“We are just getting settled in Rochester. We have rented an old house for one hundred and seventy-five dollars a year. We have the press in the house. Were it not for this, we should have to pay fifty dollars a year for office room. You would smile could you look in upon us and see our furniture. We have bought two old bedsteads for twenty-five cents each. My husband brought me home six old chairs, no two of them alike, for which he paid one dollar, and soon he presented me with four more old chairs without any seating, for which he paid sixty-two cents. The frames are strong, and I have been seating them with drilling. Butter is so high that we do not purchase it, neither can we afford potatoes. We use sauce in the place of butter, and turnips for potatoes. Our first meals were taken on a fireboard placed upon two empty flour barrels. We are willing to endure privations if the work of God can be advanced. We believe the Lord’s hand was in our coming to this place. There is a large field for labor, and but few laborers. Last Sabbath our meeting was excellent. The Lord refreshed us with His presence.” {LS 142.2}

Vi har netop fået det i orden i Rochester. Vi har lejet et gammelt hus for ethundrede og femoghalvfjerds dollars om året. Vi har trykkeriet i huset. Var det ikke var for det, skulle vi betale halvtreds dollars om året for et erhvervslokale. Du ville smile hvis du så ind til os og så vore møbler. Vi har købt to gamle senge for femogtyve cents hver. Min mand bragte mig seks gamle stole hjem, ikke to af dem er ens. Han betalte en dollars for hver af dem og snart gav han mig sammen med fire yderligere gamle stole uden betræk, som han betalte toogtres cents for. Skelettet er stærkt og jeg har sat sæder på. Smør er dyrt at vi ikke kan købe det, vi kan heller ikke få kartofler. Vi bruger sauce i stedet for smør og turnips for kartofler. Vor første måltid blev taget på fyrbrædder sat på to tomme meltønder. Vi er villige til at udholde mangelen på de elementære livsfornødenheder, hvis Guds værk kan fremmes. Vi tror at Herrens hånd var med, da vi kom til det sted. Der er en stor mark at arbejde i, men få arbejdere. Sidste sabbat var vort møde fortræffeligt. Herren fornyede os med sin nærværelse."