We ARE Family

On our last post, there were some pictures showing a place in Edgware. This was the first area where Niel served almost 49 years ago on his mission. I must say it was an unusual experience for us, as I’m sure it was for him on his first mission. Growing up in Idaho (me) and Utah (both of us) we were very, or let me say extremely, sheltered from the different cultures and races of the world. We seldom saw or had the opportunity to associate with people who were not of our own race, color or religion. Except, growing up in Preston, Idaho, I did get to see a lot of Native American Indians. They would come to Preston and the surrounding area in the summer and early fall as migrant workers to pick through the large fields of string beans and harvest potatoes and sugar beets. We got used to them being around, frequenting the local beer halls etc. but only saw them in the fields and downtown. I don’t remember any of them coming to church either. Anyway, I digress. So, when Niel, as a young missionary, was assigned to live in a flat in this particular part of London, he was able to get acquainted with a culture and people heretofore completely unknown to him, the tribe of Judah. He lived there, but the proselyting was minimal at best. He said that there was a Mezuzah on the frame of EVERY front door or gate. They didn’t want a thing to do with the Mormon missionaries. He had no success, but learned a lot about these people. He learned that their religious and ethnic background was extremely important to them, and that they were totally happy to isolate themselves from other religions.  

When we drove through this particular neighborhood, a different feeling came over me. I really felt like I was in another time. The people living in Edgware are still mostly all Jewish. In fact, I was finally able to pin down where it was. I felt like I was in a small Jewish community and Tevye (Fiddler on the Roof) was going to come down the street with his milk wagon as he did a century ago. Mothers and their children were out on the street or visiting each other at door steps. Most all the women wore black scarves, tied in the same way, to cover their hair. They also wore dark skirts and black shoes. ALL the men and young boys, even little ones, had on their Jewish caps (Kippah) and had long ringlet curls down the sides of their heads. It was almost eerie. Niel got his courage up to talk to one of the ladies who happened to be standing at the doorway of a flat he thought might have been his old missionary lodging. 

She was somewhat friendly and talked with him for a short while, as the rest of us wondered around the neighborhood. Finally, she asked why he was looking for a certain flat. When he told her that he had been a Mormon missionary almost 49 years ago, she physically took a step back into her house. A kind of barrier came down and she gathered up her children and took them inside. She did let Niel take one picture, but preferred not to let it be her children. 

I’m sure that we could go to many other places in the world today and have pretty much the same experience. However, I felt that it was a good learning experience for us. These people, even though they are somewhat different from us, are still our brothers and sisters. God loves them as he does all of His children. I learned it is important to show respect to others no matter how different their beliefs and cultures are. They deserve to embrace what is theirs as much as we embrace the knowledge we have of the Restored Gospel. I only wish there was a way to bridge the gap. All I can say is: "The Lord will provide a way."

Hey—let’s move on to the Isle of Wight!  We met the Turner’s (Ian and Maggie) down on the seaside town of Southampton. We had made plans to stay on their beautiful boat and do a little riding in the English Channel the next day, which was our Monday prep day. When we got there, we found out that they were planning to take us over to a wonderful place called the Isle of Wight. 

“The Isle of Wight, known to the ancient Romans as Vectis, is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 3 to 5 mi (5 to 8 km) off the coast of Hampshire, separated from mainland United Kingdom by a strait called the Solent. The island has several resorts which have been holiday destinations since Victorian times.

The history of the Isle of Wight includes a brief period of time as an independent kingdom in the 15th century. Until 1995, like Jersey and Guernsey, the island had a Governor.

Home to the poets Swinburne and Tennyson and to Queen Victoria, who built her much-loved summer residence and final home Osborne House at East Cowes, the island has a maritime and industrial tradition including boat building, sail making, the manufacture of flying boats, the world's first hovercraft, and the testing and development of Britain's space rockets. The Isle hosts annual festivals including the Isle of Wight International Jazz Festival, Bestival and the recently revived Isle of Wight Festival, which, in 1970, was the largest rock music event ever held.[1] The island has well-conserved wildlife and some of the richest cliffs and quarries for dinosaur fossils in Europe.”

The weather was fab, we ate some of the best food we have ever eaten on our mission, loved the town Cowes, and loved the company we kept.  Really, the Turner’s were so good to us, as they always are. We made good memories with them.

I feel like I’ve talked my leg off. Hope I’m not too boring. We are super busy with the work in the temple most of the time. But it’s nice to have a little diversion one day each week. 

Our love to everyone. 

Niel (Grumpa) and Carolee (Granny)