When we lived in Taft, California the California Mission had Headquarters in Los Angeles. In fact the Mission Home was on the Temple Grounds on Santa Monica Blvd. It took care of the entire State of California. Taft was a small town 50 miles from Bakersfield - where the Stake Center was located. The Church was not as large in that area as it is today.
Assigning Missionaries to Taft ment they were sent to Bakersfield and then brought over to Taft. There was no other way to get them there. The Zone Leaders were in Bakersfield. When new Missionaries came to town they were picked up by the Zone Leaders and brought to Taft.
This would mean that one Missionary usually left in the morning and the new Companion did
not arrive until late that night. The single Missionary had to stay with a Priesthood Holder in town until his Companion arrived.
Our Son Paul was called and was serving in the North British Mission at the time and our Daughter Dawn was only 13 years old. After being cleared by the Mission President at the time, it was deamed safe to leave the single Missionary with Jay. When the new Companion arrived he was brought to our home to meet the Missionary he would be working with. The arrival was not always accomplished during regular hours. Buses were generally used, and routes were not all that set during those years. We received Elder Webster around 10 in the evening. He was worn out, it was cold and he was dressed in an Air Corp overcoat to keep warm. He leaned on the door casing while he rang the bell. When I answered the bell, he said: "I'm Elder Webster".
I quickly replied: "Daniel I presume?". Well his name wasn't "Daniel", but he was dubbed that
and we still call him that after all these years. He lives in Rigby, Idaho, or did the last we heard
from him.
The Missioinaries did their laundry at our home. They brought their mending there to be done.
When they didn't have any place else to grab a bite to eat, they dropped around to our place and always found something to fill the void. It was a choice time for our family. We shared the tapes Paul sent home with them, and it helped brighten up their Mission as well as our home. On Holidays requests were accepted to have the Missionaries to our home if they did not received an invitation some place else. I guess we had the opportunity on many occasion to help some of the Elders over rough spots like Dear John Letters and sickness at home. Fortunately we did not have any deaths during that time.
When there was a baptism, the family supported the Missionaries and their Convert.
Being such a small town ment most everyone would come out and help welcome newcomers into the small Ward there. It was a small building, and the carpets had been specially loomed with
"T" a very interesting design really. They are gone now - the old Chapel was raised and a new
one built. The Church had a large lot in town. Part of it had been raised to meet the Street in front, while in the back it dropped off into a vacant lot. I believe the Church now faces the side
street and the lot was leveled for the new building. I have never been back, so I don't know for sure.
Stake Meetings were held in a City Building. It was quite large and held a big Congregation. I don't remember what the name of the place was, but it was a nice place to meet in. There was always a break between Sessions when people would find a place to eat lunch. Like I say the Church was not as wide spread in the area as it is today. There are two Stakes in Bakersfield now. There are some larger buildings throughout the area. Nothing like when we lived there.
Of course the Mission has been divided a number of times since then as well. Nothing ever seems to stay the same.
The Missionaries lived in an apartment above the Mortuary back then. Bishop Brown and his Uncle Patriarch of the Stake Wm. O. Erickson owned the Mortuary. An interesting sideline to that was "Pappy" or Wm. O. married Hortense "Tenny" Allred who was the Aunt of Elder Bruce R. McConkie. Her sister, the mother of Bruce R. use to spend summers with us in Taft. What a dear lady she was. "Tenny" was such a special friend. She had been an "old maid school teacher" when she met and married "Pappy". Their home was home to the entire Ward. We
loved them so. Sadly, they are all gone now.
We were blessed to have been singled out to be "Mission Home" in Taft for so many wonderful young men who were serving the Lord at that time. We have visited some of them since they returned home, and had a chance to meet their families. Very special indeed. A number kept in touch for a time, however we have lost contact with all but one. Elder Douglas Evert still calls every Christmas to say hello. He remembers, as I am sure the others do, that we had been named; "Mother Goose" and "The Dirty Old Man". That name came from a TV program at the time because Jay was always greasy from working on his truck. It was an endearing "handle".
The Missionaries got a kick out of calling us by our "Mission Names".
It got hot in Taft and we had a swimming pool. The Missionaries couldn't swin but it was not uncommon to see them roll up their trousers and dangle their feet in the water to cool off in
the evening. Those were some friendly and fun times for all. A place to come and lay down the load of the day. Have a cool drink, a sandwich, or a meal and play with the dog. We had a piano and it was used to relax as well. Holidays were special because they had a touch of home when they had time to drop around. Their phone calls home were just a little more enjoyed because they could make them from our living room rather than a phone booth. I am so greatful we had a home that was worthy to be set aside as a place where they could come and remain in the spirit of the work they had been called to do. We had some neat experiences. I would tell more, but it might invade the privacy of some, so I will end with this. Mission Friends are made with an everlasting relationship I am sure will be enjoyed elsewhere when the time and the conditions are right. I look forward to that time.
Written the 29th of May, 2009
by: Eileen Rosenberg
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