Ephraim Hanks and Trekking

June 29, 2014
Dear Friends and Family,
As we were singing a hymn in correlation meeting Monday morning it occurred to me that we are very blessed to start most of our days with a hymn, prayer and spiritual thought. It just sets the tone for everything else we do. Monday was a work day for us. I spent about six hours with two other sisters as we weeded the areas in front of the Visitors Center. We put ten large garbage bags of weeds into Bertha to be burned and by Tuesday morning my body felt every one of those weeds! Elder Lindsey and Elder Stark worked out on the trails weed eating around the benches and finishing the new surround enclosing the eight port a potties we added to Handcart Parking. Boy did those come in handy when we had seven treks on the trails on Thursday!

Monday evening we got our first opportunity to tell the story of Ephraim Hanks and Thisbe Read to a trek group. Elder Lindsey shares the story of Ephraim Hank's life and how he was involved in the rescue of the Martin Handcart Company and I tell the story of Thisbe Read who was eleven years old when she came across the plains in the Martin Handcart Company. She and Ephraim Hanks later marry and have twelve children. When we tell these stories we do it in pioneer dress and in first person. We try to relate these stories to the youth and get them to consider how they relate to their own lives and what they can do in their own lives to find the gifts and strengths Heavenly Father has given them.

Thisbe and Eph

Tuesday we were asked to serve at Handcart Parking again as the couple assigned had a medical problem. We had a nice day. There were several treks plus a fair amount of family traffic. Because the treks started early we had to be at post by 7:30am but we did get finished up by 4:00pm so that was nice.

Wednesday we had the 8:00am to 2:00pm shift in the Visitor's Center. We enjoy meeting the people who come to the Visitor's Center. About 80% of them are members of our faith but everyone who comes feels the spirit of what happened here. We had a two hour square dancing assignment for Wednesday evening but Elder Lindsey went on his own because I wasn't feeling well.

Thursday we were out the door early as we had a trek. We met our group on the trail at 8:30am and had a wonderful day. This Ward (Timpview 1st Ward) and their youth were so very prepared, Elder Lindsey and I just marveled at what they did. We started at the River Crossing where one of their leaders played the part of Brigham Young calling for rescuers and where the young men responded to the call. We watched as the young men carried each of the girls and women across the river then came back and got the handcarts and pulled them across. They had a woman leader who was injured and rode in a rickshaw all day. Six of them carried her and her rickshaw over the river...not an easy feat. They did all of it with such reverence.

Carrying the rickshaw across the Sweetwater

At the statues the Aaronic Priesthood holders talked about the rescuers and then Elder Lindsey told them about the statues and also about the difference between sacred and hallowed ground. This group went into Martin's Cove with reverence. We stopped at the Lower Cove Amphitheatre where they put on a short spiritual program including a talk from their Bishop. Then they silently walked up into the Cove and when they reached the top they sat and meditated and wrote in their journals. As I watched them I realized I was seeing our prayers answered as we pray every day for the youth that come here to feel of the spirit of those who sacrificed their lives here.

After lunch at Handcart Parking we headed to the Men's Call Out and Women's Pull. Just like every place else the leaders had prepared talks and music to set the tone for what was about to happen. Instead of sending their strongest girls first two leaders started to pull their handcart up with others following. Soon it was evident they wouldn't make it without help so without a word the girls left their handcarts and helped pull each cart up the hill one by one until they were all up at the top. As the sisters pulled the young men and leaders stood silently with hands over hearts watching as they represented the husbands and fathers who either died on the trail or were called away from home on missions or other assignments. These young women learned that they can do hard things and the young men got to see first hand how strong the young women really are.

This was the organized chaos at Handcart Parking when you have seven treks out on the trails.

Before we parted they thanked us for our help by giving me a shawl that they had crocheted. I was really touched and told them I would treasure it always.  By the time I was walking up that sand hill behind the handcarts I was in pretty rough shape as I have developed a horrible cold. I wouldn't have missed any of that very special day but I was down for the count!

Showing off my shawl.

Friday Elder Lindsey spent the day getting the slide show for Fast Sunday ready and I spent the day in and out of bed and being otherwise miserable with my cold. Hopefully with a couple of days to recover I'll be mended by Monday. I have been grateful that Friday wasn't our trek day as it has rained almost the whole day.

Saturday dawned clear and windy. Elder Lindsey and Elder Paulsen (our next door neighbor) left early to watch the cattle round up and branding of the calves that the ranch was doing. They had a great time and Elder Lindsey got some fantastic pictures for the slide show. I spent the day resting and smoking ribs for dinner which we shared with the Paulsen's.

Sunday meetings were good as always. We had a full house as several of the missionaries had family visiting. Elder Lindsey and I had Visitor's Center from 2:00pm to 7:00pm. along with two other couples. We were busy with many people stopping in. On Sunday we only open the Visitor's Center and not the outbuildings which include the fort and museum. Visitors may walk to Devil's Gate and Martin's Cove but we don't send handcarts out on the trail. I lasted until 6:00pm when my voice gave out so I came home and Elder Lindsey came home with our neighbors an hour later.

 We can hardly believe that on Thursday we have been here three months. The time is flying by and we are having some amazing experiences. We feel blessed to be part of this work and to be able to testify of the Savior both to members of our faith and to those who are not. The work is hastening and we are a part of that, what more could we wish for.

Love and prayers to all of you,
Elder and Sister LIndsey