29 April 2018 - Sunday

29 April 2018 - Sunday

Our first Sunday here in the Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission!  Mom and I were up at, what is becoming our usual time, 4:45am.  We love the early morning hours that seem to stimulate our Spirits.  We had our morning prayers and read our Scriptures together.  Then we took a morning walk around the missionary village.  The air was crisp and clear and we saw some interesting pictures that I have recorded here;

Look!  Here comes the sun!

Another view of the sunrise

A full moon setting over our precious families in Idaho and Washington

I love the invigorating mornings that help us prepare for the day.  We got ready for our 10:00am meetings and left for Martin's Cove at 9:15am.  We met together, as a mission, at the Chapel in Martin's Cove.  It holds about 125 or so comfortably.  Beginning Memorial Day weekend we will begin to meet at the Trek Center where the capacity grows to about 350.

The Sacrament was ready and I was asked to assist another Elder to pass to the congregation.  That was a great way to see more of the missionaries.  Our speakers were inspiring and I was especially grateful for this story;

The Elder went into business training horses and then selling them.  He acquired this one mare who was very skittish and nervous around humans due to the fact it was abused by a previous owner.  It was a beautiful horse, and this Elder took time, even months, to get the horse to not be spooked by his touch and he was finally able to ride it.  

One day a prospective buyer came by to look at his horses and fell in love with the mare.  The buyer wanted to get a horse for his wife to ride and he really wanted this one.  But the Elder was very up-front with him and told him this would not be a good choice for his purposes.  The man was quite firm and wanted this particular horse.  The Elder thought to himself that he was in the business to sell horses, but he made this buyer sign a release of liability when he made the purchase.

Several months later he was driving to see his uncle and noticed this horse in the uncle's pasture.  He asked him how he got the horse, and the uncle said he bought it from a guy that was selling it because the horse bucked off his wife.  He said they were going to put the horse down but the uncle bought it because it was so beautiful.  

Of course this Elder wanted to go and see the horse but the uncle cautioned him that the horse was crazy.  As the Elder went to the pasture and attempted to go through the fence, the horse stiffened and its ears went back and its eyes went wild.  The Elder walked slowly to the horse and spoke softly and offered the horse some oats.  The horse was very skittish, but when the Elder turned to walk away, the horse followed him and then ate from the bucket, and let the Elder pet him.  The ears went back and the eyes were relaxed, and the uncle was amazed!

The story is that the way we treat each other is so important!  The Elder knew this horse and how it would respond with his touch and kindness, so does the Savior know each of us!  He ended his message with this;

'Twas battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"

But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.

"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.

The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."

"And many a man with life out of tune
All battered and bruised with hardship
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.

But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.

- Myra Brooks Welch

What a powerful message on how well the Savior knows each of us and who knows our abilities and the contributions we can each make in this sojourn we call mortality. The touch of the Master's Hand!  It is so important for each of us to "stay on the covenant path", and follow the living Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson!  Isn't it wonderful to have him helping us to realize our worth and the blessing it is to have him help us travel this pathway home?  

Here are some additional pictures!

Split Rock - another pioneer landmark

A potential unmarked pioneer grave near us

Mom and I also had the privilege of meeting the Rogers'.  He was in our Priesthood meeting and introduced himself and mentioned that he and his wife Julie Rogers were on their was to Casper to be a part of a show to display her current work.  That was such a treat to meet him and shake his hand.

The rest of our day was spent in our trailer reading and pondering the blessings of the Sabbath Day.  I even was able to slip in a nap!  We are so looking forward to having you come and visit!  

In addition, we were told this morning that we will be in Rock Creek from Thursday August 2nd through Thursday August 9th.  Every senior missionary has the opportunity to spend a week in this sacred place.  We are excited to serve there in August!