Last Days

Dear Family and Friends,

Sunday evening we decided to have one last "fireside" so we invited everyone down and enjoyed time around the campfire. It was another opportunity to make a memory we will hold close forever.

The Henningson's Burdette's and Bigler's

Elder Lindsey, The Stull's, Meier's, Smith's, Sister Reader and the Morris's

Elder and Sister Morris. We were in the MTC together and have served together for two seasons. We sure do love them. We all sang "God Be With You" to them tonight as they are heading home tomorrow.

Monday morning we were up early getting the laundry done so we could head into Rawlins for one last lunch with Elder and Sister Stimpson. We enjoyed lunch at Buck's then headed off to get groceries, a few for us and a few for our farewell dinner that we are cooking for Friday evening. Then it was home for a relaxing afternoon and evening.

In our mailbox Tuesday we found this sweet note from President and Sister Bushman.

Tuesday we served our last Visitors' Center shift in the morning. My day was International as I took a small tour group from Italy through (all non members), a family from Australia (members) and three friends from Salt Lake City whose faces were familiar to me as they served missions downtown and ate regularly in the cafeteria. We then went home for a couple of hours before heading back to the Trek Center for a special Tuesday evening Family Home Evening program.

Family Home Evening was lovely. The plan had been to go up into Martin's Cove together but the Wyoming weather didn't cooperate so instead we met in the barn and started with an early dinner (leftovers from last Friday's dinner...but I heard no complaints). Then we had special musical numbers by Sister Brandon and Elder Hunter. They played music that we heard on our treks this summer and just like it did then it brought the spirit into our gathering.

Sister Brandon and Elder Hunter ended with a lovely duet of "come, Come Ye Saints."

After the music Elder Bigler asked us to share any special experiences we might have had in Martin's Cove. Many shared sweet experiences. I shared that we loved being in the Cove each time we went but our favorite times were when we had the opportunity to trek with our family and bear testimony of our Savior and the Gospel to them in that sacred place.

Our work crew assignment for Wednesday was to pack up and that is exactly what we spent the morning doing. When you live in a small space for 18 months you find ways to keep the things you need close and today was the day we packed all that stuff up! In the afternoon we took a field trip with some of the other missionaries to the Pathfinder Ranch and the grave marker for Cattle Kate. I love that even on the last week of our mission we are having new experiences.

Ruth and her husband manage the Pathfinder ranch and she took time out of her busy day to escort us to the grave and tell us the story.

Ella Watson aka Cattle Kate and Jim Averell were on their way to Rawlins to restock the liquor supply for their saloon when they were captured by a group of ranchers who wanted to scare them away from homesteading in the area. The took them to a tree and put nooses around their necks. The story goes that Kate struggled and slipped off the rock she was standing on and then they pushed Jim off. There were three witnesses and one fled the country and the other two disappeared...a real tale from the old west.

The Sweetwater River is overflowing it's banks.

We parked and walked up the hill to the grave marker.

We love this beautiful country.

Thursday we worked in the kitchen doing end of the year clean up and some food preparation in advance of tomorrow nights farewell dinner. With help from Sister Stull we got the pantry shelves washed and organized. I cleaned and organized the spice cabinet and refrigerator and made a double batch of cinnamon rolls that I will bake in the morning before correlation meeting. I also made the tres leche cake that will go with Sister Bushman's Texas sheet cakes for dessert tomorrow. 

On the way home we stopped to check on the progress of the repairs to the water leak next to our laundry room. We have all had to rely on our water tanks since Wednesday. Hopefully it will be fixed today. That's Elder Lindsey and Elder Meier surveying the situation.

Friday started early for me. I arrived at the barn to bake cinnamon rolls about 6:20am. Elder Lindsey rode in with the Smith's at 8:00am. We sent cinnamon rolls to the Pathfinder Ranch, Tina Sun, on her ranch, the men at the sewage treatment plant where we have been taking numerous trips as we clean out our potties on the trail and we also saved one for the Fedex and UPS drivers and put one in the mail box for our mail lady. Then we had a little breakfast complete with chocolate milk for the missionaries after correlation before they headed out to finish the handcarts.  

We spent the day in the kitchen preparing for our missionary farewell dinner. Elder Lindsey and Elder Smith were in charge of the roasts while Sister Smith and I did the salads, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, green beans with mushroom sauce, parker house rolls and tres leche cake. Sister Bushman made Texas sheet cakes and we had ice cream. It was a wonderful meal, everyone was very complimentary. I made the horseradish sauce for the roasts that I loved when I worked at the COB and it too was a hit. The committee put on a fun program. First there was a contest to see who had the most splattered painting clothes...there were some real masterpieces. The evening ended with a goodbye song written by Sister Reeder to the tune of the "Sound of Music" song "So Long Farewell..." that included something about every missionary couple. It was amazing and brought laughter and tears to everyone.

There’s a change in the weather

Starting here at the Cove

And the calendar says it too.

Still up at the homestead

We are all working hard.

But we know  we are  almost through.

Woo, whoo, Woo Whoo!

We’ve made so many friendships

And gone on many day trips

It’s hard to say goodbye to      YOU   OOOOO

You work so hard and never do complain.

To Widdison we say Auf Wiedersehen

Bugs and Weeds and Sewing Center too.

Roberts ‘ we bid to both of you Adieu.

For 2 seasons their woodshop skills were great!

The Laytons will be missed!  They are first rate!

Cutting rocks, and being campground host

Big lers we say a heartfelt Adios.

You cleaned the pots.  Each day you did the Ra Ra.

To Mor-ris’  we say ee –Sigh on ar a.

You cook, you clean, you even like to fry.

Lindseys’ good luck.  We wave a fond good bye.

At Martin’s Cove you’ve loved to serve your mission.

We’ll miss Burdetts !  Perhaps they will go fishin’.

O John’ nee O and the Virginia Reel

To trek with Lloyds was such a special deal.

Our new FM! Their work is never done

Mosers, We hope your winter here is fun.

The Meiers came back to serve a second year

Their love for Martin’s Cove is very clear!

Pictures’ you take.  Work hour after hour.

Oh dearest Paynes, we have to say Au revoir.

Poems to write and wa ter ing the flowers

Hawkins are great! We thank them for their hours!

You paint. You talk. You show to youth the view

Black Blackhursts’ we wish a happy life to you.

Your lovely flute and stories at the fort

Brandon's it’s time your mission to report.

You love, and lead, you feed us all ice cream.

Bush’ mans we know that trekking is your dream.

Your craftiness and mischievous smile

The Cooks are going in just a little while.

You came and went, you made our talent show.

Haurands come back! We really miss you so!

You walk and walk and then you walk some more

Dear Henningsens, it’s time to say au revoir.

A spraying rover keeps the weeds from thriving..

Elder in front and Sister Hoskins driving..

Playing trombone and trekking ‘til you’re blue.

Your job is done.  Hunters we say Adieu.

The James’ did great and really made outfitting

The best they could and never thought of quitting.

At the desk and everywhere outside

With Jensen's here all things will go in stride.

An-sir’-ing phones and fixing all the Rovers.

We’ll miss the Johnsons  when our mission’s over!

Upside down piano playing artist

“Good Morning Martin’s Cove, Stulls you will be missed.

Dance in circles, Writing lyrics too.

The Schmidts don’t stop until their work is through

The tall and short, we bid you sayonara

McRaes’ we’re glad we really got to know ya’

Sweet, sweet smiles. We say adieu to you

Stimpsons we love! We really, really do!

Pot ten gers, we all look up to you!

We love your poems and story-telling too.

Smiths came twice to serve here at the cove

Helping here is what they really love!

(Reeders) you’re brave to take on this big task

You smile, you sing, you dance if you are asked.

Mellors and, Grovers, and the Christensens,

We miss so much our missionary friends!

I’m glad to go, I can not tell a lie

I flit,     I float,       I fleet  ly    flit,      I fly

Good bye, Good-bye, Good bye, Good-bye.

President and Sister Bushman. We have loved serving with them. 

We received this wonderful gift from President and Sister Bushman (made by the very talented Sister Cook) and will cherish it forever.

Saturday morning we pulled out of Missionary Village at 6:40am waving goodbye to Elder Smith and Sister Schmidt as we left. Our trip home was uneventful but when we got to about Park City Utah and hit the traffic we briefly considered turning around and heading back to Martin's Cove! We pulled up to our house at 1:00pm and just like we did when leaving our friends at Martin's Cove we were greeted with hugs and expressions of love by our neighbors and friends. Around about our third hour of unpacking the motorhome Elder Lindsey turned to me and said "sanding handcarts was easier!" Our Stake President came over to our home at 5:00pm and spent a wonderful hour with us and then released us and we removed our badges...as much as we felt ready to be home that was a tough thing to do. After President Wight left we put on jeans and shirts and headed to Cafe Rio for dinner. The rest of the evening was spent doing more unpacking. 

Sunday morning we were up and out the door early to report to the High Counsel. It was a wonderful spirit filled opportunity. Our Sacrament meeting was at 1:00pm. It was like heaven to see our ward family, special friends, people from Rosebud, (Jack came running and threw himself into my arms and Averie was right behind him), some of our Temple Rider friends, friends from my work, and Marilyn and Doug who represented our family. 

Jim's sister Marilyn and her husband Doug. We were so thankful they were able to support us. We love them very much!

After church we had a few friends from outside our ward over for dinner and to visit. I just couldn't get things together enough to do a big open house and could only do this much because my dear friend Sue Larsen shopped for me and she and others potlucked other dishes.  

This has been a wonderful time in our lives and it is bittersweet that it has come to an end. We love and appreciate each of you. We could not have been successful without your help, weather you watched over and cared for our home, or gave us a place to stay when we needed, or visited us, or sent us letters, or even just remembered us in your prayers each of you contributed to the joy in our journey and we will be eternally grateful.

Our love and prayers,

Jim and Carol