Trek Training and Challenges

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been particularly challenging as it was our first big meal for the first Trek Training of the season and I got Strep Throat...not a good combination of events. Monday started off great with work crew. Monday evening my throat was feeling scratchy and by Tuesday I was down for the count. Elder Lindsey did work crew and I slept the day away. Wednesday was our preparation day and we needed to get groceries for Fridays dinner but I was just getting sicker so first we stopped at President and Sister Bushman's and got the credit card for shopping then President and Elder Lindsey gave me a blessing. Next we headed for Casper and the Instacare.

By 10:00am I was on antibiotics and we headed out to do our shopping. After cleaning out Walmart we did a drive thru of McDonalds (a milkshake to soothe my throat) got gas and headed home. After stopping at the homestead and unloading the groceries in the barn it was home and back to bed for me.

Thursday the miracles started to happen. We had planned to spend the day doing the prep work for Fridays dinner but since I was still moving slow (not to mention I couldn't talk a side benefit for Elder Lindsey) other missionaries joined us and we were able to get everything we needed done well before noon then it was home and back to bed for me.

Friday I was feeling better but still not up to full speed but we had a great team of missionaries, some who had been assigned and others who pitched in when they had some free time and everything came off without a hitch.

Taking a lunch break with Elder and Sister Smith our assistants in the kitchen. We have a wonderful time working with them.

We were eating lunch when we looked over at the roll dough and discovered it raising right over the bowl. Elder Lindsey did a little art work and we had our very own ghost! Not sure what happened but the rolls were very light and fluffy!

Our menu for dinner was sirloin tips over rice, corn, salad, rolls and for dessert we served cherry crisp with ice cream. We served 224 people and everything turned out wonderful. We got great reviews for our sirloin tips. We had so much help, everyone was willing to step in and do anything that was needed. Elder Lindsey and I and Elder and Sister Smith work so well together and have a great time doing it.

Saturday morning we left Missionary Village with Elder and Sister Smith and Elder and Sister Layton at 6;00am to head to Sixth Crossing to participate in day two of Trek Training. Elder Lindsey helped serve breakfast and I did the readers theatre. After we finished at Sixth Crossing the six of us went into Lander had lunch and did a quick stop at Safeway. We got back home about 4:00pm and I went to bed and except for waking up a couple of times to change where I slept I didn't get up until 8:00 am on Sunday.

Sunday Elder Lindsey went to church and I stayed home and rested. I've learned some important lessons this week. First Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. Each day I had the strength to do the things I needed to do and people who stepped up to help with the things I didn't need to do. When I was worried about the recipe I was using for the sirloin tips and prayed about it I would get a feeling of peace that all would be well...and it was.

There is a quote from President Eyring we have framed here in our FM office that says "Never underestimate the spiritual power of temporal work." Those words came to my mind several times this week. I know that Heavenly Father is mindful of each of us, he loves us and he will help us no matter what our task all we need to do is ask.

We have another busy week ahead and I look forward to facing it with better health.

Our love and prayers to each of you,

Elder and Sister Lindsey

Getting Ready

Dear Family and Friends,

My title this week is reflective of what we do here at Martin's Cove for the first couple of months. Everything is geared to getting ready for the trekking season.

Monday we had RRA and when we finished the restroom cleaning we decided to paint the main entrance door to the barn. It was white and showing its age. We painted it a nice dark green to match the trim. We let it dry overnight then did a quick second coat Tuesday morning before heading out to Missionary Village to help with the cleanup of the campgrounds.

We cleaned up tree limbs large and small.

The work is hard but always fun when we work as a team.

We filled this trailer twice plus a smaller trailer three times and there is still a lot more to do...

See all that blue sky and sunshine in those pictures...well on Wednesday it disappeared and winter came back with a vengeance. 

This is what our yard looked like by noon on Wednesday.

Since Wednesday was our preparation day we stayed home and did laundry and housework (Sister Lindsey) and general maintenance things (Elder Lindsey) around the motorhome. In the afternoon we went to Elder and Sister Stimpsons and watched the movie Interstellar. We enjoyed the movie and the dinner of popcorn, chips with queso dip and ice cream pie for dessert!

We call this storage shed the North Pole. I'm not sure why but on Thursday morning the name seemed particularly appropriate.

Because of the weather Thursday it was decided to hold correlation meeting at Missionary Village. Elder Bushman did missionary training until 2:00pm then Elder Lindsey and I went into the Homestead to get the things we needed for the welcome dinner for new missionaries we do on Thursday evening. Four of our couples made the dinner while two waited and came in on Friday. It wasn't perfect weather for any of them and we were all relieved when they arrived safely.

Friday it was still snowing so after correlation Elder Bushman did more training. After lunch he took everyone to the Trek Center and showed the two films we show the trekkers. One before they head out to trek and one at the end of their treks. They are both short films but they set the stage for what they will and what they have experienced.

This is Pete Creek...the place where most of our treks start by crossing the creek just has the Martin Handcart company did in 1856 on their way up into Martin's Cove. 

After training we did our Friday cleaning assignment with Elder and Sister Layton and cleaned the Trek Center. When we were done I finished up a sewing project in the sewing center while Elder Lindsey worked on a project in the woodshop. When we got back to Missionary Village we welcomed our new neighbors and after dinner went to Elder and Sister Stimpsons for another movie. This time we watched Dejavous. We loved it.

Our baptismal font on the Sweetwater River looking across to Veil Crossing Bridge. Can you imagine crossing that river in the snow. That's what the Martin Handcart company did on November 4, 1856. The temperature was 11 degrees below zero.

Saturday we served in the Visitors Center with the Christensens. It was a slow day but we did get a couple people who came because they had to detour their routes back to Salt Lake City because of accidents on I 80. Both families remarked at the end of their tours that the Lord had blessed them in bringing them to Martin's Cove.

Sunday morning we headed to the Homestead early to get the kitchen ready for potluck but when we arrived found the power was out. We packed up everything we needed and headed out to Missionary Village where we held all of our meetings followed by a great potluck in the pavillion. 

The weeks seem to fly by. Tonight Ernie told us we were on the downward path and that soon he would be counting just days until we get home...I think someone misses his mom and dad!

Our love and prayers to you all,

Elder and Sister Lindsey

Back to Work

Dear Family and Friends,

Monday we hit the ground running with an eight hour shift in the Visitors' Center. Right now the Visitors' Center is open from nine to four but we arrive at eight to clean then we attend correlation meeting. We had a fairly busy day with people traveling for Spring break. It was fun to find different ways to ask meaningful questions that bring about discussion rather than just giving information.

Monday evening we had FHE. The Layton's put together a nice evening asking each of us to share a spiritual experience that we've had serving here. It was wonderful to hear all the different experiences.

Tuesday Elder Lindsey and I had RRA. Because we have a trek group coming in on Thursday we went out to Cherry Creek campground to open up five of the restrooms out there then we stocked and cleaned the restrooms at the footbridge. After lunch the Sisters had a doll making class with the women from the Interpretive Center in Casper. It was great fun. We each made three dolls; a yarn doll, a corn husk doll and a cloth doll.

Sister Bigler and I with our cloth dolls.

Sisters Grover, Laton, Tippits and Smith with Jody, our instructor.

Three dolls complete!

Wednesday was our preparation day but since we needed supplies for upcoming dinners we took the truck and went to Casper to do the shopping. We did treat ourselves to lunch at Arby's before we came home to do laundry and other housekeeping chores.  

Thursday I had school group and Elder Lindsey had work crew.

I had a great time taking this group of fourth graders to the 7 different areas of the Sun Ranch including the blacksmith shop and the fort and sharing with them the stories of the early pioneers and the Martin Handcart Company.

We also prepared the dinner for the arriving missionaries this week. I made sirloin tips with mushrooms and we served it over bowtie pasta with mixed vegetables, garden salad, rolls and for dessert we had Sister Bushman's brownies and ice cream.

Friday we were again assigned to the Visitors Center. 

We always ask people who come to the Visitors Center if they'd like us to take a picture of them by this handcart to remember their visit to Martin's Cove.

It was a much slower day but we enjoyed the families who did stop by. We had an extra cleaning assignment on Friday afternoon with Elder and Sister Morris we cleaned the Barn. 

Elder Lindsey found a skirt on the give away table he thought would look good with his vest.

Saturday we were assigned work crew. We spent the morning working in the kitchen of the barn. After we got everything in order we did the prep work on meatloaf and mashed potatoes for Sunday's potluck dinner. 

Sunday's at Martin's Cove are wonderful. The Sacrament talks were meaningful and heartfelt and the Sunday School, Priesthood and Relief Society lessons were (as always) well prepared with good participation from the class. We  always learn something from the teachings of our fellow missionaries. Sister Lindsey has to admit though that her lap was lonely with not one little one to hold and she really missed the warm hugs she received every Sunday from the Primary children as they arrived at church each week in Rosebud. 

Our love and prayers are with each of you,

Elder and Sister Lindsey

Hello Martin's Cove

Dear Family and Friends,

We left Rosebud about 8:00am Monday morning. The school bus was just picking up the children and they all waved goodbye as we pulled out of the church parking lot. The first part of our trip brought back some great memories of a motorhome trip we took with the Hendriksen family many years ago as we stopped at Chimney Rock and Scotts Bluff.

Chimney Rock

I remember being totally freaked out by these signs on that long ago trip and Brian Hendriksen laughed at me. After a season at Martin's Cove I take snakes much more in stride. Not sure that's a good thing.

We had lunch in a picnic area at Scotts Bluff. It was a beautiful day to travel, warm, sunny with a bit of wind.

Next stop on the Oregon Trail was Ft Laramie. The sign Elder Lindsey is pointing to says this is also the Mormon trail.

Barracks at Ft Laramie

More Barracks at Ft Laramie

Our last stop on the Oregon Trail was the Guernsey Ruts. These are the actual ruts made by the wagons of the pioneers. Elder Lindsey is standing on the road his great grandfather would have walked pulling his handcart in 1859.

Since it was still early afternoon (we gained an hour) we decided to drive on into Casper so we'd only have to set up and take down the motorhome once. We arrived around 6:00pm and after setting up had dinner and spent a much needed lazy evening.

Tuesday was spent shopping, getting a haircut (Sister Lindsey...just a trim) and having lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant. Wednesday we headed out early for Martin's Cove and except for a tiny bump the trip was uneventful. We had decided that I would pull the trailer with the Tahoe on this leg of the trip so Elder Lindsey pulled the motor home out and I backed the Tahoe to the trailer and Elder hooked it up and we were off. Just outside the RV park we stayed at was a set of railroad tracks and as I went over them the trailer hitch came off the receiver. I wasn't going very fast and was able to radio Elder Lindsey and pull off the side of the road quickly. Thankfully there was no damage to either trailer or Tahoe and I had pulled into the lot of a business whose people came out and offered a forklift to connect the trailer to the hitch. Tender mercies.

These guys were very kind to help us...they said we were the third people this week to have this same issue....once is enough for us!

We arrived at the homestead shortly after 9:30am and were greeted with hugs all around by our friends. It was so good to see everyone. 

Sister Grover served us a very special April Fool's Day breakfast of bacon, eggs, brown E's and juice!

We then headed to Missionary Village to get set up. Elder Lindsey worked on hooking up the electrical, water and sewer and I put the inside back together and did laundry. We invited Elder and Sister Mellor to join us for lunch and had a great time catching up with them. The Mellors served an 18 month mission several years ago on the Reservation at Eagle Butte, South Dakota so we now know many of the same people.

When we went to the Homestead for correlation meeting Thursday morning we witnessed a miracle and I knew I needed to take this picture...for a few hours we had absolutely no wind. That's our wind sock in a position that is almost never seen!

Elder Lindsey and I will be in charge of the kitchen this year so after correlation we spent a little bit of time checking things out. Our first big dinner is on April 24th so we need to hit the ground running. We then headed back to missionary village to tackle the trailer. We emptied it out, found the things we need while serving here then repacked it. It was very cold and we even worked in some snow flurries but we persevered and got the job done. At 6:00pm we got together at the Pavillion and had a fun dinner served by the winter missionaries. 

They tied yellow ribbons around the old oak tree.

Sister Mellor and Sister Jensen sang their version of the song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon". All of us returning missionaries felt VERY wanted and loved. We are still 14 couples short for the season which made those of us returning for a second year even more appreciated.

When we left the dinner we found that the snow had started in earnest and there was about 1/2 inch on the ground. It was beautiful and very cold! 

This was the view of the sunrise on Friday morning. This picture was taken outside the door of the motorhome. We are still marveling at our peaceful surroundings.

We started Friday with an 8:00am meeting for a little tweaking on our training as second year missionaries. We learned some new ways to interact with visitors in the Visitor's Center as we testify of Christ in all we do. We are so excited for all that lays ahead and feel these changes will only improve our missionary experience...if thats possible.

After our meeting we packed a lunch and headed over to the Homestead to work in the kitchen. While Elder Lindsey got the ice maker working I worked on wiping out all the drawers and cupboards and washing everything in them. We are not completely finished but we got a good start on getting things in order. Before we headed back to Missionary Village for dinner we stopped off at the Visitor's Center and ended up taking a couple on a tour and talking to two other couples. We are getting twice as many visitors this year than last and that is very exciting.

Friday evening is date night so several couples met at the Pavillion and we watched the movie "The Ultimate Gift." If you haven't seen it we highly recommend it. Next week we will be watching the sequel; "The Ultimate Life."

Saturday was spent watching General Conference with the other missionaries. Between the sessions Elder Lindsey made three pies for tomorrows Easter dinner potluck. After the second session I mixed up the roll dough and put it in the fridge until morning. We baked a pizza and enjoyed dinner and a visit with Elder Stimpson. After dinner I headed back to Missionary Village while the men went to priesthood meeting. 

Maybe it is because of all the years of working Conference,(an experience which I really loved) but being able to sit and listen to Conference now is a sweet experience...a tender mercy even. 

I looked out the window just as I finished writing and this was what I saw. I opened the door and took this picture from inside the motor home. Tender mercies and beautiful things are all around us.

Happy Easter everyone. How blessed we were today to listen to the Lord's chosen servants as we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was a wonderful day. The missionaries from Sixth Crossing came over and we had potluck between sessions. We had delicious food and wonderful company as we celebrated being together again. 

We have some very creative Sisters here...and yes it tasted as good (or even better) than it looks.

We pray that your day was filled with the Spirit as you celebrated Him this Easter Sunday. Our love and prayers are with you always,

Elder and Sister Lindsey