Continuing the missionary diary of Evelyn Taylor, of Salt Lake City, serving in the California North Mission —
Thursday, Sep 25, 1947
We had our regular study class this morning. We’re reading the Doctrine & Covenants now. I wish I had written down the things I wanted to remember in each section as we read.
We went to Petaluma early so we could get some business done before going to Primary. We saw the Conrads first, as we were leaving th bus depot, and stopped and talked with them for a minute. Then went to see Sr. Francoli. They have bought the a car. She surely has a hard time with her husband, he being a Catholic and his family doesn’t have very high ideals. It isn’t worth marrying outside the church for anything – I knew that first by faith but now by experience.
We had intended to visit Mrs. Norton but she had company so we went to town and bought some things for Primary and went to Hill Plaza Park for half an hour until it was time for Primary.
There were only four at Primary – the two Chappells, Ronnie and James. They were better behaved than usual – it was one of the weeks when I felt it was worth it after all. We discontinued it today because it is too much to go to Petaluma twice a week and none of them are members. I hated to do it when there wasn’t anyone to carry it on or us but we decided it would be best.
Tonight we went to the services at Hamilton Field. We met Bros. Johnson, Mangus, and Clyland (sp) who weren’t there last time. Elders Hadfield and Durant and Bro & Sis Carter from S. Rafael Br, Corde Madera came, too. The elders are living with Bro & Sis C.
Bro Johnson took charge and led a discussion of the second Article of Faith. It was a good meeting. Then he and Mangus brought us home – after the usual Mormon meeting that’s held after dismissal, of course.
Friday, Sep 26, 1947
I fed Mrs. Lundblad’s chickens and geese and dog & cats this morning. We took some pictures of us feeding the afterwards and had a time getting the “gooses” to get where we could take them.
We had a good Primary today, there were 13 children present – 5 members which is all the member children we have found so far old enough for Primary. Nikki Brasher came. She’s a sweet little girl. We talked to Sr. Brasher when she came to pick her up and she promised to send Nikki to S.S. – I wish she would come herself, maybe she will. I think it is wonderful the way the mothers have supported us with Primary. Sr. Markham will take care of it next week while we’re in Ukiah and was glad to do it.
I am going to teach the New Testament Stories to the children in S.S. and have a picture for them to color each time.
Mrs. Lundblad isn’t home yet. I guess she’s having a real trip. There is a friend of hers came to see her and stay a week with her. We found her on the back stairs when we got home from Primary. She’s sleeping in Mrs. Lundblad’s room. We did our washing tonight because we’ll have to leave rather early tomorrow for Report Meeting in Santa Rosa. Got the material ready foe the Primary in Petaluma. Sr. Conrad will take care of it.
Saturday, Sep 27, 1947
Got the room cleaned up and my lesson for Sunday School and caught the bus for Petaluma. Stopped for a minute to see Mrs. Norton & Sr. Young on the way to Conrads, then went with them to Santa Rosa to the Report Meeting. It was held in the new chapel. They’ve certainly come a long way on it – we had a lot of fresh air, tho.
There are 27 of us now, including the 6 going overseas. It was a very good meeting – four hours long. Afterwards we went to Hawkes and had some more of the ice cream we won from the other districts o our Book of Mormons.
We got our instructions for Ukiah and will leave Sunday to be at the 8:00 meeting. We’re going to draw numbers for sides and get a certain number of points for hrs. of tracting, B of M’s placed, etc. and the side with the least number of points is to prepare a meal for us Saturday when we all go to the redwoods. We’ll have a class in the morning again at 7:30.
Elders Johns & Hawkins are to coe and help us in our Sunday School in Novato.
Elder Hadfield drove Conrads’ car to Petaluma, then he and Elder Durant & Sis & I got the bus the rest of the way. The elders are working in Corde Madera below San Rafael. They’re going to PEtaluma tomorrow but will come and help us eat our watermelon we got because the other elders are leaving as soon as Sunday School is over
Mrs. Lundblad is home and her friends are spending the night here.
We were up late washing our hair, cooking potatoes for salad, getting the final things ready for Sunday School and making out reports.
Sunday, Sep 28, 1947
We were supposed to meet the elders at the “bus depot” at 9:30 this morning, but when we got there they weren’t there so we went back to Markhams’ to fix the Sacrament table and went back at 10 to 10 and they still weren’t there. We decided they must have missed the bus and started back to Markhams’. Then they and Elder Dickison came around the corner of 2n St. They had seen us cross the street and were in a place eating. By the time they got out we were just turning the corner on 2nd St. They didn’t remember which house was Markhams’ and went to the end of 2nd. Then they turned around and saw us just going on to Grant on our way to look for them again, so followed us. We were surely glad to see them and for a while had thought everyone had deserted us.
Mrs. Baughman and Dee were there and Nikkie Brasher and Houston Warner, besides the Markham family. A total of 14.
I conducted, Elder Johns opened with prayer, Elder Dickison led the Sacrament Gem, Johns & Hawkins administered the Sacrament and gave the 2-1/2 minute talks and Bro. Markham closed with prayer.
I like our members and our little Sunday School. There will be 3 children to be blessed next week – 2 Markhams and Janice Brasher. We have addresses of two more members from Pres. Reed and will write to the and those in Meadow Park telling them about SS and Primary and will go visit them when we get back from Ukiah. We have enough members to rent a hall and will see if we can get the Community House
The Elders came a little after one o’clock and we had dinner – had to save half of our watermelon for later. Then we packed while the Elders talked to Mr. Hagans. When we finished, we came in and so did Mrs. Hagans & Mrs. Lundblad and we visited for a while. Mr. Hagans took us to the bus depot. More correct – bus stop.
We got to Ukiah about 10 after 7 and went to the hall most of the missionaries were there so pretty soon Pres. Hawkes passed his hat around with the numbers in it. The first six to draw drew odd numbers and that was all the lm’s. Elders Wright Young & Cottam, Elders Day & Walker (?), and Pres & Sr Hawkes are also on the odd team.
After the meeting we were assigned our places to stay and the scripture for tomorrow. I’m at Hammons’ & so are Haslam and Winters. We’re sure lucky. Our scripture for tomorrow is John 5:25 and I’d better stop and learn it.
Monday, Sep 29, 1947
Sr. Hammons woke us up this morning and we got up and she had a good breakfast cooked for us. We walked down to the hall and got there in time – if we’re late, points are deducted.
First we quoted scripture, then Pres. Hawkes told Elder Wright to draw something out of his hat – it was a slip of paper with “Holy Ghost” written on it and he had to give a talk on it. Then we read a section of the D&C. Our assignment for the morning is to read the first chapter of the Handbook and be able to report on it and a scripture to learn.
We were given our districts and a copy of the directory. It’s a nice book.
We had good tracting in the morning – one lady invited us in and we had a good conversation with her. She is looking for the truth and has to think things out in her mind before she can accept it. She is an elderly woman and of course many of our ideas are so new and different to her she can’t accept it all at once. I don’t think she should be pushed too fast, but she is a good contact. She is acquainted and thinks very much of Pres. Call and is favorable to Mormon doctrine although she doesn’t accept all of it yet.
The afternoon wasn’t as good – there were not any people home. At least we got ore tired and didn’t get any invitations in. About 3:30 we saw Elders Beattie and Card, they were getting a root beer at a service station and got one for us too, and then we got our only “invitation in” and sat in their car and got rested. Then we tracted until five – six hours of it today.
At one door where we knocked a man opened it and said there was no one home.
We tracted a Jehovah’s Witness today – they believe Christ came in 1914 at the end of the time of the Gentiles. Only those who have faith can see him – meaning the Witnesses. They believe there will only be 144,000 saved.
The tracing wasn’t as good as when we were here in June – or aybe it was because I expected it to be so good and wasn’t humble enough. It’s surely hard to do and I didn’t feel as tho I was giving them what I should.
We were tired out but Sr. Hammons fixed a “quickie” meal for us and took us to the hall where we were to receive assignments for cottage meetings. They didn’t have as many as they thought they would have and the lm’s were given the night off. We talked for a while and then came home.
It’s getting pretty late and I’ve wasted a lot of time fooling around. I’ve got to change my attitude and get the missionary spirit – it feels like I’m farther away than when I first came out. I want to be better – it’s hard but it’s worth it. I’m not doing what I wanted to and my time’s going so fast – I arrived in the mission field ten months ago today.