Dear Friends and Family,
Our weeks are getting busier as more people are traveling and stopping by the Visitors Center, either for an hour, or for the day. In addition we are full swing into the trekking season with square dancing going on every night in addition to the assignments to visit the campgrounds and tell the Ephraim Hanks, Thisbe Read story or bring the mail into the camp via the Pony Express (minus the horse...darn!). After working our assignments during the day we rotate the evening assignments but we are finding that even though sometimes tired when we leave to assist with Square Dancing or tell the Ephraim Hanks story we come home revived and happy that we were able to spend an hour with the youth of the Church.
Tuesday the Pony Express Reenactment Association of Wyoming rode through Martin's Cove on their way East. Because for the first time in years they were early (like two hours early) they reached Martin's Cove before everyone was up and about. Elder Lindsey and I got up at 4:00am and when we learned they'd already passed through we decided to follow them to get some pictures.
The mail pouch being transferred.
Mail pouch transferred and ready to ride. The association does this ride from Sacramento to St Joseph Missouri every year using 100's of horses and riders but still making the trip in 10 days. The horses no longer gallop full out but usually cover their five miles at a trot. Here in Wyoming much of the ride is over or close to the original trail unlike in other states where it becomes harder to stay off the freeways. This year they started in Sacramento and traveled East. Next year they will start in St Joseph and travel West.
Tuesday evening we had square dancing with the Provo Tongan Stake of 500 youth. They were a lot of fun and after we taught them the Virginia Reel they taught the Sisters a Hula and the Elders the Huka. It was great fun!
Lined up and ready to hula!
The boys thought the Elder's were quite funny!
Two tender mercies for me this week. Tuesday evening there was a young man with Down Syndrome in the group we square danced with. His name was Johnny and he gave me a high five! Then on Saturday there was a small trek that passed by us with a young man who had Down Syndrome riding in a Rickshaw. He looked very much like Jonathan. What a sweet spirit these two young men added to the groups they trekked with.
On Friday we had the morning Visitor's Center shift, we had a busy morning with many visitors. Close to the end of our shift our friends Ken and Sue Larsen arrived to spend the weekend with us. It was so wonderful to be with them. We've missed them. After we finished our work we took the short hike to Devil's Gate. We had just enough wind to keep the mosquitos at bay.
Ken and Sue Larsen at Devil's Gate.
After our short hike we took them on a personal tour of the Visitor's Center and Museum, Bunkhouse, Wash House and Blacksmith Shop. Since Friday was the day our Mission President and his wife came( with 10 senior couples who serve in the mission) to speak to us. Ken and Sue came with us to the fireside. President Anderson and his wife are special people who bring with them a very special spirit. After the meeting Elder Lindsey took pictures of all the couples in our mission with President and Sister Anderson.
Elder and Sister Lindsey with President and Sister Anderson.
President Anderson left us with a beautiful blessing which touched our hearts. In part he said that our families will be watched over and blessed as we serve our missions.
After the fireside we headed home to grill flank steak and enjoy good food and good friends! Saturday Elder Lindsey and I took Ken and Sue on a trek of Martin's Cove. We had a lovely, peaceful morning where we were blessed to be the only ones in Martin's Cove. We also made sure we told Ken and Sue the stories we tell the trekkers so they could have the full trekking experience! In the afternoon after a short nap we headed into Casper. On the way we stopped at Bessemer Bend to share the pioneer experience that occurred there with Ken and Sue. Next stop was Walmart to pick up a few things we needed then on to fill the gas tank (thank you Ken and Sue for that and other tender mercies). We had dinner together at our favorite Mexican restaurant in Casper then headed to the Rodeo. We had great seats and a great time at the National College Finals Rodeo. This was my first real rodeo and I loved it.
The four of us enjoying the rodeo.
It was a late night but fun. Today Ken and Sue attended church and pot luck with us before they headed for home. We had such a great time with them and look forward to more visitors over the course of our mission.
We continue to keep all of you in our prayers.
Love,
Elder and Sister Lindsey
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