Monday, October 30, 2017
Eb Lewis was a Legend
Eb Lewis was a Legend
October 29, 2017
I was in the Baptistry for the first time yesterday on a busy Saturday afternoon. A group was finishing up while another ward had just arrived. A man noticed my tag and asked me a question. I responded that I was new and would have to ask Sister Kelly, who was training me. He asked where I was from and I responded, "Arizona." His face beamed and he replied, "Aw, Arizona.....I served my mission there........in the White Mountains for a year." I told him I was from the White Mountains. He immediately jumped in, "Show Low?"
I wanted to cry. But I didn't. Elder Winkworth served mainly with Elder Moon over the time period of 1989/90. He recognized our name, thinking My Mike was the stake president then. Well, he wasn't-But it was as if Brother Winkworth had found gold. He couldn't get over the fact I was from Show Low. His two sons were standing by him and he asked them to assure me that he talked about Show Low all the time. They both nodded and replied that he sure did. He immediately began asking me about people. Floyd Gilmore was the ward mission leader and he always wore "these ties" (motioning to where Floyd's tie would have been) Now, I've seen Floyd many times in a tie. They look pretty normal to me but it sure made an impression on a young English elder. The more he talked I realized he had probably served in the second ward area. He knew the Turley's. He asked about Leroy and Mary Lou DeWitt. I told him they had served a couple of missions and were growing old together. Such good people. He replied with, "Of course. They were the salt of the earth"
He wanted to know about Eb Lewis. I told him that Eb was my dad. He could not get over it. "Eb Lewis was a Legend", he stated, "he took me in his little shop and helped me make a turquoise bola tie."
We had to break up our conversation then, but, as we passed each other while we both did our duties, he would ask about wards or just shake his head in awe that I truly came from Show Low, AZ. In the final bit of conversation we had, he said, "Here is my lasting impression of Show Low.....everyone heated their homes with these pot belly stoves. They all burned alligator juniper. When I am outdoors and I smell smoke it immediately takes me back to Show Low. It has always been my dream to return there and show my family". I understand his analogy. The gardeners on the temple ground have a burn spot that is often burning in the evenings and when I smell it, I am taken Home to campfires, cookouts, and winter evenings.
Now, you all may say that this was sure a happy coincidence. I say it was a miracle. The Lord blessed both him and me with this sweet experience. Brother Winkworth loves Show Low as much as I do. Even after almost 30 years of his leaving the area. His memories took me back to a simpler time and the best people on the earth. I could hardly think of another thing after this experience. All I wanted to do was find My Mikie and tell him what happened.
At the day's end, we met in the foyer of the temple. I immediately teared up when I saw him. He immediately teared up when I told him of my encounter with this elder. We both had a hard time controlling our emotions.
I can't quit thinking of this encounter. It may well be the highlight of this mission for me. It may be what I need to carry on when I have a "blue" day. I was born to a legend. And might I add, my dearest mother is my hero too. I think of them every, everyday when I am in the temple. I think of my dearest daughters and their families. I think of all those people I love from our dearest Show Low. And I bet money that my new friend, Elder Winkworth, hasn't quit thinking of our experience either.
My most tender feelings,
Sister Seaman - aka Mom and Grams
Your English Lesson:
"Have a go at it" - Give it a try
"Are we winning?" - Is everything working out ok?
bits and bobs - a little of this; a little of that
Grit - When it freezes, grit is thrown on the roads. We throw cinders.
Kerfluffle - a mess or difficulty. Maybe a bit like, "Don't get your panties in a wrinkle (kerfluffle).
Lunch
October 29, 2017
I was in the Baptistry for the first time yesterday on a busy Saturday afternoon. A group was finishing up while another ward had just arrived. A man noticed my tag and asked me a question. I responded that I was new and would have to ask Sister Kelly, who was training me. He asked where I was from and I responded, "Arizona." His face beamed and he replied, "Aw, Arizona.....I served my mission there........in the White Mountains for a year." I told him I was from the White Mountains. He immediately jumped in, "Show Low?"
I wanted to cry. But I didn't. Elder Winkworth served mainly with Elder Moon over the time period of 1989/90. He recognized our name, thinking My Mike was the stake president then. Well, he wasn't-But it was as if Brother Winkworth had found gold. He couldn't get over the fact I was from Show Low. His two sons were standing by him and he asked them to assure me that he talked about Show Low all the time. They both nodded and replied that he sure did. He immediately began asking me about people. Floyd Gilmore was the ward mission leader and he always wore "these ties" (motioning to where Floyd's tie would have been) Now, I've seen Floyd many times in a tie. They look pretty normal to me but it sure made an impression on a young English elder. The more he talked I realized he had probably served in the second ward area. He knew the Turley's. He asked about Leroy and Mary Lou DeWitt. I told him they had served a couple of missions and were growing old together. Such good people. He replied with, "Of course. They were the salt of the earth"
He wanted to know about Eb Lewis. I told him that Eb was my dad. He could not get over it. "Eb Lewis was a Legend", he stated, "he took me in his little shop and helped me make a turquoise bola tie."
We had to break up our conversation then, but, as we passed each other while we both did our duties, he would ask about wards or just shake his head in awe that I truly came from Show Low, AZ. In the final bit of conversation we had, he said, "Here is my lasting impression of Show Low.....everyone heated their homes with these pot belly stoves. They all burned alligator juniper. When I am outdoors and I smell smoke it immediately takes me back to Show Low. It has always been my dream to return there and show my family". I understand his analogy. The gardeners on the temple ground have a burn spot that is often burning in the evenings and when I smell it, I am taken Home to campfires, cookouts, and winter evenings.
Now, you all may say that this was sure a happy coincidence. I say it was a miracle. The Lord blessed both him and me with this sweet experience. Brother Winkworth loves Show Low as much as I do. Even after almost 30 years of his leaving the area. His memories took me back to a simpler time and the best people on the earth. I could hardly think of another thing after this experience. All I wanted to do was find My Mikie and tell him what happened.
At the day's end, we met in the foyer of the temple. I immediately teared up when I saw him. He immediately teared up when I told him of my encounter with this elder. We both had a hard time controlling our emotions.
I can't quit thinking of this encounter. It may well be the highlight of this mission for me. It may be what I need to carry on when I have a "blue" day. I was born to a legend. And might I add, my dearest mother is my hero too. I think of them every, everyday when I am in the temple. I think of my dearest daughters and their families. I think of all those people I love from our dearest Show Low. And I bet money that my new friend, Elder Winkworth, hasn't quit thinking of our experience either.
My most tender feelings,
Sister Seaman - aka Mom and Grams
Your English Lesson:
"Have a go at it" - Give it a try
"Are we winning?" - Is everything working out ok?
bits and bobs - a little of this; a little of that
Grit - When it freezes, grit is thrown on the roads. We throw cinders.
Kerfluffle - a mess or difficulty. Maybe a bit like, "Don't get your panties in a wrinkle (kerfluffle).
Lunch
The late shift is kicking our tails. We go in at 2:30 and home by 9:00. They are are long weeks and we feel like all we do is spend our day in the temple. We go straight to bed but can't go to sleep and then sleep late. I am excited to go to "earlies" this week. Hooray!
England changed time Sunday morning from day-savings to regular. The sun now comes up at around 7:00am and it is dark right now at 4:45pm. This could be a long dark winter. On the map, our longitude appears to be about the same as the lower part of the Hudson Bay up in Canada. No wonder right?
The bright spot this week occurred at our lunch break a couple of days ago. We were sitting, eating and talking to the other "English" workers there. I had made a batch of Hawaiian baked beans and had some for lunch. They weren't that good as I had only found the very cheapest of the baked beans over here and had no spices in it.
As I was eating them, one of the workers asked what I was eating. I think it was an unusual site to see somebody actually eating beans. He asked what it was, and I told him that I had made my famous baked beans but was disappointed in the turn out. I told him it was due to the poor quality of the beans and that I could not find any hot sausage to go in it. Sausage in England is almost inedible.
The guy at the next table pipes up and said that he used "cooley beans" and went on talking about how spicy they were. I said, "Cooley beans, what's that?" "Ya, ya." he says, "Cooley beans, that's what I said." I said, "Did you say cooley beans? I don't think I am understanding what you are saying." He says, with great emphasis, "COOLEY BEANS." By that time, his wife had entered the conversation and is laughing to the point of tears ( as is everyone else, except me and this guy.) She says, " He is saying "curry beans." Didn't sound like "curry beans" to me. I looked at Kim and she is shaking her head, laughing and crying, trying to be polite and unable to decide what to say. I know she was hearing cooley beans too. So I say to him, "Say it one more time, I can't get curry out of whatever it is you are saying." He says no and is indignant that I, the dumb American, can't understand him. Anyway, if you are ever in England and somebody offers you cooley beans just say no thanks. I have included a picture a can of "cooley beans" that was given to me today as a gift from our neighbors who were included in the above conversation.
Well, so much for speaking the King's English. I hope I get better at it. I love and miss you all, especially after Kim's experience this week. Pray for us and we will pray for you.
Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
Monday, October 23, 2017
Temple Work
Temple Work
October 21, 2017
October 21, 2017
Contrary to the pictures we have posted on this blog since we arrived in England, we are really serving a mission here. This may be one of the few missions where we cannot take pictures of our actual assignments or the people we serve with. It is a crying shame that we cannot show you all pictures of people we meet while we are in the temple. By the time our shift is over, people have scattered to their homes or various other assignments in the temple. Girls, picture those temple workers in our dear Snowflake Temple and that will work.
Have you ever been some place and seen someone who reminds you of someone you already know? I love to study people. I think we are all so fascinating. What makes us all tick? What is the
story of each one of us? When I am in the temple, I love to study everyone in the session with me. I was pretty sure Henry B. Eyring was sitting on the third row this week - until the lights came on. Also this week, I had a sweet experience studying a beautiful dark-haired young woman who reminded me so very much of our Addie that it initially took my breath away.
Let me tell you of one sister I have been enthralled with since we came here. The first morning we were walking into the temple there was a little tiny old woman standing outside the doors. She spoke so softly in her English accent telling us that her daughter forgot to put her suitcase on the train so she didn't have a dress on to go in the temple. Little did we know that she was going in to work for the whole week. And she is 96 years old. She rides on two trains to come in to work every three weeks. Sister Catherine Rodriguez didn't have a dress to wear into the doors of the temple but she sure did have her magnifying glass. She keeps that big thing under her left sleeve of her temple dress so she can see the names. At one time in her life she was the head mistress of a girls' school. She was back again this past week. She told me she just loves this work and cannot afford to retire. She needs the blessings. I told her I want to be like her when I grow up. She just smiled and in her soft, soft voice said, "Oh you can be. Just always trust in the Lord."
We attended the Hayward Heath Ward for the second time this week. Their building is much smaller than any of ours back in AZ. We have been told that all blocks begin over here at 10:00 am since there is only one ward in each building. The chapel does not have pews - just individual chairs. For two weeks now, I have sat looking out the window where the sun comes shining through and lights up the sacrament table. Mind you, it hasn't stayed that way long. The skies here have typically been cloudy and overcast, so to me, the sun shining in has been especially beautiful. The first Sunday we were there was the Primary Program. There were 12 children in that program. But those 12 could sure sing! The whole ward can sing! Lots of gusto in that small chapel. I taught the Relief Society lesson this week and the sisters were so kind to me. I had asked each one to tell me one thing about them that they felt like was one of their divine assignments. A sister on the back row told me her assignment was to learn English so she could talk to her grandchildren. She has been here for three months from Denmark. After Relief Society I visited with her. She was so matter of fact that she had to do this. This was her new Home but, oh, she missed Denmark. Oh Hilda, I can relate!
I remember our setting apart blessing from President Williams and think of it often. Are angels protecting and lifting you, our children and grandchildren, while we are here? We are counting on it. We are trusting in the Lord. We are making this be our Home for now. But can I say, I miss our dear Show Low. Take good care of it until we return.
My Love,
Sister Seaman.....aka Mom and Grandma
Your English Lesson:
*mad - Used often, in a good way, to describe someone's crazy, zany friend
*tin - Our fruits and vegetables come in cans. These people buy them in tins.
*Bartering - joking or messing with someone
*Chinese Whispers - I played "Telephone" with my kids at school while we were standing in line.
The British folks play Chinese Whispers. I'm not sure this could be done in the U.S. I think the
ACLU would be all over it.
Drawing a Blank
I am sitting here at the computer drawing a complete blank. I do not know what to talk about. It has been a regular old week with nothing out of the ordinary happening. Kim says I should talk about the castle we saw today. But it was just an old castle ruin. It was very pretty though. The gardens and estate were magnificent. (See pictures.) The Old Timers must have had some money to build and plant and grow and trim to get what we saw today and it is several hundred years old.
England has a charm about it. I think it has to do with age (everything being very old) and keeping traditions. The people are very proud of who they are and where they have come from. The older folks are also very frugal (tight.) I was putting the last names of the men working around me on little post-it notes and then throwing them away as they finished their work. An older man, in his 90's, was watching me and he said to me, "You must be an American." I said I was but wanted to know how he knew. He said that if I were English, I would have used the rubber (eraser) and used the notes again and again. There you have it.
I also had a short discussion with a 90 year-old lady in the temple yesterday about England. I ask her if the English people really liked the royalty still. She said, "Oh yes, we do like our kings and queens." I told her that from my perspective (an American perspective,) they shouldn't spend the money on them and their way of life anymore (it must be unbelievably expensive.) From her perspective, what I said was sacrilege. She said that even though the monarch does not have any power in the government, she still signs all official documents, such as bills passed in parliament, attends all ceremonial events and so on. She said the Queen is very busy. By the looks of things around Buckingham Palace the English people are very interested in having the Royals continue. There is a certain sense of sternness and being proper and saying all your vowels, and whatever you do, you better "carry on." It makes no sense to me, but I can feel the love they have for all things English. So, at least, for the immediate future, the queen gets to stay.
Well as Porky the Pig used to say, "That's all folks!" Maybe next week.
Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
story of each one of us? When I am in the temple, I love to study everyone in the session with me. I was pretty sure Henry B. Eyring was sitting on the third row this week - until the lights came on. Also this week, I had a sweet experience studying a beautiful dark-haired young woman who reminded me so very much of our Addie that it initially took my breath away.
Let me tell you of one sister I have been enthralled with since we came here. The first morning we were walking into the temple there was a little tiny old woman standing outside the doors. She spoke so softly in her English accent telling us that her daughter forgot to put her suitcase on the train so she didn't have a dress on to go in the temple. Little did we know that she was going in to work for the whole week. And she is 96 years old. She rides on two trains to come in to work every three weeks. Sister Catherine Rodriguez didn't have a dress to wear into the doors of the temple but she sure did have her magnifying glass. She keeps that big thing under her left sleeve of her temple dress so she can see the names. At one time in her life she was the head mistress of a girls' school. She was back again this past week. She told me she just loves this work and cannot afford to retire. She needs the blessings. I told her I want to be like her when I grow up. She just smiled and in her soft, soft voice said, "Oh you can be. Just always trust in the Lord."
We attended the Hayward Heath Ward for the second time this week. Their building is much smaller than any of ours back in AZ. We have been told that all blocks begin over here at 10:00 am since there is only one ward in each building. The chapel does not have pews - just individual chairs. For two weeks now, I have sat looking out the window where the sun comes shining through and lights up the sacrament table. Mind you, it hasn't stayed that way long. The skies here have typically been cloudy and overcast, so to me, the sun shining in has been especially beautiful. The first Sunday we were there was the Primary Program. There were 12 children in that program. But those 12 could sure sing! The whole ward can sing! Lots of gusto in that small chapel. I taught the Relief Society lesson this week and the sisters were so kind to me. I had asked each one to tell me one thing about them that they felt like was one of their divine assignments. A sister on the back row told me her assignment was to learn English so she could talk to her grandchildren. She has been here for three months from Denmark. After Relief Society I visited with her. She was so matter of fact that she had to do this. This was her new Home but, oh, she missed Denmark. Oh Hilda, I can relate!
I remember our setting apart blessing from President Williams and think of it often. Are angels protecting and lifting you, our children and grandchildren, while we are here? We are counting on it. We are trusting in the Lord. We are making this be our Home for now. But can I say, I miss our dear Show Low. Take good care of it until we return.
My Love,
Sister Seaman.....aka Mom and Grandma
Your English Lesson:
*mad - Used often, in a good way, to describe someone's crazy, zany friend
*tin - Our fruits and vegetables come in cans. These people buy them in tins.
*Bartering - joking or messing with someone
*Chinese Whispers - I played "Telephone" with my kids at school while we were standing in line.
The British folks play Chinese Whispers. I'm not sure this could be done in the U.S. I think the
ACLU would be all over it.
Drawing a Blank
I am sitting here at the computer drawing a complete blank. I do not know what to talk about. It has been a regular old week with nothing out of the ordinary happening. Kim says I should talk about the castle we saw today. But it was just an old castle ruin. It was very pretty though. The gardens and estate were magnificent. (See pictures.) The Old Timers must have had some money to build and plant and grow and trim to get what we saw today and it is several hundred years old.
England has a charm about it. I think it has to do with age (everything being very old) and keeping traditions. The people are very proud of who they are and where they have come from. The older folks are also very frugal (tight.) I was putting the last names of the men working around me on little post-it notes and then throwing them away as they finished their work. An older man, in his 90's, was watching me and he said to me, "You must be an American." I said I was but wanted to know how he knew. He said that if I were English, I would have used the rubber (eraser) and used the notes again and again. There you have it.
I also had a short discussion with a 90 year-old lady in the temple yesterday about England. I ask her if the English people really liked the royalty still. She said, "Oh yes, we do like our kings and queens." I told her that from my perspective (an American perspective,) they shouldn't spend the money on them and their way of life anymore (it must be unbelievably expensive.) From her perspective, what I said was sacrilege. She said that even though the monarch does not have any power in the government, she still signs all official documents, such as bills passed in parliament, attends all ceremonial events and so on. She said the Queen is very busy. By the looks of things around Buckingham Palace the English people are very interested in having the Royals continue. There is a certain sense of sternness and being proper and saying all your vowels, and whatever you do, you better "carry on." It makes no sense to me, but I can feel the love they have for all things English. So, at least, for the immediate future, the queen gets to stay.
Well as Porky the Pig used to say, "That's all folks!" Maybe next week.
Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
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