Page 285 - The Diary of A. H. W. Behrens

137
1939 – 1943
In September 1939 the big World War broke out and today in April 1943 when I am writing this it does not seem that peace will be restored any time soon. Very sad that the European nations are mauling each other in this way.
In the years 1940, 41 and 42 the following friends and relatives died: Aunt Dora, Uncle August and the Missionaries Ernst Penzhorn in Saron, H. Behrens in Eben Ezer, F. Jensen in Linokana and H. Wenhold in Kana. We went to the funerals in Saron and Eben Ezer and also to the burial of Aunt Dora and the funeral of Cousin August in Kroondal. The latter had only been ill for a short time. The Hermannsburg Mission suffered a great loss of staff with four missionaries dying and actually all four were not old yet.
In Natal, our close friends Pastor Stielau and his wife died at an old age.
At the beginning of 1942 I was quite ill and thought that my end had come. But I improved when winter came and by the grace of God I am still alive now in April 1943 and am fairly well. My organs were not affected, I had periodical pain
in the entire body and was very weak. In particular, I took
the following medication: Pylosan and Phosphorene, then Lycopodium and Rhus tox, Sulphur acidurn and Crataegus.