take elsewhere.
When that loud air raid siren blew
We all knew what we had to do.
Rush to the river, hire a junk,
And hear the bombs landing kerplunk.
One time Dave was having his bath.
To tell it now would make you laugh.
Wrap him in a towel, grab his clothes,
How we managed the Lord knows.
Other times while cooking dinner
That siren made us a bit thinner.
When we came back hours late
We had to build coal fires and wait.
The Jap planes came most every day
To blast the dummy planes away.
The smart Chinese laughed up their sleeves
But that did not our plight relieve.
The air concussion was so bad
It shattered every window we had.
Nothing could the tension relieve
So we all decided we’d best leave.
So to the mountains we did go
To escape the heat below.
Lived in a Buddhist temple there
With no window panes and mud floor bare.
Then the hard rains came and one day
Half our mountain did slide away!
A few feet from the temple there,
Remember how God heard our prayer?
The Buddhist priest threw dice on the floor
And said, “The gods say ‘twill slide no more.”
In shame we to our knees did fall
To thank our God for saving us all.
That heathen priest taught us a lesson
When we watched in desperation.
Why was our faith so very weak
When we had a Saviour to seek?
‘Twas said a dragon slept beneath us
And awoke to make all that fuss.
But now he’d sleep a hundred years
So we need have no more fears.
At summer’s end we moved to Changsha
And liked the little island we saw.
The muddy river ran right by.
We had to drink that stuff, oh my!
But we used alum to settle it
And boiled it long to make it fit.
Once a dead pig we saw float by.
“And we must drink that!” I did sigh.
Kiangsi was in the occupied zone.
You had to travel there alone.
Your family on the island did stay
While you went so far away.
It took a week just to get there
And a month or more for a letter.
The roads were torn up for the war
So no cars or buses could get o’er.
That meant you mostly traveled by foot
And your baggage you had to put
On a man-powered wheelbarrow
Which often you pushed yourself, I know.
Sometimes for three months you’d be gone.
I don’t know how I carried on.
I had to tend to so many things
That living in a foreign land brings.
Poor little David screamed in fear
Whenever his Daddy came near.
You’d be away so very long
He felt that you did not belong.
I never knew if the Japs had you
When your letters did not come through.
How nice to have the Christensens there.
Rose and I met each day for prayer.
Jerry would travel when you were home—
You never left both wives alone.
How would we know what to do
If we had to leave without you!
The day our darling Ruthie was born,
When you left for home I felt forlorn.
I heard the planes fly overhead,
And listened for the bombs with dread.
The next day when you came to call,
Your wild tale did me appall.
A bomb landed so close to you,
You threw yourself down with no ado.
The shrapnel hit a man next to you,
Who screamed and ran while his blood flew.
The prayers from my hospital room
Helped save you from a similar doom.
Dear sweet Rose used to say to me,
“I love the dark cloudy days you see,
‘Cause then the bombers stay away
And we are free to work or play.”
Ruth was 8 months, Dave just turned 3,
When from Changsha we had to flee.
Providentially you were home then.
We never went back there again.
One day Leo came to our door.
He’d been there several times before,
But this time his news wasn’t good.
(The Navy got news before we could.)
With ashen face and shaking hands,
He said, “We’ve received our commands.
Remember you’ve never seen me
And don’t know my identity.”
“Get out of here without delay.
Don’t dare to wait another day!
The Japs are coming very fast
And this doomed city will not last!”
We packed all night by candle light.
Each roaring plane filled us with fright.
We had to leave so much behind,
To save our lives how could we mind?
Love letters all over the floor,
Little David had fun galore!
He flung them right and left with glee,
He couldn’t know how it pained me.
Little Ruthie slept through it all.
She was our precious Baby Doll.
Do you remember how cute she was
With her Kewpie curl atop her fuzz?
Dishes, pictures, carpets, curtains,
We’d ne’er see them again for certain.
When morning came we went down the stairs
And our aching hearts were full of prayers.
Jerry spent many anxious hours
Trying to hire the school’s boat and ours
Everybody was trying to flee
And no spare boats there seemed to be.
You went to help him when you knew
And finally you did get two,
But we needed one for our boxes and trunks,
When along came a smaller junk.
You said you’d buy his load of wood,
Just dump it on the shore he could.
But you had a time convincing him.
He thought the idea was dim.
A bigger price then did the trick
And they brought the boats to our gate quick.
Chinese friends buried those boxes and trunks
In the ground for at least three months.
The students and staff had a long boat.
We heard their songs as they did float.
They kept the small junk with them.
We knew it would be safe then.
We rescued the US Navy, too,
It might seem strange but it was true!
Their boat had one oar and a leak
So they came our help to seek.
We made but ten miles that first day.
That wasn’t far enough away.
So all night long Jerry and you,
Poled and pulled to get us through.
The Navy boys with gracious ease
Held Baby diapers to the breeze.
Their guns gave us protection, too.
We needed them the dear Lord knew.
We had no restroom on the boat
So sometimes our kidneys seemed to float.
Then Rose and I would go ashore,
And knock upon some stranger’s door.
Alas! The awful strain for me
Before long proved too much to be.
I woke one morning very sick,
Needed to see a doctor quick.
The Navy boys said, “Not far away
We have a base and we hope you may
Find a doctor and medicine, too.
This is where we’ll be leaving you.”
When we reached the place they sent a bed.
“Sorry, we have no stretchers,” they said.
So I hung on down that steep bank
And wondered whom I ought to thank.
Alas! They were packed ready to flee
And had no medicine for me.
The doctor had already gone
But there was a nurse who carried on.
They injected me with Vitamin K
And bade us hasten on our way.
You carried me up that steep hill,
I can feel your heart pounding still.
With little sleep and not much to eat
It truly was a tremendous feat.
What a relief to reach our boat
And rest again while we did float.
When we reached Heiang Tan that day
We had to send our boat away.
From there we had to go by train
In hot sunshine or in the rain.
Christensens had brought a cot,
That surely did help us a lot.
How you boys got it on the train
Only the angels can explain.
Eight feet up and over the edge,
Through that mob you had to wedge!
They said it was the very last train.
Of course that added to the strain.
We were hungry and thirsty, too,
But there was nothing we could do.
I had to nurse Baby Ruthie still
Even though I was so ill.
When planes came near the engine would run
And leave its cars in the hot sun.
We were covered with soot and grime
And laughed when the rain came every time.
Then we got news of another train
And hoped we wouldn’t try in vain.
When the conductor heard of our plight
He gave up his quarters for the night.
You had to carry Ruthie and Dave
So Jerry his strength didn’t save.
And when he laid me on the bed,
“You’re a lucky girl!” he said.
Never a word about their lot –
At least now they could have their cot
And keep our baggage with their own
As we left them there all alone.
Remember how I made you cry
When in my pain I said, “Good Bye”?
Surely God heard your anguished prayer.
Yes, we were always in His care.
We stopped so long outside the city
I almost gave up in self pity.
But after three hours we moved on
And soon we were in Heng Yang.
The station master was so kind.
A friend’s car he did quickly find.
Only three in that whole city –
How the dear Lord did take pity!
Our Presbyterian friends so kind
Prayed, then went the medicine to find.
The very first box they opened up
The medicine was right on top!
And so my life was spared that day,
And the next day we were on our way
By US Army plane to Kunming.
How our hearts with praises did sing.
Rose went along to care for me
And of course she brought her Ruthie.
Jerry felt duty bound to stay.
How sad to leave him so far away!
The bucket seats were no luxury
So my stretcher felt good to me!
I forget how long that trip took
But oh how good Kunming did look!
When we knocked at the Barnett’s door
They’d had no warning at all before.
They took us in without a fuss –
Rose, her Ruthie, and the four of us!
Dearer friends would be hard to find,
They were so very caring and kind.
To our kids they have always been
Uncle Doyle and Auntie Paulene.
At least three months we did spend there.
Most women would have torn their hair,
But Polly loves to entertain
And we never heard her complain.
When we worked together in Taiwan
Our warm friendship continued on.
She gave perms to all of us--wow!
Even Dave, and his lasted ‘til now.
We spent a few months in Kweiyang
But felt like we did not belong.
We lived in the gate house while there,
and Dave had chronic dysentery to bear.
Our trunks from Hunan finally came,
But they surely didn’t look the same.
Our bed sheets were rotted through
And our books did not look new.
The coke fire I had to use there,
Made asthma drive me to despair.
Then one night, in his truck, Dad showed up
And said our time in Kweiyang was up.
“You must be packed by morning,” he said.
And again came that feeling of dread.
“But first make me some potato soup—
I’m tired and hungry and really pooped.”
So in a state of shock I went
To build my coke fire with good intent.
My hands were shaking and I felt numb.
I couldn’t think since Dad had come.
“I’m scared my dad but I will go
But how can I pack in one night so?”
Then he enjoyed his soup so much
Somehow my heart it seemed to touch.
I had the strength to pack all night
And didn’t feel that awful fright.
“Grandpa” Davis was with us then,
And he the packing did begin.
In the morning we left for Chungking
And most of our stuff we could bring.
You on the top with many Chinese
Had trouble trying not to freeze.
I in the cab tried to keep warm
While two kids squashed the one unborn.
Soon after Dad took us to Chengtu
Where we started all over new.
A glass-topped wall did us enclose.
‘Twas the only way to save our clothes.
‘Twas built to keep the thieves outside.
“It looks like a prison,” I cried.
Oh what lonely weeks and months I spent
While a-travelling you went.
Only my kids to speak English to.
Sometimes I really did feel blue.
When the kids got sick, I had it all.
Day and night always at their call.
Only a rickshaw to go out.
“Foreign Devils” the Chinese would shout.
No running water—just a well.
No electricity as well.
No fridge, no washing machine to use.
No radio to hear the news.
No grocery stores, just markets crude,
No flush toilets—just something more crude.
A folding organ and gramaphone
Did help when I was left alone.
One thing brightened up our stay.
‘Twas there we welcomed Laura Fae.
One boy, two girls and that made three,
And we were happy as could be.
On Sabbath the GIs would call,
But I hadn’t much to feed them all.
And they couldn’t help me build my fire,
Even though that was their desire.
They liked to play the organ and sing,
And loved our kids more than anything.
We’d have English church for them, you know,
And all too soon they’d have to go.
The war ended and our furlough due,
We didn’t mind leaving Chengtu.
Our children were six, four, and two.
To them our world would be all new.
They met grandparents in Shanghai.
What a reunion with Mom—oh my!
Seven years we had been away.
There was no end of things to say.
Brother David was there, too,
Now not the little fellow we knew.
Your parents met us in the West
And drove us back to their home nest.
I married a “Mainiac”, you know,--
So where else could we expect to go?
Their Grandma and Grandpa Currie
Loved our kiddies in a hurry.
Brothers and sisters we did visit,
Enjoyed their new kids along with it.
How they did add up in seven years!
We loved all the cute little dears.
Then to Washington, DC we went
Where your study time you spent.
You earned half of your M.A. then
And seven years later came again.
That time you received your degree
And I was proud as I could be.
I watched you march down that long aisle
And you could see my happy smile.
When our furlough was through
We couldn’t return to Chengtu,
So we pioneered on Taiwan.
For many years we carried on.
We lived in a Japanese duplex
Where David his sisters did vex.
Poking holes in their paper wall’
Which they screamed wasn’t nice at all.
Then later to Singapore we went.
You were the Union President.
Twelve countries on your broad field there,
So your times at home were really rare.
Three teenagers were too much for me---
They needed their Dad, as all could see.
I tried my best, I really did,
But I couldn’t manage those kids.
When we sent Dave to Vincent Hill
He traversed India at will,
Had the mission send Dad the bill.
He surely was a clever pill.
Then he went to the U.S.A.
And found that mischief did not pay.
At nineteen he married pretty Lyn
And soon their family did begin.
First Ruth, then Laura left home, too,
Their education to pursue.
Later beaus their lives did fill,
And then we learned your Mom was ill.
We wanted those beaus to meet
And get your mother back on her feet,
So we decided to go P.R.
And sailed back to our home afar.
Two years in Connecticut you preached ,
Both Danbury and Bridgeport you reached.
You made it work with lots of prayer
And built a beautiful new church there.
The very first bride was Laura Fae.
The next year Ruth Anne had her day.
How proud you were each wedding day
When you gave your daughters away.
And I was very proud of you
To see the good job you did do.
We loved both Victor and Steve
Right from the start, don’t you believe?
Then to Bermuda we were sent
Where you were mission president.
Soon Victor and Ruth to Africa went,
After a month with us they spent.
I never balked at going
To whatever place we were called.
But when it came to Africa
I was, to say the least, appalled.
We’d just celebrated your birthday
When that surprise call came our way.
You knew I wouldn’t want to go
So you broke the news rather slow.
“Let us think and pray for two days,
Then we’ll decide what we should say.”
And when we called to give our word,
Back came the answer – “Praise the Lord!”
From Bermuda’s tiny island
We went to Africa’s vast land.
Zambezi Union President –
What a lot of work that meant!
Your field was Rhodesia, Zambia,
Caprivi Strip and Botswana.
How you disliked having to yield
Zambia to be its own field!
You had plenty to keep you away--
More than half the time I’d say.
To your office I’d peddle my bike.
Helping you was what I did like.
Sometimes my good friends questioned me,
“Are you used to having to be
Alone so much?” To which I’d say,
“Not used to, just resigned to, some way.”
Your high status you did enjoy
Even though it did me annoy.
When the painter said, ”Yes, my Lord,”
While Madame he rudely ignored!
The roads were mined and danger lurked
While bravely for the Lord you worked.
I found it hard, oh dare I say,
While Rhodesia changed to Zimbabwe.
But when Ruth, Victor, and kids moved down
From Zambia to our same town
Of Bulawyo, to teach there,
It seemed an answer to my prayer.
That awful night the Lales were killed
How my heart with fear was filled.
They said it wasn’t safe to phone
So I worried at home alone.
Remember our folding caravan
And how when your efforts you ran
I went along to cook for you
And keep the place all tidy, too?
I’d find your slides for you each day
And then again put them away.
I did love being there with you,
Even though our comforts were few.
Grandson Carl, from the age of seven,
Would preach to teenagers even.
How we loved having him along!
He just seemed to really belong.
Our caravan came in handy, too,
When the game we wanted to view.
When we would have a holiday,
Ruth, Vic, and kids would come our way.
When we got our new caravan
The old one fit into their plan.
We had fun camping together,
Even in that too hot weather.
One year Laura, Steve, and three kids
Came to join us in all that we did.
What fun the twelve of us did share
As we viewed the animals there.
Lions, giraffes, and hippos, too,
Better than you’d see in a zoo.
Baboons, monkeys, ostriches, bucks—
We’d see leopards too, if we had luck.
Fourteen and a half years we spent
Working on that great continent.
Then we were ready to retire,
But EAAC did us require.
So to Hong Kong we did go
For another five years or so.
Lived up on ninth storey there,
And breathed industrial sites’ air.
It was nice to see Chinese again,
But your were gone from seven A.M.
Till in the evenings eight, nine, or ten.
Supper was always very late then.
You enjoyed your trips into China, too
Your friends were always glad to see you.
They love you as you love them.
You’re always glad to go back again.
As the years came and went
Each new grandchild was an event.
First Temple when we were 40 plus.
How our friends did poke fun at us!
Then it was Rocky we never saw.
“Too sweet for this world,” said Great Grandma.
We were in Taiwan then you know,
That midnight call made our hearts ache so.
Sweet Cameo helped fill the void,
Dear Karmen, too, but Dave was annoyed.
He wanted a boy to play baseball
And said girls wouldn’t do at all.
Then from Africa came news of Carl,
That surely didn’t make you snarl!
The buttons almost burst from your shirt
To hear the name of that little squirt!
Stevie was next and then Vivienne,
Then came Korelle, Danny, Keith, and Ben.
At last Dave got his little son Matt
And couldn’t wait to teach him to bat.
That made an even dozen of them.
At birthdays and Christmas time – ahem!
Each time it was exciting news.
We couldn’t wait their pictures to view.
Now the next generation comes,
Can you hear the beating of the drums?
First Temple gave us Erin Lyn,
Then came Danielle, by Vivienne.
Karmen didn’t stop with cute Zoe,
But added twins to her great joy!
Then Vivienne said, “One kid won’t do!”
And along came Lila – Number 2!
Janice decided to join the race,
And before long, Rachel, then Sarah took their place.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight!
We pray they’ll all join us at Heaven’s gate!
Korelle would not be left behind
Soon Ryelle, then Gavin joined the line.
In 1990 at the G.C.
You told them you would retired be.
They gave us a nice party there
And a plaque to show that they did care.
So here we are in Tennessee
And our new home we love to see.
You have your garden where you can work,
But you never your church work shirk.
Although now “retired” you’re working still
For the little church of Summerville.
I worry when you drive late at night
But surely God keeps you in His sight.
He’s blessed your humble efforts there,
And answered many an earnest prayer.
It’s kept you from your family.
At times it’s hard for us to agree.
Now I’m half deaf, and even more blind,
And your heart’s not treating you kind.
I’m stooped with osteoporosis.
Who’ll go first is anyone’s guess.
Still I’ll love you and you’ll love me
As long as we together be.
It will be hard to be bereft,
May God sustain the one who’s left.
Let’s hope our dear Lord will come soon
To take us way beyond the moon
Where we forever young will be
Blest throughout all eternity.
Epilogue
(Written by Eva shortly after Carl passed away in 2009)
And now you’re gone and I’m alone
My sad heart feels like a big stone
I can’t wait to hear that trumpet sound
And see you leap up from the ground
What a glorious day that will be
The beginning of eternity!
Until then I shall strive to be
All my dear Lord desires of me
I’ll feel those arms around me once more
And hear ‘I love you” o’er and o’er
Oh how wonderful it will be
To have you back again with me
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