I know I'm repeating myself but this has been a VERY BUSY week! Monday for preparation day after we got the laundry and other housekeeping chores done we decided to take a quick trip into Rawlins to pick up a few things we needed and go to lunch. In Walmart we ran into two other couples who were also planning to go to lunch at Su Casa so we joined them and had a great time enjoying good food and a lot of laughs!
For FHE we had a special treat. Elder and Sister Moeser had some friends from Idaho visit and they prepared a "Milk Can Dinner" for us. It was delicious!
Yes it was served in a trough and just like little piggies we lined right up and ate till our tummies were bursting! Let me remind you that no one has starved at Martin's Cove since 1856!
The first stop on most treks is the River Crossing where first the story of the Martin Companies crossing on November 4, 1856 is told. Then the youth reverently cross the river trying to imagine what it must have felt like to do so with 4 inch blocks of ice floating in the water and the temperature at 6 degrees below zero with a stiff wind blowing.
Next the treks travel to the statues that represent the Aaronic Priesthood boys who aided the Martin Company across the Sweetwater River on that bitter cold day. Here a Priesthood leader talks to the youth about the Priesthood and how they can honor it.
After a stop at Handcart Parking to park their handcarts, use the restroom and fill water bottles the treks then head into the Dan W. Jones amphitheater to hear the stories of Faith, Obedience, Sacrifice and Charity as they apply to the Martin Handcart Company. Then it is time to trek into Martin's Cove itself.
The last stop on most treks is the Men's Callout/Women's Pull which represents the many strong pioneer women who did it on their own either because their husbands died or were sent on other assignments and they were left to take their children and go it alone. Before the long hard pull begins the Young Men are instructed on honoring their Priesthood and honoring women and the girls are encouraged to be the kind of women who help the young men honor their priesthood. The Young Women are also told how strong they are and that they can do hard things and that they should always keep their eye on the Temple.
Wednesday we worked on the trails again and Sister Smith and I spent some time pulling weeds. After lunch we traveled out to Cherry creek campground and cleaned up around the benches of one of the amphitheatres...the grass grows tall and we don't want to give those pesky snakes a place to hide!
The trail crew...Elders Lindsey, Smith and Meier with Sisters Smith and Hawkins hard at work!
Wednesday evening we had a great time square dancing with this fun group of kids!
This is Kaloni Hall and I at Cherry Creek campground. Kaloni is Amber Hall Gardner's Mother and I hired Amber at the COB many years ago when she came to SLC to attend LDSBC. It was so fun to meet Amber's mother and thank her in person for raising such a wonderful daughter of Heavenly Father.
Thursday again started early. June 18th was our busiest day on the trail this summer. We had almost 1900 people on the trails and considering the crowds things went fairly smoothly. Some had to wait at different spots for the group ahead to move and some had to eat their lunch in the sun but those things didn't seem to dampen anyones spirits. Elder Lindsey and I were assigned to Handcart Parking and also to the overflow area which is called The Sweetwater Amphitheatre. Pictures tell the story better than words....
We had crowds like this for almost 6 hours straight. When one group would head out another would arrive to take their place.
Elder Jensen decided to tell his group a story while waiting to head up to the Dan W. Jones Amphitheatre.
The day was long and busy and at the end we were very tired but we also felt a real sense of accomplishment in the work we and all the missionaries did to help these youth and their leaders feel the wonderful spirit that is Martin's Cove.
Friday we spent the day in the barn preparing and serving dinner to the Pony Express riders and their support people who are doing the reenactment. They do this 10 day trip every year and this year they are traveling East to West. They were very appreciative of the hot meal and a chance to relax for a few minutes in our nice cool barn.
Saturday we had the late shift in the Visitors' Center which gave us a chance to catch up on some chores around the house and to have a much needed lazy morning. The Visitors' Center was busy which is always fun. I took part of the Watkin's family through, they had come from all over to have a family reunion and trek at Martin's Cove in honor of their ancestor who was the bugler of the Martin Company. As we entered the restoration room I pointed to the statue of the Christus and asked if anyone knew why we had a statue of the Savior in a room where we talk about the handcart pioneers. All was quiet until one little girl about 7 years old walked right up to me and looked up and said "because he's the reason they did it." It is a tender mercy to feel the testimony of a child.
We had three baptisms on Saturday. Can you imagine a more beautiful or memorable setting?
Sunday was REALLY wonderful. Bishop Causse' and his family were with us. Both he and Sister Causse' spoke. Their younger daughter had been here on Trek with their Stake on Thursday and at Rock Creek Hollow on Friday. Sister Causse' said something that resonated with me. She said when her husband was called as a Seventy years ago and they knew they would be leaving their home they didn't have to decide whether or not they would serve because "we said yes in the Temple."
Bishop Causse' told us that the handcart pioneers are pleased at the work we are doing in teaching their legacy and that our work makes their sacrifice worth it. We had a special treat as Bishop Causse' is a concert pianist and he played the most beautiful rendition of "Come, Come Ye Saints" for us. He said he's played that piece in many venues but playing it here on the trails they traveled was very special for him.
The Causse' Family
We still have District meeting to attend this evening then we are having a pie social (remember the not starving goal!) in honor of Father's Day after that. We hope all the fathers out there had a great day. Remember you are always in our hearts and prayers.
Love,
Elder and Sister Lindsey
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