Folder 24

1963 Jan 03, 3 p. w/env. Letter to Folks I’m getting so desperate but when I stop to analyze the psychological situation of a whole mission of frustrated people I can be more lenient. I can understand that everybody will fight and criticize anyone to relieve their own feelings and it probably isn’t personal enmity. This is an impossible situation and I may be lucky to be sent home Feb. 17;”
1963 Jan 12, 3 p. w/env. Letter to Brother Took a trip to Benghazi but is stationed in Tripoli; “The Mission seems completely demoralized and even if I could stay I see no point in it. I probably would get no support whatever;” describes the poor situation at the Mission; is thankful for her two counterparts who want to work with Mary in her apartment. Letter to Christine Had hands in hard water all day and having problems writing. Had 4-5 girls in for tea. Asked for an apron pattern and knitting needle gauge.
1963 Jan 14, 1 p. w/env. Letter to Folks “I had a wonderful day’s excursion yesterday conducted by the military,” encloses the program; reading “Tully’s Ten Years Residence in the Court of Tripoli;” enclosed an article about Karl Barth Tour to Garian and Jefren from Service Club Military Troup to Garian and Jefren
Newspaper Clipping The Stars and Stripes, Jan 6., “Barth Offers Definition of Faith”
1963 Jan 20, 5 p. w/env. Letter to Rose, C.A., Miriam, Tony from Christine Had enclosed copies of Mary’s letters Copies of Mary’s Letters Discusses teaching how to sew clothing, “I believe I could learn to like to teach clothing if I could concentrate on it. Now don’t laugh. It has many problems. For example so far my girls have refused to take their clothes off for fitting but they also want their clothes to fit like their skin;” Had gone to Benghazi, one of the three capitols, “This country is ripe for home ec. But Govt. officials are so very young, inexperienced, uneducated, untrained, and immature. It seems hopeless to me. It’s like dealing with kindergarten;” “Aysha (my Libyan counterpart) and I received a written invitation [Sussi family wedding] through Madam Menazy the head mistress of the girl’s school in Benghazi where the bride had gone to school. Madam’s husband is the Ambassador to France. She, we suspect is the leader of the quiet but still evident emancipation of Libyan women. I feel that Aysha also her student is a favorite protégé and so fortunately she is favorable to our program;” describes the Libyan wedding which includes the feast, the costumes, decorations, entertainment, and finally the procession, “Finally from the doorway comes an Indian [Native American] hoot as our American kids do with their hands on their lips. Libyan women do it without their hands but you can see their tongues flip up and down a mile a minute in their wide open mouths. It’s announcing the next feature [the procession of the bride]” The wedding takes seven days.
1963 Jan 21, 4 p. w/env. Letter to Folks “Some weeks ago the Director had asked that we get together to decide my fate. Well today the Chief/Agr. said I was going home as planned Feb. 17. He is not about to discuss it with the Mission Director. They just don’t get along and they have me in the middle of their scrap;” “I think the Govt really wants Home Ec. But they just don’t know what to do about anything and they are not about to admit it. The Am. Agr. chief is going to try to force them to do something and I don’t think he or I can force the Libyans but he is hurt and so he is trying to save face. In fact all are trying to save face;” discusses possible plans for her life after she returns to the United States.
1963 Jan 26, 2 p. no env. Letter to Mary from Effie Obituary news
1963 Jan 26, 5 p. w/env. Letter to Velma Worked with the Military Base Church Group at an old medical clinic in the “old city” that used to be a missionary clinic before the government outlawed missions; Ramadan holiday has begun and her counterpart, Aysha is gone with her mother while Mary tries to figure out what to do with her other counterpart who doesn’t speak English; “I’ve used my apt. for a training center every am. and begged every sec in the bldg. to get me stuff at the AFEX so I could operate. For 10 years this govt has been promising appropriating etc. And never keeping the slightest promise so to heck with them. I’m quite favorable to letting them stew in their own juice for awhile and see what happens.”
1963 Jan 26, 3 p. w/env. Letter to Rose “The mission Directors called us all in and held up the Ag. Chief’s cable that I was coming back to Wash Feb 17 and told him in no uncertain terms I’d go only if he (The Mission Director) said so. Well I’ve been working on an agreement and if the Ministry swallows it, I may stay;” mentions working at the old medical clinic; the Stars and Stripes newspaper is finally printing articles on AID
1963 Jan 30, 3 p. w/env. Letter to Folks Is going to be on Television; her counterpart Aysha is leaving to Benghazi to study the fast month in her mother’s home and turned in her resignation to the Minister in order to get a teaching job; “I’m getting to be a wine drinker. I like that dazed feeling it gives you;” “The Liberian Govt has made a rule that all Am. technicians have to work in their respective Ministries instead of USAID and that they are no longer to be called advisors but associates. Also I heard they asked that the asst. chief in Ed. Be sent home and he was. Wheh!”
1963 Jan 30, 1 p. w/env. Letter to Folks Hoping that she won’t have to do her training school at her apartment anymore; going to be on TV for an audience of about 2000 in Tripoli