Letter from George Teasdale, 12 May 1891 [LE-37461]

Colonia Diaz, Mexico May 12, 1891 625 Pres W. Woodruff & Council Salt Lake City U.T. Dear Brethren:

On Tuesday April 14, we left Pacheco and drove to Elder Geo C. Williams ranch at Cane Valley in the morning and in the afternoon we visited Bro. Helaman Pratt's ranch and in the evening we held a meeting at Bro Geo C William's which was well attended several coming from Pacheco. It was a fine moonlight night and all expressed themselves well paid for coming to meeting. We visited ^the caves etc^ the next day in Cane Valley and on Thursday ^16 April^ commenced our return trip. We had a rough ride down the Kanyon and staid over night at Bro Pratts at the mouth of the Kanyon. On Friday 17th We returned to Juarez and stayed at Bro Eyrings. We attended the meeting on Sunday S.S. afternoon 7 evening services and the Y.M. Mutural Improvement on Monday and stayed at Juarez until Thursday when we left for Colonia Houblan about 77 miles from Juarez and held a meeting in the evening. On Friday 25 April in company with Bros W. A.B. Call, Winslow Farr and Isaiah Cox we drove over the proposed ground for the canal amd reservoirs. This took the day. On Saturday at 2.pm we held a meeting in the school house which was crowded to overflowing* and in the evening held a Priesthood Meeting. Present 1 Apostle 10 Seventies 16 High Priests 8 Elders 5 Priests 3 Teachers 12 Deacons 55 Total. The next day Sunday attended the Sabbath School. The officers are

* at the close of the afternoon meeting we held a Primary - Officers Sister Julie Jones Prest, Johanna Bluth 1^st and Mary E Lake 2^nd councillors - Hattie Call Secy. 48 Enrolled officers & members. There were present 11 adults and 44 children 55 Total.

626 as follows E. N. Martensen Supt A.C. Bluth and Alfred Hawkins 2^nd assistants Jennie Jones Sec. H. E. Hawkins ass^t G Mall & 4 female Ladies. In the afternoon attended a conjoint meeting of the Young Mens & Womens Mutual Improvement and the organization of the M.M.I.A is as follows C.L. Allred Pres Jas Carrol 1^st and Allred Hawkins 2^nd Councillors Thos Carroll Secy 38 Enrolled and of the Young Ladies Mary E. Allred Pres with Elizabeth Mortensen 1^st and Marie Allred 2^nd Councillors [Elizth] Carroll Secy and Eliza Jones Treasurer 36 Total officers & members. On Monday we started from Diaz camped out one night and returned to Diaz on Tuesday April 28 having been away 32 days and had attended 36 meetings and one funeral obsequies. I have been particular to give you all the organizations that you may be able to have some idea of the condition of this mission. There should be an organization at Houblan. Elder F. W. Jones is the Presiding Elder but it is attached to Juarez. There are so many competent men there that it is somewhat difficult to determine who would be the most acceptable, and have the most influence with the people. We are having a [illegible] of tribulation through sickness and death. The

whopping cough, and diptheria or Malignant Sore Throats, and Croup has carried off several children. Sister Hendricks has just lost the society of a very interesting child, Norah, through death and Sister Grunell has buried one & several children are sick. It is a time of sorrow. The organization of Priesthood meeting, which are held in the ward every month, has been quite a help to the Bishops, and presiding officers. Bros Helaman Pratt, Henry Eyring W. T. Johnson J^r Ammon Linney Edward and S.C. Richardson and Patrick Haney speak the Spanish Language. Bros Jos H. James, Ira Lyman Nelson, Geo Brown, and W. W. Galbraith also, but not so far advanced as the five first mentioned. We are advocating the study of the spanish language, and to have it introduced into our schoold, for we have more influence when we can spak the language. In Juarez they hold an hours meeting every Sunday in the Spanish language. But in new settlements there is so much to be done so many difficulties to be overcome that the mind is on the stretch all the time, and when sickness invades the homes of the people it is serious. There are many things of a discouraging nature here, as you may have known, through so many returning, preferring to go to the penitentiary, and there [ illegible] their families so as to obey the law and live in peace But there are many who settle down and stand by this mission as faithfully as they can. Our meetings are well attended for Fast

Day it is like a Sabbath day, and we have most excellent meetings. Tribulation is the common lot of all who are called to be saints and there is tribulation among the world, but it is better, if the will of God be so, that we should suffer for well doing than for wrong doing. Integrity produces contentment, and godliness with contentment is great faire. My sympathies are with the people here, because I was with them in the beginning, and I am enjoying my labors. With love & respect,

I remain Your brother in Christ Geo Teasdale