Letter to Sister & Otto from Somewhere in France

6-20-17[sic]
Somewhere in France

Dear Sister and Otto and little ones:–

To say Otto don’t seem enough as I think of how my heart feels to ward Otto I would like to be able to say just one word that would in any way draw him to a saving knowledge of Jesus,

I know a boy that I liked very much and have been with quite a bit since I enlisted, he said when I first was with him that he would not even write his mother a letter it was months after he enlisted before she knew he was in the Army. One night as we walked along I asked him what he thot of Christian anity well he told me, and he said he had sat and fought with tears running down his face the call of christ to come, but he dident, Well he went to the trenches a good many months ago. and wrote me a letter and I answered it. he said he would like to here from me and would an’s all my letters, well he wrote me not long ago and said he had received Christ as his saviour, and the way he spoak about writing home he said if he was in the front line and could not get paper he would go over and get a fritze and skin him and tattoo what he wanted to say to his mother before he would neglect writing to her to let her know how he was.

Never mind about me sister out here, every boy out here is just as dear to God as I am and I only want to know the spirit of God towards every dirty little French Hawker and every one of our allies and the love he had for use that he could stand to pay the debt of our sins upon that occursed cross that we might go free washed pure by his precious blood that flowed. and I am ready to take the foot of any job if the officer don’t happen to like a christian or take bad thots from any one who thinks wrong of me for acting according to what I know to be the will of God, I I will take ten months of service in the joy of the fellowship of God in the trenches to 10 yrs in the world if I could get either by voenteering tomorrow A.M. whenever I think of it the joy of service for God fills my heart so I don’t feel sad lonely or any thing, I only want to go where the boys want and need to know the saviour. It is no sacrifice it is a joy to be here so much more than the life I lived that I couldent regret it or desire any thing else.

Well good bye all
as ever your loving brother Laurie this encludes all

God bless you always

Luke 11-9-10

6-21-17   

I received 3 more letters today. I am glad Annie is getting on so well as ever
Laurie.