Far from my friends and acquaintances, I find myself in a strange land where as yet I know but very few people. But I know Thee, O Jesus, Thou Son of the Highest, as my Immanuel, my Brother, and my best Friend. Therefore I now turn to Thee, and humbly beseech Thee to have mercy upon me and not forsake me till I return to my home, yea, till I come to Thee in Thy heavenly kingdom. Thou hast given to Thine own the comforting assurance: ‘Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.’ Fulfil this promise in me, and let me always and everywhere feel Thy gracious presence. Amen.

Starck, Johann Friedrich. John Frederick Starck’s Daily Hand-book in Good and Evil Days; Containing All the Meditations and Prayers of the Complete German Original Edition, Together with an Appropriate Selection of Standard English Hymns for General Use, for the Afflicted, the Sick, and the Dying. Translated by Joseph Stump. Third edition. (Burlington, Iowa: German Literary Board, 1904), pages 599-600.

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I will probably be using more from Starck’s book (with abbreviated citation!). It was extremely popular among Germans and German-Americans from the time it was 1st published in the 1700s. The first edition of this translation was in the late 1800s. It shows its age, but Starck’s faith shines through.