30 September 2018 - Sunday

30 September 2018 - Sunday

Who can believe that this is the last day of September, 2018?  It seems like we just finished the trek season at the beginning of August!  The time is flying by, and it has been so wonderful that we have had the Sathre Family here with us!  This was a fun Sabbath Day!

Zac was very willing to help prepare the Sacrament with me this morning.  I was asked to work with Elder Hansen to prepare the Sacrament, early Thursday, and I let him know that Zac would be here with me.  We got to the Homestead, and the Chapel, at 8:15am to prepare the Sacrament for the Visitors' Center missionaries who began their shift at 8:30am.  At that point, I found out the Hansen's had the early Visitors' Center shift!  I took care of the rest of the arrangements since Elder Hansen was already tied up.  

Zac preparing the Sacrament for today's meeting.  Jack is taking notes.

After getting the Sacrament ready, Zac played some prelude music for us.

We got everything ready for the Sacrament meeting early. Hayley and Mia went to get the programs with Granny, at the office, and we all sat in the Chapel for an hour talking and listening to the music.  I sure enjoyed the time with them this morning!

The branch was not prepared to have a youth Sunday School, but they did have a Young Men/Young Women combined meeting during Priesthood and relief Society time.  I went with the designated instructor, as a second teacher, and joined with Hayley and Zac during this class time.  That was fun to be there with them and sharing stories about the pioneers of 1856.

We all were anxious for the weekly missionary pot luck!  There was a lot of food!

After helping to clean up the Barn after the pot luck, we all came back to the trailer and changed into trail clothes.  Then we went back to the Homestead and mom and I each drove a Rover and took the family on a Martin's Cove tour.  

Granny and Tom and Josie and Emma and Macie on Rover #1

Our first stop was Rattlesnake Pass and the grave marker

Then we hiked into Martin's Cove and maybe found Isaac's tree trunk. 

Grandpa and Macie and Hayley and Jack and Mia on Rover #2

We parked the Rovers at the Memorial Marker leading into Martin's Cove and walked up to the top of the Cove.  The walk was peaceful, and the wind and coolness calmed down as we entered the top.  I never tire of going into the sacred Cove, and enjoying the peace that comes with listening to the Spirit that fills this area.  It was hard to leave this sacred place after being there for several minutes.  After I gave a tour to Isaac Wardle's ancestor last week,  I think we may have finally seen what appears to be one of the tree trunks left from Isaac Wardel's tree chopping on that cold day in November, 1856.

Once we got back to the trailer, it was past 6:00pm.  We had a fun evening with talking and cuddling and enjoying each others company.  It was a such a wonderful Sabbath Day for mom and me!  We will share our next to last preparation day with the family by going into Casper for our weekly shopping, and then lunch at Pizza Ranch.  What a blessing it is to be a part of this wonderful family of 31 and counting!

Macie jumped into Grandpa's arms and noticed "all the daddy's" on the GA Chart!

Macie got the comment of the day.  She noticed the chart of General Authorities on the bulletin board in our kitchen.  She took a quick second look and said, "look at all the daddies".  Now where did that come from?  What a precious, and very smart, little girl!

29 September 2018 - Saturday - Happy 95th Birthday PopPop!

29 September 2018 - Saturday

It is not everyday you celebrate a 95th birthday!  But this week I have had several older visitors come to Martin's Cove, and the Visitors' Center, when mom and I were there.  But none of them have had the energy that PopPop has!  Granny called him this morning and we hope he had a wonderful day!

We had the assignment of opening the Visitors Center this morning.  Our shift was 8:00am until 12:30pm.  It was cold, this morning, when we left Missionary Village, but then the Homestead was another 10 degrees colder at 37 degrees!  Unusual to have Martin's Cove colder than Missionary Village.  As we were leaving for our assignment this morning, there was a meeting outside our front window.  Mom caught this picture;

Which way do we go for the breakfast burrito?

I wonder if they have a walk-in window?

I had a sweet couple from Seattle, Washington, come to the Visitors' Center this morning.  They are both temple workers, at the Seattle Temple, and they just got released from a church service mission.  I suggested that they would come to Martin's Cove for their next mission.  She told me that they would probably not qualify to come here because of her cancer.  He asked me how far it was to walk to the cove after telling me his great grandmother, Isabella Bradshaw, was in the Martin Company.  

It was then that the Spirit told me they needed a Rover ride to the Cove.  So we jumped into the Rover and took it up to an area where we could park.  They were able to walk the one mile trek and felt the Spirit of the area.  I am grateful we could make that little trip.

Then at just a few minutes after 4:00pm, we had our precious Sathre Family drive up to our trailer.  We have been looking forward to this visit all week!  Once we got everyone in and settled, we were able to catch up on the last two months since we were together.  By the way, I love pictures like this;

We've got family!!!  Yeah!!!

We had so much fun just hugging each other and visiting.  Mom made dinner for the family and we got to go over to the Pavilion for some games.  We had a shuffle board game and an Apples to Apples game that the kids love.  We popped some pop corn and had a fun hour playing the games.  We then had family prayer together and settled in for the night.  It is 8:15pm and the temperature is dropping rapidly, and is now at 43 degrees.

Pop corn and Apples to Apples and grandchildren!  Best day ever!

Zac and Tom and I get to prepare the Sacrament for tomorrow.  We will need to get to bed early and Granny has already led the way!  Granny took a nap so that she could stay up until 7:15pm tonight.  It was a great sacrifice for her since she never takes a nap!  This has been a great day!

28 September 2018 - Friday

28 September 2018 - Friday

This was one very busy day for these two senior missionaries.  As I sit here ready to record the days events, I am physically tired!  I keep thinking that my bed is going to feel so good tonight!  And I am looking forward, with mom, for the visit with the Sathre family tomorrow.  Our reunion will put a wonderful cap on our almost six months, so far, here in the Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission.

Of course my morning routine called for reading our Scriptures together and having our morning prayers.  We both look forward to this time of day to prepare for the events that are ahead of us.  After we prayed and read together, I embarked on my three mile walk.  However, this morning, I got about half a mile on my trail before the Spirit suggested that I turn around and go back home.  I was obedient and returned home wondering why I had received this prompting.  Perhaps it was just to let Heavenly Father know I would be willing to follow this heavenly communication.

Once I got back to the trailer, I finished getting ready for the day.  Mom and I had breakfast and we were ready to head to the Homestead by 7:45am.  The correlation meeting had seven couples and we all got our assignments.  Mom and I had a list of seven projects.  We were excited to get as much done as we could today.  However, we had some physically demanding assignments.  One was to weed wack the Church History excavation area around Fort Seminoe.  Another was to burn the trash in the Bertha receptacle where the missionaries unload their garbage.  

Both were fun projects but very physical.  We also raked the gravel road behind the Chapel, disconnected the drinking fountain at the Visitors' Center bathrooms, fixed the ice maker in the Barn, and re-stacked about two chord of firewood at the Missionary Village, and winterize the lawn mowing equipment in the garage off the pavilion.  We were busy all day long, but we accomplished every assignment except one.  That last item was to clean up the shuffle board game in the pavilion at Missionary Village.  But that won't happen until we play some games with the Sathre Children during this visit!

I got this bad-boy "fired" up this afternoon.  The fire was awesome and hot!

We were asked to shorten the grass another 3" so we mowed and weed wacked

The projects were very fun, but boy am I tired tonight!  We plan on calling PopPop tomorrow for his 95th birthday.  As far as we know, he and Julie only have one dinner appointment scheduled at 6:00pm east coast time.  They should be around all day.  Can you believe 95?  And he is still playing golf and refusing to move in with Julie.  What a full measure of independence!  More power to him!

Well, it is time to put this achy and tired body down.  A good session in a hot tub would be welcomed.  However, I did take a hot shower and mom and I enjoyed a great salad for dinner.  It looks like I will be in bed before 8:00pm, tonight, and the temperatures are falling fast.  We are at 46 degrees right now.  Chilly!  Time for my evening prayers.  Thank you for checking in tonight!

27 September 2018 - Thursday

27 September 2018 - Thursday

Mom and I were assigned to the Visitors' Center today from 12:30 to 5:00pm.  That gave us the entire morning to get ready for the day.  We were able to take a very cold and windy walk before breakfast and then return back home for our weekly cleaning of the trailer.  With the extra time we had after finishing our work, we decided to head into the Homestead and finish the painting project at the offices, and then keep our District 1 cleaning assignment.  

Our District 1 cleaning assignment.... done!

Most all of the jobs we have to do before being released for home require an hour or less to complete.  So our painting project was just that and we wrapped that up and re-installed the storm window coverings.  We then did our district cleaning assignment for this week by cleaning the Barn.  What is kind of crazy is that mom and I are the only ones left in the mission from our district!  So we got that cleaning assignment done as well!

Then we reported to the Visitors' Center a few minutes early and got started on our shift.  The other missionaries assigned with us were doing other things in and around the Homestead, so we took care of the visitors who came in.  I had one brother who came in on his motorcycle, and wearing his leather chaps, for a tour.  As I was telling him about the Saints and the challenges that had faced, he became emotional.  Even though he tried to conceal his tears, he was touched by the special Spirit that is so prevalent here.  I did find out he had some experiences with treks and I assumed that he was a member, but the Spirit really manifested itself as we were talking.  That was a special experience.

This afternoon we were talking to Elder and Sister Hansen.  She has been our hairdresser this past six months.  We found out he had forgotten to bring his suit back with him when they left for two weeks prior to beginning their winter here.  So I offered to give him one of my suits and took that over to his place this evening.  Hopefully it will fit him!

And finally, the Wyoming sunrises are striking!  With the clouds flowing in from the North, I got a couple of nice pictures on our walk this morning.  These two pictures were taken as we were walking toward the highway just near the rise in the hill leaving Missionary Village;

The clouds are so colorfully feathered with sunlight!

We saw the residue of the smoke from fires near Hoback Junction, WY

We love you!  Thank you for joining us tonight!  Just nine more days until General Conference!!  Yeah!  And PopPop's birthday is Saturday.  He will celebrate his 95th birthday and mom's sister, Julie, arrived today, from her home in Blue Springs, Missouri, to be there with him.

26 September 2018 - Wednesday

26 September 2018 - Wednesday

The temperatures were a little colder this morning!  We saw 27 degrees on our thermometer and I can verify it was a cold three mile walk!  However, there was a complete absence of wind, so the windchill did not play into an unbearable walk!  Ultimately, we saw the temperatures hit 70 degrees as we were returning home from our assignments.

After the correlation meeting, mom and I were both assigned to the school group.  We had 50 students from a school in Casper come for a Wyoming history tour of the Sun Ranch and Martin's Cove.  I got the nod to work the Blacksmith's shop and they got the best of the Prairie Diamond story, at least as much as I could share to a school group!  And mom was one of the school group leaders, and she led my last group at the Blacksmith's shop of the tour! 

One of the school groups leaving the Blacksmith's shop.  One turned back and waved!

I offered a free cleaning and sizing of their Prairie Diamond ring every time they returned to Martin's Cove, and the Blacksmith's shop, with their families!  When they return with their families and they are not in a school group, we can discuss the precious principles of the Gospel that influenced these precious pioneers!  This was the last school group for this calendar year.  The next groups will come in the late Spring of 2019.  Hopefully the missionaries, at that time, will honor my offer of free cleaning and sizing!

Our school assignment ended at around noon today.  With the closing and winterizing of the mission, we are now being given assignments that may only take less than an hour to complete.  Mom and I asked for several of these shorter assignments and got them all done today.  We did some touch up painting, we winterized the lawn mowers, weed eaters and chain saws with fuel stabilizer, and we got "Wilma" all cleaned out and winterized.  That was an extra two hours for us today and then we headed for home.

I took this picture of one of the missionaries with a tuned up snowblower!

We did not bring a lunch with us so that we could get these extra assignments done.  Once we got home we were both starving!  After lunch, (and dinner), I continued reading the on-line book, "Saints".  It is such a fascinating history that makes me sad, and angry, over how the Saints were treated by the mobs.  But the most significant part of the history is how the early Saints reacted to a Prophet.  Many remained true and faithful through the hardest of circumstances.  Some were not.  What a great example the faithful are to me as I read their histories.

It was sad to read about some who became disaffected and turned on the Prophet, Joseph.  I am greatly impressed with those whose testimonies never wavered, and I am impressed with those who humbled themselves and came back after being disaffected for a time.  

I think we might be approaching a time when there will be more noble Saints becoming disaffected with the Prophetic leadership of President Nelson.  We hope and pray everyday that we will remain strong, committed and unwavering under his leadership.  I love President Nelson, and both mom and I know that he is Heavenly Father's prophet on the earth today!  What a blessing it is to follow his wise counsel and his teachings in every respect and with exactness. 

25 September 2018 - Tuesday

25 September 2018 - Tuesday

We had a late schedule today at the Visitors' Center.  Our shift started at 2:30pm this afternoon and went to closing at 7:00pm.  That gave us the entire morning and half the afternoon for various activities around the trailer.  The morning temperature was 29 degrees.  When we started out on our walk, this morning, this is what we saw;

That is a layer of ice over the entire car!

 

We did not realize that we had a full moon!  Picture taken by the cattle guards 

The morning "ice breaker" coming up over the Martin's Cove area

Even though we had the low temperatures, the walk was brilliant with no windchill to make it uncomfortably cold!  The sky was so clear, and the surrounding mountains were equally brilliant in the morning air.  

We read and listened to Mike Stroud podcasts this morning.  I even took a mid morning nap!  Go figure a senior missionary taking a nap??  It was wonderful!  Then we left for our assignment at about 1:45pm.  When we got to the Homestead, the Visitors' Center was very quiet.  Both the Smarts and the Bowden's were working together, and serving their last shift.  Both couples have been here over the winter, and they are the last of the second year missionaries to leave the mission.  They will both head out on Thursday morning, and they have tomorrow to prepare to leave.

Mom and I had a variety of wonderful visitors this afternoon.  There were at least six couples, and a family, that came and took the hike to Martin's Cove.  It was a near perfect day for the hike and the highest temperature was in the very low 60's.  In fact, our last hour at the Visitors' Center was pretty cold.  I kept looking for some sun rays to warm up with!

Two missionary couples working together?

As we were experiencing some quiet time at the Visitors' Center, I noticed this picture opportunity.  On the left are two men pumping the vault sewage.  One of the men watched as the other held the hose.  On the right are the two wives watching from the Rover.  This process took about 45 minutes and it led me to the question;  "how many senior missionaries does it take to pump out the vault sewage?"  After the tank was pumped, they all jumped into the truck and took yesterday's meals on wheels to the dumping station in Casper.  Then they stopped and grabbed an ice cream on the way back!  I am not sure I would have been hungry if I had this job.....

Such a clear day to see Split Rock 21 miles away

The mule deer arriving at the Homestead to trim the grass this evening

The view going back to Missionary Village of the sky on fire!

This morning, mom saw an article in the Deseret News about hugging.  It caught her eye and she read the information on how hugs affect children.  This particular emphasis was on trading hugs for time on social media, but I thought how important this is everyday!  I want to take more time for hugs with our family members. 

You just don't know how much you miss these hugs until they are gone.  Our solace is that we are still coming back home!  This time we will have a greater appreciation for the love and support we have had from our precious family!  After you read this writer's article, take the opportunity, eight times today, to give out eight seconds hugs!  It might just make a difference in how your day goes!

“So, what can we do to help promote healthy brain development in a world where electronics are not going away?” Kane asked. “Treatments” included yoga, listening to music, deep conversation (with an actual person, not on the phone), 30 minutes of daily exercise, nature walks and making time for spiritual experiences as well as turning off all electronics for one hour each day and before bed. But what surprised me the most was the absolutely necessary component of physical touch.

“Eight-second hugs, eight times a day," she said. “I want you to stand up if you’ve had eight hugs today.” About half the room remained standing, including myself, and I noticed it was mostly younger mothers who probably had small children like me who were constantly hanging onto their bodies.

“But have each of those hugs been for eight seconds or longer?” Almost everyone sat down.

“OK. Now turn to the person next to you, and give them an eight-second hug.” Awkwardly, an auditorium full of strangers began looking around for a hugging buddy. Luckily, I was seated next to another woman and we giggled nervously as we embraced. I was thinking about how uncomfortable this all was and wondering if my husband intuitively knew something like this was going to happen and maybe that’s why he chose to stay home, when something changed. I relaxed. I found myself leaning into the hug. She held me tightly and it was as if there was a lifeline in her arms that was beating energy and love into my soul. I recognized that “lifeline” feeling as oxytocin, the hormone that the brain releases during childbirth, lovemaking and positive social interactions and touch, such as holding your child or another human being.

“Your children are desperate for this,” Kane said as we all sat down, pointing out the noticeable energy shift in the room. “I challenge you to hug them — and you have my permission to tackle them to the ground if they resist — and don’t let go for eight seconds, eight times a day.”

Notice how their mood changes, she said. Notice how it calms them. Notice how it bonds you.  

24 September 2018 - Monday

24 September 2018 - Monday

Today we enjoyed another preparation day.  It will be one of the last preparation days before we are released.  A huge majority of our mission service, going forward, is to serve in the Visitors' Center.  It currently takes five couples serving overlapping 4.5 hour shifts to cover the open hours of 8:00am until 7:00pm.  Next Monday, October 1st, the hours change to 9:00am until 4:00pm.  

We had our morning prayers and Scripture reading this morning before I left on my morning, three mile, walk.  It was pretty dark, along the way, for about 15 minutes before the roadway was seen clearly.  It was very windy and a brisk mid 40's temperature.  The wind chill probably took the temperature down several degrees, but I was comfortable in my layered clothing.  

Our correlation meeting had seven senior couples in attendance, this morning.  This is down from an average of 24 couples!  By Thursday morning we will see two more senior couples end their missions and then our numbers will somewhat stabilize for the remaining time we are here.  Ultimately there will be a total of seven senior couples here from November until March of next year.  The time is flying by, and we are having some wonderful experiences with meeting different people and getting better acquainted with the smaller number of senior missionaries.  

After the correlation meeting we were off to Casper for a day of fun and shopping.  We also got notice of one more family visit this coming weekend!  We love having family come and visit here and experience this sacred historic site with us.  When we come to the Jeppson's for a visit, we promise to bring all the intimate stories with us and share them with you!!

Mom wanted to have our luncheon at the Olive Garden today.  We got there at a few minutes before noon and there was a ten minute wait.  So we went over to the Pizza Ranch and had our lunch.  Isn't it interesting that when you anticipate a certain restaurant's food, and then change that to another restaurant, that you don't enjoy the other food as much?  We have always liked the food at Pizza Ranch, but I was really looking forward to trying a new entree at Olive Garden with garlic in it!  I could not find that anywhere on the menu at the Pizza Ranch!

We came home and settled in to another podcast with Mike Stroud.  The insights he has to the messages of the Gospel are fascinating to us, and we are so looking forward to General Conference in less than two weeks!  Yea!  Mom and I also supported our senior missionary Family Home Evening tonight at the pavilion.  They played games and had refreshments.  I was grateful that mom and I had our own Family Home Evening before we went over to the pavilion.  We read President Nelson's Sunday morning conference talk, "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives"..  

I just can't seem to get enough of his messages!!!  What a blessing he is to the Church at this exact time in the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times!  Both mom and I want to read and reread all of his talks and messages wherever he is speaking.  He is such an inspiration for me to want to be better and do better...., don't you agree?

23 September 2018 - Sunday

23 September 2018 - Sunday

Before I get started on tonight's blog, I wanted to let you know I did not get all the details of mom's experience at the Visitors' Center correct last night.  So, take a re-look at her experience, on yesterday's blog, as you get the opportunity.  It is really hard to report on someone else's experiences!  

On this Sabbath Day, we broke our weekly fast with prayers for Cameron Heiner, and for each of our family members.  What a sweet opportunity it has been to fast each Saturday for various things we are trying to improve upon, or what we are trying to assist others with.  This all began in 1994 when I was first called as Bishop of the Creekside Ward in California.  I wanted desperately to follow the will of the Lord, in that sacred calling, and mom and I have stayed with that effort almost every Saturday since then.

A beautiful Fall plant in from of the Visitors' Center this morning!

Today, mom and I served in the Visitors' Center.  Our shift started at 8:30am and ended at around 11:30am.  The brethren brought us the Sacrament around 9:00am just after I had welcomed a family of six, and got them through the Visitors' Center and into a 16 minute movie.  This was a family with four children under the age of about twelve years, from Utah, and I invited them to attend Sacrament Meeting right after the movie ended.  I also had a group of women from Utah that came around 10:30am to hike to Martin's Cove.  I could not invite the women to the Sacrament Meeting since it had started at 10:00am.  

Now here is a wonderful story, and tender mercy, for this senior missionary.  The first family I was hosting had two connections to the Martin Handcart Company.  The dad was a descendant of Isaac Wardle, and the wife was a descendant of Langley Bailey.  Some of you may remember that Langley got too sick to walk, at Florence, and had to be carried by wagon, or handcart, all the way to Salt Lake City.  He rode in Isaac Wardle's handcart for over 600 miles!  How did these two ever get together with both being sixth generation descendants?

This family had been to Martin's Cove in 2012 as part of their Stake trek.  However, their four children had not been to Martin's Cove until today.  And they were dressed for trekking and not for Sacrament meeting, but both mom and I encouraged them to attend the meeting anyway.  After attending the full Sacrament Meeting, they came over to the Visitors' Center for further instructions on the trek where both Isaac and Langley had been a part of in 1856.  And, as a side note, they were so grateful they had attended the Sacrament services with their family today!

Now here is a sweet tender mercy for this family, and especially their children.  Their youngest child was a boy named Porter.  He was probably McKenzie's age.  I made him the Captain of their trek and gave them this sweet piece of family history;  Isaac Wardle was baptized on Friday September 23, 1853!  That was exactly 165 years ago today!  And here was this precious family re-enacting the trek with their family in honor of both Isaac and Langley.

Then I found out the four women were trekking for another descendant, James Bleak.  He kept a rather detailed journal of his emigration with the Martin Company and much of his record is used in the mission today.  When I told them that there were also descendants from Isaac Wardle and Langley Bailey at Martin's Cove, today, they were excited to meet them.  Well I got the women off on their trek about 10:30am ,and then the family, with Captain Porter, off at around 11:30am, and then mom and I went to our other meetings rejoicing in our morning's activities.  

When we were done with Priesthood and Relief Society, I walked by the Visitors' Center, and one of the four women had just come off the trail.  She asked me if I had seen the descendants from Isaac Wardle's family and Langley Bailey's family.  I told her they were probably still out on the trail, and  then she identified them from meeting them coming back in.  It was then that she realized that she had gone to high school with both the mother and the father, and did not know they were of pioneer bloodlines.  She was so excited because she knew where they lived and would see them back in Utah!  How is that for a wonderful shift at the Visitors' Center!  

This was one of my favorite days serving here.  I absolutely love the story about Isaac Wardle cutting down those trees in the ravine on that cold November 4, 1856 day.  He was ready to die in this area after coming up with the handcart group from Fort Seminoe.  That is when that rescuer "motivated" him to cut down those trees and how it saved his life.  This brother told me where those stumps are reportedly located, and I will probably walk back up there before we leave and check it out.

I am also very impressed with Langley Bailey and the love he had for the sacrifices that Isaac Wardle made just for him.  Ministering to Langley was never a "burden" for Isaac, but Langley would never forget his service rendered during that experience.  In fact, Langley Bailey wrote a poignant letter to Isaac Wardle in November of 1916, with an eternal gratitude still overflowing in his heart for the effort Isaac made in bringing him to Zion.  

I think that says it all about ministering.  This effort, on our part, that is now the way of our Prophet, President Nelson, has taught us to look after one another, and should be the hallmark of our daily lives.  I am convinced that this is the Celestial way of  how we can raise the level of our outlook, and performance in the Church, as we prepare for those marvelous things to come!  We are so excited!

22 September 2018 - Saturday

22 September 2018 - Saturday

Mom and I had the shift at the Visitors' Center this morning from 10:00am until 2:30pm.  That gave us some extra time to take a three mile walk together.  We had our morning prayers and Scripture reading, and left for the walk at 7:00am.  And it was starting to get light enough, outside, that we could see our path clearly!  The temperatures were actually a little higher than yesterday morning.  It was  in the mid 40's as we began our walk.  And, to top it off, we had some really beautiful pictures of the rising sun;

This was taken as we stepped out the front door

The contrast with the trees caught my eye here

  

This picture was taken at the cattle guards at the front entrance

What a terrific shot of the sun rising and the clouds reflection 

Here is a burst of sun rise coming over the horizon!

Our walk was so unique, this morning, with the variety of pictures we saw along the way.  We got back to the trailer at around 8:00am, and had our breakfast, and finished getting ready for the day.  The ride in to the Homestead was very quiet with very little traffic.  Once we got to the Homestead, and then to the Visitors' Center, there were a few people coming in.  There were more non members stopping in than there were members of the Church before noon.  It evened out this afternoon.

Mom had a very special experience with some non members, today.  The parents and their adult son came in for a visit. They were visiting their son who had moved here 8 months ago.  He was trying to hit all of the sites in the area to give them a good visit. They live next to Kirtland, Ohio and knew quite a bit about the Mormons, so they didn't want to hear about the history of the Church. When they found about the youth treks, they suggested that their son go on one. Then they suggested that Mom be in charge of helping him change.  She said that she would and she handed him a Book of Mormon, told him a little about it.    He took the copy and promised to read it!

Here is a great missionary at work!

Mom taking a couple to the Sweetwater Museum  

When we got home, we did some laundry and listened to a broadcast pod from Mike Stroud.   He is a historian and Book of Mormon scholar.  His podcasts were referred to us by another senior missionary, and we have enjoyed listening to his insights.  

It was almost 4:30pm when we finished the podcast, when I started searching for the BYU football game.  I finally figured out how to sign in to the live broadcast and enjoyed seeing the Cougars win a game!  It seems like every time I watch them they lose!  I was starting to get a complex...  At any rate this game was fun to watch!  And I did not make them lose!!  Sweet!

21 September 2018 - Friday

21 September 2018 - Friday

Can you believe it?  Today is the last day of summer, according to the calendar.  And tomorrow begins the first day of fall!  Well, wouldn't you know it, the last day of summer, today, began with the temperatures at 32 degrees here in Wyoming.  Mom and I had the restroom cleaning assignment so we started in for the Homestead at 6:45am.  And when we left the Missionary Village, it was 32 degrees.  If fact, on the way to the Homestead, the temperature in the car registered 31 degrees!

It turned out to be a crisp, and a clear, day with the highest temperature reaching 70 degrees.  Once the morning sun reached us, the warmth started regenerating.  Mom and I got the cleaning done by 9:30am and then we worked to complete our painting assigned   We also had a district cleaning assignment to clean the offices.  However, that assignment fell directly on us since all of our district members have left for home!

Finishing up the district cleaning assignment!  The Ma and Pa district!

Mom and I divided, and conquered, our workload this morning.  I completed the painting and she attacked the office cleaning.  That took us about two more hours after finishing the restrooms.  With our district working on the offices, it would have taken us about 30 minutes!

Another five couples left for home today.  There are now five couples left at Missionary Village that will be going home this year.  There are three couples left at the Missionary Village who will stay for the winter.  Two couples have taken a two week sabbatical from the mission to complete some obligations at home, and one couple will be leaving the first week in October for two weeks.  All three of these winter couples are waiting for their new apartment assignments to be ready for their occupancy as they return back to the mission.  

We are delighted at the prospect of returning home in the next three weeks.  It seems that we are being kept here to help cover the Visitors' Center hours.  Right now the Visitors' Center is open from 8:00am until 7:00pm.  After October 1st, it will be open from 9:00am until 4:00pm.  At that point, the final assignments for winterizing the mission will be the main focus of the senior missionaries, and covering the hours at the Visitors' Center will be easier to accomplish with fewer missionaries.

In our efforts to draw closer to the Spirit, mom and I are listening to various talks in preparation for General Conference.  We are also intent on reading our Scriptures, and studying the General Conference talks from the April Conference.  Our prayers are focused on preparing our hearts and minds for the messages being prepared just for us.  I can feel the efforts of President Nelson to lift us. as a Church, and as each member, to a higher Gospel plane.  

Both mom and I have felt the urgency to be better prepared for the unfolding events of these, the last days, and it is so exciting!  Let's face it, the times are coming that will be challenging to the members of the Church, and many of the very elect will be deceived.  Our hope and prayer, in addition to having our own hearts and minds opened, is that our family and our precious close friends will not let go of the Iron Rod!  

We have got to be strong in the face of these challenges, and the Lord has said, "if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear".  The Adversary is not pulling any punches, and he knows his time is coming to a close.  With everything coming to a head, we are so grateful to be a part of such a marvelous and wonderful family!  Pulling together, we can work out our salvation and overcome every obstacle that is thrown at any one of us!  

20 September 2018 - Thursday

20 September 2018 - Thursday

The days continue to rush by as mom and I fulfill our assignments here in the mission field.  We were both up early to begin this day.  We both had our prayers, separate, and together, and then read our Scriptures, together, and separate.  It is always such a wonderful way to begin each day!

The sunrise is getting later and later, each morning, so my early morning walks may be in jeopardy.  However, I did get started on my three mile walk at just a few minutes before 6:00am, this morning,  and finished at 6:50am, with the sun still not up!  But there was enough light to see the roadway, and I was grateful for the light that was there for me.

These two senior missionaries had two separate assignments today.  The first was participating with a school group from Casper.  I ran the Blacksmith shop and Granny was a tour guide.  So we really got to work together, except that she moved around the Homestead with her group, and I taught the several small tour groups about the Blacksmith duties and the prairie diamond story.  It was a fun morning.  She got my picture but I could not get hers!

What can a Blacksmith make?

Have you heard the story about the Prairie Diamond??

Then, after lunch, we worked on finishing up our painting project on the offices.  The wind was blowing too hard to paint, so we completed the taping of the windows.  Tomorrow, we will try to paint, after we complete our restroom cleaning assignments.  The missionaries are dwindling fast, and tomorrow we send home five more senior couples.  We have so enjoyed getting to know these wonderful senior missionaries!  Granny and I went around with our final goodbyes this afternoon.

We are also very much aware of the falling temperatures.  The highs tomorrow will be in the mid sixties, and the low in the morning??  It is supposed to be around 34 degrees.  Wyoming weather is very interesting, and we get some surprises every day!  Mom and I will be up and cleaning restrooms at the Homestead by 7:00am tomorrow morning, so that we are not cleaning them while visitors are there.  We plan on bundling up!  It will be a great day!  Thank you for checking in with us tonight!

19 September 2018 - Wednesday

19 September 2018 - Wednesday

This was the second day of farewells, this week, and we have one more day on Friday.  The Missionary Village is slowly emptying out with trailers being vacated, and fifth wheels and motor homes taking to the roads,  We said our goodbyes to the Reese's  at 6:00am, as we were starting our walk, and passing their trailer, at the end of the row of trailers.  They invited us in to say family prayer, and we gratefully accepted.  Then we went down past the cattle guards as they dropped by the Gilliland's to say goodbye and, as they drove out a few minutes later, we stood waving.,,,

Reese's packed car at 6:00am this morning

The Reese's heading out and on to home to New Mexico. 

We finished our walk and then had breakfast.  The morning sunrise was brilliant again.  We enjoyed the early morning lights that began appearing at least 30 minutes before the sun rise.  It seems like the morning scenes are always a little different each day!

I love the coloring of the clouds right before the sun appears!

"His countenance shown above the brightness of the sun"! 

A view from our trailer

Another view right behind the Gilliland's trailer space about to be vacated

Our work shift at the Visitors' Center started at 12:30 this afternoon so we had a wonderful morning together.  At 8:00am, we went back outside to wave goodbye to the Gilliland's.  They were heading back to Colorado;

Elder Gilliland making the final inspection before pulling out.

With each passing farewell here in the mission field, we come one farewell closer to our return home.  How can anyone say farewells are sad?  What a precious experience we have had here!  And the sweet tender mercies continue to bless our lives!  As we were working in the visitors Center, today, we had a service missionary couple, Elder and Sister Smith, come to the Visitors' Center with her 92 year old mother, Sister Barbara Macphee.  The missionaries are serving in Cody, Wyoming and head home to Canada in two weeks.

For Sister Macphee, this has been a lifelong goal to come to Martin's Cove.  She lives in British Columbia, Canada!  Mom and I decided that it would be best to take her around the area in a Rover.  She is the great granddaughter of Tamar Loader, who came with her mom, Amy Loader, and dad, James Loader, and their children, one of whom was Tamar, with the 1856 Martin Handcart Company.  The father, James, died early, (September 27th), in the trek of diarrhea.  

Sister Macphee was so grateful for the Rover ride and the chance to see the area up close and personal.  Needless to say, it was such a pleasure to take them.  Mom had to stay at the Visitors Center.  She would have driven if the weather had been warmer.  We went to the River Crossing area where Amy Loader may have crossed and helped her daughters across.  We stopped at the Rescue Statues where they represented the rescuers helping her great grandmother, Tamar, across the Sweetwater.  Then we drove up into the Martin's Cove area going up the back way, along the ravine.

Sister Macphee wanted to get out at the bottom of the steps on the back side of the Cove and walk up those 35 steps.  I was privileged to have her take my arm, and we went up there one step at a time.  She was so overcome with emotion as I shared stories, and she shared stories, about her pioneer ancestors.  After a few minutes she offered a beautiful prayer of appreciation for those precious memories of her ancestors and for the service of the current missionaries.  I felt that Tamar was in that prayer circle!  What a sweet experience.

Sister Macphee's missionary daughter and her husband, walked back the trail, from the top of the Cove, towards Handcart Parking, and Sister Macphee and I took the Rover to meet them at the crossroad of the ravine.  On our very slow ride back, I found out that her husband was killed in a plane crash in December of 1953.  He was a new private pilot who got caught in some bad weather.  She was 27 years old and he was 29.  She never remarried.  I then told her about my dad dying at 29 and my mom being a widow at 26.  We had a wonderful connection.

Sister Macphee with her missionary daughter Sister Smith at the top of the Cove.

Needless to say, I got to be a very small part of a priceless and sacred experience with this family.  Just another tender mercy that Heavenly Father bestowed on one of His senior missionaries.  The trip of a lifetime, on a day that mom and I had the sweet privilege of serving together here at Martin's Cove!  And we became a part of this once in a lifetime experience...

18 September 2018 - Tuesday

18 September 2018 - Tuesday

Another marvelous day in the mission field!  We were up at the usual hour, this morning, as we prepared for the day.  I got my three mile walk in and we left a little earlier than usual this morning to attend our correlation meeting.  We were on the work crew, and it was a stunning day to serve here.  Mom and I had the thoughts and the prayers at the correlation meeting.  That may be our last time to have this assignment, but time will tell.

We got two separate assignments this morning.  The Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission has the litter assignment along the two mile stretch of Highway 220 in front of the Martin's Cove entrance.  So about 20 senior missionaries were out picking up the litter along the highway.  

Picking up highway trash along the interstate

A near perfect day here in the high plains of Wyoming!

As we were attending to our duties, we had several truckers honk, as they drove by, thanking us for our service.  That was both unexpected, and very much appreciated!  There was plenty of small papers, cans and bottles and broken glass, and cigarette butts, and car parts along our assignment.  It took us about two hours to complete the process.  

Our next assignment was to paint the office window sills, and frames, that we sanded last Saturday.  It is somewhat of a challenge to start painting an older building without wanting to completely tear it down and build a new one!  Here are some "before" and "after" pictures of one of those window sills that had been exposed to rain and snow and heat over the last 50 plus years;

Before painting

After a fresh coat of paint

There were still some blemishes in the wood, but it sure looks a whole lot better!  This is the side of the building that gets the heat of the afternoon sun, and the dusting of the strong gusts of wind, on a daily basis.  I was pleased with the effort, and that mom and I could work together!

There have been so many lessons learned along the mission path this summer.  As I have mentioned before, there is a statement in the mission language that we; "should never, never, underestimate the Spiritual power of Temporal service". The quote is attributed to President Eyring and I found what I think is the origin from a talk he gave on August 17, 1990.  He was speaking to Church Educators in the Seminary and the Institute programs.

His topic was "The Book of Mormon Will Change Your Life".  I had not really grasped the significance of temporal  service before I read this.  He referenced the story of Ammon and how he went to the bloodthirsty Lamanites and began his missionary service there as a servant to King Lamoni.  He gave the King a chance to see him in his uncompromising service,  and once he caught the attention of the overwhelmed King, he was able to teach him the Gospel, and, ultimately, see his conversion along with the conversion of his household and his people...

To me that is what ministering is all about.  We go and help our family members and our friends and our neighbors and look for ways, as we get to know them, to teach them Gospel principles.  Ultimately, those Spiritual powers grow from the size of a mustard seed to full grown opportunities to teach each other with power and authority.  And we can only teach with this power and this authority if the people we are teaching trust us enough to listen to our words.  As we begin to communicate with each other, the Spirit takes over and both parties benefit.  

Wouldn't that be a wonderful scenario in our government today?  Perhaps we can refocus on that effort in our own lives, changing ourselves to be the ministers that president Nelson is talking about.  I have never looked at Ammon this way, but what a significant example from the Book of Mormon!