Grandma Tell Me a Story

By Edith Bennett MacLelland

Most children love to hear stories, especially at bedtime. The favorite story of my two sons was told them by their father, over and over again, of which they never tired: HOW HE CAME OVER TO AMERICA FROM SCOTLAND ON A BIG BOAT.

My purpose in writing this story now, of my voyage to Africa on a freighter, is that my grandchildren and great grandchildren might enjoy hearing of some of my experiences, which in the providence of God, have taken place in my life.

Some statistics and a little information was acquired from the library before leaving for the various countries. This has been interwoven in my travelogue all of which was written on board ship.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 23, 2011
• ISBN: 9781463413859

Edith Bennett MacLelland

Edith MacLelland was born June l, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, the eldest daughter of Henry and Kathleen Bennett. She married John MacLelland in 1939 and currently has five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Edith has lived through some of the most tumultuous and defining events in history, including the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, and all of the technological and cultural changes of the 20th century up to the present day. During her lifetime, she has traveled to more than a dozen countries on four continents, and maintains close ties with friends the world over. An ardent writer, she has written countless works of poetry, and has been a regular contributor to Choice Gleanings daily scriptural calendar since 1976. Grandma, Tell Me A Story is her first book. Edith currently lives in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, where, in addition to writing, she enjoys knitting, reading, adorning homemade cards, and spending time at the beach. She continues to be a loving inspiration to her entire family.

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Grandma Tell Me a Story

Edith Bennett MacLelland

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AuthorHouse™

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© 2011 Edith Bennett MacLelland. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 8/18/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4634-1384-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-1386-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-1385-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011909521

Printed in the United States of America

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Contents

PREFACE

HOME

VELMA LYKES

THE SEA

ST. EUSTATIUS

ASCENSION ISLAND

DURBAN

MADAGASCAR

DAR ES SALAAM

MOMBASA

RICHARD’ BAY

EPILOGUE

CHAPTER I Sorrow and Joy

CHAPTER II Old and New

CHAPTER III Life and Death

Chapter IV Near and Far

CHAPTER V Coming and Going

CHAPTER VI Tears and Kisses

CHAPTER VII Young and Old

CHAPTER VIII Back and Forth

CHAPTER IX Up and Down

CHAPTER X In and Out

CHAPTER XI Here and There

To God’s Honor and Glory

are these pages dedicated to

My Son Jim and His Wife Joan

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For the kind hospitality, time, work

and patience with me at the computer

I thank The Charles Carters.

PREFACE

Most children love to hear stories, especially at bedtime. The favorite story of my two sons was told them by their father, over and over again, of which they never tired: HOW HE CAME OVER TO AMERICA FROM SCOTLAND ON A BIG BOAT.

My purpose in writing this story now, of my voyage to Africa on a big freighter, is that my grandchildren and great grandchildren might enjoy hearing of some of my experiences, which in the providence of God, have taken place in my life.

Some statistics and a little information was acquired from the library before leaving for the various countries. This has been interwoven in my travelogue all of which was written on board ship.

Edith D. MacLelland (nee Bennett)

HOME

As the crewmen were untying the lines of the VELMA LYKES freighter from the bollards on the dock of Mombasa, Kenya, the words of the Apostle Paul came very forcibly to my mind. The time of my departure is at hand. This expression was used in the Greek by the sailors when they unloosened the ropes of a ship for their journey home. Of course we know that the great Apostle Paul was referring to the liberation of his soul from the body and going to his eternal Home.

Home what a sweet thought it is! On this journey I have seen many different types of swelling places that were called Home. To some it was just a little grass hut without any conveniences whatsoever that we so ungratefully take for granted in America. There were also beautiful homes on the mountain slopes overlooking the water, but had we opportunity to telescope into some of those mansions we would learn they weren’t really happy homes.

By the grace of God I was born into a Christian home for which I shall always be thankful. Mother and Dad were saved before I was born and they prayed everyday for their four children of whom I was the eldest. It was a happy home and other children liked to come to the Bennett’s house for Mother didn’t seem to mind the noise nor the mess. One day I remember Jimmy Bradshaw and Jimmy Cotton, my cousin, drawing a circle with a piece of chalk on our mauve living room rug so they could have a game of marbles. On some Saturdays, the three Coxhead boys would come over too. Jeanne Cotton and I would entertain by giving plays. Our stage was a little platform which extended from the garage roof and the audience would be seated on the grass in our side yard. Sometimes we would present the plays indoors moving the floor lamp and the beautiful calf skin to another position to make an impressive scene.

Then, there were the occasions of singing practice for the Sunday School New Year’s Treat. Dad would have his class of boys over and they would learn new hymns. Dad loved music and with much patience around the piano he taught them to sing the different parts with a certain amount of feeling. One hymn was: WHO IS THIS THAT’S KNOCKING, KNOCKING, JUST OUTSIDE THE DOOR? in the old Redemption Hymn Book. Only recently, after many years of those memorable times, one of the boys, Forbes Giles, in a letter to me recalled- How Mother would always come up with something good to eat!

Although our house only had two bedrooms on 70th Street in Chicago, my parents hosted the Trever Olivers, English-Welsh missionaries to China who had two daughters. Mary and Era were so excited when they learned they would be staying with a family that had young children they were jumping up and down with joy! They weren’t in our home but a few minutes and they were playing with us: COBBLER, COBBLER, MEND MY SHOE, HAVE IT DONE BY HALF-PAST TWO!

On three other occasions the Olivers stayed with my parents. In April 1930 we had just moved into a bungalow in an area called Gresham in Chicago. It was on the 24th of that month that I as a girl of thirteen was SAVED! Mrs. Oliver led me to the Lord through a well known verse: John 5:24 VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, HE THAT HEARTETH MY WORD, AND BELIEVETH ON HIM THAT SENT ME, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, AND SHALL NOT COME UNTO CONDEMNATION; BUT IS PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE.

Because I have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, I know that I will someday be in the Heavenly Home. Jesus said: I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. That dwelling place will be magnificent I know, but the presence of the Lord Jesus in the City of God will Make it HOME!

I heard the first mate say the other day that he was homesick. I can certainly understand his longing; for at Cape Canaveral I met his beautiful wife, a darling little girl and a baby boy. They and her mother had come from South Carolina to see their dear one for a few hours before his long time at sea.

Now after almost three months, I’m ready to go home too. However, it’s not the same when your partner is gone. John Alexander MacLelland was my husband for over fifty years and we shared the joys and sorrows of life together. Our firstborn, John Bennett, and then James Ferguson, were two lively little boys. Graham Swales up in Midland, Ontario, nicknamed them DYNAMITE and DYNAMO! Our baby girl, Janis Kathleen, died when she was almost six months of age. Then we lost a baby boy, Joel Henry, just two days after his birth. Johnny, the eldest, went to be with the Lord at thirty-three years of age. Tears are filling my eyes just now as I write; but I’m thankful that his two daughters, Linda and Barbara, have been so very close to me. Both of them are married now with BAIRNIES of their own - Tommy and Caitlin are Linda’s two and little Steven, Barbara’s son, which as yet I haven’t seen - only in a photograph. The Lord willing I shall see them all soon.

Linda and Barbara have come to visit us quite often after our moving to Florida and were there for John’s funeral the day after Christmas 1989. Our second son, Jim, always faithful was there too, as in the past at crucial times of life. He has been a wonderful comfort to me.

Jim married Joan (nee Coxhead, Coyle) just three weeks before Johnny died. They had a lovely wedding in the home of Ernest and Mary Coxhead and we were all so happy, Johnny being the best man. The close relationship of the Bennetts and Coxheads goes back many years to their friendship in England as they both were in fellowship in the same assembly in Liverpool. Then on Joan’s side of the family, her mother’s parents, the John Mowatts, and my John were friends in Motherwell, Scotland, attending the Roman Road Gospel Hall.

Joan had two children when Jim and she married, Laurie and John, and immediately on the wedding day Johnny called John GRANDPA MAC. James Ernest was born the next year and what a joy the new baby was to our hearts. The Lord is Good!

Mother lived by herself until she was ninety-nine years of age and then I persuaded her to come and live with me after my John had gone HOME. John had been very good, stopping in to Mother’s little home every day, and we kept a good check on her. She knit scarves for the missionaries until she was one hundred years of age. Her Centennial Birthday was a wonderful occasion - she looked like a queen as she walked in so erectly with her son, Jim, and youngest daughter, Helen, to a large room at the Sheraton Hotel filled with family, friends and flowers. We four children were all there; fifteen grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, relatives and friends from distant parts. David Leathem gave the blessing for the delicious meal. Isobel Tewson, nee Cotton, paid a cordial tribute to her Aunt Kathleen. A short biography of her life was given; Born in Cookstown, Northern Ireland, and how she had met Henry Bennett in Liverpool, England. Ross Jansma, Helen and Tony’s son, read a greeting from the President of the United States and his wife, Barbara Bush. Dr. Charlene, Jim Bennett’s second daughter, read a special salutation from the State of Illinois. Dorothy Ayres, Kay and Andy’s eldest daughter played the piano and my son, Jim sang, I’D RATHER HAVE JESUS THAN ANYTHING. Joan MacLelland got some excellent poses on her camera as did others also. George Walker, missionary to Cuba, one of the boys in Dad’s Sunday School Class, contributed to the enjoyable program. Even the waitresses said they had never served such a pleasant group of people who seemed to have such an inner peace.

All the relatives and some of the out-of-town friends came to the house afterward and more pictures were snapped. The next day, The Lord’s Day, Frank and Nevy Faita, made a real Italian meal. Nevy had stayed in Mother and Dad’s home for some time when Frank was stationed at Great Lakes during World War II.

Well, three weeks after Mother’s One Hundredth Birthday, she suddenly lost her appetite and came down with something which was probably the flu and never ate much solid food again. For a year and an half she survived on a liquid nutrition. She was so sweet and easy to care for. Communication was difficult as her hearing was gone. Brother Jim and I would write notes to her which she read without glasses. Jim lived with me during Mom’s illness and was a wonderful help. I could never have managed without him. His being with me enabled me to attend the meetings (church) most of the time.

Then the Lord provided professional help, first with a Nursing Agency through Mother’s doctor. Dr. Lund was very good coming to the home as house calls are a thing of the past. A Christian nurse from the agency recommended our case to CARES. Kathy Perry came three times a week to bathe Mother and do other chores for me which I greatly appreciated. When John was sick (Cancer) I had help from HOSPICE which was excellent also.

On May 13th Mother went Home to be with the Lord very peacefully. The evening before the Leathems stopped in after the prayer meeting; and Mary being a nurse, made her most comfortable for the few remaining hours on earth. Her four children were all present and my son Jim. Other grandchildren came for the funeral. Mr. Leathem gave a very fitting message: THE BIOGRAPHY OF A CHRISTIAN - Out of Christ - In Christ - For Christ - With Christ. Mr. George Walker offered a beautiful comforting prayer and son Jim sang a hymn that Mother had requested a long time before: IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.

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VELMA LYKES

I needed a change and a good rest after Mother’s Home call so for this reason I took a sea voyage. To get passage aboard a freighter is not easy on short notice and travel in that way not common anymore. However, I had a little ad slipped away in one of my kitchen drawers which advertised trips from a Travel Agency in St. Petersburg. I called Claus Van Dyke, the owner, and things began to take shape for my getting away. I really would have liked to have gone to the Orient but that ship had already left. So, my voyage was to be to East Africa. There were visas to be obtained and certain medical inoculations to be had for the countries where I would be visiting; but I was soon packed and ready to go!

When the appointed time came, August 9th, 1993, my brother Jim drove me to Cape Canaveral, about a three hour drive from my Port Richey home. The Velma Lykes had left from New Orleans and I was the only passenger to embark at the Cape. Although we were at the designated place and in plenty of time, we saw no freighter. Then at 8:00 PM Jim noticed a pilot ship going out of the harbor. Sure enough, it was to guide the Velma Lykes to the dock where we were anxiously waiting. Were we happy to see that big old ship pull in! She is 571.20 feet long; net tonnage 7780; gross tonnage 11891; and dead weight of ship 14,283 tons, Port of Registry - Lake Charles, La. Jim was allowed up to my C4 stateroom and we were shown around a little. On the buffet of the dining room there was some enticing watermelon, and we were invited to have some. Jim then went back to Cocoa Beach where he had booked a motel room for the night. I had a good night’s sleep in my new temporary home. The accommodations are quite adequate. To my surprise, Jim showed up again in the morning for a short while and helped me settle in. During the night the ship had been loading supplies to take to the U.S. Air Base on Ascension Island. Also two Fire Engines were to be delivered to that Island.

The word FIRE ENGINE instantly brings to my mind the time when our Jimmy was about two. He was so cute! At birth he weighed only 4 pounds 1 ounce, and was not premature! He was still very tiny when walking and talking, speaking very clearly with the exception of Sire Engine. One evening we had Mr. Ernie Sprunt and Mr. Tom Wilkie over for dinner. They were evangelists from Ontario, Canada holding Gospel meetings at our assembly. Ernie was great with children and he worked with Jimmy that evening until he could say FFF-ire engine! As the two Servants of the Lord were leaving to go to Grandpa Bennett’s house for a haircut, as Dad did all the preachers, Jimmy very emphatically blurted out, SO-LONG KIDS!

There are now eight passengers aboard. Two married couples and four widowed women. Another woman started out with us but took an infection and was flown from Ascension Island to London, then back to the States. We passengers dine with Captain Haley and the officers. It is not real fancy but we do have white tablecloths and we eat sumptuously every day. On all ships the captain is referred to as THE OLD MAN. I think that is very disrespectful; but he is never addressed that way in person. The Captain has full command when out at sea-even over the President of the United States. The radio man is always called SPARKY.

My first morning aboard I met Marian. I was alone in the passenger lounge reading my Bible when she came in. Oh! said she, I usually bring my Bible, but didn’t this time as the print is getting too small. That opened the conversation and we felt drawn to each other right away. She too was a Child of The King - we were both in the same FAMILY OF GOD. She also was brought up in a godly Christian home and saved when a young girl. Her husband, Jim Sturniolo, was a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, a perfect gentleman, but still not saved. He calls me Miss Edith."

The other couple, Jim and Sylvia Delesie, not born-again Christians, have been sponsoring a boy in Kenya, in the Rift Valley Region, through the Children’s Christen Fund. They were so happy to get to meet this boy and his family. They flew to Nirobi from Mombasa while on this voyage.

Kay, Kathryn Daltry, a widow of five years, was a Captain in the U.S Army during World War II. She weighs just twice as much as I, but she is very down to earth and I feel at ease with her. Hazel Burford is the eldest of the group and is a nurse. At age eighty-five she sure can get around and is very sharp. She has given me some knitting hints for which I am grateful. One morning on ordering her breakfast she said: I want eggs and toast, and don’t want them at all if I can’t get them together!

Seven of the passengers are now residents of Florida but Myra Crowell lives in Birmingham, Alabama. She is very soft spoken and a real Southern Bell. They have all traveled by freighter before, some many times; so I am the only first timer.

The crew is friendly and very helpful. Peter, the Chief Engineer, invited me into his office one day to show me the exact location of our ship on the map at that time. Max and Arvel, both black men, are our waiters at meal time. Arvel is very gentle and serves so mannerly - he treats me as if I was somebody important. Juan, my steward, is from Peurto Rico. He too is a born again believer. He usually is humming a hymn as he conscientiously makes my bed and cleans my room every day. In the dining room, the Second Mate, a tall young man, always with a big smile on his face, informs us of the time change every so often by posting a plaque which reads: ADVANCE CLOCK ONE HOUR or RETARD CLOCK ONE HOUR.

There are thirty-nine crew men on the ship but we don’t see much of them except when we have Fire and Boat Drill. When the bell rings we must get our life belt jackets on! Sometimes we are required to bring our survival suits. The survival suits were A ONE SIZE FITS ALL outfit. The procedure of getting into it was demonstrated to us by two cadets from West Point.

A laundry room is available with automatic washer and dryer. We are free to roam around the ship but have an assigned place on an upper deck where the lounge chairs are. It is very relaxing to sit out in this fresh sea air and do as you please or do nothing! Either in my room or out on the deck, I have finished an afghan, made two children’s sweaters, read six books, made a few meditations for the Choice Gleanings Calendar, and have listened to the New Testament on audio tape - so far. Brother Jim gave a little weather resistant stereo cassette player with the ear phones which has been very useful. Several nights while in my bunk in the middle of the ocean, I heard Bible expositors, Bill MacDonald - California, Jim Hutchison - Northern Ireland, Frank Haggerty - missionary to Bolivia, all speaking from the Palos Hills Christian Assembly pulpit. I thought, isn’t this wonderful, and said, THANK YOU LORD!

One evening a few of us were reminiscing of some of the games we played as children and wondered if the kids today have as much fun. All the kids on the block would participate, maybe there would be two dozen. One game was called RED ROVER. Two horizontal lines were made of kids facing each other at quite a distance apart. Their arms were out stretched and hands tightly clasped to keep the rank from being broken. Then side number one would call out to side number two, RED ROVER, RED ROVER, LET (TOMMY) COME OVER or whoever. Then that guy would come racing over and try to break through. If he did, he brought somebody back to his side: but if he didn’t succeed, he had to stay on side number one. Whatever side came out with the most kids won the game. It’s a wonder there weren’t more broken arms!

Hazel, who had lived in Chicago until she was five years of age, asked me if I remembered the Monkey Man. Of course, I did! He was a small Italian man with a grinding hand organ. His little monkey was fully dressed and after putting on a bit of a show with his tricks, he’d go around all the audience looking for pennies. When he received one, he would politely tip his wee hat and they would move on to another neighborhood.

THE SEA

THE SEA IS HIS, AND HE MADE IT; Psalm 95:5 Looking out on the vast ocean gives me a sense of my nothingness. God is so great! THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD: AND THE FIRMAMENT SHOWETH HIS HANDYWORK. Psalm 19:1. In Proverbs eight, speaking of the Master Worker and Wisdom personified, the Eternal Son of God declares, WHEN HE PREPARED THE HEAVENS, I WAS THERE; WHEN HE ESTABLISHED THE CLOUDS ABOVE; WHEN HE STRENGTHENED THE FOUNTAINS OF THE DEEP; WHEN HE GAVE TO THE SEA HIS DECREE, THAT THE WATERS SHOULD NOT PASS HIS COMMANDEMENT; WHEN HE APPOINTED THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE EARTH; THEN I WAS BY HIM; REJOICING IN THE HABITABLE PART OF HIS EARTH; AND MY DELIGHTS WERE WITH THE SONS OF MEN.

As I scan the sky and the waters, I can almost see the curvature of the earth and remember the words of Isaiah, the prophet, HE SITTETH ON THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH, and again; WHO HATH MEASURED THE WATERS IN HIS HAND, AND METED OUT HEAVEN WITH A SPAN, AND COMPREHENDED THE DUST OF THE EARTH IN A MEASURE, AND WEIGHED THE MOUNTAINS IN SCALES, AND THE HILLS IN A BALANCE?

Sometimes the water is calm like clear glass; other times smooth, but with great swellings. There are days when the waves are crowned with beautiful white foamy caps. The variegated shades of blue are gorgeous, one time a royal blue, then again, a real deep hue - almost purple. On a coral reef off the coast of East Africa we saw colors of vivid and exuberant green. It was in these waters we witnessed the exotic fish swimming around in their beautiful underwater gardens.

When a fountain springs up from the deep, somebody will shout WHALES! Then we all run to look and try to catch a picture. We see dolphins also, sometimes quite close to the ship. They seem to be just playing around and putting on a show for us.

While crossing the Equator, one of the crewmen, teasing me, knowing it was my first time, asked Did you feel the BUMP? Being of English extraction, I didn’t catch on right away. Later I was issued a certificate by the Captain for having crossed the Equator.

On our return voyage, crossing that Center Line, I inquired as to the depth of the ocean at that point. The fathom meter registered 5000 Feet! Immediately the scripture came to mind, AND THOU WILT CAST ALL THEIR SINS INTO THE DEPTH OF THE SEA. Micah 7:19b

One morning I was awakened about five o’clock by the blasting of the fog horn. It kept blowing and blowing, so I jumped out of bed to see what was the matter. Looking out of my window, I could see nothing but a heavy dense fog. So, I got back into bed and prayed, Oh Lord, all the captain can do is blow that horn, but you can lift the fog. And He did! OH THAT MEN WOULD PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS GOODNESS, AND FOR HIS WONDERFUL WORKS TO THE CHILDREN OF MEN! Psalm 107:21.

Saturday, October 23rd was a tragic day at sea (just three days before the scheduled time to be back to Cape Canaveral). Just after lunch the alarm bells rand loud and long. EMERGENCY! It was not a fire drill. Juan, our steward, came rushing into the lounge to tell us A Man Missing! Who? The third engineer hadn’t reported for duty at noon. Nobody had seen him! The whole ship was searched. At first I couldn’t place him by his rank, but then when we got the description of him and where he sat at meal time, I was shocked! It was Anthony - that nice young man who had accompanied us on the Safari. OH, How terrible! He was such a gentleman to me that day. I’m quite sure I gave him a Gospel tract when we were walking back to the van from the rest rooms at one of our stops. I had appreciated his waiting for me as it was in rather an isolated place. Then it was he who came to fetch me when we were leaving the Reserve Park. I was down the cliff of the mountain taking videos. He was very quiet but so pleasant and polite. We learned later he was thirty-eight years of age and from Texas.

At 1:30 P.M. the Captain turned the ship around and we retracted the course of the last twelve hours. The bell rang again - ALL HANDS ON DECK! I stood all afternoon looking, looking at the sea. At one point of the vigil, one of the other engineers said to me, It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. It was a very solemn experience. No frivolity now! I had the opportunity of saying a few words regarding eternity and prayed that the Spirit of God would convict everyone on board. How important it is to know, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL. The regular dinner was omitted. Of course it didn’t matter at a time like that. Captain Haley had radioed San Juan, being the nearest point of contact, as we were about 300 miles off the coast of Puerto Rico. U.S. Navy planes, a helicopter and a search boat were all sent over to help - but to no avail!

ALAS! After twenty-four hours of continuous scanning the sea, the Velma Lykes turned back toward Cape Canaveral again. Dear Marian took it hard. She and I shed a few tears together. Anthony Williamson’s chair will be vacant for the remainder of the voyage!

ST. EUSTATIUS

The first stop the Velma Lykes made after leaving Cape Canaveral was the quaint Island of St. Eustatius. We anchored some miles out and had an adventurous time getting