This week was a real work out and so much fun! Monday at correlation we were introduced to Brother and Sister Thomas from Montana. Brother Thomas is a retired landscape architect who wanted to serve so he contacted the Church to see if they had a need. His assignment at Martin's Cove was to design a planting that would shore up the bank of the Sweetwater River as it runs through the Homestead and also to provide a cover from the other side of the river so that our parking lot and equipment couldn't be seen.
It was decided that we would plant Coyote Willows which are native to the area. It was a huge area to plant and it was quite a process. Dig the hole, add water, add soil enhancer, add water, add plant, put soil back, stomp down, add water, add Miracle Grow, form a dam around each plant, rake rocks and make the area look pretty.
Brother Thomas expected the project to take well into Tuesday but we finished it early afternoon on Monday. Missionary power at work! Our tender mercy for the day was the weather was perfect...60 degrees and only a hardly noticeable breeze. The kind of day if you live in Wyoming you mark on your calendar!
Elder Lindsey and a couple of others spent Monday afternoon and all of Tuesday installing the drip irrigation system around each plant so we can keep them watered well in this dry windy climate. The Elders will also be completing a deer fence around them so the plants are protected until they are well established.
On Tuesday Sister Mellor and I were assigned to work in an area where we are planting native plants that will grow and hide the septic system. Since it is in an area that everyone sees when they arrive it is important that it looks as natural as possible. We spent the morning hoeing native weeds! After our work out on Monday we were feeling the burn. After lunch we went with Elder Stull (our resident plant man) and three other sisters out into the wilds and dug up sage brush which we then transplanted into our garden. I was very careful to watch for snakes and luckily not a one crossed my path. Once the sage brush was in we went back out into the wilds and dug up clumps of prairie grass which we again brought back and planted in our garden. Next we raked and then spread native grass seed and raked again.
I know we look happy...we were, but our rakes were holding us up! A fitting way to celebrate Earth Day! Unfortunately Tuesday we were not blessed with a breeze but the full force Wyoming winds were back.
After two days of out door work we were ready for our "P" day. After correlation meeting we headed for Casper. Our first stop is always the McDonald's where we indulge in a diet soda. We no longer buy Diet Coke for home so it's a real treat. We visited the Western Trails Interpretive Center. It was great fun and I kept thinking our grandsons Parker and Skyler would really love it.
We did a little shopping then indulged in some great Mexican food before heading for home. Thursday we worked in the Visitor's Center from 9am to 1pm then spent the afternoon preparing for our first trek.
Friday dawned beautiful. (of course it was windy...that always goes without saying) The trek leaders started arriving around 8:30am they came from Utah, Idaho, North Dakota, California, Oregon, Arizona and two groups from Canada! After registration and orientation we headed out onto the trail. Because the Sweetwater River is running too high and swift to do a river crossing we started out crossing Pete Creek.
That's me (behind the flag) helping to hold the cart back as it went down the bank.
We trekked the sand trail and headed for the women's pull. That is where the men walk to the top of the hill and silently watch the women pull the carts up the steep hill. This represents and honors the many woman who pushed forward with their children after their husbands died along the way. Most of us Senior Sister Missionaries helped with the pull, including me. It was hard but exhilarating when we reached the top and realized we did it!
We trekked about seven miles altogether stopping for lunch at handcart parking where we left our handcarts before we did the 2.4 mile trek into and around Martin's Cove. The pioneers went into Martin's Cove to get out of the wind and we did the same. As we walked into that beautiful peaceful area, we were sheltered from the wind, rather like when we turn to our Heavenly Father we can be sheltered from the evils of the world.
We returned back to the Homestead in time for a great dinner, program and then square dancing. After helping with the cleanup we headed for home. We were happy with how we handled our first trek. We were definitely tired but we did it and we enjoyed it! Bring on the youth!
Saturday morning we headed for Six Crossings for breakfast and more trek leader training. I participated in a readers theater and all of the missionaries sang at the end of the readings. The spirit is so strong when we tell the stories of the pioneers. I told the story of Jane Parkinson whose father died shortly after the last crossing of the North Platte River and was buried in the morning in a shallow grave. That evening after eating her mother took her little sister to bed and tried to clam her down. Jane says her mother was exhausted. Sometime during the night her mother died leaving five children orphaned in just 24 hours. She describes how they wrapped her mother in a blanket and buried her in a shallow grave of snow. The stories are heartbreaking yet the miracle is how many of them survived to tell their stories and to praise God for his blessings. After having lunch at Six crossings we headed for home. We used our free afternoon to putter around the "house" and get ready for Sunday. We are feeling very settled and loving our new life as missionaries.
You might notice that you don't see Elder Lindsey in many of the pictures. He's been asked to do the year book and a DVD for this season so he's mostly behind the camera. I'm starting to take my camera with me so I can get a shot or two of him.
We drove into Missionary Village and encountered our friend here resting on the lawn. He didn't get up until we stopped to take this picture.
What a wonderful Sabbath day we have had. It was our Branch Conference and the Stake Presidency and other leaders were here from the Casper Stake. We heard from Elder and Sister Moench and our Stake President, President Smathers. The theme of the conference was the same as the young men and women's theme for this year; Moroni 10:32 Come unto Christ. We heard powerful testimony in all the meetings but I was especially impressed by President Smathers remarks at the close of Priesthood/Relief society when he told us we were here for a reason and the spirit will give us many opportunities to touch the lives of the youth who come here that might be struggling.
He also emphasized that this was our time of life to dedicate all we do to the Lord and how blessed we will be for it...all I can say is AMEN.
Love and blessings to each of you,
Elder and Sister Lindsey
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