England's Chef's and the Food

Jim's Journal Entry, Tues, Mar 9, 1937--

"After a discussion on the Gospel we went out to gather in some food. We are batchelors [sic] now. We laid in what we believe will last for the next week. We cooked our first meal in the lodge for lunch. It was a swell meal, and it was also fun to cook it."

Sat. Mar 20, 1937--

"We had our usual meeting to begin the new day and song practice for the quartette[sic]. Elder Stephens and I, of necessity, fasted this morning, we have no food in. I am feeling fine--gaining weight every week. . . Letters came today from Miller, Gwen, and Dad."

Mar 20, 1937--Gwen's Letter included,

"Right now before we go any farther let's stop and decide a very serious problem. You say that this very important bet between you and Mr. Brown will be lost for you if I stick with you. Is that right? In other words you don't get the candy unless I'll be good enough to stop writing. What kind of candy will it be? Is it really worth all that? If I promise to let you win that box of candy would you send me some. .? I've heard though that English candy isn't so good anyway . . .What is this food which makes people gain nine pounds over night? I have a mental picture of you in two years from now. Look and I'll show you.




"Well I could even forgive that as long as you won't lose your hair. . .







"Well kid I've got to close now so please be happy and love me as I love you.
Your Sincere Sweetheart,
Gwen

" 'Patience is bitter but its fruit sweet' --Rousseau"

New PJs and Advice on Girls who Wait . . .

Sun. Feb. 28, 1937--
Jim's Journal reads:

"I had tea at Bro and Sis. Pickersgill, and really enjoyed it. We roasted chestnuts and talked and she gave me some real advice on girls. 'If they do wait you don't want them, if they don't wait you do want them, because its only natural to want what someone else wants and decline what no one else cares for.' That evening I was the only speaker [in Middlesboro] for about twenty minutes."

Jim in his new robe.

Gwen's letter dated Mar 1, 1937 declared--

"I got your letter and picture to-day and decided then to sit right down and answer pronto. By the way--those are right smart pajamas you're sporting. . . You know, more dash. You make me feel like a very conservative person. I guess I must rush right up town and get a pair of fancy ones or you'll leave me behind the style. Anyway I kind of liked to see you perched there with those fancy house slippers . . .only why didn't you beam kid? Come on beam for me please. If you will then I'll feel more like beaming too. OK now we're both laughing be careful or it'll be a giggle. Remember how we threw dish water at each other and how you always got the best of me[?] You wait though. I'm going to train for a couple of years and then you dear old 'villain' I'll show who's got the muscle in our family."

Facing Challenges and Discouragement

From a conversation on April 2, 2010--Jim explained:

"When I was set apart as a missionary by Elder Melvin J. Ballard, he asked first for my name. I had such a hard time saying 'William' [because of stuttering] that when he laid his hands on my head, he set me apart as a missionary and then promised me that I would be able to speak and bear my testimony clearly to the saints in England."

From Gwen's letter, March 1, 1937:

". . . Jim, sweetheart, I know you won't say no to an opportunity because you aren't a coward. Don't make it too hard on yourself though at first, dear, because you can't accomplish everything in a day but a little each day.

". . .I have a very strong feeling Jim, that your trouble now is all part of the great plan. Look ahead two years and see yourself standing before these same people. . . I believe these people admire you now for bringing them a message such as you are even in the face of obstacles and I believe firmly they'll believe even stronger when they hear you again later on, when this gradual change has made you able to tell them as freely as you write me. I'm not just saying this Jim. Your going away has made me kneel down many times and pray earnestly for you and us and Jim I truly believe it is giving me a testimony. I believe your Patriarchal blessing and I believe your blessing Apostle Ballard gave you. It will be fulfilled Jim, darling. Work, pray and have patience and know that you're doing right and therefore you are doing more good than you realize."

Later in life, when Gwen was asked to write down a "time when God answered a specific prayer," she wrote:

"When I prayed that Jim would be able to speak without a stammer. Heavenly Father answered, 'Yes'"
(Entry from, Reflections from a Mother's Heart, 1998).

At the end of the conversation on April 2, 2010, Gwen added:

"Do you know what he did to be able to speak without the stammering? He'd go down to the wharf and talk into the wind. That's what healed it. It was a miracle."

Missing Letters and Valentine's

"Feb 13&14--Best wishes for a happy birthday, 'My Valentine.' May the coming years be as nice to you as the past. Love and Regards, as ever, Jim "






Feb. 14, 1937--Jim's journal entry concludes stating, "Today was the first Valentines day Gwen has not given me a Valentine since we have been keeping company."


Gwen's Letter, Feb 15, 1937--
"Dear Jim,
"I've decided that you are either down with one of the Jones boys (Davey or Paul) at the bottom of the ocean or else an English mermaid has you all ready. Anyway, if I don't get a letter soon I'll _______ ___________ ________ ___________!! Well you just imagine the rest. I believe though that I was wrong about the Jones guess because we read in the Telegram and the news that the SS Manhattan with Mr. Wm J. Telford aboard landed safely in Plymouth Feb. 2. Your father also read about the SS Manhattan and the SS Rex being called to rescue a ship in distress but after they turned from their course the distressed ship wired she was safe.. . .
"I had a dream about you the other night Jim, but I won't tell it now. Anyway, I'm very anxious to hear from you. My goodness at this rate I'll get a letter once a month. Anyway even though I think you're a piker I'm still thinking of you and hope you're feeling fine. Please take care of yourself and write me if your care to.
"Even with an ocean between, Jim I still love you as ever. Sincerely, Gwen"

Feb 19, 1937, Jim's journal entry ends with, "I am plenty sore at Gwen, if it does any good, but have hopes for better days."

Gwen's Letter, Feb 21, 1937--
"Darling,
"To-day is almost past and with it has gone one month of our separation already and I want to tell you from down deep in my heart Jim, that I'm proud of you, proud to be wearing the ring of a clean worthy missionary and Jim dear one month away from you has made me love you more even than I did before. I am counting the months until we'll be to-gether again and I think about you always and pray for your way over there. . . Jim dearest, if I could just be with you now for a few minutes and could talk confidentially and hold you close it would be wonderful. I know you're having a tough time now for a while Jim. They all do but keep that chin out and show what I know you're really made of and no one or nothing can lick you especially with "Him" on your side.
" . . .Jim, I was disappointed in my last letter because I hadn't heard from you and I hope my last letter wasn't a wet blanket because of my disappointment. . . .Tuesday I received your letters just before mutual and boy was I thrilled. Your mom and dad got theirs that same day and they were just as thrilled.
". . .How are your 6 roommates. Please tell me all about your districts . . .Tell me more about England and the people and what you do, feel and think.
"Goodnight, Sweetheart, and keep your chin up. I'm with you every minute too, with loads of love and sincere devotion, Gwen"

The Work, Assignments, and Homesickness

February 3, 1937. London England.
". . .We went to the mission office and were interviewed by Pres. Cannon, asked where we would like to labor and what we could do. . . We were put in a lodge close to the mission office, where they have no fires, no running water or any modern conveniences. Everything is old.

Feb 4 - ". . .At noon we were interviewed by Pres. Cannon again and given our assignments. . . .Brown and I to Newcastle. We were then taken around London seeing St. Paul's, Big Ben, Parliament, Westminister Abbey, Picaddilly, Trafalgar, Fleet Street, Bank of England and many other landmarks of England history.

Fri. Feb 5- "We had a testimony meeting. . .We then went to make our trunks ready to send to Newcastle. . . At three we were on our way to Kings Cross station and at four we were aboard a fast train headed for Newcastle. . .Over and through rolling and beautiful country on a real fast train we went. . .We arrived in Newcastle at 10:20 pm. . . England never, give me the good old U.S.A. for real comfort and security."



Jim with some of the other missionaries in England


Sat. Feb 6, 1937. Newcastle.
"Today I had my first tracting experience from door to door in the mission field. Elders Brown, Bryson, Robinson and myself sold Millenial Stars. I was lucky and sold two Stars on the first day. After that we went to the rooms. I was and am very lonely for home and friends. Home never meant so much to me as it does now. In the afternoon I wrote letters to Gwen and Dot [Dorothy Bishop] . . . Was glad when it was bed time."