19 July 2018 - 26 July 2018 - Rock Creek Hollow

26 July 2018 - Thursday - We are back!

Mom and I were up early this morning as we reloaded our car and got ready for our relief missionaries to arrive.  We started work early this morning.  Mom took on the assignment to prepare our trailer for the next missionaries.  Elder and Sister Hansen are the senior missionaries taking the next seven days, with the Rock Creek assignment, from the Martin's Cove missionaries.  

My assignment was to help the other senior missionaries prepare to take the lead here.  I was out at 5:30am and talking to the two trek group leaders who came in last night with their trekkers.  We had just over 300 in camp last night.  We also had another 400 trekkers on their way home that were making Rock Creek Hollow their last stop.  In addition, we are expected another 600 campers staying tonight.  Over the last seven days, we saw over 4200 trekkers and Pioneer Day celebrators from the Riverton Stake  here at Rock Creek, just this past week.  It was a fun matrix for us to work out!

Here is the typical routine here; we either have overnight camp groups or day fireside groups come in to share this sacred experience.  The day groups are ending their treks here with firesides and experiencing the wonderful Spirit of the pioneers, some who gave their lives and others who recorded their sacred experiences.  We could feel the presence of the pioneers here, and I would often share with the trek groups that they were grateful for the remembrances of the latter-day youth pioneers!  

During the day and evenings, we would work the camp property.  The Church owns 120 acres here and our goal is to keep these grounds clean and fresh for the different groups.  We trim the grasses and pick up trash missed by the youth.  We maintain the restrooms and keep the vault toilets as fresh as we can.  We power washed the handcarts, (used to trek Rocky Ridge), and we helped reduce the population of groundhogs, and we frequently shared key stories, and offered suggestions for the best possible experiences for each group.  We were busy most of the time!  As was our privilege, we had the most visitors of the season, to date.  And the last two weeks of the busy season look like up to 500 or so fewer trekkers here.  So we got the busiest seven days of the trek season!  We were grateful for the privilege to be here, and we were grateful to return back to the Missionary Village to finish up our last six or seven weeks here in the mission field.

And, as a final note, before detailing the last seven days, Rock Creek is such a sacred place.  This is where the Willie Handcart Company met the first of the relief wagons that came at such a critical time.  After they ascended Rocky Ridge, over a 27 hour period with no rest or food, they arrived at or near this site where 15 of their company died from exposure.  It is humbling to see, and feel, the extreme efforts they made to emigrate to Zion.  Many gave their all to become "acquainted with God", as Francis Webster stated.   Others wrote and testified of their experiences to "become better acquainted with God".  I can't help but think about a group of people who might ask or demonstrate what they are willing to do to NOT become acquainted with God!

So here is our story, and our testimony, that we lived on this sacred ground for seven days.  We were able to share testimony and give encouragement to hundreds of trekkers that came within our stewardship.  We were further privileged to help manicure these sacred grounds, with the limited talents that we have, to help these youth have a spiritual experience.  See what you think about our stories of these wonderful days filled with sacred experiences;

July 19th - Thursday - we got started early in the morning to prepare, pack and load the car up for the next seven days.  We were up at 4:00am to get our day started!  We had a scheduled correlation meeting with the Sixth Crossing Missionaries at 8:30am this morning, and we did not want to be late.  The drive is about one hour from the Missionary Village, so we left at 7:00am giving us plenty of time to make the meeting.  We drove into the Sixth Crossing site at a little after 8:00am, and to our surprise, the correlation meeting had been canceled due to a heavy trekking schedule.  Go figure!  We were left with the thought that canceling a meeting was on a need to know basis!

So we continued on to Lander where we gassed up the car and continued on to Rock Creek Hollow.  The final eleven ,miles was on dusty dirt, and rocky roads.  I drove slowly to avoid cutting our car tires.  We were blessed with a safe arrival, and were met by the two senior couples!  The scheduled arrival time for us was 1:00pm and we arrived at 11:30am.  We replaced the Gilliland's, and got them on the road back to Missionary Village an hour earlier.  They were packed and ready to go!

Home Sweet Home - for the next 7 days - Lasher trailer on the right

Look at the mileage we got on the drive from Lander!

A look from the "kitchen" into the "living-room"

A look from the "living-room" into the "bedroom"

Once we arrived, we hit the ground running.  Mom and I unloaded the car and settled into our new trailer.  It was small, but sufficient, and we fit everything nicely away.  It was interesting to note that the trailers were large and small in comparison.  The bigger trailer was for the Sixth Crossing missionaries, and the smaller trailer was for the Martin's Cove missionaries.  But before you draw any conclusions to this arrangement, the bigger trailer was infested with mice and the toilet leaked.  Not knowing the condition of the bigger trailer at the time of our arrival, mom and I had a prayer of dedication on our temporary living quarters, and we had no problems with any mice or insects or leaking of any kind.  Bigger is not always better!

After quickly getting settled, we came out for orientation from the Sixth Crossing missionaries.  We went over the generator operation, the filling of the water stations, for the trekkers, and the general duties we would have.  Then at about 3:30pm we had over 900 camp trekkers arrive with very dirty handcarts.  They were given instructions on where to unload in one of the four camping areas and then we power washed their handcarts.  I was impressed to bring with me, and with mom, each a pair of painting overalls to cover our work clothes.  I now knew why!  Those painting overalls protected my work clothes the entire week.  The other set of missionaries had to wear dirty work clothes while mom and I just took off the painting overalls and exposed our protected clean clothing!

Then we worked with the camp leaders with cleaning assignments and schedules for the two amphitheaters.  We also worked out the scheduling of the one amplifier we had to share amonst the groups.  Individually, we also got to talk to the trekkers and hear their stories and experiences.  It was also apparent that there were some who took unnecessary chances.  A young man decided to play in the creek, without shoes, and suffered a cut on his foot that required five stitches.  Another youth leader broke her leg walking the camp grounds.  She had such a good attitude and elected to stay on the bus the next day instead of taking a car spot home.  All groups must have their own medical personnel, so we are not involved with trek group injuries, thank goodness!

July 20th - Friday - Mom and I slept very comfortably and soundly in the new bed.  The temperatures dropped to the mid 40's, and the altitude of Rock Creek Hollow is around 8100 feet.  We were up early to get the groups checked out and loaded on their buses.  One group leaving today had six buses arrive at about 8:00am.  They were all anxious to get going when they found out that one of the buses had a low tire on one of the back wheels.  That meant a delay, for about 50 youth, of at least four hours before the repairs could be made.  We had some very anxious trek leaders until I suggested that they squeeze them into the five remaining buses.  She said there was no way 50 could be fit into the five buses.  I encouraged her to get everyone seated and count the open seats.  And how many open seats were there you ask?  Exactly 50 open seats.  Who is in charge here anyway?  He is!

One happy trek leader who witnessed a miracle today!

And the final bus of the five leaving with very happy trakkers

This was fun to be involved with the "feeding of the five thousand".  One of the young girls, Kaitlin, shared with me this story as she handed me a "barf" bucket she used last night.  She became violently ill and was in one of the vault toilets trying to rid her body of a terrible affliction.  She must have been in there over 45 minutes.  She told me, with a big smile on her face, of what exactly happened.  

She was walking with for her 4th great grandmother, Sophia Petersen.  Sophia survived the ordeal, but Kaitlin prayed to feel somewhat of the feelings her grandmother had experienced.  One experience her grandmother had was becoming deathly ill.  As Kaitlin was going through this ordeal in that vault toilet, the Spirit whispered to her that she say a prayer.  When she did, she immediately felt better.  She prayed to have that feeling, and then prayed to have relief.  She had experienced what her grandmother had felt.  I do not think that Kaitlin will ever be the same, or will take for granted, any blessings she will receive in her lifetime!

With another group, I was chatting with the support people.  When you think about taking groups of youth, from 70 to over 400 individuals, on a trek, it takes a tremendous amount of support people.  The bus drivers, the cooks, the leaders, the babysitters at home, and encouraging parents and of course the trekkers themselves, along with hundreds of hours of preparation prior to stepping on the buses!  Well, I had some opportunities to thank some of these  support people.  After I had done so with one group tonight, one of the leaders had a stamped metal replica of a handcart that he had made for all his support people, and he gave me one of these treasures!

We assisted another 600 trekkers get ready for their departure and welcomed another 400 this afternoon.  In between assignments we cleaned restrooms, trimmed weeds, and lawn areas, and poisoned thistle and groundhogs.  Never a dull moment! 

Handmade with love and appreciation

July 21st - Saturday - We had correlation meeting together, each day, that we try to fit in and plan our work day.  Out of the book, written by Paul Lyman about the Willie Company, that Sixth Crossing uses in their correlation meetings each morning, came this quote; 

"The handcart Saints were willing to give up anything in this world for the Gospel and their families, while most people are willing to give up the Gospel and their families for anything in this world".  

That was an impressive thought, and one that these trekkers are learning about first hand.  We helped get about 600 trekkers ready for their trip home this morning and said our final good-byes around 10:00am.  We then got the camp ready for the annual Riverton Stake Pioneer Day celebration.  They were expecting 500 to 600 participants before the rains came.  But the rains finally stopped, and they still had about 400 people in attendance.  And this is a large stake in boundaries!  

We met one sweet sister who came from DuBois, Wyoming, for the celebration.  She drove about two hours to be here.  This stake has been blessed by the work of the Second Rescue, but many that I spoke to, who have been in on the very beginnings of this effort, felt they needed to do more.  They were a very happy group and seemed to have a great time.  They had lots of Pioneer games and some great food!  

I also met Tia who is 17 and going off to college at BYU-Idaho.  She was shy and a little intimidated by the crowds.  She came with her grandfather who was the organizer of the celebration.  She was there to help him.  As we talked, I found out she works at a Chinese restaurant in Lander.  I asked her if she would be working next Thursday when we were heading back to Missionary Village. She said she would be, so we plan on seeing her again!  She would be a good prospect for the deli, Jared!

As I walked the campgrounds after they left, about 8:30pm, I picked up some trash, and found an arrow they had used for one of the games.  I put it in the shop area not know what else to do with it. So far, in the last three days, we have seen over 2500 guests here at Rock Creek Hollow!  Kind of reminds me of the crowds at Carthage!  

I also met three bikers from California out on an excursion.  They were interested in what was here so I took them on a little tour of the monument and shared some stories.  One said he knew a little bit about his great grandmother.  He seemed very interested in learning more so I suggested he look up "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Family History Library", when he got home!  I hope he does.  It will change his life.

July 22nd - Sunday - There was lots of rain today!  Mom and I took the 1:00pm Sacrament Meeting time slot in Lander while the other couple took the 9:00am time slot.  It takes about an hour to drive to Lander from Rock Creek Hollow.  It was a muddy drive coming back in from Lander!  We spent  some time in correlation meeting this evening as we have an equally heavy schedule next week.  There are no trek groups scheduled on Sunday's.  The Bodily's head back to Sixth Crossing, tomorrow, and mom and I become the "senior" senior missionaries here!

July 23rd - Monday - the transition was very smooth as we said good-bye to the Bodily's and welcomed the Spencer's.  We went right to work with some weeding, and some trimming, and some ground hog feeding, and mom got a chance to do what she loves doing!

Mom on her John Deer!

The Bodily's

Some sage hens providing "clean-up" opportunities for some senior missionaries!

We stayed busy today, and got to help orient the Spencer's on what we were doing here.  They were second year missionaries so they were quite comfortable with our routine.  They were just a little shy about managing crowds.  He had his own plumbing business back in Utah, so he was anxious to fix that toilet in his trailer!  

There was a family that drove up here this afternoon.  It was a grandma and grandpa couple with a young man about eight years old.  I was talking to grandpa, while grandma used the restrooms, and the young man sat in the back seat of the car.  He was telling me that they took their grandson on these kinds of excursions because he loved to hike.  He loved wearing his back-pack and collecting rocks, (until he collected too many rocks and had grandpa carry the pack for him).  He told me the boys name was "Colt".

As I told him about the Mormon history here at Rock Creek, he indicated to me he had a cousin that taught at the college in Rexburg.  When Elder Spencer asked him if he was LDS, he said, what is that?  Elder Spencer said, that's a Mormon, and grandpa said No!  He was Catholic.  About this time the boy got out of the car, and I was impressed to turn my attention to him.  He had red hair and I said,  how are you, Colt?  And he said, how did you know my name?  And then I asked,so you like to go hiking?  And he said, how did you know that?  Then I said, I bet you like to collect rocks in your back-pack, and he said how did you know?  I had his full interest by then, and he wanted to show me some of his treasures in the back seat.  One was a bow and arrow that he had made from the Willow branches.  

I watched him shoot his homemade arrow, and was impressed to go get the arrow I had "found" Saturday night.  As I walked out of the shed with the arrow, I told him it was a "Mormon" arrow and that this Mormon arrow was just for him.  It had red feathers just like his hair.  He was so excited, and I told him to make sure he told his uncle in Rexburg that he got a Mormon arrow at Rock Creek Hollow!  Isn't it amazing to put these precious pieces together by Him who knows all things?

We had no trek groups in on Monday but we are expecting about 500 tomorrow.  I took the opportunity to  invite Cort and his grandparents to come back Thursday on his way home to Louisiana.

Beautiful clouds covering Rock Creek Hollow!

What wonderful sunsets here at Rock Creek Hollow!

July 24th - Tuesday -  We had several groups come in today.  One group from Caldwell, Idaho, planned to stay only for dinner before heading to Sixth Crossing.  It seemed like this support group was a little tired as they came in to prepare the evening meal.  It was apparent that we needed to give them a little extra TLC when they found out they couldn't wash dishes here, near the well, and that we were asking them to police the area they were using for trash.  

I explained that when they arrived, we tried to have a spotless and clean area for them to enjoy, and that we hoped they would be willing to help the next group coming tomorrow to have that same experience.  Sometimes it seems like rocket science to some people to pick up after themselves!  They even asked the senior missionaries to help unload their trailer and set up some tables!  I told them we would be happy to help them after we greeted the 300 trekkers coming into camp in the next few minutes, and after we power washed those handcarts they were using..

Unfortunately this did not work out well for them for us to come back and set up their cooking area, because it was their group we were going out to serve!  That left the six support people to fend for themselves!  Later on this sister came to us and thanked us for our service.  I think she had a moment to think about her requests and her attitude!

I did get a picture of this group of trekker barrels.  Notice the crutches?

What is the rest of the story behind those crutches?

This young man was riding the bus, yesterday, and when they arrived at Martin's Cove, the "prospective member" bus driver asked if he was going to ride in a handcart.  He said, no.  He was going to walk, "as far as he possible could with his crutches".  This young man broke his foot three weeks ago.  His dad is a physician and came along on the trek as medical support.  He told his son, with all his determination, to go as far as he wanted to.  I did not ever hear that he accepted a ride in a handcart.  What a great young man!

I took a ride over the ridge, this evening, and was shown this view of Rock Creek Hollow;

Some of the original trail from Rocky Ridge into Rock Creek Hollow

A view into Rock Creek Hollow from the old pioneer trail

Either a grave marker or an old mining claim marker

Looking back towards Rocky Ridge from the original trail marks

The feeling here at Rock Creek Hollow is so special.  I have come to love walking these trails just within the Memorial Area.  The peacefulness, and the feeling of being safe, is overwhelming to those coming here to honor these precious pioneers.

The granite rock commemorating the Second Rescue

The creek flowing through Rock Creek Hollow

The original  trail above amphitheater two

Two senior missionaries in Amphitheater one.

July 25th - Wednesday - I have really enjoyed trying to include the bus drivers in this experience.  They don't always try to be involved so it is fun talking to them and sharing some of the experiences here.  I met two bus drivers and discovered one was a member.  His stake comes next week.  As we were talking I asked where they were staying in Lander.  I told him about the Chinese restaurant that our new friend worked at and suggested they try the place.  He looked it up and found it was a five star rated restaurant so I think they will go there.

Today we had three groups stopping here for devotionals, two as the final leg of their experiences between Martin's Cove, Sixth Crossing and here, and the third would start their experience here.  We had two other groups camping here tonight, but the schedules, at this point, did not conflict.  Ultimately we would be serving over 900 people today and tonight.  It was a pretty easy schedule, until the first group, just starting the experience, had a bus breakdown that set them back almost 3 hours.  And that would put them right against the other two groups in scheduling the areas.

The trek leader called our missionary phone and told us that they should probably pass on coming in and go directly to the next stop at Sixth Crossing.  The Spirit was very plain to me as I was telling her NOT to by-pass Rock Creek Hollow.  I told her we would make it happen.  Then, after hanging up the phone, I told myself how crazy that would be!  Working around 450 drop-ins with another 450 overnighters was insane.  However, it was an absolute miracle that everything worked out!  I was so happy to see the Lord's Hand intervening in an impossible situation.  Truly a tender mercy for two senior missionaries and 900 trekkers!

July 26th - Thursday - Well, by now, you all know this was an amazing week.  We could not have asked for anything more in our experiences here.  As we started the day, mom began preparing the trailer for our replacements, and I had to go out and help the 450 campers get ready for their exit.  We also had another group coming in at 10:00am and 10:30am for devotionals.  This would be their last stop on their way home and I could not help but jump in with Elder Spencer and help organize the groups.  I had the thought to place one of the day groups in a parking area reserved for the North Salt Lake group of over 400.  They had 16 support vehicles.

I was thinking they would be out before the support people came in.  Then mom came to me and said the North Salt Lake group could be in sooner, and suggested another plan.  Following the spirit that came to mom, we moved the group, and this is what we saw not ten minutes later;

Those cars, and vans, and trucks and trailers, flowing into Rock Creek

The two groups staying for the devotional came at almost the same time as the North Salt Lake group.  The picture shows a stream of vehicles coming in.  Over 30+ vehicles came in together from the three groups, and the two buses!  Even when you make the wrong plan, the Spirit is their to correct that plan, and the Hand of the Lord becomes ever more apparent in our lives.  It was humbling for me to see how quickly the wrong decision could cause chaos!  Thank you to my eternal companion!

A full load of handcarts being taken back to base - notice the missing tire?

The organized chaos of five buses, several support trailers and the handcart wranglers!

One group prepares to leave

Needless to say it has been a great week and we headed for home at 11:30am.  We had lunch at Tia's Chinese restaurant and found out the bus drivers did stop in.  We got to talk to some of our family while we had very limited phone reception.  We got home around 2:30pm and found everything in great condition!  We got the car unloaded and settled back in to the final few weeks of our mission.  I hope this hasn't been too hard to follow, but just know that we are back, and we are so grateful to have been given the privilege to serve at Rock Creek Hollow, and at Martin's Cove!  

We even had some welcome back notes!  Very nice!

Thank you for joining back with us!  I promise I will not miss another day of blogging!  There is too much for this mind to remember if I don't write it down!  We love you!