Firesides and Trekking

Dear Family and Friends,

Winter ended not long ago and the summer heat has arrived! Monday was our preparation day and after getting the laundry done we fixed a picnic and headed up to the top of Green Mountain to enjoy the trees, the view and the wild horses.

If you look closely you can see the colt.

Monday evening for FHE Sister Brandon taught us the history of and how to use the Deseret Alphabet. She and Elder Brandon served for several years at the Church History Museum and this is one of the classes she taught. 

I found the alphabet very confusing but then people who learn English as a second language say it is a very confusing language.

Tuesday morning Elder Lindsey and I spent the morning using weed eaters to clean the area behind the shops where we store equipment. My arm didn't stop vibrating for hours! After lunch we checked the drip sprinkler system on the willows we planted last year. We stopped about 2:30pm when the temperature approached 90 degrees and it was just too hot to work outside. We were worn out by then partly from the work but mostly from the heat.

Wednesday we were up and out the door by 5:30am as we had RRA and needed to clean the restrooms on the trail and at Staging before the trekkers arrived. After we finished I made us brunch and we took a much needed nap. In the evening we went to Jackson Campground to meet our trek leaders and talk about the trekking schedule for the next day.

Thursday was our first very own trek and we had a great day with the Colorado Springs Stake. We had 250 trekkers whose leaders were well prepared.

This lovely young woman played hymns while her Stake did the river crossing.

Cute?

One young man on the trek was very into reptiles and I had to talk long and hard to convince him that going off the trail to find himself a rattle snake was NOT a good idea. He decided to be content with this little garter snake which he released back into the grass.

The cacti on the trail are in full bloom.

Friday we spent the morning continuing to check and repair the drip system on the willows.

It's amazing to us how fast these willows have grown...just a year ago they were sticks in the dirt.

After lunch we did our assigned cleaning job with Elder and Sister Schmidt. This week we were assigned to clean the Trek Center where we have church on Sundays and where all of our treks start out from during the week. Its a big job moving 300 chairs and sweeping and mopping the floor then putting everything back. Friday cleaning assignments are how we keep our main buildings (Barn, Trek Center, Office, Gathering Room, Chapel and the Pavilion at Missionary Village) clean. The assignments rotate through the missionary pool weekly so we don't always have an assignment. To accommodate the assignments work crew is usually done by 2:00pm on Fridays.

Saturday we were assigned to Handcart Parking. The day was slower than the last time we were there with only two small scheduled treks, one a family and the other a boy scout troop from Lander. We did have at least five other families trek out from the Visitors' Center so we met and visited with a variety of very nice people and we each even got to tell a story. In the evening we visited with Elder and Sister Taylor Jr, a couple we served with last year who came to visit. We 2nd years gathered at the Pavilion and had a good time sharing stories. 

Sunday was great. In Sunday School one of the Sisters shared a quote about the Atonement that I really loved; " It wasn't nails that held him to the cross, but his love for you and me." After potluck we had a fireside with the Pay Sisters aka Doreen Lloyd and Joanne Barrette, Sister Hinckley's younger sisters. They shared the story of their families (Gobel and Pay) who traveled with the Hunt Wagon Company and they shared the touching story of finding the grave marker of baby Edith Gobel who died at just six weeks of age on the trail in Wyoming. The Pay Sisters are my favorite Fireside speakers both seasons here because they are so fun and because they have such a goodness about them.

Doreen and Joanne.

The thought of burying a baby at the side of the trail and continuing on is one that breaks my heart every time. It happened so often and yet they had the strength to push on keeping sight of the eternal picture.

The summer seems to be flying by. The days are hot but the air is clear and beautiful and we are so busy the time speeds past. You are in our thoughts and prayers always.

Love,

Elder and Sister Lindsey

Treks and More

Dear Family and Friends,

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!

Tuesday we started our day early by serving breakfast in the barn. A trek had given us leftover biscuits and gravy and French toast plus juice and chocolate milk so we had quite a feast. After breakfast I left to followed a trek while Elder Lindsey stayed behind and did some deep cleaning in the kitchen at the barn (where we prepare all the large meals). I was following the Henningson's on their first trek and they did a great job.

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

Trekking and Other Fun

Dear Family and Friends,

This has been another busy week and as far as the weather goes we've had a mix of sunshine and rain.
Monday was our preparation day and after spending the morning doing laundry and chores around the house we headed into Casper where we met four other couples for lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant. After lunch we headed to the movies with the Stimpson and saw San Andreas. It was entertaining and the special effects were amazing. After the movie we did some grocery shopping then headed for home arriving just in time for FHE and s'mores over the campfire. It was a great day.

Tuesday we finished chinking the barn in the morning then we did some cleanup work before stopping for lunch. In the afternoon we mowed lawns (an almost constant job here).

Sister Widdison and I shared the mower and I used the garden rover to take the grass out to the dump area. It was a satisfying days work.

Wednesday I had school group in the morning while Elder Lindsey helped build a fence. In the afternoon we trekked with a group from the Taylorsville 38th Ward. Elder Lindsey was actually a follower (trainer) for a first year missionary couple but when his wife got sick and couldn't trek I took her place. We love trekking and it has been hard to not have the opportunity to do so while the first year missionaries are going on the treks to be trained. While it is nice to be with them as followers we hope to someday soon get the opportunity to do our own trek.

Wednesday when the trek arrived they were trekking to the campground. As missionaries we don't usually trek with them to the campground but they had requested to do the men's call out/women's pull on their way to camp so we accompanied them to that point.

Thursday morning dawned rainy and cool but with excitement we (along with Elder Pottinger) headed out early to meet our trek. It was a good day and the rain didn't seem to dampen anyone's spirits. Our trek was the only one of the three out early who chose to do the river crossing in the rain. They were brave souls who wanted the true pioneer experience.

The water is still pretty high and swift. Because of the rain no one dried out!

Selfie!

Because of the rain the Bishop gave his message to the youth under the cover at Handcart Parking before we headed into Martin's Cove.

Elder Lindsey talking about Sacred and Hallowed ground.

The thing that makes trekking so wonderful to us is the people we come in contact with. The youth who are so full of life and enthusiasm and their leaders who have such love and hope for them. We connected with this particular group in an extra special way because many of them knew and loved our good friend Darrell Bawden who passed away recently.

Friday while Elder Lindsey programed radios for President Bushman I went with everyone else out to groom the front trail. The hard rains have wrecked havoc on all of our trails and we spent the morning pulling the gravel back into the middle of the trail.

Many hands make quick work!

President Bushman gave us a break every 30 minutes or so quizzing the first year missionaries on their stories.

I'm showing this picture as proof that we've had A LOT of rain. These fungi are growing all over this high desert landscape...right beside the sage brush!

Saturday we were assigned to Handcart Parking in the morning. We spent the time watching the treks return from the campground to the homestead to catch their busses and head for home. As I watched them on the trail I thought about the hearts that might have been touched and the lives that could have been changed by the time they spent here walking on hallowed ground.

In the afternoon we went to Alcova for lunch with Elder and Sister Moser and Elder and Sister Stimpson. We had a great view overlooking Alcova Reservoir. The food was good and the company was fun!

Sunday was long but good. We left home early so we could do a few things in the barn to get ready for potluck before church started. After our meetings and potluck we had a fireside with Julie Rodgers, the artist who does so many wonderful paintings of the handcart pioneers. She does a beautiful job of telling their stories through her art. She does have a website that shows her art so look her up. We only got to attend the fireside for a short while as we had a Visitors Center assignment from 3:00pm to 9:00pm. We were kept pretty busy with many great people stopping by but the highlight of the afternoon had to be the tour bus of Asian Tourists. They arrive every Sunday around 5:00pm on their way to Mt Rushmore. They love to take pictures and they especially love to take pictures of us in our western dress. 

Julie came over about the time the tour bus arrived. I loved having a few minutes to visit with her.

I will be in picture albums (or Facebook posts) all over the world!

The week ahead is looking to be even busier than this week but we look forward to the adventure.

Our love and prayers to each of you,

Elder and Sister Lindsey

Sunny Days and Family Fun

Dear Family and Friends,

Monday Elder Lindsey was assigned to Veil Crossing Bridge while I had a school group. He had a very quiet morning and when I finished with my school group I took our lunch out and joined him. We had a family trek come out pulling a handcart and I shared the Ellen Neibaur story with them and Elder Lindsey told them a little about the bridge itself. We took pictures for them and sent them on their way. Right behind the family was the school groups. We had them park their handcarts and Elder Lindsey told them the Legend of Devil's Gate. Normally us Sisters would tell that story when we take them around to the different sites but Elder Lindsey asked us to save it for him and he and the kids enjoyed the experience.

Elder Lindsey sitting on the bridge and telling the story.

When we arrived home we received a tender mercy in that someone had mowed our lawn which gave Elder Lindsey a good headstart on his chores. 

Tuesday we painted the west end of the duplex and a couple of large storage boxes. We worked hard and were able to finish by 12:30pm which made all of us very happy since the sun was starting to really warm us up. Yea for sunshine!

During correlation meeting Wednesday morning Sister Mellor and I worked up a little song and dance routine we performed for Elder Mellor when he got up to give out work crew assignments. Everyone loved it and Elder Mellor was stunned he but did like the Angel food cake with strawberries and whip cream we presented him with. Whenever Senior Missionaries get together you can always expect the unexpected!

We had horns and tails as we were devils in blue shirts and blue jeans.

We don't want to paint or pull them weeds, we want to go home and take a long nap but someone has us in a trap!

After correlation we worked on putting on the final coat of authentic 1872 chink on the barn. Unfortunately we ran out of concrete so weren't able to finish the job but it won't take long to complete once we get the material we need.

Sister James and I needed to lay down on the job to do the job.

Thursday we had the morning shift at the Visitors' Center. We didn't have much to do in the morning but after lunch things picked up. I was able to spend time with two very special families. One in particular I considered a tender mercy because they had a severely handicapped son and as we got to talking she and I had many similar experiences in life. At the end of our visit I was impressed to tell her of the special experience we had of doing Jonathan's Temple work the day after he died. She cried as she told me that that was something sh'e been trying to get answers about for the last several years.

The other family were heading to Utah for vacation. Mom and Dad and two great teenagers and a delightful little girl. They had such a good spirit about them it was wonderful to just be in their presence. Spending time with families like this is what makes serving at Martin's Cove so wonderful.

They wanted a picture with me in it so I told them in that case they'd be on my blog!

We got home just in time to greet Heather and the kids. We were so excited to see them and we spent the rest of the afternoon and evening just visiting and getting and giving lot's of  much needed grandchildren hugs. Skyler and Caleb decided they wanted to spend their nights with us in the motorhome and we were delighted to have them do just that!

Friday morning we got up early and headed in to the Homestead to do RRA (clean restrooms). We were able to get our work done and then spend the rest of the day with family. After breakfast and cleaning up we headed out to trek Martin's Cove. 

Kendra, Grandpa, Skyler, Grandma and Caleb at the river crossing.

Father and daughter (Heather)

It was hot and the wind did not blow (a time when you wish it would) but we had a wonderful trek. Grandpa loved telling the stories of the handcart pioneers and the story of his Great Grandfather who also traveled this path pulling a handcart on his way to Salt Lake City.

After trekking we went to the Homestead and took the family through the Visitors' Center. Finally we got to Skyler's favorite part...pulling a handcart through Prairie Park. He (and they) quickly found out how tough it is to pull the handcart even a short distance.

We found Caleb was great at pushing the handcart and everyone (except mom) loved riding in the handcart.

We were lucky enough the whole weekend to have weather nice enough to spend a lot of time outside and were even able to eat all our meals at the picnic table in our yard. Skyler made friends with our friends Elder and Sister Stull who are rock hounds. Elder Stull showed him how he cuts and polishes rocks and introduced him to different types of rocks. Skyler spent the weekend finding and collecting the types of rocks Elder Stull told him about and when we got back from any adventure he'd head over to the Stull trailer to show off his finds.

Saturday was our Preparation day. We headed out early to attend the roundup and branding of the new calves on the ranch. 

Roping the calves.

Branding the calves. They also give shots and put in ear tags.

Skyler loved the horses.

After we left the roundup we headed over to Independence Rock where Grandma and Grandpa enjoyed relaxing on the bench at the bottom while everyone else climbed to the top.

They made the top!

On our way back home we stopped at the overlook to Devil's Gate to show everyone a different view.

Kendra and Grandpa...two of a kind!

Mooing to the cows!

Kendra, always the dancer!

Overlooking the Homestead.

We spent the rest of Saturday relaxing, enjoying a nap (the Grandparents) and taking a nice long walk (Heather, Kendra and Caleb) and just enjoying our time together. We BBQed and ate dinner outside and then watched a movie before turning in for the night. 

Sunday we all attended Sacrament meeting together. The meeting became extra special for us when Kendra bore her testimony of the Gospel. She is leaving in early September for her mission to Jamaica and we are so proud of the beautiful (inside and out) young woman she has become.  All to soon it was time to say goodby. With lots of hugs and a few tears we managed to let them go.

Another week has passed and again the one ahead will prove to be busy and filled with new experiences. Our prayer is and will continue to be that we will serve in the way the Lord wants us to serve. 

We love you all,

Elder and Sister Lindsey