22 June 2018 - Friday

22 June 2018 - Friday

This was another exciting day in the life of these two senior missionaries!  I must say that there is never a dull moment!  We had an early start in our work assignment as we were the missionaries assigned to the handcart parking area.  This is where every trek group passes through to park their handcarts and proceed through Dan W. Jones Cove, and then into Martin's Cove.  We had about 700 trekkers today with about 65 handcarts.  We understand that there is room for 1,000 trekkers here in the Handcart parking site, but that would be quite a matrix to move them through on their treks.  

There is a shelter here where about 400 trekkers can have lunch in the shade.  Keeping the groups from overcrowding this area is such a fun project!  I took some pictures this morning of the peacefulness of this site at 7:00am;

Setting up the parking spots for about 65 handcarts and 700 trekkers!

A view from behind the handcart parking cabin - a mom and a baby antelope

The temperature was in the mid 60's for almost all of the day.  At first we had mosquitoes, but the wind picked up a little and they had a hard time landing on us!  We saw in the meadow, along the Sweetwater River, the view of the mother and the baby antelope.  Of course this picture does not do justice to what we saw.  The baby was jumping on all fours, just as happy as could be, all around  his mom.

Then our first groups began to arrive and guess which ward was first?  The Rigby 16th ward!  Sister Wynette Passmore was the first to greet us!  It was almost exactly 10 years ago that we worked together for the first Rigby 10th Ward Martin's Cove Trek!  She gave us both a big hug and then Shawn and Bonnie Hall spotted us and came running to give us a big hug as well.  Then I saw Tyler Gravatt and he was excited to see us and gave me another hug.  I could not believe the warm reception we got from these former ward members!  It was very nice.

Sister Hall in the pink pioneer dress

Here are some additional pictures as more trekkers came into the Handcart Parking area.  We were ready for them and had some great conversations;

Rigby 16th Ward handcarts parked as they proceeded to the cove

Two more groups each totally over 150 trekkers coming our way!

Here we had close to 500 trekkers 

And lots of fun pioneer outfits!  Does this look familiar?

Involved in one group from Salt Lake City was the cellist from the Piano Guys, Steven Sharp Nelson.  We did not remember specifically seeing him, but I do remember, and helped, a handcart loaded with electronic equipment, and musical instruments that they used for two presentations.  One was at the Dan W. Jones Cove presentation, and the other one was during the river crossing.  What a neat thing for Brother Nelson to be here with his stake, and sharing his talent with them on this sacred occasion!

Here is a bull snake near the restrooms at Handcart Parking

Our bull snake friend decided to come out and share some fun at the girls restroom area.  I was just about to snag him with the snake catcher and take him farther away from the area.  He is a friend to us in that he eats the rodents that cause so many problems.  However, there was a small opening, that he apparently knew about going under this cement pad, and he was gone in seconds underneath that cement pad!  He did make some girls very excited about their adventure here... I think they forgot about needing to use the restroom!

Mom and I had a great day of service here today.  We loved the challenge of keeping the trekkers moving and safe.  When they arrive here they need to resupply their water and use the restrooms.  We did our best to keep the groups from overcrowding the area by making suggestions for lunch stops or continuing their trek after a brief stop.  I think everyone was happy and the groups were so willing to assist in policing the area for trash and helping to pump water from the well.  We would not mind having this assignment again!

I can't help but think about our brother, Steven Sharp Nelson.  He was not one to draw attention to himself, but was one who wanted to make the experience for his stake members more memorable.  By coming to Martin's Cove and Sixth Crossing and then to Rock Creek, the emphasis was on remembering the sacrifices of the pioneer Saints.  What an example these pioneers have set for all of us!  

Just having the experience they had in that miserably cold October and November of 1856,, and then crediting it to the price they were willing to pay to become better acquainted with God, is a lot to embrace.  And yet people come from all walks of life, and at various levels of fame, to have this choice experience.  I am so appreciative of the hundreds of hours these adult leaders have invested for their youth to have this experience.  Then, in the process of executing these plans, lives are changed for the young people, and their leaders.  

This is exactly was President Nelson needs us to be as we prepare for those mighty miracles that will occur before the Second Coming of our Savior.  What a privilege it is for mom and me to be a part of this mission!  We can't wait to share more feelings as they mature in our six months of missionary service here in the Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission.