This will be backdated to 1957
Dad/Lamar kept a journal during his missionary service. In
The History of Joseph LaMar Westra, there is a short recap the mission. Chris decided to re-type the missionary journal so that it could be more easily read and saved for the future. Check out a portion below (Aug/Sept 1957), and then there are blog pages for
1957,
1958 and more will be added as Christopher transforms the printed words into digital records.
1957
Aug 20 - Elder Van Wagenen and I went down to register at the mission home at 9:00 A.M. We met Elder Fetzer and Elder Walker there. We were all assigned to return early the next morning to help the others register.
Aug 21 - Wed- Arrived at mission home - 7:00 A.M. Helped usher until 10:00. We had meetings and talks the rest of the day.
Aug 22 - We went through the temple from 6:30 to 12:30 in the morning. In the afternoon we got our train & boat tickets and had our group photograph taken. We went to meetings afterward.
Aug 23 - We attended classes all day. Some of the speakers were President. Legrande Richards and Brother T. Edgar Lyon. In the evening we had instructions in leading singing by Spencer W. Cornwall.
Aug 24- We had classes in the morning and took a tour of temple square in the afternoon. Later on we had a banquet and a talent show.
August 25- We went over to the tabernacle and watched the choir broadcast Sunday morning. We had some classes and then I went home for Sunday dinner. My Farewell lasted from 3:30 - 5:00 and we had an open house after at our house. I took Joann to the missionary testimony meeting 7:00 - 10:00. Richard and Sylvia also went and we took the girls home after.
August 26 - We had classes in the morning and in the afternoon went through the temple again 2:00 - 6:00. We had classes afterward.
August 27 - We had classes and took an excursion to welfare square in the morning. We had an open period in the afternoon and in the evening Elder Banks and I went to see Joann and Judy and practiced the lessons on them.
August 28 - We had a meeting in the morning and at 9:30 A.M. I went to get set apart. Mom+Dad+Joann were there and S. Dilworth Young gave the blessing. I went down to the station to see Richard off in the evening.
August 29 - I did some last minute shopping downtown and went to the delta-sigma conjoint in the evening.
August 30 - I painted the house and then picked Joann up from work. We played Tennis and Joann drove my car all over. I went to Joann’s house after dinner. We had a real nice dinner at home.
Sept 1 - I got up at 4:30 A.M. and went down to the train station. The train left at 5:50 A.M., without warning, and I wasn’t able to kiss anyone goodbye. Not only that but Dad and Reed Bills couldn’t get off the train. We arrived in Ogden at 6:30 and Mary Ann Drove up there with Mom, Grandma, Stevie, Diane, Jean, and Joann. I had a chance to kiss them all goodbye there. I got a huge all day sucker and a letter from Joann. We traveled all that day and night,1514 miles, and arrived at Chicago at 7:00 the next morning. We made stops at Green River, Cheyenne, North Platte, and Omaha along the way. We saw and crossed the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Others at train station: Bishop Egan, Maxwells, Gayle, Davies, Tim, Frank, Jim Morgan, Sylvia, Colette, Marilyn
September 2. - Mon - Labor Day - We arrived in Chicago about 7:00 in the morning and had to change trains and stations. We took a bus to the other station and then took a bus tour of Chicago and Lake Michigan. We loafed around the station most of the day and went to a double feature in the afternoon. We left Chicago about 11:00 P.M.
September 3 - During the night we stopped at FT. Wayne and in the morning we stopped at Cleveland. We traveled along the shore of Lake Erie and arrived in Buffalo at about 1:00 in the afternoon. (three hours ahead of Salt Lake time) We stayed in Buffalo until 11:00 PM. During that time we took a tour to Niagara Falls and went into Canada. We ate lunch at Niagara, returned to Buffalo, and took another train out.
September 4 - We arrived in Hoboken N.J. about 7:30 in the morning. We took a ferry boat across to New York and a cab from there to Hotel Wellington. We all got cleaned up there and set out to see the city. We walked over to Fifth Ave. and then we took busses up and down Fifth Ave. We went from Washington Square to the zoo in central park and then to the top of the empire state building (102 stories). We went 65 stories in the Rockefeller building and then saw a show, The Pajama Game, in Radio City Music Hall. It was Raining when we got out and we returned to our Hotel room to watch the Gene Fullmer, Chico Vejar Fight from Salt Lake on T.V., we watched the Yankees lose a ballgame in extra innings also.
September 5 - We got up about 8:00; cleaned up, checked out, took a taxi to the ferry boat, rode the ferry boat across, and took another taxi to our pier at Hoboken. We got on board about 10:00 AM and the boat sailed at 12:10. We had a good lunch and supper and saw the show for the night.
September 6 - Friday - I got up at 9:00 for breakfast and spent most of the day studying and writing letters. We ate at 1:30 and 7:45. The weather remained good but started to fog up in the evening.
September 7 - The weather is still good and the meals have all been excellent. I spent most of the day studying. I met some of the members of an L.D.S. family on the ship, the Allens, going to Turkey. I skipped the show again that night.
September 8, Sunday - We had breakfast at 9:00 and afterward attended the church services of the Episcopal and Protestant faiths. We played checkers and chess and studied the rest of the day. I retired early.
September 9, I got up late for breakfast and studied afterward. It fogged up outside so I studied and took a nap.
September 10, Tuesday - I studied in the morning and saw a show at 3:00 that afternoon (Johnny Tremain). We had turkey dinner that night.
September 11, Wednesday - Rose early for breakfast and studied and wrote letters after. The sea started getting rough and they started fastening everything on board ship. They gave the farewell dinner that night and we went to the show, the Devil’s Hairpin.
September 12 - Thursday - I studied and wrote letters most of the day. We sighted land (The Scilly Islands and then the British coast). I went to parts of the show and the talent review and then went to bed after doing my laundry. - 12:00.
September 13 - Friday - When we awoke in the morning, we were docked in Southampton, England (7:30). We left England at 9:00 and headed across the channel to Lehavre, France, arriving at 4:00 and leaving at 5:30. The channel was rough all the way but I didn’t get seasick. It was raining off and on all day so we studied the rest of the day.
September 14 - We awoke and had breakfast at 7:30 and we were inside Holland going toward Rotterdam. We got there about 10:30 and got off the boat at 12:00. We went through customs and went to the hague in President Sperry’s Car. President Sperry, Elder Russell and Elder Teerlink had met us on the boat previously. We had dinner and slept that night at the mission home. It rained all day our first day in Holland.
September 15 - Sunday - We woke up at 6:30. Ate breakfast, and went to a priesthood meeting at 9:00. We went to Sunday school and returned to the mission home for lunch. Elder Whiting and I took a walk out along the dunes to see the North Sea, and afterward we went alone on the tram to church at 5:00. We returned to the mission home, ate dinner, studied dutch, and then went to bed. It was a good day and the sun shone for a good part of the day. The wind was blowing hard however.
September 16 - In the morning after our breakfast President Sperry took Elder Whiting and I to Rotterdam to have our passports checked. We returned to the Hague for dinner and then I took a train for Amsterdam. Elder Wolthuis met me and we went to the mission home there. Elder Brague and I went to a cottage meeting (3:00-5:00) and Elder Van Stetten and I went to dinner (5:30-7:30), and to a cottage meeting (8:00-9:30).
Amsterdam
(Check out the post Amsterdam Inspired to see more mission memories brought on by Shane's Trip to Historic Holland in 2018).
September 17 - Tuesday - I got up and Elder Van Stetten and I went shopping for a bicycle after breakfast. I bought a Gazelle model for 238.15 Guilders or about 63 dollars. I studied the language most of the rest of the day.
September 18 - I got up and got ready (7:00-8:30), after which we bicycled over to Elder Springers. We ran some errands and had lunch (9:00-1:00) We held three cottage meetings afterward (3:00-11:00) then we bicycled home to the church. Elder DeBry had missed his train and wasn’t in yet
September 19 - Thursday - (7:30-8:30) - Got ready and went over to Elder Springer’s again. (10:30-12:30) - Elder Springer and I went tracting but didn’t get in any homes. We had lunch and then held three cottage meetings. (3:30-11:30).
September 20 - Elder Springer and I went tracting (9:30 - 12:00). After lunch, Elder Halliday and I went tracting and we got in two homes (1:30-5:30) after supper Elder DeBry and I went to two cottage meeting appointments - one fell through. (7:00-9:30)
September 21 - Saturday - I got up, ate breakfast, and did some washing; after which Elder Halliday and I went tracting (9:30 - 12:00) - We went shopping and in the evening went to Haarlem for a party and dance. (6:00-12:00)
September 22 - Sunday - We went to priesthood meeting and sunday school (9:00-12:00) I studied that day and went to church at 5:00. Afterward Elder Springer and I went to a cottage meeting (7:30-11:00
September 23 - I went over to Elder Springers in the morning and we went shopping and to a show. After supper we went to two cottage meetings and returned home (7:00-11:30)
September 24 - Elder DeBry and I went to Haarlem in the morning. Elder Vriends and I went tracting and held three cottage meetings. (10:00 - 12:45) We went to another family of investigators after lunch (2:15 - 5:30), and two others after dinner (7:00 - 11:00). One was an elderly man and the other was a woman member and her husband
September 25 - Wednesday - I spent the night Tuesday at Haarlem with Elders Vriens and Bradford. In the morning after breakfast, we went over to the church where Elders Giles and Van Slooten were staying. Elder Van Slooten and I went tracting (9:15 - 12:45), and got in twice. After lunch at the church, Elder Bradford and I visited five investigators and members (2:00 - 5:30). Elder De Bry and I then returned to Amsterdam and after dinner, went to the outskirts of town for another cottage meeting (7:30 - 10:00).
September 26 - I studied dutch and wrote some letters in the morning. Elder De Bry and I went out to find an apartment (10:30 - 12:30). We returned for lunch and afterward I studied and we went to Sister Myers for dinner, the four of us. After that, Elder De Bry and I went to two very nice cottage meetings (7:00 - 10:30). I studied some more and then went to bed.
September 27 - Friday - I studied in the morning and Elder Brague, two sisters, and I took the train to Beverwijk for the funeral of an elderly woman member there (10:00 - 3:00) I studied some more and after dinner Elder De Bry and I attended two cottage meetings (7:00 - 11:00). We discussed some problems and then went to bed.
September 28 - I studied in the morning and Elder De Bry and I went to Haarlem to help them paint some rooms in the church. (9:30 - 5:30) There were ten elders there. I studied, did my washing and wrote letters after.
Sunday - September 29 - Got up early, at 6:00, and got down to the train station. We took the train to Den Helder (7:00 - 10:15), and went to church at 10:30. I studied, ate lunch, and went to Sacrament meeting at 5:00. Afterward we went out to dinner at a members house way out on the point by the lighthouse. It was really a beautiful place, mostly surrounded by the North Sea. We had a real dutch dinner, and it was really “lekker.” We went back to the church and Elder McKell and I returned to the lighthouse to sleep there that night.
September 30 - Monday - We got up and went back to the church in the morning. We went tracting, Elder Smith and I, (9:00 - 12:00). We returned to the church for lunch and Elder McKell and I went tracting (1:00 - 3:00). We only got a few unpromising callbacks. Elder De Bry and I left Den Helder for Amsterdam. (3:15 - 6:00). We had dinner and I studied in the evening.
To read more, check out the rest of the journal ...
Also check out these Lamar Mission blog posts ...
