August 7
We went on board the Bali. It is a Dutch ship from Amsterdam and
the officr and crew are Dutch. Our cabin boy and waiters are
Japanese and understand very little English. We have very good
accommodations for a cargo boat. It is a new ship on its first trip.
Our cabin is lovely with two beds, two chairs, a desk, a wash basin
with drinking fountain two closets, two cabinets. It is almost like a
regular bedroom about 8’ by 16’. We have plenty of room.
August 8
The dining room service is wonderful, too. The food is delicious. Our
evening meal usually consists of about six courses with at least eight
pieces of silver spread out by the plate.
We had a boat drill this morning, had to put on our life jackets and line
up on deck. The ocean is a beautifully blue and is very calm.
August 9
The water is so smooth it looks like a ribbon today. This boat carries
about 36 passengers. On board there are ten protestant
missionaries, six Catholic priests, ten children, and several from the
various places. Everyone is very friendly and the trip is pleasant.
The priests take off their robes, and you’d never know they were
priests – drinking and smoking just like the non-Christians. I’m sure
they show no evidence of a new life. They arise every morning a
five for mass.
August 10
Dan is real seasick and Zalene and Trula are not feeling quite up to
par. The sea is rough and windy and the boat rocks like a cradle.
We were wishing to have the thrill of one storm on the ocean but the
first little wind changed our minds.
August 11
Still windy and rough. Dan is still sick and Trula does not fee like
writing much. We haven’t missed any meals but Dan has lost a lot of
his yesterday and today.
August 12-14
Sea is calm and all is well. We are enjoying games and other
activities now.
August 15 (Sunday)
Had a worship service at eleven and Bible Study at five. Everyday
just after ten o’clock coffee, we protestant missionaries meet for a
Bible Study class. We are studying the Book of Acts, the handbook
on missions. We are giving special attention to the Holy Spirit’s work
in the spread of the Gospel. The lord is giving many blessings.
August 16
Zalene and Trula watched for hours from the bow of the ship trying
to see land. About five o’clock we came to Cape St. Vincent,
Portugal The sight of land was mighty exciting after nine days of
nothing but water.
August 17
Came through the Straits of Gibraltar this morning, so we have now
crossed the Atlantic and are sailing in the Mediterranean. We sat on
deck and recalled all the historic events we could remember which
had taken place on the Mediterranean. It is a blessing to think that the
Apostle Paul sailed this very sea. The water is beautiful and we
have full moon now. We all sit on deck and admire the splendor of
the evenings.
August 18
Saw Algiers in North Africa today. If I were thinking of a place to
retire, I would certainly consider Algiers. It is a beautiful city quaintly
modern, and set on the side of a towering mountain overlooking the
beautiful Mediterranean Sea. You could sit on the front porch of
these lovely homes and watch ships fro every part of the world go
by.
August 19
Passed Tunis, Africa today and Malta. They say that Malta is the
same Melita on which Apostle Paul was shipwrecked.
August 21
We will dock in Alexandria, Egypt in the morning. Will be there at least
two days. The time has already advanced over 6 hours ahead.
Dan, Trula & Zalene
Don’t forget to Pray!
August 25
We have just sailed through the Suez. On one side we could see the
land of Goshen where the Children of Israel lived in Egypt. The
Arabian shore to the left is nothing but mountains and desolation. On
the Egyptian side could be seen outlined against the desert and sky,
camels contentedly munching, Arab women in veils, and,
occasionally, an oasis to relive the glare of the sun. As we sat on
deck and watched, it was easy to visualize the Old Testament stories
with similar settings. It seemed that I might look out and see Rebecca
coming to meet Isaac on one of those stately camels pacing along
with such calm serenity.
August 26
Here we are on the Red Sea, almost sweltering in the heat. This
morning we passed the Siniatic Range of mountains. But as to which
one of the many peaks Moses actually stood on, I am sure I don’t
know. We passed the place where the Children of Israel crossed
over on dry land. As I look at this great body of water, I am even
more amazed at the miracle. I am still trying to decide why it is called
the Red Sea unless it is from the reflection of the rosy sunsets. A
little boy told me this morning that it couldn’t be the Red Sea because
the water isn’t red. All the way he has looked forward to a red sea
and now he is disappointed.
We went on board the Bali. It is a Dutch ship from Amsterdam and
the officr and crew are Dutch. Our cabin boy and waiters are
Japanese and understand very little English. We have very good
accommodations for a cargo boat. It is a new ship on its first trip.
Our cabin is lovely with two beds, two chairs, a desk, a wash basin
with drinking fountain two closets, two cabinets. It is almost like a
regular bedroom about 8’ by 16’. We have plenty of room.
August 8
The dining room service is wonderful, too. The food is delicious. Our
evening meal usually consists of about six courses with at least eight
pieces of silver spread out by the plate.
We had a boat drill this morning, had to put on our life jackets and line
up on deck. The ocean is a beautifully blue and is very calm.
August 9
The water is so smooth it looks like a ribbon today. This boat carries
about 36 passengers. On board there are ten protestant
missionaries, six Catholic priests, ten children, and several from the
various places. Everyone is very friendly and the trip is pleasant.
The priests take off their robes, and you’d never know they were
priests – drinking and smoking just like the non-Christians. I’m sure
they show no evidence of a new life. They arise every morning a
five for mass.
August 10
Dan is real seasick and Zalene and Trula are not feeling quite up to
par. The sea is rough and windy and the boat rocks like a cradle.
We were wishing to have the thrill of one storm on the ocean but the
first little wind changed our minds.
August 11
Still windy and rough. Dan is still sick and Trula does not fee like
writing much. We haven’t missed any meals but Dan has lost a lot of
his yesterday and today.
August 12-14
Sea is calm and all is well. We are enjoying games and other
activities now.
August 15 (Sunday)
Had a worship service at eleven and Bible Study at five. Everyday
just after ten o’clock coffee, we protestant missionaries meet for a
Bible Study class. We are studying the Book of Acts, the handbook
on missions. We are giving special attention to the Holy Spirit’s work
in the spread of the Gospel. The lord is giving many blessings.
August 16
Zalene and Trula watched for hours from the bow of the ship trying
to see land. About five o’clock we came to Cape St. Vincent,
Portugal The sight of land was mighty exciting after nine days of
nothing but water.
August 17
Came through the Straits of Gibraltar this morning, so we have now
crossed the Atlantic and are sailing in the Mediterranean. We sat on
deck and recalled all the historic events we could remember which
had taken place on the Mediterranean. It is a blessing to think that the
Apostle Paul sailed this very sea. The water is beautiful and we
have full moon now. We all sit on deck and admire the splendor of
the evenings.
August 18
Saw Algiers in North Africa today. If I were thinking of a place to
retire, I would certainly consider Algiers. It is a beautiful city quaintly
modern, and set on the side of a towering mountain overlooking the
beautiful Mediterranean Sea. You could sit on the front porch of
these lovely homes and watch ships fro every part of the world go
by.
August 19
Passed Tunis, Africa today and Malta. They say that Malta is the
same Melita on which Apostle Paul was shipwrecked.
August 21
We will dock in Alexandria, Egypt in the morning. Will be there at least
two days. The time has already advanced over 6 hours ahead.
Dan, Trula & Zalene
Don’t forget to Pray!
August 25
We have just sailed through the Suez. On one side we could see the
land of Goshen where the Children of Israel lived in Egypt. The
Arabian shore to the left is nothing but mountains and desolation. On
the Egyptian side could be seen outlined against the desert and sky,
camels contentedly munching, Arab women in veils, and,
occasionally, an oasis to relive the glare of the sun. As we sat on
deck and watched, it was easy to visualize the Old Testament stories
with similar settings. It seemed that I might look out and see Rebecca
coming to meet Isaac on one of those stately camels pacing along
with such calm serenity.
August 26
Here we are on the Red Sea, almost sweltering in the heat. This
morning we passed the Siniatic Range of mountains. But as to which
one of the many peaks Moses actually stood on, I am sure I don’t
know. We passed the place where the Children of Israel crossed
over on dry land. As I look at this great body of water, I am even
more amazed at the miracle. I am still trying to decide why it is called
the Red Sea unless it is from the reflection of the rosy sunsets. A
little boy told me this morning that it couldn’t be the Red Sea because
the water isn’t red. All the way he has looked forward to a red sea
and now he is disappointed.
August 31
Instead of sunny skies and calm waters, now we are
experiencing stormy weather on the Indian Ocean. The waves
are dashing over the third deck. Dan and I are seasick, but
Zalene is more fortunate. The one thought spinning in my head
is “rocked in the cradle of the deep”. In spite of the
seasickness we went to a banquet in honor of Queen
Wilhelmina’s Fiftieth anniversary of her ascension to the throne
of the Netherlands and her sixtieth birthday. The dinner was
served in eight courses and took almost two hours and a half to
eat.
September 4
Last night we docked in Colombo, Ceylon. We are now
foreigners and definitely looked upon as such. Colombo is the
most fascinating city we have ever seen. I could sit here on
the porch of the Keswick Home for Missionaries all day and o
nothing but watch the various strains of Oriental life going on
around me. I see men pulling rickshaws, coolies with great
burdens on their heads, children without any sign of clothing,
beggars, street vendors, women laden down with rings in their
noses and ears, bells on their feet, and bracelets dangling from
arms and legs, Buddhist priests in their orange robes, ox-carts
creaking along the streets, everybody in topies to protect
himself from the tropical sun. Then I see ’49 Fords and Buicks
cruising down the street, double deck buses as one sees on
Fifth Ave., New York, natives dressed in European clothes and
speaking English. Over there is a group speaking Tamil while
another group speaks Ceylonese and here we sit introducing
our English friends to “good ole” American English. All around
are beautiful gardens arrayed in all the colors of the rainbow.
About two hundred yards away is the beautiful Indian Ocean.
We walk down the street and we see men covered from head
to foot in ashes, incense burning in the various shops, crows
walking around as tame as pigeons, right in the street, shrieking
juke boxes, magicians performing their tricks, and mobs and
mobs of people. We see also beautiful churches and temples,
lovely Oriental homes, and graceful women in their brightly
colored saris. All of this under one cloudless sky.
September 8
Here we are in Kotagiri exactly one month from the day we
sailed from New York. At last we are really launched on our
missionary career looking eagerly into the future for usefulness
and service to the Master and mankind.
We came from Colombo by train. To describe that journey is
beyond the power of my pen. All I can say is that everything
you have ever read or heard about travel inside India is more
than true. We were on the train two nights, during which time
we had one meal which we secured as we changed trains and
a few slices of bread and butter which we brought from
Keswick.
Our first impression of India was one of desolation as we
viewed from the ferry the miles and miles of sand and desert
ahead. Before we had time to become disheartened over the
prospects, the customs officials came on board. Their
kindness and friendliness, after all the tales of horror we had
heard, won our hearts immediately, and we felt such a bond of
love with India and her people that desolation didn’t matter.
As we rode along the whole country side began to look more
prosperous so that by the time we reached the Nilgiris we
were almost enchanted with the beauty of nature in India. In
the plains were rows and rows of graceful cocoanut palms
and miles of farm land cut up into little patches for irrigation,
each patch a different color or shade. As we looked ahead,
we could see the Nilgiris towering against the sky.
The last twenty miles of the journey had to be taken by bus as
no train yet invented could climb these mountains much less
these outdated Indian trains. We climbed and we climbed until
here we are perched on top of a mountain with 6500 feet
altitude. The temperature is very pleasant and all around we
see the glories of nature as they bear witness to the one who
created the world. The most descriptive phrase I have heard is
“where every prospect pleases and only man is vile; In vain
with lavish kindness the gifts of God are strewn, the heathen in
his blindness bows down to wood and stone.”
We are still too enthralled with all the excitement of being here
and learning new things to be able to write about any of it.
Perhaps when we see more and understand more, we can
pass our experiences on to you. We are continually agonizing
over the question of “How can we tell our people back home
about this?” Pictures and words are such poor representatives
of life.
Oh, India, India, my heart aches for thee.
In the Love of our Lord who gave Himself for us,
Dan, Trula and Zalene
Instead of sunny skies and calm waters, now we are
experiencing stormy weather on the Indian Ocean. The waves
are dashing over the third deck. Dan and I are seasick, but
Zalene is more fortunate. The one thought spinning in my head
is “rocked in the cradle of the deep”. In spite of the
seasickness we went to a banquet in honor of Queen
Wilhelmina’s Fiftieth anniversary of her ascension to the throne
of the Netherlands and her sixtieth birthday. The dinner was
served in eight courses and took almost two hours and a half to
eat.
September 4
Last night we docked in Colombo, Ceylon. We are now
foreigners and definitely looked upon as such. Colombo is the
most fascinating city we have ever seen. I could sit here on
the porch of the Keswick Home for Missionaries all day and o
nothing but watch the various strains of Oriental life going on
around me. I see men pulling rickshaws, coolies with great
burdens on their heads, children without any sign of clothing,
beggars, street vendors, women laden down with rings in their
noses and ears, bells on their feet, and bracelets dangling from
arms and legs, Buddhist priests in their orange robes, ox-carts
creaking along the streets, everybody in topies to protect
himself from the tropical sun. Then I see ’49 Fords and Buicks
cruising down the street, double deck buses as one sees on
Fifth Ave., New York, natives dressed in European clothes and
speaking English. Over there is a group speaking Tamil while
another group speaks Ceylonese and here we sit introducing
our English friends to “good ole” American English. All around
are beautiful gardens arrayed in all the colors of the rainbow.
About two hundred yards away is the beautiful Indian Ocean.
We walk down the street and we see men covered from head
to foot in ashes, incense burning in the various shops, crows
walking around as tame as pigeons, right in the street, shrieking
juke boxes, magicians performing their tricks, and mobs and
mobs of people. We see also beautiful churches and temples,
lovely Oriental homes, and graceful women in their brightly
colored saris. All of this under one cloudless sky.
September 8
Here we are in Kotagiri exactly one month from the day we
sailed from New York. At last we are really launched on our
missionary career looking eagerly into the future for usefulness
and service to the Master and mankind.
We came from Colombo by train. To describe that journey is
beyond the power of my pen. All I can say is that everything
you have ever read or heard about travel inside India is more
than true. We were on the train two nights, during which time
we had one meal which we secured as we changed trains and
a few slices of bread and butter which we brought from
Keswick.
Our first impression of India was one of desolation as we
viewed from the ferry the miles and miles of sand and desert
ahead. Before we had time to become disheartened over the
prospects, the customs officials came on board. Their
kindness and friendliness, after all the tales of horror we had
heard, won our hearts immediately, and we felt such a bond of
love with India and her people that desolation didn’t matter.
As we rode along the whole country side began to look more
prosperous so that by the time we reached the Nilgiris we
were almost enchanted with the beauty of nature in India. In
the plains were rows and rows of graceful cocoanut palms
and miles of farm land cut up into little patches for irrigation,
each patch a different color or shade. As we looked ahead,
we could see the Nilgiris towering against the sky.
The last twenty miles of the journey had to be taken by bus as
no train yet invented could climb these mountains much less
these outdated Indian trains. We climbed and we climbed until
here we are perched on top of a mountain with 6500 feet
altitude. The temperature is very pleasant and all around we
see the glories of nature as they bear witness to the one who
created the world. The most descriptive phrase I have heard is
“where every prospect pleases and only man is vile; In vain
with lavish kindness the gifts of God are strewn, the heathen in
his blindness bows down to wood and stone.”
We are still too enthralled with all the excitement of being here
and learning new things to be able to write about any of it.
Perhaps when we see more and understand more, we can
pass our experiences on to you. We are continually agonizing
over the question of “How can we tell our people back home
about this?” Pictures and words are such poor representatives
of life.
Oh, India, India, my heart aches for thee.
In the Love of our Lord who gave Himself for us,
Dan, Trula and Zalene
| This Diary of the trans-Atlantic voyage aboard the S.S. Bali by new missionaries Dan & Trula Cronk and Zalene Lloyd from New York to India was published in the Free Will Baptist Missionary Review, Vol. 2., #4 (Oct.-Nov.-Dec.-1948). Trula Cronk is the writer. |