Hello Dear Reader,
I don't remember much about our trip back to Great Britain but we left early on the morning of September 5th and went to Belgium where we boarded the ferry for our return. I do remember how excited we were to see the white cliffs as we approached Dover.
We spent a few days in the London area visiting friends and then returned to Scotland. On September 15, I left my family in Scotland to return to Provo. I looked forward to at least one trip back to the British Isles since the mission call was for three years but then, at the last fall conference in 1963, Wendell Mendenhall and George Biesinger informed Grandpa (Wesley) Carter that they were changing his assignment and he would be going to Atlanta, Georgia, to set up the Building Missionary Program in the southern United States.
The Paisley Ward had a farewell party for the family and presented them with a tartan blanket and other gifts. Then there was a dinner party given at the Scottish Mission home with more gifts. All of the building supervisors in Scotland were in attendance. Then, before the family left London, the Church Building Department also had a farewell party for Grandpa and Grandma. The family had made many wonderful friends in the time we were in Great Britain and experienced things we could never have imagined. But now it was time to be going home--at least back to America.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Holland at Last
Hello Dear Reader,
After traveling the autobahn all day we were happy to arrive in Holland where we drove to the home of Stan and Blanche Bird who had lived next door to us in Epsom. Sister Bird was a wonderful cook and had a lovely meal and beds ready for us. We were going to enjoy the next two days in Holland.
The Birds took us to several points of interest and we enjoyed the scenery and the native dress of the Dutch people; we visited two Dutch villages where the people had taken an oath to always wear their native costumes. We also visited Volendam and Amsterdam. We had no worries about the lanugage, the food, or finding a nice place to stay. We had our own personal tour guides who took good care of us. We sampled the local fast food, dressed up as a Dutch family, and had our portrait taken. It was a great end to a wonderful five-day vacation on the Continent.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Monday, September 20, 2010
From Swizerland to Germany
Hello Dear Reader,
After dinner and the adventure we had at the restaurant we were all ready to retire for the night. The second night of our trip was different from the first as we spent the night in a Swiss home (I guess we would say a B & B). I don't recall the sleeping arrangements but LeAnn and I shared a feather bed which, considering there were six of us in one room, was very hot. We both had rollers in our hair which were uncomfortable so we took the down comforter and wadded it up to make a sort of huge pillow. When Grandpa got up in the morning he remarked, "Well, look at that!" We all woke up laughing.
From Switzerland we entered Germany. We spent the whole day driving through Germany. We didn't stop at any special place. We enjoyed the beauty of the German countryside--mostly forest; in fact it was the Black Forest. At one point we passsed a convey of American GIs. Because Grandpa was driving a right-sided English car and was passing on the left like we do in America, he rolled down his window and yelled, "Hello GIs." The men all whistled and waved. That was the most exciting part of that day.
Love,
Aunt Genni
After dinner and the adventure we had at the restaurant we were all ready to retire for the night. The second night of our trip was different from the first as we spent the night in a Swiss home (I guess we would say a B & B). I don't recall the sleeping arrangements but LeAnn and I shared a feather bed which, considering there were six of us in one room, was very hot. We both had rollers in our hair which were uncomfortable so we took the down comforter and wadded it up to make a sort of huge pillow. When Grandpa got up in the morning he remarked, "Well, look at that!" We all woke up laughing.
From Switzerland we entered Germany. We spent the whole day driving through Germany. We didn't stop at any special place. We enjoyed the beauty of the German countryside--mostly forest; in fact it was the Black Forest. At one point we passsed a convey of American GIs. Because Grandpa was driving a right-sided English car and was passing on the left like we do in America, he rolled down his window and yelled, "Hello GIs." The men all whistled and waved. That was the most exciting part of that day.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Switzerland
Hello Dear Reader,
The next morning, Sunday September 1, we left France and entered Switzerland. As we drove in through the Alps we were amazed at the breathtaking beauty of the place. We stopped once just to listen to cow bells ringing. We found our way to the Swiss temple and met some missionaries there who directed us to their favorite restaurant, Restaurant zur frohen Aussict, out in the country. We were ready for a good meal. Of course we were at a disadvantage because we couldn't speak the language but we entered a quaint little restaurant and were shown to some seats. We were the object of much curiosity.
After several minutes of trying to make our wants known (the only thing we could thing to say was, "Menu"), the waitress brought out a beautiful damask tablecloth and spread it on the table we were seated at. Then the food started to arrive--lots of it, all on silver platters. Grandpa (Wesley) Carter was so upset, thinking we would be spending all of our money on this one meal, that he told us we would have to go back to Great Britain the next day. Because Grandpa was so upset none of us had much of an appetite. Then the waitress brought us the bill. Grandpa looked it over and calculated it in American terms and the grand total for six of us was around $8.00.
Suddenly Grandpa got his appetite back and the rest of the family, although we had not eaten half of what had been brought to us, sighed with relief that our trip had not turned into a disaster.
Love,
Aunt Genni
The next morning, Sunday September 1, we left France and entered Switzerland. As we drove in through the Alps we were amazed at the breathtaking beauty of the place. We stopped once just to listen to cow bells ringing. We found our way to the Swiss temple and met some missionaries there who directed us to their favorite restaurant, Restaurant zur frohen Aussict, out in the country. We were ready for a good meal. Of course we were at a disadvantage because we couldn't speak the language but we entered a quaint little restaurant and were shown to some seats. We were the object of much curiosity.
After several minutes of trying to make our wants known (the only thing we could thing to say was, "Menu"), the waitress brought out a beautiful damask tablecloth and spread it on the table we were seated at. Then the food started to arrive--lots of it, all on silver platters. Grandpa (Wesley) Carter was so upset, thinking we would be spending all of our money on this one meal, that he told us we would have to go back to Great Britain the next day. Because Grandpa was so upset none of us had much of an appetite. Then the waitress brought us the bill. Grandpa looked it over and calculated it in American terms and the grand total for six of us was around $8.00.
Suddenly Grandpa got his appetite back and the rest of the family, although we had not eaten half of what had been brought to us, sighed with relief that our trip had not turned into a disaster.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Adventures in France
Hello Dear Reader,
The first day we drove through the country side of France and into Paris. We stopped for a short time at the Eiffel Tower. We then drove to the outskirts of Paris and stopped at a grocery store. We bought a loaf of bread (no wrapper) from a mound on the floor in the corner and what we thought was a huge can of cherries. When we opened the can it was jam, not fruit, so we had bread and cherry jam for supper that night. There was so much jam Grandma (Mary) Carter ended throwing most of it away. We had no way to safely carry an open can of stickiness.
As twilight approached we stopped at a hotel. None of us spoke anything but English so Grandpa used hand signs to indicate that we wanted a room for the night. We were all amused at his gestures and that embarrassed him a little but he got us a place to sleep. The room, however, left much to be desired. It was clean but the floor sloped from two sides to form sort of a ravine which ran from one end of the room to the other. The bathroom was down the hall. That didn’t embarrass Grandpa but it was embarrassing for LeAnn and me.
Grandpa and Grandma got the bed and the rest of us positioned our sleeping bags on the slope so our feet were in the ravine and our heads were at the upper end of the slope otherwise we would have ended up in a pile one on top of another. But we slept fairly well and were ready to continue our adventure the next morning.
Love,
Aunt Genni
The first day we drove through the country side of France and into Paris. We stopped for a short time at the Eiffel Tower. We then drove to the outskirts of Paris and stopped at a grocery store. We bought a loaf of bread (no wrapper) from a mound on the floor in the corner and what we thought was a huge can of cherries. When we opened the can it was jam, not fruit, so we had bread and cherry jam for supper that night. There was so much jam Grandma (Mary) Carter ended throwing most of it away. We had no way to safely carry an open can of stickiness.
As twilight approached we stopped at a hotel. None of us spoke anything but English so Grandpa used hand signs to indicate that we wanted a room for the night. We were all amused at his gestures and that embarrassed him a little but he got us a place to sleep. The room, however, left much to be desired. It was clean but the floor sloped from two sides to form sort of a ravine which ran from one end of the room to the other. The bathroom was down the hall. That didn’t embarrass Grandpa but it was embarrassing for LeAnn and me.
Grandpa and Grandma got the bed and the rest of us positioned our sleeping bags on the slope so our feet were in the ravine and our heads were at the upper end of the slope otherwise we would have ended up in a pile one on top of another. But we slept fairly well and were ready to continue our adventure the next morning.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Five Days on the Continent
Hello Dear Reader,
Before it was time for me to leave the British Isles Grandpa (Wesley) Carter received permission for our family to take the church car and spend five days seeing what we could in Europe. Grandpa, Grandma (Mary), Kent, LeAnn, Billy, and I boarded the car ferry in Dover on August 30th. Once the car was on board we went up on the deck to view the English Channel as we sailed. In a couple of hours we arrived in Calais, France.
We were on a tight budget because Grandpa and Grandma were still missionaries so we compensated by taking sleeping bags, some food, and some maps; we were off on a great adventure despite our lack of funds.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Monday, September 13, 2010
The Ferguson Sisters Visit
Hello Dear Reader,
On May 12, 1963, Grandma (Caroline) Hall and her sister Annie Burch received a gift from their children for Mother's Day. It was a trip to Scotland, the land where their grandfather (Andrew) and grandmother (Elizabeth Watson) Ferguson had joined the Church. At first Grandma Hall protested that it was too expensive but Uncle Norley convinced her that her children would be very disappointed if she didn't go so plans were made and that summer she and Aunt Annie took the train to New York and then flew to Scotland.
It was a wonderful time for the family. Grandma (Mary) Carter had been released from the hospital and there was plenty of room for Grandma Hall and Aunt Annie to stay with LeAnn and I in our upstairs bedroom. These lovely women were optimistic and eager to see the sites, however slowly they moved. We drove to Loch Ness and other places of interest. They were able to make contact with one of their distant cousins who came and took them to meet other members of their extended family. We were fascinated with their nightly excercise routines, their interesting stories, and their happpy laughter. We enjoyed their visit immensly.
Love,
Aunt Genni
On May 12, 1963, Grandma (Caroline) Hall and her sister Annie Burch received a gift from their children for Mother's Day. It was a trip to Scotland, the land where their grandfather (Andrew) and grandmother (Elizabeth Watson) Ferguson had joined the Church. At first Grandma Hall protested that it was too expensive but Uncle Norley convinced her that her children would be very disappointed if she didn't go so plans were made and that summer she and Aunt Annie took the train to New York and then flew to Scotland.
It was a wonderful time for the family. Grandma (Mary) Carter had been released from the hospital and there was plenty of room for Grandma Hall and Aunt Annie to stay with LeAnn and I in our upstairs bedroom. These lovely women were optimistic and eager to see the sites, however slowly they moved. We drove to Loch Ness and other places of interest. They were able to make contact with one of their distant cousins who came and took them to meet other members of their extended family. We were fascinated with their nightly excercise routines, their interesting stories, and their happpy laughter. We enjoyed their visit immensly.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Sunday, September 12, 2010
A Spate of Illness
Hello Dear Reader,
It seemed that Grandpa (Wesley) Carter just recovered from his perforated ulcer and was getting back into the swing of things when Grandma (Mary) Carter became very ill. If I remember correctly it was on a Sunday night and Grandpa was leaving for London. One of the missionaries in the mission office was a doctor who had just completed his residency so we called him and asked him to come to see about Grandma. He came over with his little black bag and examined her as well as he could. He grew very concerned and said that she needed to go to hospital--that he thought she might have meningitis.
I don't remember if an ambulance came for her but I think one did. She was very ill with viral meningitis (in his history, Grandpa put "pneumonia" so I could be wrong) and couldn't move her neck at all. She was in a different hospital than Grandpa had been in and was there for eighteen days, flat on her back, barely able to move. She was also in a ward with lots of people around her. The hospital she was in was for communicable diseases but there were also many women who were mentally ill who would get up and stand over Grandma muttering during the night. It was a very frightening time for her.
Because Grandpa had to do his work he asked me to go to the hospital twice a day to visit and check that Grandma was getting well. In order to get to where she was I had to change busses twice and travel for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours one way. When I arrived at the hospital Grandma would cry and cry. It was very distressing for all of us.
Love,
Aunt Genni
It seemed that Grandpa (Wesley) Carter just recovered from his perforated ulcer and was getting back into the swing of things when Grandma (Mary) Carter became very ill. If I remember correctly it was on a Sunday night and Grandpa was leaving for London. One of the missionaries in the mission office was a doctor who had just completed his residency so we called him and asked him to come to see about Grandma. He came over with his little black bag and examined her as well as he could. He grew very concerned and said that she needed to go to hospital--that he thought she might have meningitis.
I don't remember if an ambulance came for her but I think one did. She was very ill with viral meningitis (in his history, Grandpa put "pneumonia" so I could be wrong) and couldn't move her neck at all. She was in a different hospital than Grandpa had been in and was there for eighteen days, flat on her back, barely able to move. She was also in a ward with lots of people around her. The hospital she was in was for communicable diseases but there were also many women who were mentally ill who would get up and stand over Grandma muttering during the night. It was a very frightening time for her.
Because Grandpa had to do his work he asked me to go to the hospital twice a day to visit and check that Grandma was getting well. In order to get to where she was I had to change busses twice and travel for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours one way. When I arrived at the hospital Grandma would cry and cry. It was very distressing for all of us.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Going to Hospital
Hello Dear Reader,
In the spring I was released from my mission and returned to Scotland to work on correspondence courses in hopes of graduating from High School. I had only been home a short time, however, when Grandpa (Wesley) Carter, while getting ready to go to London, got a severe pain in his stomach. Grandma tried to call a doctor with the results of an ambulance being sent and Grandpa being taken to hospital (in Great Britain they didn't say, "the hospital," but just "hospital.").
He began to feel better in a couple of days but was not allowed to go home. I was enlisted to do office duty and made phone calls, typed up letters and reports, and did Grandpa's filing. He was very unhappy about being confined in a room of twenty beds full of sick men. He wrote, "The beds were so close together there was walking room only on one side. I had to smell tobacco smoke, listen to coughing, moaning, and snoring for over a week before I was released." Our experience with socialized medicine seemed to always be very negative.
As soon as Grandpa got out of hospital he immediately left to make his round of visits to the chapels he was over. I continued to serve as his personal assistant, answering phone calls, finding files for him, making phone calls, and helping him get up to speed in his work. It was very hectic because of the time he had lost.
Love,
Aunt Genni
In the spring I was released from my mission and returned to Scotland to work on correspondence courses in hopes of graduating from High School. I had only been home a short time, however, when Grandpa (Wesley) Carter, while getting ready to go to London, got a severe pain in his stomach. Grandma tried to call a doctor with the results of an ambulance being sent and Grandpa being taken to hospital (in Great Britain they didn't say, "the hospital," but just "hospital.").
He began to feel better in a couple of days but was not allowed to go home. I was enlisted to do office duty and made phone calls, typed up letters and reports, and did Grandpa's filing. He was very unhappy about being confined in a room of twenty beds full of sick men. He wrote, "The beds were so close together there was walking room only on one side. I had to smell tobacco smoke, listen to coughing, moaning, and snoring for over a week before I was released." Our experience with socialized medicine seemed to always be very negative.
As soon as Grandpa got out of hospital he immediately left to make his round of visits to the chapels he was over. I continued to serve as his personal assistant, answering phone calls, finding files for him, making phone calls, and helping him get up to speed in his work. It was very hectic because of the time he had lost.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Friday, September 10, 2010
A Change Next Door
Hello Dear Reader,
As I mentioned before Bernard P. Brockbank was the Scottish Mission president. He and his wife, Nada, and their son, Roger, lived next door to Grandpa (Wesley) and Grandma (Mary) Carter. Actually, although they lived next door the quickest way to get to the mission home was through a gate that connected Grandpa and Grandma's back yard to the side yard of the mission home. LeAnn and Roger got to be good friends and went to school together along with Eddie McDonald whose dad was project supervisor on the Drumchapel building. It wasn't long until two other girls, Anita Stettler and Joyce Lane joined these teens as schoolmates. Sadly the McDonalds had to move to avoid the long wait each night and morning at the ferry so Eddie transferred to another school district.
Around the end of the year President Brockbank was released from his calling so Roger moved away as well. This created a change next door. The new mission president was David B. Haight accompanied by his wife, Ruby. He had been president of the Palo Alto Stake, vice-chairman of the Oakland Temple District and of the San Francisco Welfare Region. He had also just resigned as mayor of Palo Alto and was head of the Palo Alto Hardware Company and operated a builders' supply firm. Grandpa and Grandma liked their new neighbors and did what they could to help them and make them feel at home.
Love,
Aunt Genni
As I mentioned before Bernard P. Brockbank was the Scottish Mission president. He and his wife, Nada, and their son, Roger, lived next door to Grandpa (Wesley) and Grandma (Mary) Carter. Actually, although they lived next door the quickest way to get to the mission home was through a gate that connected Grandpa and Grandma's back yard to the side yard of the mission home. LeAnn and Roger got to be good friends and went to school together along with Eddie McDonald whose dad was project supervisor on the Drumchapel building. It wasn't long until two other girls, Anita Stettler and Joyce Lane joined these teens as schoolmates. Sadly the McDonalds had to move to avoid the long wait each night and morning at the ferry so Eddie transferred to another school district.
Around the end of the year President Brockbank was released from his calling so Roger moved away as well. This created a change next door. The new mission president was David B. Haight accompanied by his wife, Ruby. He had been president of the Palo Alto Stake, vice-chairman of the Oakland Temple District and of the San Francisco Welfare Region. He had also just resigned as mayor of Palo Alto and was head of the Palo Alto Hardware Company and operated a builders' supply firm. Grandpa and Grandma liked their new neighbors and did what they could to help them and make them feel at home.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Thursday, September 9, 2010
How It All Ends
Hello Dear Reader,
Continuing with Grandma (Mary) Carter's story, she had finally put up glass curtains for privacy:
"Today, three months later, my feelings about [the glass curtains] are dampened. I had invited a Scottish family to dinner and the subject eventually got around to my busy bus-stop corner. I told them about hanging my curtains for privacy. [The wife and mother] then told me that before she had known who lived here, she had asked a neighbor if there had been a death in the house, because funeral curtains were hanging in the windows. It seems to be the custom to hang white curtains such as mine at the windows at the time of a death.
Now maybe I should get in style and dye them "mauve." On second thought, privacy and my funeral curtains shall remain!" --submitted by Sister Mary Carter--Renfrew, Scotland
Just a note about the bus stop: In the winter, when it was very foggy out, a bus would pull up to the bus stop, the driver would open the door and shout, "Is this Wright Street, anyone?" As quickly as she could Grandma would go to the front door, open it, and shout back, "Yes, this is Wright Street!" And then, although she couldn't see the bus, she would hear it pull away.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Continuing with Grandma (Mary) Carter's story, she had finally put up glass curtains for privacy:
"Today, three months later, my feelings about [the glass curtains] are dampened. I had invited a Scottish family to dinner and the subject eventually got around to my busy bus-stop corner. I told them about hanging my curtains for privacy. [The wife and mother] then told me that before she had known who lived here, she had asked a neighbor if there had been a death in the house, because funeral curtains were hanging in the windows. It seems to be the custom to hang white curtains such as mine at the windows at the time of a death.
Now maybe I should get in style and dye them "mauve." On second thought, privacy and my funeral curtains shall remain!" --submitted by Sister Mary Carter--Renfrew, Scotland
Just a note about the bus stop: In the winter, when it was very foggy out, a bus would pull up to the bus stop, the driver would open the door and shout, "Is this Wright Street, anyone?" As quickly as she could Grandma would go to the front door, open it, and shout back, "Yes, this is Wright Street!" And then, although she couldn't see the bus, she would hear it pull away.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Glass Curtains
Hello Dear Reader,
When Grandma (Mary) Carter had to feed some of the Church Building missionaries lunch one day she was amused as they picked at their corn and one of them asked, "What are these wee bits of maize?" But back to Grandma's story. I continue from yesterday:
"I then read in a local paper where three housewives wanted the bus stops outside their front doors removed, and I quote, 'You can't do a thing in the front rooms of your house without being gaped at through the windows by someone on a bus.' I was already to join them in their campaign to remove the 'peeping Toms' then I decided that maybe glass curtains would be the answer. I definitely decided on them when the shop-keepers across the street informed me that they could see everything that went on in my house." (To be continued.)
Love,
Aunt Genni
When Grandma (Mary) Carter had to feed some of the Church Building missionaries lunch one day she was amused as they picked at their corn and one of them asked, "What are these wee bits of maize?" But back to Grandma's story. I continue from yesterday:
"I then read in a local paper where three housewives wanted the bus stops outside their front doors removed, and I quote, 'You can't do a thing in the front rooms of your house without being gaped at through the windows by someone on a bus.' I was already to join them in their campaign to remove the 'peeping Toms' then I decided that maybe glass curtains would be the answer. I definitely decided on them when the shop-keepers across the street informed me that they could see everything that went on in my house." (To be continued.)
Love,
Aunt Genni
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Adjusting to Scottish Ways
Hello Dear Reader,
As much as Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) Carter loved Scotland there were some things they had to adjust to. Both of them needed to get driver's licenses which was no easy feat. The written part of the test wasn't too difficult but the driving part was pretty intense. Grandpa didn't pass the road test the first time he took it and had to go back. He had to have a valid driver's license because his calling entailed a lot of driving. I remember Grandma laughing as she told about her experience with the exam but she didn't write anything about it in her history and I can't remember the story--sorry.
With Grandpa gone most of the time, Grandma had to adjust in other ways as well. She wrote a short article which she submitted to The Builder, the official magazine of the European Church Building Missionary Program in which she told of one experience she had in Scotland:
"When I first moved to my home in Renfrew, Scotland, I noticed that every two or three minutes, double-decker busses would stop at the bus stop in front of my door. As the bus would start up, at least fifty or more heads would turn and look through my windows. If I was downstairs they would peer in from the lower deck, and if I was upstairs, the upper deck would get the grandstand view. I truly felt as if I were living in a fish bowl." (To be continued.)
Love,
Aunt Genni
As much as Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) Carter loved Scotland there were some things they had to adjust to. Both of them needed to get driver's licenses which was no easy feat. The written part of the test wasn't too difficult but the driving part was pretty intense. Grandpa didn't pass the road test the first time he took it and had to go back. He had to have a valid driver's license because his calling entailed a lot of driving. I remember Grandma laughing as she told about her experience with the exam but she didn't write anything about it in her history and I can't remember the story--sorry.
With Grandpa gone most of the time, Grandma had to adjust in other ways as well. She wrote a short article which she submitted to The Builder, the official magazine of the European Church Building Missionary Program in which she told of one experience she had in Scotland:
"When I first moved to my home in Renfrew, Scotland, I noticed that every two or three minutes, double-decker busses would stop at the bus stop in front of my door. As the bus would start up, at least fifty or more heads would turn and look through my windows. If I was downstairs they would peer in from the lower deck, and if I was upstairs, the upper deck would get the grandstand view. I truly felt as if I were living in a fish bowl." (To be continued.)
Love,
Aunt Genni
Monday, September 6, 2010
Kent Comes to Scotland
Hello Dear Reader,
After (Wesley) Kent Carter finished his proselyting mission he was able to be reunited with his parents and siblings by coming to Scotland. He was released from his proselyting mission in November and probably arrived in the British Isles around the end of November or the first of December. After a short rest he was called to serve as a building missionary and assigned to the Galashiels, Scotland project. He was in charge of remodeling an old mansion, making it into a chapel. He had three building missionaries who worked with him and with whom he had to contend. They gave him a bad time until he got tired of it and exclaimed, "Fe Fi Fo Fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman." I'm sure this bold statement was followed by Kent's infectious laughter.
Golden Stettler, the project supervisor for the Paisley building, was over the Galashiels project but it was left up to Kent to supervise the work. Kent and the other three missionaries lived at the old house while they worked on it up until it was completed. Grandpa (Wesley) and Grandma (Mary) Carter were happy to have him only about an hour's drive away and Grandpa was very proud of him and his ability to take charge of the remodeling project.
Love,
Aunt Genni
After (Wesley) Kent Carter finished his proselyting mission he was able to be reunited with his parents and siblings by coming to Scotland. He was released from his proselyting mission in November and probably arrived in the British Isles around the end of November or the first of December. After a short rest he was called to serve as a building missionary and assigned to the Galashiels, Scotland project. He was in charge of remodeling an old mansion, making it into a chapel. He had three building missionaries who worked with him and with whom he had to contend. They gave him a bad time until he got tired of it and exclaimed, "Fe Fi Fo Fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman." I'm sure this bold statement was followed by Kent's infectious laughter.
Golden Stettler, the project supervisor for the Paisley building, was over the Galashiels project but it was left up to Kent to supervise the work. Kent and the other three missionaries lived at the old house while they worked on it up until it was completed. Grandpa (Wesley) and Grandma (Mary) Carter were happy to have him only about an hour's drive away and Grandpa was very proud of him and his ability to take charge of the remodeling project.
Love,
Aunt Genni
A Great Tribute
Hello Dear Reader,
I mentioned Church Building Conferences before but there was one in particular that was very memorable for Grandpa (Wesley) Carter. This conference was held at the Hayes Conference Center, Swanwick, Derbyshire (pronounced Darbyshire), England on September 11-14, 1962. Grandpa had been assigned the responsibility of supervising the boys in various activities so he had lined up all kinds of games for them to participate in while all the other (adult) personnel were in meetings. Some of the activities he had planned included cricket, volleyball, soccer, badminton, and horse shoes. He also arranged dances where local youth were invited to the conference center, talent shows, and other such entertainment.
Grandpa was standing watching the building missionaries play cricket when they challenged him to hit the ball. He took the bat and knocked the ball over the fence amid much cheering; he lost the ball in the process. When it was time to go to the dining room for lunch the young men picked Grandpa up, placed him on their shoulders, and took him into the dining room singing, "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Grandpa considered that a great tribute, "One of the greatest tributes I ever had paid to me."
Love,
Aunt Genni
I mentioned Church Building Conferences before but there was one in particular that was very memorable for Grandpa (Wesley) Carter. This conference was held at the Hayes Conference Center, Swanwick, Derbyshire (pronounced Darbyshire), England on September 11-14, 1962. Grandpa had been assigned the responsibility of supervising the boys in various activities so he had lined up all kinds of games for them to participate in while all the other (adult) personnel were in meetings. Some of the activities he had planned included cricket, volleyball, soccer, badminton, and horse shoes. He also arranged dances where local youth were invited to the conference center, talent shows, and other such entertainment.
Grandpa was standing watching the building missionaries play cricket when they challenged him to hit the ball. He took the bat and knocked the ball over the fence amid much cheering; he lost the ball in the process. When it was time to go to the dining room for lunch the young men picked Grandpa up, placed him on their shoulders, and took him into the dining room singing, "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Grandpa considered that a great tribute, "One of the greatest tributes I ever had paid to me."
Love,
Aunt Genni
Paisley Ward Bishopric
Hello Dear Reader,When the Glasgow Stake was formed there were eight wards organized. These were the Renfrew Ward, the Springburn Ward, the Glasgow Ward, the Easterhouse Ward, the Cranhill Ward, the Pollok Ward, the Drumchapel Ward, and the Paisley Ward.
I thought you might like to see a photograph of the Paisley Ward Bishopric. Here it is from left to right: Wesley Carter, Bishop; Samuel Sylie, 2nd Counsellor; Thomas Martin Clerk; William Graham, 1st Counsellor (British spelling).
Love,
Aunt Genni
Friday, September 3, 2010
Renfrew to London and Back
Hello Dear Reader,
Every Sunday when Grandpa (Wesley) Carter had dealt with church problems and building problems all week long he would shave, pack his bag, and go into Glasgow (Grandma drove) to catch the train The Royal Scotsman. He then rode all night to be at the London office first thing Monday morning for the weekly staff meeting. After the meeting he would fly back to Renfrew and Grandma would pick him up at the Renfrew Airport.
I don't remember if it was after Billy's baptism or after Christmas that I rode the train back down to London with Grandpa. We had ajoining sleeping rooms on the luxurious train--one of my fondest memories of travel in Great Britain. Grandpa came into my room and we talked until it was time for bed. Then Grandpa returned to his room and we each enjoyed a peaceful night's rest. The sleeper cars there were like regular rooms in a hotel unlike the cramped sleeper cars on American trains. But you can imagine doing that every week for over a year. Sometimes Grandpa got very tired of traveling.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Every Sunday when Grandpa (Wesley) Carter had dealt with church problems and building problems all week long he would shave, pack his bag, and go into Glasgow (Grandma drove) to catch the train The Royal Scotsman. He then rode all night to be at the London office first thing Monday morning for the weekly staff meeting. After the meeting he would fly back to Renfrew and Grandma would pick him up at the Renfrew Airport.
I don't remember if it was after Billy's baptism or after Christmas that I rode the train back down to London with Grandpa. We had ajoining sleeping rooms on the luxurious train--one of my fondest memories of travel in Great Britain. Grandpa came into my room and we talked until it was time for bed. Then Grandpa returned to his room and we each enjoyed a peaceful night's rest. The sleeper cars there were like regular rooms in a hotel unlike the cramped sleeper cars on American trains. But you can imagine doing that every week for over a year. Sometimes Grandpa got very tired of traveling.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Other Church Service
Hello Dear Reader,
Grandma (Mary) Carter and LeAnn started the first Junior Sunday School in the newly created Paisley Ward. Grandma was Junior Sunday School Coordinator and LeAnn was chorister. Junior Sunday School and Primary had always been Grandma's first love.
Grandpa (Wesley) Carter encouraged church dances which the ward began to hold every Saturday night. These dances were used as fund-raisers for the Building Missionary program. The Scottish people seemed to love dances and participated in everything from The Twist to Scottish dances and hoe downs. The ward members and the missionaries, who didn't have to observe all of the same rules as the proselyting missionaries, had a lot of fun.
Another thing Grandpa encouraged was the production of two plays which were the first to be put on by the Church in Scotland. They were a great success--lots of natural actors in the ward.
In November, when Billy turned eight, it was time for him to be baptized. I was able to take the train to Scotland to be there for the event. We went as a family to the old house the ward was using as a chapel and Grandpa baptized Billy in the baptismal font there. The water was ice-cold and Billy didn't like water much so we were all worried. After he was baptized, he shot up out of the water like a geiser and grabbed Grandpa's neck and wrapped his legs around Grandpa's waist. It was such a surprise to all of us that we couldn't help but chuckle.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Grandma (Mary) Carter and LeAnn started the first Junior Sunday School in the newly created Paisley Ward. Grandma was Junior Sunday School Coordinator and LeAnn was chorister. Junior Sunday School and Primary had always been Grandma's first love.
Grandpa (Wesley) Carter encouraged church dances which the ward began to hold every Saturday night. These dances were used as fund-raisers for the Building Missionary program. The Scottish people seemed to love dances and participated in everything from The Twist to Scottish dances and hoe downs. The ward members and the missionaries, who didn't have to observe all of the same rules as the proselyting missionaries, had a lot of fun.
Another thing Grandpa encouraged was the production of two plays which were the first to be put on by the Church in Scotland. They were a great success--lots of natural actors in the ward.
In November, when Billy turned eight, it was time for him to be baptized. I was able to take the train to Scotland to be there for the event. We went as a family to the old house the ward was using as a chapel and Grandpa baptized Billy in the baptismal font there. The water was ice-cold and Billy didn't like water much so we were all worried. After he was baptized, he shot up out of the water like a geiser and grabbed Grandpa's neck and wrapped his legs around Grandpa's waist. It was such a surprise to all of us that we couldn't help but chuckle.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Building a Church While Building the Ward
Hello Dear Reader,
Soon after Grandpa (Wesley) Carter was called as bishop he found himself once again facing the building of a new ward chapel just as he had done in Provo a decade earlier. But this was a little different. Under the Church Building Missionary Program young men in Great Britain were called to serve as building missionaries. When it was determined where a chapel was to be built it became the local members' responsibility to provide housing, food, and clothing along with a small sustance wage for these missionaries. The idea was to give these young men the opportunity to serve while teaching them the gospel and a trade. Brother Golden Stettler from Logan, Utah was called to serve as a project supervisor and soon arrived with his wife and family. They were assigned to the Paisley Ward building and moved across the street from Grandpa and Grandma.
Grandpa and Grandma, while on a mission themselves and still supporting Kent on his proselyting mission, took one of the building missionaries into their home and began a long series of activities in the ward to raise money for clothing and wages for all of the building missionaries working on the Paisley Ward chapel.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Soon after Grandpa (Wesley) Carter was called as bishop he found himself once again facing the building of a new ward chapel just as he had done in Provo a decade earlier. But this was a little different. Under the Church Building Missionary Program young men in Great Britain were called to serve as building missionaries. When it was determined where a chapel was to be built it became the local members' responsibility to provide housing, food, and clothing along with a small sustance wage for these missionaries. The idea was to give these young men the opportunity to serve while teaching them the gospel and a trade. Brother Golden Stettler from Logan, Utah was called to serve as a project supervisor and soon arrived with his wife and family. They were assigned to the Paisley Ward building and moved across the street from Grandpa and Grandma.
Grandpa and Grandma, while on a mission themselves and still supporting Kent on his proselyting mission, took one of the building missionaries into their home and began a long series of activities in the ward to raise money for clothing and wages for all of the building missionaries working on the Paisley Ward chapel.
Love,
Aunt Genni
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