Moving On
We took a trip with our English friends, Graham and Jean Walters, down to Sandwich and then, a stop at Dover Castle. Graham buzzes down the motorway. He passes all the big lorries (trucks) going what seems to me to be at least 90 mph. Occasionally, he breaks into song. We would pass all the lay-bys (rest stops) with my eyes darting all over the place trying to take it all in. The Walters are dear people. He is a sealer and when they finish their mission in May, they will have served for three and a half years. I love to drill Jean on her past life in England and she is very happy to tell me lots of stories. Girls, the words I am learning over here!
The Reader's Digest version of Sandwich goes something like this: the street plan has not changed since the 1000's. That's the ten hundreds. Public buildings date back to the 13th century. It is so quaint! We ate lunch in the "George and Dragon" that dated back to the 1400's. I especially loved the old churches. From the main church, the bells would (and still do) toll at 8:00p signaling a curfew time. At that time, the townspeople would let out their pigs and geese to wander the streets and clean up all refuge that people would throw out their doors. At 5:00am the bells rang again, signaling all citizens to get their animals off the streets and in their pens. Some kind of waste management right there. Now, I didn't see one pigpen or one goose today, so I believe the city now picks up residents' trash.
Dover Castle is truly situated on the White Cliffs of Dover. France can be seen on a clear day, being only 21 miles away. We took a tour of the Underground Hospital used in WWll. It began with 10 wards and eventually dwindled down to two wards with the wounded being slapped together enough to be taken to larger hospitals, That little spot was only a fraction of the history of that place. We also walked in the Underground tunnels which were built between 1179 and 1256. There were cannon replicas and slits for other guns or bows and arrows. It boggles my mind. England is truly rich with history as they have been invaded over and over again by so many countries.
Our temple experience here is also a reminder of all the people of the world who come to England to live. This week, I watched as a fair skinned true Englishman with ruddy cheeks stood clasping hands with the darkest, wrinkled hand I had ever seen. This made such an impression on my mind as their hands were up against a stark,white curtain, if you will. Oh, the gospel of Jesus Christ is for all mankind! I have since seen this worker and learned he is from somewhere in Africa. I have held cards to assist patrons from Portugal, Thailand (that one was fancy writing!), Spanish, and Even English cards for those learning English. I met a friend from Brazil named Ana Claudia who is here on a visa. She is desperate to learn English so when she has to return to Brazil, she can get into a doctorate program. What better spot for her to be than living in accommodations on the temple grounds for 13 pounds a night? She works in the Laundry during the day and attends the temple each night. She is so humble and sensitive to the spirit. She hugged me and sobbed and sobbed one evening all the while thanking me for helping her in initiatory. Who does that?
So, our lives are moving on. My Mikie is my dearest companion on this grand adventure. I run into him throughout the day while we are fulfilling our various duties. I make eyes at him and still have my stomach do a flip-flop when he smiles back at me. We come home dead-tired from lots of standing around, climb in bed, and wake up ready to do it all again.
My Love to my Darlings at Home,
Grams, Mom, ,,,aka Sister Seaman
My English Lesson for the Week:
"Are you keeping ok?" ....same as "How are you?' ,,,,,but prettier, don't you think?
"You must have blue eyes."........Meaning that you are the favorite or got the best deal
And finally,,,,,,back to "Spend a Penny"......I found out why older people say this when they need to "wee" (very common saying also), Years ago, public restrooms cost a penny to use. My friends tell of holding the door so their mates could use it after them. Today, we actually paid 20 pence to use the cutest little toilet in Sandwich. It even had geraniums growing near the window above the sink.
Would you like Ham in your Sandwich
The English version of how the sandwich got its name is as follows:
The Earl of Sandwich ask for a bite to eat while he was fighting the enemy and said just put something between two pieces of bread and give it to me quick. Thus the name sandwich was born. I think I have heard a slightly different version before, somewhere. I am not sure where the village of Sandwich got it name. (By the way, this sounds like "samich" when our guide says it. In fact, I thought our outing today was driving to "samich.") Sandwich is located about 11 miles east of Dover. You know, the Dover in the war movies. Dover has tall white cliffs that run vertically down into the sea and can be seen for miles out on the ocean. I'm sure the WWII airplanes returning to England would watch for them.
Sandwich is a lovely, very old, quaint village with very narrow streets and sidewalks. The downtown is covered with shops located in the old buildings that look like they should fall down at any moment. The doorways are all about 5' 6" tall and have very old door-knockers and bell-pulls on them, and they are located not two feet from the street. There are mileage and direction signs chiseled into large blocks of stone that are now part of some building corner. There is a river that runs through it and we got to see the bridge turn at 90 degrees and let the boats go through on their way back from the ocean about 11 miles away. There is an old toll booth that guards the bridge and collects the tolls. It is so cool.
We got to go to Crawley last night and see a live European Broadcast of a fireside where Elder Ballard talked to us and all of Europe. Among other things he said that we live in a day of miracles and should expect them when needed. He recounted his experience in Ethiopia back in the 80's when they were having a deadly drought there and President Benson sent him to see what the church could do to help. (The Church members world-wide contributed $ 6 million dollars the week before for the country of Ethiopia.) He said when he got there, and organized a sacrament meeting with the only member of record in all the country, he ask the three people in attendance to bear their testimonies. He was the last one to do so, and in his testimony he felt a strong impression to bless the country of Ethiopia and call for an end to the drought. He said he remembers saying " let it rain." He said when he got back to his room that night, he prayed that he had done the right thing as he had felt so strongly impressed and that he felt like the drought needed to end. He said that that very night he heard a clap of thunder and it started raining and rained every day that he was there.
Do not forget who you are and what you can do. You can do this. You must do this. There is too much at stake. You are the best I know. Keep up the good work and stay strong.
Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
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