MY STORY – IRENE LOUISE (NEE KUCKKAN) MUELLER
Written By Irene L. Mueller

Mom’s Autobiography – Chapter 5 – In Book, Page 11

March 28, 1957 through April 9, 1957

Thursday, March 28 – Tuesday, April 2, 1957

Have some catching up to do. Before we went to sleep the Greves told us that their daughter, Shelley, had seen a snake in her bedroom the night before. All the houses are one story, so the snake came in through a door. (There really was a snake. They weren’t just trying to scare us “green” Americans just in from the States). Anyway, Ed did get the snake out of the house. We did sleep late the next morning. Helen and the “houseboy” had all our washing done when we got up. Dick went with Ed to his office and listened to the people with their problems. In the evening the Heins, Greves, Kuntzes, Stringers, Voltzes, and us surprised Missionary Schweppe at his home. It was his 50th birthday. Stayed until late.

Saturday, March 30, 1957

Debbie and Dickie are having a good time with the Greve children, Linda and Shelley. They don’t seem to want to wear clothes anymore. Ironed today. The Greves’ “houseboys” are Christopher, the cook, and Efyung. It is hard to believe that you can go away and dinner will be on the table when you come back. Debbie’s scabs from the chickenpox started coming off from the hot humid weather, so I washed her hair, and they all came off. What a relief to see that happen, and the smell of them gone. God is with us.

Sunday, March 31, 1957

Went to a “native” service. Took a picture. The missionaries had a welcome party for us – very nice. It really made us feel welcome. Had cake and coffee.

Monday, April 1, 1957

Got up at 6:30 a.m. to wash. Dick and Ed went to Port Harcourt. Found out that the water carrier was not around and the pail had fallen into the well. They went to get a new pail, but then it poured, so we could not wash anyway. Waited for Dick and Ed to come back because we were invited to Heins for pizza pie. Finally came around 7:00. Said they saw a dead “native” in the road, but didn’t stop – for their own safety. They took a pregnant woman to her mother’s house which delayed them. Saw a head-on collision. We had our pizza pie finally which was delicious. But we were pretty tired, so went home around 10:30,

Tuesday, April 2, 1957

We washed today. It was a nice day and it dried quickly. Dick went to a Board of Directors meeting. Slept in the afternoon. In the evening went to Voltzes for supper. Saw lizards and flying ants. They have a big house. She is expecting a baby.

Wednesday – April 3, 1957

Today was a big day. We made a trip to Eket where the Lutheran Hospital is. Helen kept Debbie and Dickie for us. First we stopped at Missionary Ernst’s house. His wife does not like it here. They will not be back next tour. Then we went to Eket. Nurse Ethel Gazewski greeted us. She showed us through the clinic first. All the people were waiting to be treated. She showed us the laboratory, storage room, offices, women’s and men’s wards, maternity ward, laundry, “European” room, new nurses’ buildings. Ate dinner at Doctor and Mrs. Lofgren’s. Then went with doctor and nurses (Vivian Brandt and Beatrice Boyd) on his rounds. Wanted to leave me behind. Guess they thought I couldn’t take it. Pathetic cases – Caesarean, burned little girl had fallen into a fire, Venereal disease, TB, abscess. Saw the “stranger” house where relatives of patients live and cook for them. Thought our eyes would never see such things. Then nurse, Vivian, Pastor Ernst, and Ethel took us to the beach to see the ocean – didn’t go swimming. Went to Ernsts for supper. Home about 9:20. Had coffee and went to sleep.

Before I go on, from memory I would like to tell you about an experience I had a day or two after we got to Obot Idim (the name of the Mission). One night an African man came to the Greves’ door. He showed Helen Greve (a nurse) and me the back of his neck. There was a hole there, and inside the hole was a worm going round and round inside the hole. It was my first introduction to the “Putsi fly”. The fly lays its eggs (on clothing) which pierce the skin to deposit some larvae. It starts out on the skin looking like a “boil”). A few days later, the larvae can be squeezed out. If anyone wants anymore information on the “Putsi fly, please look on the Internet. Little did we know that after our beautiful daughter, Stephanie, who was born in 1963 in Nyasaland (now Malawi), Africa, and only one month old, that she would have those horrible things on her chest and back. I remember there were a lot of them. We took her to the doctor, but the doctor did nothing (he was a European – did well in Africa – drove a Rolls Royce) The larvae matured in about six days and I squeezed them all out. After that I washed her little body and it healed. Again, God showed His great love for us and protected us.

Thursday, April 4, 1957

Today Dick went with Pastor Voltz for communion examination. Got into a “ju-ju” (witchdoctor’s paraphernalia) hut. In the evening we went to an African teacher’s house, Mr. Obut. We had “curry chop” (chicken, rice, eggs, gravy, plantain, paw-paw, pineapple, pepper, groundnuts (peanuts). All these condiments are eaten over rice. It was very good, but we ate too much.

Friday, April 5, 1957

Today we went to the out-station where Winters are. Very beautiful. People were surprised that we could find the way by ourselves. About 30 miles. Had lemonade and cakes. At about 4:30 left for the Normal School where Dahlman, Spangenburg, and Holzhauer are. Got there a little too late for pictures, and they were a little disappointed we didn’t get there for swimming. We were too. But we hade a very good time. Everyone treats us royally. We had chop suey. Left about 10:00. Found our way back all right. Talked with Greves until midnight. Everything is so interesting.

Saturday, April 6

Went to a “native” market today and bought Dickie some shoes. Helen went with me. It was a wonderful experience. It was a pretty smelly place, but interesting. Took lots of pictures. Everywhere the “natives” ran after us trying to sell us something. Bought some cloth to make shorts for Debbie and Dickie. It got very hot so we left. Went to Kuntzes for “palm oil chop” for dinner. Like curry chop except for the gravy. In the evening Helen had a wiener roast for Heins, Schweppe, and us. Got rained out. Stayed until late.

Sunday, April 7

We went to a “native” church today and took communion with the Africans. It was a queer (in 1957 that word didn’t mean what it does now in 2007) feeling, but a wonderful feeling. God made us all. Schweppe was there. Dickie cut up just terribly. Had to take him out. It’s the heat. Jonathan Ekong, “native” pastor and wife came for curry chop. Were so terribly embarrassed because our kids were just awful. Cried and screamed and were not themselves. Have left them alone too much – no family life. In that way we’ll be glad to get to Rhodesia. In the evening went to English church. Didn’t take Debbie and Dickie. Efyung and nightwatch kept their eyes on them. Then went to Kuntzes to welcome the Fagans who will be missionaries here. She smoked as Schweppe introduced them. It didn’t seem right. Left about 10:00. Stayed up until 12:00 talking. There are people (missionaries) here who will not go to communion with “natives” or have “houseboys”. We can’t see it.

Monday, April 8

Had tea at Voltzes to welcome Fagans. Dick sat with Schweppe in office. Bowmans for supper.

Tuesday, April 9

Schweppe had a wonderful “pizza pie” supper for us. Had much fun!

(Dad asked why there wasn’t much to write for April 8th and 9th. If I remember right, the missionaries, their wives, children, our children, and the African families kept us very busy; in fact, everything was so interesting that I was even in a hurry to go to the bathroom in case I’d miss something. It’s true! They laughed about that. Also, we have been busy packing because tomorrow is the day we leave the Mission here. We will miss everyone.)